CHAPTER VI
The Peace Conference
"Here's a chart of the green system, Mart, with all the motions and therest of the dope that they've been able to get. How'd it be for you tonavigate us over to the third planet of the fourteenth sun?"
"While you build a Fenachrone super-generator?"
"Right, the first time. Your deducer is hitting on all eight, as usual.That big ray is hot stuff, and their ray-screen is something to writehome about, too."
"How can their rays be any hotter than ours, Dick?" Dorothy askedcuriously. "I thought you said we had the very last word in rays."
"I thought we had, but those birds we met back there spoke a couple oflater words. Their rays work on an entirely different system than theone we use. They generate an extremely short carrier wave, like theMillikan cosmic ray, by recombining some of the electrons and protons oftheir disintegrating metal, and upon this wave they impose a pure heatfrequency of terrific power. The Millikan rays will penetrate anythingexcept a special ray screen or a zone of force, and carry withthem--somewhat as radio frequencies carry sound frequencies--the heatrays, which volatilize anything they touch. Their ray screens are a lotbetter than ours, too--they generate the entire spectrum. It's a sweetsystem and when we revamp ours so as to be just like it, we'll be ableto talk turkey to those folks on the third planet."
"How long will it take you to build it?" asked Crane, who, dexterouslyturning the pages of "Vega's Handbuch" was calculating their course.
"A day or so--maybe less. I've got all the stuff and with my Osnomiantools it won't take long. If you find you'll get there before I getdone, you'll have to loaf a while--kill a little time."
"Are you going to connect the power plant to operate on the entirevessel and all its contents?"
"No--can't do it without redesigning the whole thing and that's hardlyworth while for the short time we'll use this old bus."
Building those generators would have been a long and difficult task fora corps of earthly mechanics and electricians, but to Seaton it wasmerely a job. The "shop" had been enlarged and had been filled tocapacity with Osnomian machinery; machine tools that were capable ofperforming automatically and with the utmost precision and speed anyconceivable mechanical operation. He put a dozen of them to work, andbefore the vessel reached its destination, the new offensive anddefensive weapons had been installed and thoroughly tested. He had addeda third screen-generator, so that now, in addition to the four-foot hullof arenak and the repellers, warding off any material projectile, theSkylark was also protected by an outer, an intermediate, and an innerray-screen; each driven by the super-power of a four-hundred-pound barand each covering the entire spectrum--capable of neutralizing anydangerous frequency known to those master-scientists, the Fenachrone.
As the _Skylark_ approached the planet, Seaton swung number sixvisiplate upon it, and directed their flight toward a great army base.Darting down upon it, he snatched an officer into the airlock, closedthe door, and leaped back into space. He brought the captive into thecontrol room pinioned by auxiliary attractors, and relieved him of hisweapons. He then rapidly read his mind, encountering no noticeableresistance, released the attractors, and addressed him in his ownlanguage.
"Please be seated, lieutenant," Seaton said courteously, motioning himto one of the seats. "We come in peace. Please pardon my discourtesy inhandling you, but it was necessary in order to learn your language andthus to get in touch with your commanding officer."
The officer, overcome with astonishment that he had not been killedinstantly, sank into the seat indicated, without a reply, and Seatonwent on:
"Please be kind enough to signal your commanding officer that we arecoming down at once, for a peace conference. By the way, I can read yoursignals, and will send them myself if necessary."
The stranger worked an instrument attached to his harness briefly, andthe _Skylark_ descended slowly toward the fortress.
"I know, of course, that your vessels will attack," Seaton remarked, ashe noted a crafty gleam in the eyes of the officer. "I intend to letthem use all their power for a time, to prove to them the impotence oftheir weapons. After that, I shall tell you what to say to them."
"Do you think this is altogether safe, Dick?" asked Crane as they saw afleet of gigantic airships soaring upward to meet them.
