"Soldiers of Nevenkebia, I salute you. You are now embarked on the greatest venture ever conceived by our country. Your victory in the field will enrich and strengthen our fatherland so that none will ever dare consider an attack upon us. The riches of a new world will be ours. The riches of this world—Chojecki!"
There was a blare of tinny music as Zennor vanished to be replaced by the blue sphere of a planet floating in space. But if we were spared his image his flatulent voice still hammered in our ears.
"Chojecki. Rich, warm, fertile. It was a chance in a million that we discovered it. The ship I commanded was being followed by the killers of the League Navy and we used a random, untraceable jump to escape them. This noble planet was what we found. Perhaps there is a higher power that guided us to our destiny, perhaps the needs of our noble land were divined by benevolencies unknown to us."
"Perhaps that is a load of old cagal," someone whispered and there were mutters of agreement in the darkness. These were combat officers who preferred truth to propaganda. But there was no stopping Zennor.
"We landed and made a survey. It is a rich planet with immense reserves of heavy metals, abundant forests, untapped rivers to supply hydroelectric power. If there is anything at all wrong with Chojecki it is the present inhabitants."
We listened now with interest because there was an edge of irritation that Zennor could not keep out of his voice.
"They are disgusting people, with vile attitudes and strange perversions. We approached them openly, extending the hand of friendship. We offered them aid, companionship, trade, contact with a superior civilization. And do you know what we got in return? Do you know what they did?"
The anger in his voice was obvious now, his audience eager.
"I'll tell you what they did. They did nothing! They completely ignored us, turned away from us—rejected all civilized contact."
"Probably knew just what they were doing," someone said and the general shouted for silence. The planet popped out of existence and Zennor's image returned. His temper was under control now but there was a baleful look in his eye.
"So you officers will understand that what we are doing is for their own benefit. Ours is an old culture and a wise one. We extended the hand of friendship and aid and it was rejected. We have bgen insulted, offended by these peasants. Therefore, for their own good, we must show them that Nevenkebia pride does not take insult easily. They have asked for this and they are going to get it. We come in friendship to aid them. If they reject our aid they have only themselves to blame. "Long live Nevenkebia! "Long live positive peace!"
The lights came up and we were all on our feet cheering like fools. I cheered as loud as anyone. Trumpets blared and a rather dreary piece of recorded music began playing. Everyone snapped to attention and sang the words of their despicable anthem.
Long live Nevenkebia, Land of peace, Land of goodness, land of light. Long live our leaders, Sweet men of mercy.
Long shall we preserve Liberty's right. But dare to attack us—And you got B fight!
There was more like this and I hummed along and was exceedingly happy when the singing ended. A holomap now hung in the air and General Lowender poked it with his finger.
"You will all be issued with maps and detailed orders. We will meet again tomorrow after you have studied them.
At that time we will go over the plan of attack in detail. But as an overall approach—this is what will happen.
"This division, the 88th, known as the Fighting Green Devils, has the honor of liberating this industrial section of the largest city called by the barbaric name of Bellegarrique. There are mines here and here, warehouses, a rail transportation system and here, ten kilometers away, a dam at the end of this lake that provides electricity for the city. For the benefit of these selfish people we will occupy all of these targets. We will liberate them from the futility of their rejection of our reasonable needs."
"A question, general," a colonel called out. The general nodded. "What kind of defenses can we expect? How large is their army? How modern?"
"That is a good question, colonel, and a vital one. We must be prepared for anything, any_ variety of attack, any kind of surprise. Because these people are very subtle, tricky, wily, treacherous. It seems that, well, in all of the contacts made by General Zennor, all of the investigations made by skilled agents, it seems that something very" suspicious was found to be happening. It appears, on the surface that is, that these treacherous people have no army, no defenses—they do not even have a police force!" He waited for the hum of excited voices to die down before he raised his hand for silence.
"Now we all know that this is impossible. A country needs defenses against attack, therefore every country must have an army for defense. The criminal elements in society would plunder and destroy were they not curbed by the police. Now we know that those are realities. We ' know that these treacherous people are hiding their cowardly arm~-Trom us. Therefore we must proceed with armed cautiop, ready for any sneak attack. We must free them from themselves. We owe that to them," I have never in my life heard such a load of old cagal—but it impressed my military mates who cheered wildly at the thought of all the nice mayhem to come.
While I wondered what disastrous future lav in store for these simple people about to be liberated from their stupid and peaceful ways.
Liberation by destruction was on the wayl We would free them even if we had to kill them all to do it!
Chapter 15
I returned to my company, clutching the package of sealed orders and holding tight to the idea that this was the most insane endeavor I had ever heard of. Morton looked up when I entered the cabin.
"You are wearing a very worried look," he said. "Something personal—or should we all be worried?"
"Anything I can do for you, captain?" Sergeant Blogh asked, popping in the door behind me. They all wanted to know about the meeting. I threw the package onto the bed.
"Sergeant, what is the position regarding strong drink on troop transports about to go into action?"
"It is strictly forbidden, sir, and a court-martial offense. But one of the spare tanks on the command car is filled with ninety-nine."
"Ninety-nine what?"
"Ninety-nine percent pure alcohol. Cut half with water and stir in dehydrated orange juice."
"Since we are going into combat I am making a field appointment. Acting First Sergfeant Blogh you are now First Sergeant Blogh."
There was a rattle as Morton dropped three canteen cups onto the table, a thud as a bag of orange crystals followed. I could see where he was getting adjusted to the army.
The sergeant came back with a twenty-liter jerrycan, which with added water would make forty liters of hundred proof drink which, in turn, should make this voyage more bearable.
We clanked mugs and drank deep.
"This stuff is pretty repulsive," Morton said holding out his empty cup for more. "Can you now tell us what you found out?"
"I have some good news and some good news. The first good news is that we are going to invade and occupy an incredibly rich and heretofore unknown planet named Chojecki. Secondly—they don't appear to have any defenses of any kind. No military, no police, nothing."
"Impossible," the sergeant said.
"Anything is possible in the fullness of time and the width of the galaxy. Let us hope the report is correct because it will certainly make for an easy invasion."