The of around the table died as the World Secretary entered the room and took his place at the of the table.
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” he said. “I’ll not you with today. The of the Navy Department is waiting to present the case for his proposal. You all know something of the scheme; it has been and passed as by the Advisory Group. It will now be our to make the decision. I ask that each of you in a that our present can only be as desperate, and that may be in order.”
The Secretary and to a seated near the door who left the room and returned a moment later with a gray-haired Naval Officer.
“Members of the Council,” said the admiral, “this is Lieutenant Commander Greylorn.” All the officer as he walked the length of the room to take the empty seat at the end of the table.
“Please proceed, Commander,” said the Secretary.
“Thank you, Mr. Secretary.” The Commander’s voice was and low, yet it and authority. He without preliminary.
“When the World Government the Scouting Forces forty-three years ago, an was to each of the twenty-five worlds to which this government had sent Colonization parties the Colonial[30] Era of the middle Twentieth Centuries. With the return of the last of the early this year, we were to that no would be from that source.”
The Commander his to the world map the wall. With the of North America and a narrow of waters, the entire map was an pink.
“The latest by the Department of the Navy that we are area at the of one square mile every twenty-one hours. The organism’s for to our chemical and to be rapidly. Analyses of the level of at a rate. In other words, in of our best efforts, we are not our own against the Red Tide.”
A ran around the table, as Members in their seats.
“A great of has been to the problem of our ability. This in the end is still a question of and resources. We do not have enough. Our small in have been progressively by and of territory. In the end, alone, we must lose.”
The Commander paused, as the rose and died again. “There is however, one possibility still unexplored,” he said. “And work done at the Polar Research Station places the possibility well the scope of feasibility. At the time the attempt was to with the colonies, one was omitted. It alone now to be out. I to the Omega Colony.”
A Member and out, “The of the is unknown!”
The Secretary intervened. “Please permit the Commander to complete his remarks. There will be opportunity for when he has finished.”
“This was not for two reasons,” the Commander continued. “First, the was not known; second, the was at least twice that of the colonies. At the time, there was a of which to make the attempt superfluous. Now the has changed. The possibility of Omega Colony now importance.
“The of which I spoke is a new of drive which has to us a for space propulsion. Forty years ago, the minimum time of return travel to the which the Omega World should was about a century. Today we have the to a small of making the in [31]just over five years. We cannot out here for a century, perhaps; but we can manage a decade.
“As for location, we know the point toward which Omega was launched. The plan was of that a should be by the after the star group closely to permit and study. There is no why the of a not make the same study and of possible targets, and with luck the colony.
“Omega was the last by our people, two centuries after the others. It was the best and largest of them all. It was not limited to one destination, little known, but had a large selection of from which to choose; and her study were advanced. I have full that Omega a successful planetfall and has by now a new society.
“Honorable Members of the Council, I submit that all the of this Government should be at once at the of a with the of a fifty-thousand-ton vessel, and an survey of a of space of one thousand A.U.’s on the so-called Omega Cluster.”
The World Secretary the which with the of the officer’s presentation.
“Ladies and gentlemen, time is of the of our problem. Let’s at once to interrogation. Mr. Klayle, lead off, please.”
The Councillor at the Commander. “The you propose, sir, will a of our from defense. That means ground at an to the over our planet. That same to direct may yet turn the in our favor. Against this, the possibility of a party over the of a the of which is almost problematical, and which by with all of the has at best managed to as a foothold, is so as to be inconsiderable.”
The Commander coolly, seriously. “Mr. Councillor,” he replied, “as to our measures, we have passed the point of returns. We have more knowledge now than we are of against the plague. Had we not neglected the physical as we have for the last two centuries, we might have we had been so in numbers and area as to be unable to produce and the new our have [32]belatedly developed. Now we must be realistic; there is no in that direction.