"Nothing sure but death and taxes," returned Seaton cheerfully, "butdon't forget that we've got Fenachrone armament now, instead ofOsnomian. I'm betting that they can't begin to drive their rays througheven our outer screen. And even if our outer screen should begin to gointo the violet--I don't think it will even go cherry-red--out goes ourzone of force and we automatically go up where no possible airship canreach. Since their only space-ships are rocket driven, and ofpractically no maneuverability, they stand a big chance of getting tous. Anyway, we must get in touch with them, to find out if they knowanything we don't, and this is the only way I know of to do it. Besides,I want to head Dunark off from wrecking this world. They're exactly thesame kind of folks he is, you notice, and I don't like civil war. Anysuggestions? Keep an eye on that bird, then, Mart, and we'll go down."
* * * * *
The _Skylark_ dropped down into the midst of the fleet, which instantlyturned against her the full force of their giant guns and their immenseray batteries. Seaton held the _Skylark_ motionless, staring into hisvisiplate, his right hand grasping the zone-switch.
"The outer screen isn't even getting warm!" he exulted after a moment.The repellers were hurling the shells back long before they reached eventhe outer screen, and they were exploding harmlessly in the air. Thefull power of the ray-generators, too, which had been so destructive tothe Osnomian defenses, were only sufficient to bring the outer screen toa dull red glow. After fifteen minutes of passive acceptance of all theairships could do, Seaton spoke to the captive.
"Sir, please signal the commanding officer of vessel seven-two-four thatI am going to cut it in two in the middle. Have him remove all men inthat part of the ship to the ends, and have parachutes in readiness, asI do not wish to cause any loss of life."
The signal was sent, and, as the officer was already daunted by the factthat their utmost efforts could not even make the strangers' screensradiate, it was obeyed. Seaton then threw on the frightful power of theFenachrone super-generators. The defensive screens of the doomed warshipflashed once--a sparkling, coruscating display of incandescentbrilliance--and in the same instant went down. Simultaneously the entiremidsection of the vessel exploded into light and disappeared; completelyvolatilized.
"Sir, please signal the entire fleet to cease action, and to follow medown. If they do not do so, I will destroy the rest of them."
The _Skylark_ dropped to the ground, followed by the fleet of warships,who settled in a ring about her--inactive, but ready.
"Will you please loan me your sending instrument, sir?" Seaton asked."From this point on I can carry on negotiations better direct thanthrough you."
The lieutenant found his voice as he surrendered the instrument.
"Sir, are you the Overlord of Osnome, of whom we have heard? We hadsupposed that one was a mythical character, but you must be he--no oneelse would spare lives that he could take, and the Overlord is the onlybeing reputed to have a skin the color of yours."
"Yes, lieutenant, I am the Overlord--and I have decided to become theOverlord of the entire green system, as well as of Osnome."
He then sent out a call to the commander-in-chief of all the armies ofthe planet, informing him that he was coming to visit him at once, andthe _Skylark_ tore through the air to the capital city. No sooner hadthe earthly vessel alighted upon the palace grounds than she wassurrounded by a ring of warships who, however, made no offensive move.Seaton again used the telegraph.
"Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the planet Urvania; greetingsfrom the Overlord of this solar system. I invite you to come into myvessel, unarmed and alone, for a conference. I come in peace and, peaceo
r war as you decide, no harm shall come to you, until after you havereturned to your own command. Think well before you reply."
"If I refuse?"
"I shall destroy one of the vessels surrounding me, and shall continueto destroy them, one every ten seconds, until you agree to come. If youstill do not agree. I shall destroy all the armed forces upon thisplanet, then destroy all your people who are at present upon Osnome. Iwish to avoid bloodshed and destruction, but I can and I will do as Ihave said."
"I will come."
The general came out upon the field unarmed, escorted by a company ofsoldiers. A hundred feet from the vessel he halted the guards and cameon alone, erect and soldierly. Seaton met him at the door and invitedhim to be seated.
