though seeking aid. As soon as his eyes were off me I lashed back with my extended hand and caught him on the neck with the edge. It was a cruel blow: he had a loaded gun. He fell unconscious on the ground and I pulled the weapon from his limp hands, ejecting the cartridges one by one into the mud.
'Sergeant Blogh. I want this man in the command car, under guard and under arrest.'
'Is the guard to be armed, sir?'
'Guard to be armed, weapon to be loaded. Lieutenant Hesk will perform guard duty. Now, this is our plan of attack.'
They listened in silence, impressed by my quick violence. I was ashamed of striking the cowardly blow - but I wouldn't let them know that. Better one sore neck than guns going off and people getting killed. I could trust Morton not to pull any triggers - and felt much better with him out of the way for the present. I assigned targets to every squad, but saved the main building for myself.
'So there it is. Get your men into position, then report back to me. When everything is covered I will enter and capture the control room. Now - move out.' My bold little army dispersed, attacking by the book. Rushing forward a few at a time, covering each other. After a few minutes the noncoms began radioing in. Objectives reached, no opposition, no one seen yet. Now it was up to me. Followed by the first sergeant and his squad I marched resolutely up the steps of the generating station and threw open the door. It opened directly into the turbine room. The turbines spun, the generators turned, there was no one in sight.
'Fully automated,' the sergeant said.
'Looks that way. Let's find the control room.' Tension grew as we scuttled down the hallway. I was very glad that mine was the only loaded weapon. I kept the pistol in my hand - but the safety was on since I had no intention of pulling the trigger: it was a prop to cheer the troops.
'Someone is in there, captain. See!'
The soldier was pointing at a frosted-glass door. A man's silhouette moved across it then vanished. 'Right, this is it, here we go, follow me!'
I took a deep breath - then threw the door open. Jumped inside and heard the squad move in after me. The grayhaired man stood in front of the control panel, tapping a dial.
'Ne faru nenion!' I shouted. 'Vi estas kaptito. Manoj en la aeron!'
'How very interesting,' he said turning about and smiling. 'Strangers speaking a strange tongue. Welcome, strangers, welcome to Bellegarrique Generating Plant Number One '
'I can understand you!' I said. 'You are speaking a dialect of Low Ingliss, that we speak on Bit O'Heaven.'
'Can't say that I have heard of the place. Your accent is strange, but it certainly is the same language.'
'What is he saying?' the first sergeant asked. 'You speak his lingo?'
'I do. Learnt it in school.' Which was true enough. 'He is welcoming us here.'
'Anyone else around?'
'Good question. I'll put it to him.'
'There are more staff, of course, but they'll be asleep. Shift workers. You must tell me more about yourself and your friends. My name is Stirner. Might I ask yours?' I started to answer, then drew myself up. This was no way to run a war. 'My name is not important, I am here to tell you that this planet is now controlled by the armed forces of Nevenkebla. If you cooperate you will not be harmed.'
I translated this into Esperanto so my soldiers would know what was happening. And told the sergeant to pass the word about the shift workers. Stirner politely waited until I was finished before he spoke.
'This is all very exciting, sir! Armed forces you say? That would mean weapons. Are those weapons that you are carrying?'
'They are. And be warned - we will defend ourselves if attacked.'
'I wouldn't concern myself with that. As a firm believer in Individual Mutualism I would never harm another.'
'But your army - or your police would!' I said, trickily.
'I know the words, of course, but you need not fear. There is no army here, nor do we have a police force. May I offer you some refreshments? I am being a very bad host.'
'I can't believe this is happening,' I muttered. 'Sergeant, get a connection to General Lowender's staff. Tell them we have made contact with the enemy. No sign of resistance. Informant says no armed forces, no police.' Closely watched by my gun-gripping troops, Stirner had opened a cabinet and removed a tall and interesting bottle. He set this on a table along with a tray of glasses.
'Wine,' he said. 'A very good one, for special guests. I hope you and your associates will enjoy it.' He handed me a glass.
'You taste it first,' I said with military suspicion.
'Your politeness, nameless sir, puts me to shame.' He sipped then passed me a glass. It was very good.
'Got the general himself,' the sergeant called out urgently, running over with the radio. 'Captain Drem speaking.'
'Drem - what does this report mean? Have you found the enemy?'
'I've occupied the generating plant, sir. No casualties. No resistance encountered.'
'You are the first to make contact. What are their defenses like?'
'Nonexistent, general. No resistance was offered of any kind. My prisoner states no military, no police.' The general made noises of disbelief. 'I'm sending a chopper for you and the prisoner. I want to question him myself. Out.'
Wonderful. The last place I wanted to be was with the top brass. There was too good a chance of General Zennor appearing and recognizing me from the bad old days when he was known as Garth. Self-survival urged me to climb into a hole. But weighed against my personal needs was the chance that I might be able to save lives. If I could convince the military numbskulls that there really would be no resistance. If I didn't do that, surely some triggerhappy cagal-kopf was sure to get nervous and start firing. All of his jumpy buddies would then join in and… It was a very realistic scenario. I had to make some effort to avoid it.
'An order from the general,' I told my expectant troops. 'I'm to bring him the prisoner. Transport is on the way. You are in charge, Sergeant Blogh, until Lieutenant Hesk gets here to relieve you. Take over. And take care of the wine.
He saluted and they were grabbing for the bottle when I left. Would such simple military pleasures were mine.
'You're coming with me,' I told Stirner, pointing toward the door.
'No, my duty is here. I am afraid I cannot oblige you.'
'It is not me you are going to oblige, it is your own people. There is a big army out there. All of them armed with weapons like this. They are now invading your country and are taking it over. People could be killed. But lives can be saved if I take you to the commanding officer and you manage to convince him there will be no resistance from your people. Do you understand me?'
A look of horror had been growing on his face as I talked. 'You are serious?' he gasped. 'You mean what you are saying.' I nodded grimly. 'Of course, then, yes. Incomprehensible, but I must come. I can't believe this.'
'The feeling is mutual.' I led him to the door. 'I can understand not having an army, all civilized worlds get by without the military. But the police, a necessary evil I would say.'
'Not for those who practice Individual Mutualism.' He was brightening up now at this chance to deliver a little lecture.
'I never heard of it. '
'How unfortunate for you! At the risk of simplifying I will explain…'
'Captain Drem, I got to talk to you!' the fallen corporal said, climbing out of the command car despite Morton's feeble efforts to stop him. He stopped in front of me, snapped to attention and saluted.
'I now see the error of my ways, sir. I thought because you are young and looked weak that I knew better than you, so I disobeyed an order and loaded my gun. I know now that I was wrong and you were right and I respectfully request a second chance since I am a thirty-year man and the army is my career.'
'And how do you know now that I was right. Private Aspya?'
He looked at me, eyes aglow. 'Because you beat me, sir! Knocked me down, fair and square. A man gotta do what a man gotta do - and you did it!'
What kind of macho-cagal was this? He had disobeyed a reasonable command that was aimed at avoiding
