is'—he looked down at some of his scribbling on a scratch pad and randomly chose a design—'an octagon within a circle. Any nonmilitary ship not carrying such an emblem is likely to be a pirate vessel. Your duty will be to demolish the first three such ships you encounter, then report directly to me. Under no circumstance is this to be discussed over subspace radio waves of any length, as we fear some of our communications may be monitored. Also, no more than three vessels are to be destroyed, as this preliminary act is merely to show any and all concerned parties that our vessels are no longer to be considered fair game. An all-out campaign will be mapped later. Good luck.” He turned off the device and tossed the recording to one of his aides.
“Take this to Greeley personally,” he said. “Don't leave until he's got it in his hands.” He turned to his remaining aide. “From this point forward, all alien correspondence to leave this office will be in Terran.” “What if the boss says no?”
“He's got a pretty big planet to run,” said Hill. “I don't think he'll bother reading anything that comes out of here. If he does, just play dumb and refer him to me.” This done, Hill settled down, went about his business, and waited for a report from Canphor VI. In less than a week it came in:
And, moments later, he was once again in the Governor's, sumptuous office. “Suppose you tell me just what the hell is going on?” demanded Bellows. “Sir?”
“Don't ‘sir’ me, Mel! The Canphor VI government is screaming bloody murder that we've blown away three of their cargo ships, and I can't get a straight answer out of Greeley. He keeps telling me to ask you about it.”
“All I told Greeley was to keep his eyes peeled for pirate vessels,” said Hill. “There hasn't been a pirate ship within fifty parsecs of the Canphor system in a century, and you know it!” snapped Bellows. “I want an explanation and I want it quick!” “I have none to make until I look into the matter,” said Hill. “For the present, I'd suggest that we write a profusely apologetic note to Canphor VI immediately. I'll do it if you like, and send you a draft for your personal approval.”
Bellows stared across the budge desk at his adviser. “I don't know what you're up to, Mel, but you're on very shaky ground at this moment. Past friendship aside, I won't hesitate to dump you if I find it necessary—and I'll find it necessary if there's one more incident like this.” Hill returned to his office, dictated the note of apology, and sent it to Bellows. It came back with the Governor's approval.
“Okay,” he said to his secretary. “Send it off.” “In Galactic, sir?” she asked.
“In Terran,” said Hill calmly.
Within hours the government of Canphor VI sent back a message that the apology was unacceptable. “What will the Governor say to that one?” said one of Hill's aides, looking at the transcribed reply. “I haven't the slightest idea,” said Hill. “However, I don't think he'll say too much.” “Oh? Why?”
“Because I've released copies of our apology and Canphor VI's answer to the media.” The intercom lit up, and Hill pressed a button. “Hill here.” “Mel, this is Josh. I don't know why Canphor VI turned your note down, but I've got a pretty good suspicion. Did you send it in Galactic?” “I can't recall,” said Hill.
“That's it!” bellowed the Governor. “You've got two days to put your affairs in order and clear out.
You're fired!”
“I wouldn't release that to the press for a few hours yet, Josh,” said Hill. “And why not?”
“It won't make the headlines until they're through running the story about Canphor VI turning down our apology.”
The intercom flicked off without another comment from Bellows. “We haven't got much time,” said Hill to his aides. “Three hours from now every human in the Deluros system will be screaming for war, and by tomorrow morning the rest of the human worlds will be out for blood too. If Josh wants to keep his political scalp, he'll have to attack—and if I know Josh, he'll procrastinate until it's too late.”
“I don't see that you can do anything about it,” volunteered one of the aides. “That's why I'm your boss instead of the other way around,” said Hill. “Send the following message to Greeley, unscrambled.'’ He paused, trying to get the words straight in his mind, and then began dictating.
Hill looked up. “What's the latest frequency that Canphor VI has cracked?” “H57, about a week ago.”
“Good. Send it on H57, but in Terran. We don't want to make it look too easy for them.” “What if Greeley attacks?” asked an aide. “He won't,” said Hill. “He doesn't know what the hell I'm talking about, so he'll come racing back to base, just in time to help fend off the Canphor fleet.” Hill walked out his door and strolled casually over to Bellows's office. He smoked a cigar, checked his watch, decided that the message would have been sent and intercepted by now, and walked in. The security agents had already been instructed that he was no longer a member of the staff, and they barred his way. After sending through his formal request to see the Governor, he was kept cooling his heels in the outer office for another hour before he was finally ushered in. “I don't know why I'm wasting time like this,” began Bellows. “I've got nothing to say to you.” “But I've got a lot to say to you, Josh,” said Hill. “Especially since this is probably the last time we'll ever speak together. May I sit down?”
Bellows stared hard at him, then nodded. “Why did you do it, Mel?”
“I suppose I should say I did it for you,” said Hill, “and in a way I did. But mostly, I did it for Man,'’ He paused. “Josh, I don't want to startle you, but you're going to have a war on your hands in less than a day, and there's no way in hell you can get out of it, so you'd better make up your mind to win it.” “What are you talking about?” demanded Bellows. “Canphor VI,” said Hill. “And possibly Canphor VII too. They'll be attacking Deluros VIII very shortly. It'll take very little effort to beat them back, and not much more to defeat them. They're operating on the assumption that we're unprotected.” Bellows reached for his intercom panel, but Hill laid a hand on his arm. “No hurry, Josh. Greeley will be back ahead of them, and has probably got everybody in an uproar already. Let's talk for a few minutes first; then you can do anything you want to me.” Bellows sat back in his chair, glaring. “Josh, I'm not going to tell you how this came about. It's so simple you wouldn't believe me anyhow, and besides, you'll be able to speak with a little more forcefulness and moral outrage on the video if you don't know. But the thing is, it's started. Man's about to make his first move back up the ladder, and you're going to go down in history as the guy that did it. It won't be completed in your term, or your lifetime, or even in a millennium, but it's started now and nothing's going to stop it. “You've got the people behind you,” Hill continued, “plus the unswerving loyalty of the military. This battle won't amount to anything more than a minor skirmish, and knowing you, I'm sure you'll offer very generous terms to Canphor when it's over. But the very least the legislature will demand is that the Canphor system become a human protectorate. They'll want more than that, but I imagine you'll get them to compromise there. Whatever the result, the Canphor worlds will contribute their taxes to Deluros VIII, and our tariffs will reflect their change in status. “And once you find out just how easy this is, it'll occur again and again in some form or another. You're going to be riding a tidal wave of sentiment, and you're either going to steer it where it wants to go or get thrown out of the saddle within a month You'll be very careful and meticulous, and you'll always pay lip service to the Democracy. Perhaps it will even remain as a figurehead of galactic power, but the handwriting will be on the wall. Man's going to wind up calling the shots again.” “I don't know what you think you've done,” said Bellows, “but whatever it is, it can be undone. If there really is an alien attack force on the way from Canphor, I'll see to it that it's called back.” “Uh-uh, Josh,” said Hill. “They've heard what they've been expecting to hear, and they're not going to believe