"What can you have to say to me?" the general demanded, disregarding theinvitation.
"Many things. First, let me say that you are not only a brave man; youare a wise general--your visit to me proves it."
"It is a sign of weakness, but I believed when I heard those reports,and still believe, that a refusal would have resulted in a heavy loss ofour men," was the General's reply.
"It would have," said Seaton. "I repeat that your act was not weakness,but wisdom. The second thing I have to say is that I had not planned ontaking any active part in the management of things, either upon Osnomeor upon this planet, until I learned of a catastrophe that isthreatening all the civilization in this Galaxy--thus threatening my owndistant world as well as those of this solar system. Third, only bysuperior force can I make either your race or the Osnomians listen toreason sufficiently to unite against a common foe. You have been rearedin unreasoning hatred for so many generations that your minds arewarped. For that reason I have assumed control of this entire system,and shall give you your choice between co-operating with us or beingrendered incapable of molesting us while our attention is occupied bythis threatened invasion."
"We will have no traffic with the enemy whatever," said the general."This is final."
"You just think so. Here is a mathematical statement of what is goingto happen to your world, unless I intervene." He handed the general adrawing of Dunark's plan and described it in detail. "That is the answerof the Osnomians to your invasion of their planet. I do not want thisworld destroyed, but if you refuse to make common cause with us againsta common foe, it may be necessary. Have you forces at your commandsufficient to frustrate this plan?"
"No; but I cannot really believe that such a deflection of celestialbodies is possible. Possible or not, you realize that I could not yieldto empty threats."
"Of course not," said Seaton, "but you were wise enough to refuse tosacrifice a few ships and men in a useless struggle against myoverwhelming armament, therefore you are certainly wise enough to refuseto sacrifice your entire race. However, before you come to any definiteconclusion, I will show you what threatens the Galaxy."
* * * * *
He handed the other a headset and ran through the section of the recordshowing the plans of the invaders. He then ran a few sections showingthe irresistible power at the command of the Fenachrone.
"That is what awaits us all unless we combine against them."
"What are your requirements?" the general asked.
"I request immediate withdrawal of all your armed forces now upon Osnomeand full co-operation with me in this coming war against the invaders.In return, I will give you the secrets I have just given theOsnomians--the power and the offensive and defensive weapons of thisvessel."
"The Osnomians are now building vessels such as this one?" asked thegeneral.
"They are building vessels a hundred times the size of this one, withthe same armament."
"For myself, I would agree to your terms. However, the word of theEmperor is law."
"I understand," replied Seaton. "Would you be willing to seek animmediate audience with him? I would suggest that both you and heaccompany me, and we shall hold a peace conference with the OsnomianEmperor and Commander-in-Chief upon this vessel. We shall be gone lessthan a day."
"I shall do so at once."
"You may accompany your general, lieutenant. Again I ask pardon for mynecessary rudeness."
As the Urvanian officers hurried toward the palace, the otherTerrestrials, who had been listening in from another room, entered.
"It sounded as though you convinced him, Dick; but that language isnothing like Kondalian. Why don't you teach it to us? Teach it to Shiro,too, so he can cook for, and talk to, our distinguished guestsintelligently, if they're going back with us."
As he connected up the educator, Seaton explained what had happened, andconcluded:
"I want to stop this civil war, keep Dunark from destroying this planet,preserve Osnome for Osnomians, and make them all co-operate with usagainst the Fenachrone. That's one tall order, since these folks haven'tthe remotest notion of anything except killing."
A company of soldiers approached, and Dorothy got up hastily.
"Stick around, folks. We can all talk to them."
"I believe that it would be better for you to be alone," Crane decided,after a moment's thought. "They are used to autocratic power, and canunderstand nothing but one-man control. The girls and I will keep out ofit."
