“Divine Princess, members of the court. It is true that measured by civilized galactic standards the Earthlings are not sane. That much can be ascertained by one look at their bizarre male-dominated social structure, their absurd religions, or their disgusting behavior. You will observe for example, my study specimen here, Sergeant Andrew Hamilton, recently collected from the United States Army while attempting to murder Minervan picnickers. Note that he has no telepathic abilities or even any mental self-control, leaving his outer mind in a chaos dominated by various infantile neuroses. I’ll pause a bit now so you can sample him for yourselves.”
Here Aurora stopped speaking, giving the members of the court some time to explore Hamilton’s outer mind. In a few moments the men pres- ent began to smile and the women began to giggle.
“Oh, my,” the Princess exclaimed. “He’s like a little baby pretending to be a man. How cute!”
Everyone in the court laughed, and Hamilton flushed red with embarrassment. Aurora smiled. “Yes, cute, except when they turn deadly. You will notice he has no thoughts of remorse for the six Minervans he murdered, or for that matter for dozens of Earthlings he killed earlier in his military career. Yet observe the thought that just emanated energetically from his inner mind.”
The Princess looked quizzical. “‘This is not fair,’” she paraphrased. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Aurora nodded. “‘Not fair’ is the creature’s notion describing a con- dition whereby a party holding a certain advantage makes improper use of it to the detriment of a party not holding such an advantage. In other words, ‘not fair’ is a crude approximation of the human concept of Injustice, which necessarily implies some dim awareness of its converse, Justice.”
A shocked silence filled the court. High Priestess Pallacina was the first to speak. “But my dear, as you, a third class priestess, must certainly know, Justice is a divine attribute flowing from the Goddess. This creature has no awareness of her whatsoever. How then can hepossibly…”
Aurora shook her head.“I’m not sure. I need to go into his inner mind to find out, and so far he has resisted giving me permission. I’m keeping him in the hope that someday I can change his mind on that account, as the benefits to science could be immense. Yet for present purposes, the evidence before us suffices. He is capable of protorational thought on the subject of justice and injustice, and thus right or wrong. Now let us ask the creature a simple question. Hamilton, was the destruction of Draco 4 just or unjust? Was it right or was itwrong?”
Everyone turned to observe Hamilton, who seemed to be writhing in agony. Yet without any mental abilities, his thoughts came tumbling out uncontrollably. “Oh no, if I let them know I think it was wrong, they’ll kill everyone on Earth. But they can read my mind. And I know it was wrong. It was wrong. It was horribly, horribly wrong.”
The Admiral nodded. “Guilty as charged.”
“No!” A telepathic scream practically deafened the courtroom.
Aurora looked at Hamilton in amazement. In his distress, the soldier had actually managed a coherent thought projection. It was a feat usually accomplished by Minervan children at the age of 3 or 4, but to her knowledge no Earthling had ever done it.She hadn’t even thought it possible. That the Ranger was able to do it bespoke a potential for humanity that elicited her deepest feelings.
“We are not all guilty!” Hamilton’s mind screamed again.
That was true, and though of secondary importance, it was a subtlety worth considering. But he would never make his point with childish telepathic screaming. Taking pity on the man, she said softly,“Hamilton, speak using words. I’ll translate for you.” With that, she remobilized his head and upper body, leaving only his feet rooted in place.
Hamilton flexed his fingers and rubbed his jaw, as if to restore circulation that had never been cut off. Then he faced the Princess.
“Your Majesty,” he began, eliciting expressions of shock and outrage among the courtiers. The Princess frowned and briefly touched her pendant, but then shrugged and indicated for him to continue.
“It is true that the evidence points to involvement by Earthlings in the horrific acts against your empire, and Iwon’t dispute it. But what I do dispute is that all Earthlings are of the same moral character as those who committed those crimes. Look into my mind. I know you can. You will see that not only did I not have anything to do with those actions, but that I have moral principles that would prevent me from ever doing anything so morallyabhorrent.”