“As to the of the Omega World, our plan is on the that the selection was not at random. Our will along the Omega line as to us from the which were on for almost three years after its departure. We to continue on that line, out of each sun in turn. As we planets, we will only as necessary to satisfy ourselves as to the possibility of of the planet. We can safely assume that Omega will not have any likely target. If we should have more than one under at any time, we shall them in turn. If the Omega World has successfully, should be at a distance.”
Klayle “Madness,” and subsided. The on his left spoke gently, “Mr. Greylorn, why, if this has met with the success you assume, has its government not with the mother world the last two centuries?”
“On that score, Mr. Councillor, we can only conjecture,” the Commander said. “The may have as much as fifty or sixty years. After that, there must have a period of and in the new world. It is not to be that the would be to in for some time.”
“I do not your in the ability of the Omega to supply to us, if its people should be so inclined,” said a straight-backed woman member. “The time very for the of an world.”
“The population plan, Madam, provided for an from the original 10,000 to 40,000 twenty years, after which the of would of grow. Assuming sixty years for planetfall, the population should now number over one hundred sixty millions. Given population, all else follows.”
Two hours later, the World Secretary up. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have the us. There still in interpretation, which will not be by repetition. I now call for a vote on the by the Military Member and presented by Commander Greylorn.”
There was in the Council Chamber as the votes were recorded and tabulated. Then the World Secretary softly.
“Commander,” he said, “the[33] Council has the resolution. I’m sure that there will be agreement that you will be at the of the project, since you were of the team which the new drive and are also the author of the plan. I wish you the best of luck.” He rose and his hand.
The plate of the Armed Courier Vessel Galahad was thirty-two hours later.
-- 1
I trouble when I left the bridge. The that had been for many was for in violence. The ship was as I moved along the passageway. Oddly silent, I thought; something was brewing.
I stopped the door of my cabin, listening; then I put my ear to the wall. I the of from within; a click, voices. Someone was inside, someone attempting to be very quiet. I was not surprised. Sooner or later the trouble had had to come into the open. I looked up the passage, in the green of the nightlights. There was no one in sight.
I listened. There were three voices, too to identify. The thing for me to do now would be to walk up to the bridge, and order the Provost Marshall to clear my cabin, but I had an that that was not the way to the situation. It would make much all around if I push through this with as little as possible.
There was no point in waiting. I took out my key and it in the slot. As the door I into the room. Kramer, the Medical Officer, and Joyce, Assistant Communications Officer, awkwardly, surprised. Fine, the Supply Officer, was on my bunk. He sat up quickly.
They were a choice selection. Two of them were sidearms. I if they were to use them, or if they just how they were prepared to go. My would be to keep them from out.
I looking surprised. “Good evening, gentlemen,” I said cheerfully. I to the cabinet, opened it, Scotch into a glass. “Join me in a drink?” I said.
None of them answered. I sat down. I had to move just a little than they did, and by the initiative, keep them off balance. They had on my approach, having a moments to set, and using my against me. I had their play and taken the advantage. How long I keep it on how well I played my cards. I ahead, as I saw Kramer take a and his brow, about to make his pitch.
“The men need a change, a in the monotony,” I said. [34]“I’ve been a number of possibilities.” I my on Fine as I talked. He sat on the of my bunk. Already he was his in to the Captain’s bed.
“It might be a good of to set up a live on targets,” I said. “There’s also the possibility of setting up a small arms range and all hands.” I my to Kramer. Fine was sorry he’d come, and Joyce wouldn’t take the initiative; Kramer was my problem. “I see you have your Mark 9, Major,” I said, out my hand. “May I see it?” I pleasantly.
I I had him and enough, he had had time to to the situation. Even for a hard like Kramer, it took to openly his Commander, particularly in conversation. But of the was more than casual....
I looked at him, smiling, my hand out. He wasn’t ready; he the pistol from its case, it to me.
I the open, at the indicator, the action. “Nice weapon,” I said. I it on the open at my right.
Joyce opened his mouth to speak. I cut in in the same I use on the bridge. “Let me see yours, Lieutenant.”