"That might be better at that," and Seaton went to the door to welcomethe guests. Seaton instructed them to lie flat, and put on all theacceleration they could bear. It was not long until they were back inKondal, where Roban, the Karfedix, and Tarnan, the Karbix, acceptedSeaton's invitation and entered the Skylark, unarmed. Back out in space,the vessel stationary, Seaton introduced the emperors andcommanders-in-chief to each other--introductions which were acknowledgedalmost imperceptibly. He then gave each a headset, and ran the completerecord of the Fenachrone brain.
"Stop!" shouted Roban, after only a moment. "Would you, the Overlord ofOsnome, reveal such secrets as this to the arch-enemies of Osnome?"
"I would. I have taken over the Overlordship of the entire green systemfor the duration of this emergency, and I do not want two of its planetsengaged in civil war."
The record finished, Seaton tried for some time to bring the four greenwarriors to his way of thinking, but in vain. Roban and Tarnan remainedcontemptuous. They would have thrown themselves upon him, but for theknowledge that no fifty unarmed men of the green race could haveovercome his strength--to them supernatural. The two Urvanians wereequally obdurate. This soft earth-being had given them everything; theyhad given him nothing and would give him nothing. Finally Seaton rose tohis full height and stared at them in turn, wrath and determinationblazing in his eyes.
"I have brought you four together, here in a neutral vessel in neutralspace, to bring about peace between you. I have shown you the benefitsto be derived from the peaceful pursuit of science, knowledge, andpower, instead of continuing this utter economic waste of continual war.You all close your senses to reason. You of Osnome accuse me of being aningrate and a traitor; you of Urvania consider me a soft-headed,sentimental weakling, who may safely be disregarded--all because I thinkthe welfare of the numberless peoples of the Universe more importantthan your narrow-minded, stubborn, selfish vanity. Think what youplease. If brute force is your only logic, know now that I can, andwill, use brute force. Here are the seven disks," and he placed thebracelet upon Roban's knee.
"If you four leaders are short-sighted enough to place your petty enmitybefore the good of all civilization, I am done with you forever. I havedeliberately given Urvanians precisely the same information that I havegiven the Osnomians--no more and no less. I have given neither of youall that I know, and I shall know much more than I do now, before thetime of the conquest shall have arrived. Unless you four men, here andnow, renounce this war and agree to a perpetual peace between yourworlds, I shall leave you to your mutual destruction. You do not yetrealize the power of the weapons I have given you. When you do realizeit, you will know that mutual destruction is inevitable if you continuethis internecine war. I shall continue upon other worlds my search for
the one secret standing between me and a complete mastery of power. ThatI shall find that secret I am confident; and, having found it, I shall,without your aid, destroy the Fenachrone.
"You have several times remarked with sneers that you are not to beswayed by empty threats. What I am about to say is no empty threat--itis a most solemn promise, given by one who has both the will and thepower to fulfill his every given word. Now listen carefully to this, myfinal utterance. If you continue this warfare and if the victor shouldnot be utterly destroyed in its course, I swear as I stand here, by thegreat First Cause, that I shall myself wipe out every trace of thesurviving nation as soon as the Fenachrone shall have been obliterated.Work with each other and me and we all may live--fight on and both yournations, to the last person, will most certainly die. Decide now whichit is to be. I have spoken."
* * * * *
Roban took up the bracelet and clasped it again about Seaton's arm,saying, "You are more than ever our Overlord. You are wiser than are we,and stronger. Issue your commands and they shall be obeyed."
"Why did not you say those things first, Overlord?" asked the Urvanianemperor, as he saluted and smiled. "We could not in honor submit to aweakling, no matter what the fate in store. Having convinced us of yourstrength, there can be no disgrace in fighting beneath your screens. Anarmlet of seven symbols shall be cast and ready for you when you nextvisit us. Roban of Osnome, you are my brother."
The two emperors saluted each other and stared eye to eye for a longmoment, and Seaton knew that the perpetual peace had been signed. Thenall four spoke, in unison:
"Overlord, we await your commands."