The Princess peered at him, looking hard. “Very well, creature. I accept the fact that you personally did not participate in the planet assassinations, and also your claim that you view those actions with revulsion. Sowhat?”
“Well, the fact of the matter is that most other Earthlings are equally innocent.”
“It is clear that you believe that. However, we require facts.” The Princess turned to Aurora.“Priestess, what is your evaluation of the accuracy of the savage’s lastcomment?”
“It is only partially true. While obviously only a minority of Earthlings had any foreknowledge of or direct involvement in the planet assassination plot, many cheered its success afterwards. Still, as Hamilton says, there are also substantial numbers who view the actions with horror, although more for fear of the consequences than for grief for the murdered.”
The Priestess regarded Hamilton. “Well savage, partial truth is con- ceded to your statement. What conclusions would you therefore have us draw from such premises?”
“Since some are guilty, but others are not, you should punish the guilty but spare the innocent.”
The Princess raised an eyebrow.“I asked you for conclusions, not instructions. You presume much, savage, to tell a Princess of the Western Galactic Empire what she should or should not do.”
Hamilton stood his ground. “I asked that you punish the guilty but spare the innocent. Is that not justice?”
The Princess smiled. “Of course it is, in cases applying to rational beings. But those categories hardly apply to violently insanesubhumans.” She laughed and looked at Aurora. “Priestess, your specimen is most amusing. He seems to actually believe he ishuman.”
Aurora returned the monarch’s grin. “Yes, Divine Princess. We have had many conversations on exactly that point. He simply doesn’t under- stand. Still, on the basis of my research, I would have to say that he and a number of other Earthlings may be potentially human. Therefore, though justice does not require it, I believe that while destroying the United States government which masterminded the planet assassination, it would be desirable to spare as many of the non-guilty Earthlings as practicality allows. It would be…merciful.” She looked at Hamilton and smiled. He deserved that much.
Junea stood up. “Oh listen to this, a Minervan talking about mercy. Next thing you know she will start talking to us about love.” A titter of laughter rippled through the courtiers.
The Princess regarded Junea. “Ambassador, I am somewhat per- plexed by your remark. Given the disposition of this court towards dealing forcefully with the Earthling menace, I thought her plea on their behalf was very generous.”
“Divine Princess,” Junea replied. “That’s what she wanted you to think. But she was obviously being dishonest. Consider her use of the word‘mercy.’Minervansdon’t believe in mercy, since it is an attribute of Aphrodite, the manifestation of the Triune Goddess they detest the most. She talks of ‘justice,’ an attribute of Hera, a divine manifestation which Minervans also deny. The Minervans believe in neither mercy nor justice. They just want to preserve some of the Earthlings to be their slaves. She refused the oath, and as foretold, she haslied.”
The Princess seemed thoughtful. “Her choice of words would appear to demonstrate some insincerity. But in what matter has she lied?”
Junea’s voice took on a commanding tone. “She lied when she said the US government masterminded the planet assassinations. That is a gross slander of my clients, who are entirely innocent of any suc
h heinous acts. The whole galaxy knows how horribly the Minervans have been oppressing the American people, whose only defender is the US government. Now, by lying to this court, the Minervan witness is trying to frame my esteemed clients, and by so doing, enlist the aid of the Western Galactic Empire in the owl worshippers’ hideous campaign of persecution, oppression, enslavement, mutilation, and murder of the helpless natives of this poor planet.”
Junea took a step towards the throne. “Divine Princess, do not let yourself be deceived. Do not the Triune Scriptures warn us to‘Beware the Minervans, they of fast words and sharp-edged thoughts. Beware those who pretend to Reason, without Love orJustice.’”
Aurora was incensed. “Divine Princess, I object! The ambassador is engaged in crude ancient anti-Minervan slander. We Minervans believe in Love and Justice as much asanyone.”
High Priestess Pallacina looked skeptical. “But you deny their exis- tence as independent divinities.”