He flushed, looked at Kramer, then passed the pistol over without a word. I took it, it over thoughtfully, and then rose, it by the grip.
“Now, if you don’t mind, I have a to to.” I was not smiling. I looked at Kramer with eyes. “I think we’d keep our little for the present. I think I can promise you action in the near future, though.”
They out, looking as as three in a on a brothel. I without moving until the door closed. Then I let my out. I sat and off the Scotch in one drag.
“You were lucky, boy,” I said aloud. “Three wonders.”
I looked at the Mark 9’s on the table. A blast from one of those would have all four of us in that room. I them into a and my Browning 2mm. The trouble wasn’t over yet, I knew. After this farce, Kramer would have to make another move to his prestige. I the door, and left it ajar. Then I the main and out on my bunk. I put the Browning on the little near my right hand.
Perhaps I had a mistake, I reflected, in as as possible in the routine. It had the best for a long under the present conditions. [35]But now I had a that in at the on my part.
I that Kramer was the point of the trouble. He was my senior staff officer, and a great of weight in the Officer’s Mess. As a medic, he most of the than I. I I Kramer’s motive, too. He had always been a great success with the women. When he had for the mission he had pictured himself as a hero, off on a but quest. Now, after four years in space, he was to that he was no younger, and that at best he would have a decade of his in seclusion. He wanted to go now, and what he could.
It was to me that this movement have followers, but I had to the fact; my almost to a man had up the search it was well begun. I had the only a before, but the idea had spread through the like wildfire. Now, I couldn’t action, or a by ringleaders. I had to the along with an easy hand and for good news from the Survey Section. A likely now would save us.
There was still every to for success in our search. To date all had gone according to plan. We had the of Omega as as it had been charted, and then gone on, studying the ahead for of planets. We had our early in the fourth year of the voyage. It had been a long time since then of study and observation, one world after another as too massive, too cold, too close to a primary, too small to an atmosphere. In all we had twelve planets, of four suns. Only one had looked good for close observation. We had moved in to range it was an all-sea world.
Now we had five new main-sequence ahead six months’ range. I for a on a at any time. To turn now to a world that had its last on our success was unthinkable, yet this was Kramer’s plan, and that of his followers. They would not while I lived. Still it was not my plan to be a party to our failure through martyrdom. I to alive and through to success. I and waited.
I when they the door. It had open a at the touch of the one who had it, not it to be unlatched. It now, the light from the on the floor. No one entered. Kramer was still fumbling, [36]unsure of himself. At every with which I presented him, he was paralyzed, a trap. Several minutes passed in silence; then the door wider.
“I’ll be to kill the man who enters this room,” I said in a voice. I hadn’t up the gun.
I urgent in the hall. Then a hand in the of the door and the light switch. Nothing happened, since I had opened the main switch. It was only a small discomfiture, but it had the of with their plan of action, such as it was. These men were being pushed along by Kramer, without a out plan. They how to go about authority.
I called out, “I you call this nonsense off now, and go to your quarters, men. I don’t know who is in this, yet. You can away clean if you quietly, now, you’ve a mistake.”
I it would work. This little adventure, though it was, might to let off steam. The men would have something to talk about for a days. I up the and waited. If the failed, I would have to kill someone.
Distantly I a clatter. Moments later a the objects on the shelf, a later by a shuddering. Papers from my desk, across the floor. The bottle toppled, rolled to the wall. I dizzy, as my to under me. I for the key and it.
“Taylor,” I said, “this is the Captain. What’s the report?”
There was a the answer came. “Captain, we’ve taken a aft, a body. It must have us a it’s set up a rotation. I’ve called out Damage Control.”
“Good work, Taylor,” I said. I for Stores; the object must have about there. “This is the Captain,” I said. “Any there?”
I got a of noise, then a too-close transmission. “Uh, Cap’n, we got a in the here. I a seat over it. Man, that killed somebody.”