"Dunark of Osnome is already informed as to what Osnome is to do. Say tohim that it will not be necessary for him to build the vessel for me;the Urvanians will do that. Urvan of Urvania, you will accompany Robanto Osnome, where you two will order instant cessation of hostilities.Osnome has many ships of this type, and upon some of them you willreturn your every soldier and engine of war to your own planet. As soonas possible you will build for me a vessel like that of the Fenachrone,except that it shall be ten times as large, in every dimension, andexcept that every instrument, control, and weapon is to be left out."
"Left out? It shall be so built--but of what use will it be?"
"The empty spaces shall be filled after I have returned from my quest.You will build this vessel of dagal. You will also instruct the Osnomiancommander in the manufacture of that metal, which is so much moreresistant than their arenak."
"But, Overlord, we have...."
"I have just brought immense stores of the precious chemical and of themetal of power to Osnome. They will share it with you. I also advise youto build for yourselves many ships like those of the Fenachrone, withwhich to do battle with the invaders, in case I should fail in my quest.You will, of course, see to it that there will be a corps of your mostefficient mechanics and artisans within call at all times in case Ishould return and have sudden need for them."
"All these things shall be done."
The conference ended, the four nobles were quickly landed upon Osnomeand once more the _Skylark_ traveled out into her element, the totalvacuum and absolute zero of the outer void, with Crane at the controls.
"You certainly sounded savage, Dick. I almost thought you really meantit!" Dorothy chuckled.
"I did mean it, Dot. Those fellows are mighty keen on detecting bluffs.If I hadn't meant it, and if they hadn't known that I meant it, I'dnever have got away with it."
"But you _couldn't_ have meant it, Dick! You wouldn't have destroyed theOsnomians, surely--you know you wouldn't."
"No, but I would have destroyed what was left of the Urvanians, and allfive of us knew exactly how it would have turned out and exactly what Iwould have done about it--that's why they all pulled in their horns."
"I don't know what would have happened," interjected Margaret. "Whatwould have?"
"With this new stuff the Urvanians would have wiped the Osnomians out.They are an older race, and so much better in science and mechanics thatthe Osnomians wouldn't have stood much chance, and knew it.Incidentally, that's why I'm having them build our new ship. They'll puta lot of stuff into it that Dunark's men would miss--maybe some stuffthat even the Fenachrone haven't got. However, though it might seem thatthe Urvanians had all the best of it, Urvan knew that I had something upmy sleeve besides my bare arm--and he knew that I'd clean up what therewas left of his race if they polished off the Osnomians."
"What a frightful chance you were taking, Dick!" gasped Dorothy.
"You have to be hard to handle those folks--and believe me, I was aforty-minute egg right then. They have such a peculiar mental and moralslant that we can hardly understand them at all. This idea ofco-operation is so new to them that it actually dazed all four of themeven to consider it."
"Do you suppose they will fight, anyway?" asked Crane.
"Absolutely not. Both nations have an inflexible code of honor, such asit is, and lying is against both codes. That's one thing I like aboutthem--I'm sort of honest myself, and with either of these races you neednothing signed or guaranteed."
"What next, Dick?"
"Now the real trouble begins. Mart, oil up the massive old intellect.Have you found the answer to the problem?"
"What problem?" asked Dorothy. "You didn't tell us anything about aproblem."
"No, I told Mart. I want the best physicist in this entire solarsystem--and since there are only one hundred and twenty-five planetsaround these seventeen suns, it should be simple to yon phenomenalbrain. In fact, I expect to hear him say 'elementary, my dear Watson,elementary'!"
"Hardly that, Dick, but I have found out a few things. There are someeighty planets which are probably habitable for beings like us. Otherthings being equal, it seems reasonable to assume that the older thesun, the longer its planets have been habitable, and therefore the olderand more intelligent the life...."