Aurora tried to speak calmly, for she knew her next words would not be well received. “They are derived attributes of Reason, and we celebrate them accordingly.”
The High Priestess shook her head. “If only you would see the light, how much happier you would be.”
Junea sneered.“Yes, if only they would, how much happier we would all be. We wouldn’t have 200 billion dead citizens to mourn, if only the Minervans had been willing to treat the Earthlings with Love and Justice. And now, these cold, calculating, cruel but clever creatures are trying to enmesh us in their schemes of conquest. We must not let them succeed. Divine Princess, members of the court, we are responsible for the safety and well-being of the greatest empire in Galactic History, one which has brought the glorious benefits of a civilization based on Reason, Love, and Justice to the countless citizens of more than 100 million worlds. Our subjects adore us and our allies respect us because we use our great strength to defend the weak. But think of the consequences if the Minervans entrap us as their assistants in their campaign of ruthless brutality. What will be the effect on our allies in the Northern Confederation and the Central Union? What will be the effect on the inhabitants on the primitive but vital helicity-rich worlds of the Southern sector? Will not the effect be to push them all into the camp of our dangerous adversaries of the Eastern Galactic Empire? Your Divine Majesty to be, our empire is mighty indeed, but even we will not be able to stand for long if the entire galaxy is united against us. Yet that is precisely the objective towards which the Minervans are striving. This is how they repay us for saving them in the last war. Shall we lose our empire by falling again for the lying tricks of this tiny group of disloyal and ungrateful heretics? I say no!”
At this dramatic crescendo, most of the courtiers and the diplomatic personnel who comprised about half of the audience burst out in vigorous applause. Aurora blanched with terror, for she had not felt so much antiMinervan thoughts since the horror of Pegasus 3. She looked up at the Princess, who returned her glance not with hatred, but with almost as unnerving cool suspicion.
Admiral Phillipus cleared his throat. “Divine Princess, the Ambassador has raised some serious concerns. Yet the validity of her argument rests entirely on her contention that the Minervans are lying when they say that the United States government was behind the planet assassinations. In fact, however, all of our intelligence indicates that the Minervan accusation is true.”
Junea waved her hands dismissively. “Nonsense. All of your intelli- gence comes from the Minervans. Naturally it will support their deception.”
“As a military man, I have to say that I have always found Minervan intelligence to be very accurate.” Phillipus turned to face the audience. “Fellow officers of the Imperial Navy, how many of you owe your lives to the information supplied to us by Minervans during the lastwar?”
Aurora turned and watched, as several men, all middle-aged Navy officers of medium or high rank rose to their feet. Then more of their brethren did the same, along with several Fleet Chaplains, until nearly a quarter of the audience was standing.
“And look,” Phillipus said, pointing at her medal. “The witness herself is a Little Star, earned in combat aboard the Battlecruiser Warhawk in the decisive battle of the Andromedan Clusters. She and her kind were our friends then, and they are our friends now!”
At this remark, one of the Fleet Chaplains started to applaud, slowly but loudly, and was quickly joined by the other standing officers. Aurora felt her throat tighten with gratitude as kind thoughts from several of the veterans entered her mind.
Junea waited for the applause to die down. “Thank you, Admiral, for that heartwarming display of sentimental esprit de corps. Yet it is clear why Minervan intelligence was often good during the last war; they were depending upon our victory for their very survival. But now, instead of helping us with our just war, they are attempting to drag us into theirown unjust one. In consequence of their machinations, 200 billion of Her Divine Majesty’s subjects are now dead. That is not what I call friendship.” She turned to the throne. “Divine Princess, in view of its inherently untrustworthy origin, I ask that all intelligence supplied to this court by Minervan sources be stricken from therecord.”
The Princess rubbed her feet together as she considered this request for several moments. Thenshe said, “Ambassador, your points are well taken, yet I am not sure I will go so far as to grant your request. I think instead that what we should do is retain the Minervan evidence, but note the uncertain veracity of its source and require further substantiation prior to its acceptance asfact.”
