The Ultraman episode “Shoot the Invaders” opens with our hero having a black eye. By the end of the episode, we understand he has one more than a physical black eye.
The alien race the Baltans traveled to Earth in microscopic form in a cloaked ship. After using a member of the Science Patrol to speak through him, the Baltans revealed there were 2.03 BILLION of them on their ship approximately a meter across. A mad scientist in nuclear tests had destroyed their planet. Mars was not an option for the Baltans, because their “hated” unspeakable issue was there. After being offered to live on Earth if the Baltans obeyed Earth’s laws and customs, talks immediately broke down with the dialog ending, “[The] Conversation is over. We shall have the Earth.”
A fight with Ultraman followed, which ended with the now giant Baltan killed. Ultraman used his “Fluoroscope Ray” to decloak the Baltan ship and destroy it.
Yes, Ultraman destroyed the ship with 2.03 billion alien life forms on it.
Were the Baltans Refugees?
International treaties define refugees, in relevant part, as those who “owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.” USCS Protocol Refugee.
The Baltans were unable to return to their homeworld because it had been destroyed by nuclear weapons. This would qualify them as “refugees” under international law.
Were the Baltans Hostile to Life on Earth?
The Baltans did not appear to be adverse to humanity, but a Science Patrol member balked at the idea of 2.03 billion Baltans making Earth their home. Sure, they were miniature, which raised the issue of whether they could be given a small amount of real estate to make their home. However, that issue was never addressed, because their emissary stated, “We shall have the Earth.” That seems openly hostile, even if it is not an express declaration of war.
Mini-Genocide
Ultraman destroyed the Baltan ship with 2.03 billion individuals aboard. Is that genocide?
The crime of genocide is committed when someone, “whether in time of peace or in time of war and with the specific intent to destroy, in whole or in substantial part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group as such, kills members of that group.” 18 U.S.C. § 1091(a)(1). The punishment for having caused death is either death OR imprisonment for life and a fine of not more than $ 1,000,000, or both. 18 U.S.C. § 1091(b).
Ultraman flying the ship away from the city and then destroying it killed all 2.03 billion Baltans onboard. That was an act of genocide, because Ultraman destroyed the vessel with the specific intent to do so. Even if the intent was to only destroy the ship, then at best it is negligent genocide. There is no way around the fact the hero killed 2.03 billion Baltans. Ultraman has bigger problems than a black eye.
