by Roland Starr
“That’s the way I see it, sir!” Vonner said. “I don’t think my intercession in your war will make it any the worse for you, and if we can get the Zukons to see reason it might very well bring about a cessation of hostilities. But before we blast out of orbit I’d like to know a great deal more about the Zukons. We have no idea of the conditions we’re likely to face there, or what kind of people the Zukons really are. I’d also like to get down to the root of their reasons for the war.”
“I’ve brought along half a dozen experts on Zukon and its people,” the president replied. “We’ll get together now and see what can be done to make your trip as secure as possible. I suggest that Commander Den Thol accompanies you as my observer and as your liaison officer. He knows as much about the Zukons as anyone!”
“Fine. I’ll be delighted to have his company,” Vonner said.
They went into a conference room where a number of high ranking officers were already in attendance, and they got down to immediate business. The experts gave their opinions and advice, and Vonner listened intently.
“I must make it plain that I am against this confrontation with the Zukons,” Den Thol said at length. “I know they are not to be trusted. I am aware that there is a real necessity for taking this step, and I am prepared to go along on the trip. But I feel that we should take steps to provide ourselves with a bargaining point in case we get into trouble and deadlock.”
“What do you have in mind, Commander?” the president demanded.
“We know the nature of Zukon,” Den Thol said. “It is mainly liquid, and the Zukons live beneath the surface of the seas and swamps. Zukon is volcanic, and one of the reasons why the Zukons have been trying to find fresh worlds is their fear that the planet will eventually explode. I suggest that we plant an explosive device in the biggest crater on Zukon which can be detonated remotely, and if all persuasion fails then we can start a chain reaction in the very core of Zukon and destroy it completely. I know this course is directly opposed to our policies and principles, but we are fighting a war of survival here, and this may be our last attempt at winning. The Zukons have us in their power, considering their long term policy, and I must insist that we take steps now to provide security for our future.”
There was an uproar as Den Thol sat down, and Vonner frowned as he listened to the president’s arguments against such inhuman action. But he was convinced that Den Thol was being practical about the situation, and when the furore lessened, Vonner got to his feet.
“I suggest that you try to form a long term policy in the event that my mission to Zukon fails,” he said. “If the situation as Den Thol explains it is correct then you will have to take drastic action against the Zukons to save yourselves.”
“Are you agreeing with Den Thol’s course?” President Treb asked.
“It has been the situation that faced nations on my planet many times in their history,” Vonner said in serious tones. “Where an individual nation sets itself up as ruler of the others, as oppressor and destroyer, other nations have had to make the type of decision that faces you now. It was a decision on a smaller scale, because you have to consider exterminating a whole planet. But before you cause distress for yourself just answer this question. The answer should give you some idea what your decision must be.”
“And the question?” President Treb asked.
“What would the Zukons do to Prava if you were conquered?” Vonner sat down.
“It doesn’t need much stretch of the imagination to decide what our fate would be,” the president said slowly. “We have been informed many times by the Zukons what lay in store for us the moment we are defeated.” He shook his head, his face grave. “Prava and everyone on it would be destroyed in a flash. We have been given many ultimata in this war, and the Zukons have always threatened total destruction as a lever against us. I think there can be no doubt that they would follow that strong line as victors.”
“Then the answer is the suggestion I made,” Den Thol said gravely. “I shall need orders, President, and Orion must carry the weapon powerful enough to give us the final solution to our problem.”
“To be used in the event that all possible negotiations have failed to convince the Zukons of the futility of further struggle,” President Treb added. He looked at Vonner. “Are you prepared to transport such a horror weapon to Zukon, Captain?” he demanded softly.
“Yes, sir!” Vonner nodded. “But it should be stressed that the weapon will be used only in the last extreme, and the Zukons themselves must be made aware of the fate that awaits them if they fail to negotiate a peace.”
“We shall need many safeguards against treachery,” Den Thol interposed, and the president nodded.
Vonner got to his feet. He felt weighed down with the responsibility that rested on his wide shoulders. But he could see no alternative to the decision. The Zukons were treacherous and abandoned on their quest of domination. It would take a very severe lesson to make them understand the futility of what they were attempting.
The meeting broke up then, the resolutions made, and it would be a matter of preparation before the mission began. Vonner held his own council aboard Orion later, with his immediate subordinates, and there was no dissent when he made known their plans. They were all in agreement with what had been decided, and that fact alone proved to Vonner that no other course could be followed if Prava were to remain unoppressed and Earth should have the opportunity to colonise Omina!
CHAPTER VI
There was little rest for Vonner during the following day. He returned to Orion after the conference with the president and remained on the bridge through the long hours of preparation, while the craft orbited Omina. The Pravans were even busier on the planet, and from time to time equipment was beamed up to be stowed away aboard Orion.
An alarm was sounded during the night, and a Zukon ship appeared on the forward scanner screen. Vonner was studying the craft when Farrell opened a communication line and Captain Tryxx appeared on the viewer. The reptilian hiss that accompanied Tryxx’s words was sinister.