Junea bowed her head. “Divine Princess, your wisdom is exceeded only by your beauty.”
Appearing frustrated, Admiral Phillipus again advanced to a position before the throne. “Divine Princess, this is all obfuscation. The evidence of US government guilt in the planet assassinations is clear and self-evident. It requires no uncritical belief in the Minervans. Rather, the facts speak for themselves.”
The Princess leaned back in her throne. “Very well, Admiral. Present the facts.”
“Yes, Divine Princess.” The Admiral activated a psioswitch, and holograms of four Earthling males somewhat physically inferior to Hamilton appeared in the courtroom.
“In the first place we have the identity of the assassins themselves. Here they are: David Crockett Christianson, born Provo Utah, USA; George Washington Jones, born Newark, New Jersey, USA; Mickey Mantle Ostrowski, born Yonkers, New York, USA; and Thomas Jefferson Clark, born Norfolk, Virginia, USA.” The Admiral pointed to Hamilton. “Members of the court. Observe the thoughts in the Earthling specimen’s outer mind. He recognizes each of the perpetrators as anAmerican.”
Aurora looked into Hamilton’s mind, and saw that he was trying to hide something. It would do him no good. In seconds everyone else saw it, too.
The Admiral smiled. “And observe the Earthling’s own conclusion. He thinks they were sent by the US government, too.” Hamilton red- dened, but the Admiral just continued. “And note also his opinion of the actions. The deeds were so despicable that even a simple savage like this finds them contemptible.”
Junea snickered. “Well if it isn’t enough that the Admiral is using Minervan testimony to impugn my client, now he expects us to take seriously the chaotic thoughts of an ignorant savage, one whom, moreover, has been the subject of Minervan psychological manipulation for months.”
“Nevertheless,” said Phillipus, “say what you will. It is clear that all four assassins were born in the United States and each were named after American mythological cult fetishes. They therefore must be assumed to be loyal subjects acting on behalf of the tribal sachems of the United States government.”
“Wrong,” said Junea. “The real names of the assassins were David Crockett Christianson de Peru, George Washington Jones de Peru,, Mickey Mantle Ostrowski de Peru, and Thomas Jefferson Clark de Peru. These are not American names, they are Peruvian names. The alleged assassins were born in the United States, yes, but they had so little in common with th
e peaceful, civilized customs of the United States government and its policy of friendship for the Western Galactic Empire and respect for the Empress Minaphera the 243rd that they renounced their American citizenship and moved to Peru where they adopted Peruvian names, customs, and citizenship. The alleged assassins were not agents of the United States, they were traitors to the UnitedStates!”
The Princess seemed startled.“Ambassador, how did you learnthis?”
“The information was given to me by the United States government itself. You see, Your Divine Majesty to Be, the US government, far from being a part of the assassin problem, is straining all of its resources to find out who is behind it. They are our friends and partners in the war against planet assassination.”
The Admiral frowned. “Oh really, Ambassador? Then how do you explain this?”
Phillipus activated another psioswitch, and the holoimages of the assassins vanished. Instead thecourtroom’s apparent space expanded to a full holotheater projection of a crazed Earthling rally of the Cosmic Christian Crusade. The courtroom audience watched in horror as thousands of savages in a large physical stadium screamed “Death to the Western Galactic Empire” while committing obscenities to crude repre- sentations of the Empress and astronomical models of the WGE. “Observe,” the Admiral said, as he zoomed in on the mystic who was leading the affair.“The sachem orchestrating the event is a leader of the USgovernment.”
A computer ID appeared under the mystic sachem, labeling him as Reverend John Meade, Chaplain of the Chief’s House. Then mercifully, the Admiral cut the projection off. “Well,” he said. “Ambassador, do you deny your client’s involvement in what we have just seen?”
The Holy Land: Fanatical Earthling planet assassins are spreading chaos through the galaxy. Is there any nice way to stop them? Page 16