I off the and started at a run. My visitors had evaporated. In the passage men stood, milled, called questions. I my as I ran. “Taylor, order all hands to stations.”
It was difficult running, since the had an tilt. Loose was and along underfoot, by force. Aft of Stores, I the of air and high pressure from lines. Vapor clouds the [37]air. I called for for the whole sector.
Clay appeared out of the with his crew. “Sir,” he said, “it’s and in two places, and have the whole sector. There are at least three men dead, and two hurt.”
“Taylor,” I called, “let’s have another here on the triple. Get the here, too.” Clay and his men put on and moved off. I one from a man by and followed. The large puncture was in the lock. The room was sealed off, the air loss.
“Clay,” I said, “pass this up for the moment and that entry puncture sealed. I’ll put the in to this.”
I moved into clear air and called for reports from all sections. The of the was in the power room, where and power lines were and the cut up. The of to had been very close, but we had been lucky. This was the I had of an object at light speed.
It was how this threat to our safety the air. The men about their more than they had for months, and Kramer was by his air. The had at least for the time the normal discipline; the men still on the Captain in trouble.
Damage for the next seventy-two hours, wiring, welding, and testing. Power Section endlessly, air motions. Meanwhile, I almost hourly with Survey Section, for good news to the situation.
It was on Sunday morning, just after that Lt. Taylor came up to the looking sick.
“Sir,” he said, “we took more than we with that strike.” He stopped and hard.
“What have you got, Lieutenant?” I said.
“We missed a piece. It must have gone off on a through stores into the cooler. Clipped the line, and let warm air in. All the fresh is and rotten.” He gagged. “I got a of it, sir. Excuse me.” He away.
This was calamity.
We didn’t much in the way of fresh natural food; but what we had was vital. It was a bulky, to handle, but the hadn’t yet come up with to all the needs of man. We by for a long time on and concentrates; but there were [38]elements that you couldn’t that way. Hydroponics didn’t help; we had to have a of fresh meat and vegetables in every week, or start to die months.
I that Kramer wouldn’t let this pass. As Medical Officer he would be well his in calling to my attention the that our health would soon to suffer. I sure he would do so as and publicly as possible at the opportunity.
My best move was to him to the by making a announcement, the in the best possible light. That might take some of the out of anything Kramer said later.
I gave it to them, and to the point. “Men, we’ve just a loss. All the fresh stores are gone. That doesn’t we’ll be going on rations; there are of and aboard. But it we’re going to be from in our diet.
“We didn’t come out here on a cruise; we’re on a mission that no room for failure. This is just one more for us to face. Now let’s on with the job.”
I walked into the wardroom, a cup of near-coffee, and sat down. The screen a beach with surf. The up the crash and of the breakers. Considering the red that now the scene, I it was a choice. I for a high view of farmland.
Mannion sat at a table across the room with Kirschenbaum. They were over their cups, not talking. I where they stood. Mannion, Communications Officer, was neurotic, but an old Armed Force man. Discipline meant a to him. Kirschenbaum, Power Chief, was a joker, with cold eyes, and than he seemed. The question was he was to the of now.
Kramer walked in, not any time. He saw me and came over. He stopped a from the table, and said loudly, “Captain, I’d like to know your plans, now that the possibility of is out.”
I my near-coffee and looked at the farmland. I didn’t answer him. If I him mad, I take him at his game.
Kramer red. He didn’t like being ignored. The two at the other table were watching.
“Captain,” Kramer said loudly. “As Medical Officer I have to know what you’re taking to protect the health of the men.”
This was a little better. He was on the now; why he had a right to question his Commander. I wanted him a little though.
I looked up at him. “Kramer,”[39] I said in a clear, not too loud voice, “you’re on watch. I don’t want to you around the making light chit-chat until you’re properly from duty.” I to my near-coffee and the farmland. A river was in view now, and it mountains.