“Aliens, I am warning you against leaving orbit. We have proof that you are attempting to bolster the Pravan war against us. Stand by to surrender or we shall destroy you.”
Vonner knew the deflector shields were up, and he smiled tightly.
“Captain Tryxx, I repeat my request for a conference with you, before events make it impossible. We are aliens and we desire to make contact with you. We are not warlike by nature, but have the determination to defend ourselves.”
“We have probed the mind of the prisoner we took from your ship and we have a complete knowledge of your existence and the reasons for your presence here. You will not be permitted to colonise Obal. We need the planet ourselves for colonisation. Our own planet is becoming uninhabitable and we have to find a new world.”
“But not at the expense of the Pravans,” Vonner cut in.
“The Pravans do not matter to us. In a case of survival it is the strong who will win. Without your aid the Pravans cannot withstand us much longer. We are aware of that, and we shall do what is necessary to prevent you helping them.”
“I need to visit your planet and talk with your leaders,” Vonner commented. “Will you put me into contact with your people?”
“I will destroy you,” Tryxx replied with an evil chuckle. His triangular head tremored as he nodded. “I have a new weapon being brought to Obal from Zukon. It will destroy you and your ship. It is the weapon we have been waiting for to end this war with Prava.”
Before Vonner could say anything more the scanner screen blanked out and the Zukon ship vanished. The communication screen held Captain Tryxx for a moment later, and then the black, triangular head faded.
“Put a tractor ray on that Zukon ship,” he ordered.
“They’ve gone, Captain! Must have shot out of orbit at Lapse Five.”
Vonner shook his head slowly as he considered. The Zukon refusal to talk was a stumbling block to a satisfa
ctory settlement of the situation. But Tryxx had mentioned that the Zukons were fighting a war of survival, and he knew from that statement that no settlement could be reached.
When Den Thol and his officers beamed aboard several hours later they were ready to leave the orbit and head out into the black space towards Zukon. Aaron Marr was in a huddle with the Pravan astrogators, and Vonner sat with Den Thol. Vonner explained the Zukon incident, and the Pravan commander nodded slowly.
“We have heard from prisoners that have been taken that there is trouble on Zukon. The planet has a radioactive core, and is the only one in a planetary system of fifty major bodies that has the conditions necessary for Zukon life support. But for years now Zukon has been cracking under volcanic eruption. We know this is the reason why the Zukons are waging war against us. They need to survive.”
“You have four planets in your system which are not inhabited,” Vonner commented. “Why haven’t you made an offer to the Zukons?”
“Because we know we cannot trust them. We did offer one of the four other planets for their use, but they are not satisfied with merely finding a safe star for their people. They want to take over the Universe, and we are in their way. They have to destroy us, and will be satisfied with nothing less. We could not live with them in our system because we would never know freedom from the fear of sudden attack and total annihilation. If you knew the Zukons better, Captain, you would not hesitate in agreeing with my suggestion for their extermination.”
“I must say that my brief moments conversing with Captain Tryxx have not been very enlightening,” Vonner said, nodding.
A few minutes later they had left orbit and were deep in dark space, travelling through cosmic wastes towards the distant Zukon system. Apart from the normal running of the ship there was nothing to be done, although Vonner kept Orion on half-alert. He was worried that the Zukon ship would be following them, and he expected Captain Tryxx to make his presence known at some grossly inconvenient moment. But space probes failed to locate the alien vessel, and they continued on course at Lapse Speed Five.
Den Thol was thumbing through a book of astral maps, and Vonner was interested in it, was wondering if there were more inhabited stars in this part of the Universe. The Pravan commander showed him the maps, and pointed out several planets in different systems where life was suspected.
“Haven’t you carried out a detailed search of these areas?” Vonner demanded.
“We have always followed a policy of non-interference with alien worlds,” Den Thol said, “especially those with a more backward technology. The Zukons owe their progress to the first Pravan space explorers, who visited Zukon and tried to aid the reptiles. The reaction of the Zukons is all too evident now. They sucked our brains to evoke the last drop of knowledge, then put that knowledge to work against us. That is why we have left them behind in the race once more. We have stopped feeding their minds and they have to rely upon prisoners to add to their stock of knowledge.”
“So they concentrated upon mind pressure, and that’s why they were able to get my ship out of orbit and capture one of my best senior officers.” Vonner thinned his lips as he considered. “I have the feeling that this is going to be a dangerous and difficult mission, Den Thol.”
“I fear that we shall never return from it,” the Pravan said tightly. “But this has to be done. I’m also convinced that we shall have to plant our device on Zukon and explode it because you will not be able to negotiate with the Zukons. I suggest that we situate the device before you attempt to contact the Zukons, and in that way be ready to do what is necessary without too much interference from them.”
“I’m afraid I cannot handle the situation in that manner,” Vonner said instantly, “although it may be the more intelligent method. But I cannot accept that we shall have to destroy a whole planet to stop this hostility.”
“You are speculating on the assumption that the Zukons are reasonable people, but I fear you are in for a rude awakening, Captain. I would like to think that we could come to terms with them. The Pravan nation is not a vindictive one, and neither do we care for violence. But we have come to realise that we must do the ultimate to defend our lives and our planet.”
Vonner considered the problem from a personal viewpoint, replacing Omina with Earth, and he knew he would have felt exactly the same as the Pravan if he had been in Den Thol’s place. He would have taken a ship to Mars and attempted to destroy the whole planet if Mars had posed a threat to Earth.
They eventually reached the Zukon planetary system, and Vonner was on the bridge with Den Thol when the first of the fifty or so planets of the system appeared on the forward scanner. Vonner could not help feeling tense as they sped by the outer planets. Aaron Marr and the Pravan astrogators were working closely on the course, and the computers clicked ceaselessly, recording data and storing or acting upon it.
“There’s Zukon,” Den Thol exclaimed at length, and Vonner found himself gazing at a bright speck of light on the centre of the screen. “It’s about twentieth out from the sun,” Den Thol went on. “The first dozen or so planets are gaseous or molten, and farther out they are frozen solid. Zukon is the only habitable planet in the system, and you’ve seen the Zukon species. It says little for the planet when you look at a Zukon. Life as we know it cannot exist. The conditions have evolved a reptilian type of life that is voracious and barbaric.”
Vonner put the Orion into a cometary orbit for a maximum of observation. They spun around the perimeter of the system, whirling through the flung-out planets that were uninhabited and inhospitable, and staying out of range of Zukon itself while Quillon Reid and his staff checked conditions.
“There’s a high level of radio-activity, Captain,” Reid reported. “Heavy elements.” There was a pause, and then Reid came in again. “I would like to go in closer on the next orbit, Captain.”
They swung around in a tremendous elliptical orbit, and as the planet swung across the scanner screen there was a warning of attack. Vonner ordered the erection of the deflector shields, and split seconds later explosions tore at the darkness of space as missiles impacted against their shields. Lights flickered and Vonner called for damage control reports.
The scientists were using spectographs, checking for chemicals in the make-up of Zukon, and the computers rattled with fresh data.
“Fairly high temperature, Captain,” Quillon Reid commented. “But our shields will protect us from the radiation. You’ll have to wear space suits on the surface.”
“We shall be fortunate if we ever get so far,” Den Thol said wryly.
Vonner glanced at the Pravan. They were all tense, but there was no fear anywhere, and the Omina commander smiled as he caught Vonner’s glance.
Thick clouds covered the planet’s surface, and again they came under attack, with small explosions rippling and winking against the force field surrounding them. They made two orbits, steadily decelerating, and as they drifted in closer to the surface of the planet Reid was reporting massive volcanic action. The bombardment by innumerable missiles continued. But the shields held easily, and Vonner was satisfied that if the Zukons could not produce a heavier missile then Orion was in no danger.
“Howie, try and raise the Zukons,” Vonner ordered. “I want to talk to someone.”
“I’ve been trying, Captain, but there’s nothing yet,” Farrell reported.
“Well keep trying!” Vonner turned to the scanners, and saw the distant planet surface patched by dark clouds. He glanced at Den Thol. “You said the Zukons live beneath the surface of the sea. Can we contact them through water?”
“They have outposts on the surface of the planet. They live in the water by inclination because they are basically reptilian, but recently they have been forced to remain under the sea by this volcanic action.”
“This is the reason why they are fighting you,” Vonner commented. “It is a matter of survival for the whole race!”
“What can we do to help? They will not fratern
ise with us, or accept that we should live peacefully in coexistence. They have continually attacked us, and rejected any overtures for peace.”
“They must be getting desperate!” Vonner studied the screens, and saw missiles exploding against their deflector shields. “We must get through to them somehow!” Orbit followed orbit and they failed to contact the Zukons. Vonner did not reply to the fire from the Zukon ships, but Dalus Wayland came through on the intercom to report that power was falling because of the diversion from main drive to deflector shields. Vonner was not worried yet, but he knew he had to make contact with the Zukons. He went to Farrell, but the communications were working full blast and getting no reply.
“This is what we have always come up against,” Den Thol said, and there was anger and impatience in his tones. “We have lost good men just trying to contact these Zukons. They haven’t the intelligence to see that they are doomed unless they come out from behind their barriers and screens and make friends with us. You heard President Treb say that the Zukons could occupy one of our planets if they gave up their desire for conquest!”
“That’s why we’ve got to meet these people and put it over to them,” Vonner said.
The gauges were registering data about conditions on Zukon, and Quillon Reid looked disturbed as he came to Vonner’s side.
“There’s a lot of volcanic activity, Captain,” he reported. “It is to be expected from a planet with radioactive content. Down there they must be having constant earthquakes and terrific storms. Perhaps that’s the reason why we’re getting no reply to our calls.”
“Perhaps,” Den Thol cut in. “But those Zukon ships apparently have orders not to communicate with us.”
“Captain Tryxx opened a line to us more than once,” Vonner mused. “I’m wondering if he’s followed us from Omina!”