Kramer was furious. “Joyce has me, Captain,” he said, his voice with an effort. “I I’d take this up with you as soon as possible, since it the health of every man aboard.” He was trying to keep cool, in of himself.
“I haven’t any in the roster, Major,” I said mildly. “Report to your post.” I was the of now, as as it would me. I that to a direct order, on regulations, was a little too big a jump for Kramer at the moment. Tomorrow it might be different. But it was that I up the he was staging.
He wilted. “I’ll see you at 1700 in the room, Kramer,” I said as he away. Mannion and Kirschenbaum looked at each other, then their near-coffee and left. I their of the would help Kramer’s among the malcontents.
I left the and took the up to the and with Clay and his survey team.
“I think I’ve a in Delta 3, Captain,” Clay said. “I’m not sure, we’re still out.”
“All right, Clay,” I said. “Stay with it.”
Clay was one of my more men, to his work. Unfortunately, he was no man of action. He would have little in a show-down.
I was at the Schmidt when I the open. I turned; Kramer, Fine, Taylor, and a a dozen out, together. They were all needlers. At least they’d learned that much, I thought.
Kramer moved forward. “We that the question of the men’s has to be with right away, Captain,” he said smoothly.
I looked at him coldly, at the of his crew. I said nothing.
“What we’re with is grim, if we turn now. I can’t be for the results if there’s any delay,” Kramer said. He spoke in an tone. I looked them over, let the build.
“You’re in of this menagerie?” I said, looking at Kramer. “If so, you’ve got thirty to send them to their kennels. We’ll go into the of on the later. As for you, Major, you can under in quarters. Now Move.”
Kramer was to me [40]down, but Fine gave me a by at his sleeve. Kramer him loose, snarling. At that the into the lift. Fine and Taylor hesitated, then joined them. Kramer started to after them, then got of himself. The moved down.
Kramer about going for his needler. I looked at him through eyes. He to on his mouth, as usual. He his lips. “All right, I’m under arrest,” he said. “But as Medical Officer of this it’s my to you that you can’t live without a minimum of fresh food. We’ve got to start now.” He was pale, but determined. He couldn’t the of and from deficiency. The girls would give him another look.
“We’re going on, Kramer,” I said. “As long as we have a man still able to move. Teeth or no teeth.”
“Deficiency is no joke, Captain,” Kramer said. “You can all the of leprosy, cancer and just by a necessary in your diet. And we’re missing most of them.”
“Giving me your opinions is one thing, Kramer,” I said. “Mutiny is another.”
Clay the main screen, wide-eyed. I couldn’t send Kramer under his guard. “Let’s go, Kramer,” I said. “I’m locking you up myself.”
We in the lift. The men who had been with Kramer awkwardly, as we out into the passage. I two trouble-makers among them. I I might as well call them now as later. “Williams and Nagle,” I said, “this officer is under arrest. Escort him to his and lock him in.” As they hesitantly, Kramer said, “Keep your off me.” He started the passage.
If I Kramer put away else started trouble, I might be able to it through. I him and his two past the power section, and the mess. I there would be no there to see their hero Kramer under guard.
I was out of luck. Apparently word had gone out of Kramer’s arrest, and the was with men. They as we approached. Kramer stopped.
“Clear this passage, you men,” I said.
Slowly they to move back, ground reluctantly.
Suddenly Kramer shouted. “That’s right, you and complainers, clear the way so the Captain can take me to the and shoot me. You just want to talk about home; you haven’t got the to do anything about it.”
The moving halted, milled. Someone shouted, “Who’s he think he is, anyway.”
[41]Kramer toward me. “He thinks he’s the man who’s going to let you all alive, to save his record.”
“Williams, Nagle,” I said loudly, “clear this passage.”
Williams started half-heartedly to at the men nearest him. A out and his back. That was a mistake; Williams his needler, and a the passage.
“’Bout twelve a you yellow-bellies my way,” he yelled. “I’m comin’ through.”
Nagle moved close to Williams, and something to him. The noise it. Kramer to me, to his over the mob.
“Once I’m out of the way, there’ll be a purge,” he roared. The faded, as men to him.
“You’re all marked men. He’s gone mad. He won’t let one of you live.” Kramer had their now. “Take him now,” he shouted, and my arm to the action.
He’d it a little. I him across the with the of my hand. No one jumped to his assistance. I my 2mm. “If you a hand on your Commanding Officer again, I’ll you where you stand, Kramer.”
Then a voice came from me. “You’re not killing without a trial, Captain.” Joyce there with two of the chiefs, in hand. Fine and Taylor were not in sight.
I pushed Kramer out of my way and walked up to Joyce.
“Hand me that weapon, Junior, first,” I said. I looked him in the with all the I had. He a pace.
“Why don’t you jump him,” he called to the crowd.
The and spoke.
“Captain Greylorn, report to the bridge. Unidentified on main scope.”
Every man stopped in his tracks, listening. The continued. “Looks like it’s decelerating, Captain.”
I my pistol, pushed past Joyce, and for the lift. The me up, talking, as men under long ran for action stations.
Clay was under pressure. He sat at the main screen, and the blip, making marks.
“She’s too out for a track, Captain,” he said, “but I’m sure she’s braking.”
If that were true, this might be the we’d been for. Only or in space.
“How did you spot it, Clay?” I asked. Picking up a like this was a job, when you its coordinates.
“Just to catch my eye, Captain,” he said. “I always make a check every watch of the whole quadrant. I noticed a where[42] I didn’t one before.”
“You have an eye, Clay,” I said. “How about this object in the beam.”
“We’re trying now, Captain,” he said. “That’s a small field, though.”
Joyce called from the board, “I think I’m an echo at 15,000, sir. It’s weak.”
Miller, and meticulous, the control. “Give me your fix, Joyce,” he said. “I can’t it.”
Joyce called out his figures, in of to three places.
“You’re right on it, Joyce,” Miller called a minute later. “I got it. Now pray it don’t away when I it.”
Clay over Miller. “Take it a at a time,” he said calmly.
I Miller’s screen. A point near the center of the screen to a spec, and jumped nearly off the screen to the left. Miller it again, and to a higher power. This time it jumped less, and into two dots.
Step by step the was as ring after ring of the was into play. Each time the operation was more delicate. The image until it a of the screen. We at it in fascination.
It up in silhouette, in the “light” of the scope. Two perfect discs, joined by a filament. As we watched, their relative positions slowly shifted, one moving across, the other.
As the image drifted, Miller with at his to it on center, in focus.
“Wish you’d give me an on this thing, Joyce,” he said, “so I lock onto it.”
“It ain’t got no orbit, man,” Joyce said. “I’m trackin’ it, but I don’t it. That is on a with us, and slowin’ fast.”
“What’s the velocity, Joyce?” I asked.
“Averagin’ about 1,000 relative, Captain, but slowin’ fast.”
“All right, we’ll our course,” I said.
I for a announcement.
“This is the Captain,” I said. “General Quarters. Man action and prepare for possible one hour.”
“Missile Section. Arm No. 1 Battery and by.”
Then I added, “We don’t know what we’ve got here, but it’s not a natural body. Could be anything from a on up.”
I to the Beam screen. The image was clear, but without detail. The two slowly apart, then closed again.
“I’d that movement is to of two around a common center,” Clay said.
“I agree with you,” I said.[43] “Try to me a reading on the of the object.”
I Kramer had been locked up as I had ordered, but at this moment it unimportant. If this was, as I hoped, a with our colony, all our were over.
The object (I to call it a ship) approached steadily, still decelerating. Now Clay it up on the televideo, as it our forty-five hundred miles out.
“Captain, it’s my the will match with us at about 200 miles, at his present of deceleration,” Clay said.
“Hold you’ve got on him, and watch closely for anything that might be a missile,” I said.