"'Ha! ha! It was elementary,' says Sherlock." Seaton interrupted."You're heading directly at that largest, oldest, and most intelligentplanet, then, I take it, where I can catch me my physicist?"
"Not directly at it, no. I am heading for the place where it will bewhen we reach it. That is elementary."
"Ouch! That got to me, Mart, right where I live. I'll be good."
"But you are getting ahead of me, Dick--it is not as simple as you haveassumed from what I have said so far. The Osnomian astronomers have donewonders in the short time they have had, but their data, particularly onthe planets of the outer suns, is as yet necessarily very incomplete.Since the furthermost outer sun is probably the oldest, it is the one inwhich we are most interested. It has seven planets, four of which areprobably habitable, as far as temperature and atmosphere are concerned.However, nothing exact is yet known of their masses, motions, or places.Therefore I have laid our course to intercept the closest one to us, asnearly as I can from what meager data we have. If it should prove to beinhabited by intelligent beings, they can probably give us more exactinformation concerning their neighboring planets. That is the best I cando."
"That's a darn fine best, old top--narrowing down to four from a hundredand twenty-five. Well, until we get there, what to do? Let's sing us asong, to keep our fearless quartette in good voice."
"Before you do anything," said Margaret seriously, "I would like to knowif you really think there is a chance of defeating those monsters."
* * * * *
"In all seriousness, I do. In fact, I am quite confident of it. If wehad two years, I know that we could lick them cold; and by stepping onthe gas I believe we can get the dope in less than the six months wehave to work in."
"I know that you are serious, Dick. Now you know that I do not want todiscourage any one, but I can see small basis for optimism," Crane spokeslowly and thoughtfully. "I hope that you will be able to control thezone of force--but you are not studying it yourself. You seem to becertain that somewhere in this system there
is a race who already knowsall about it. I would like to know your reasons for thinking that such arace exists."
"They may not be upon this system; they may have been outsiders, as weare--but I have reasons for believing them to be natives of this system,since they were green. You are as familiar with Osnomian mythology as Iam--you girls in particular have read Osnomian legends to Osnomianchildren for hours. Also identically the same legends prevail uponUrvania. I read them in that lieutenant's brain--in fact, I looked forthem. You also know that every folk-legend has some basis, howevertenuous, in fact. Now, Dottie, tell about the battle of the gods, whenOsnome was a pup."
"The gods came down from the sky," Dorothy recited. "They were green, aswere men. They wore invisible armor of polished metal, which appearedand disappeared. They stayed inside the armor and fought outside it withswords and lances of fire. Men who fought against them cut them throughand through with swords, and they struck the men with lances of flame sothat they were stunned. So the gods fought in days long gone andvanished in their invisible armor, and----"
"That's enough," interrupted Seaton. "The little red-haired girl has herlesson perfectly. Get it, Mart?"
"No, I cannot say that I do."
"Why, it doesn't even make sense!" exclaimed Margaret.
"All right, I'll elucidate. Listen!" and Seaton's voice grew tense withearnestness. "Visitors came down out of space. They were green. Theywore zones of force, which they flashed on and off. They stayed insidethe zones and projected their images outside, and used rays _through thezones_. Men who fought against the images cut them through and throughwith swords, but could not harm them since they were not actualsubstance; and the images directed rays against the men so that theywere stunned. So the visitors fought in days long gone, and vanished intheir zones of force. How does that sound?"
"You have the most stupendous imagination the world has ever seen--butthere may be some slight basis of fact there, after all," said Crane,slowly.
"I'm convinced of it, for one reason in particular. Notice that it saysspecifically that the visitors stunned the natives. Now that thought isabsolutely foreign to all Osnomian nature--when they strike they kill,and always have. Now if that myth has come down through so manygenerations without having that 'stunned' changed to 'killed', I'mwilling to bet a few weeks of time that the rest of it came down fairlystraight, too. Of course, what they had may not have been the zone offorce as we know it, but it must have been a ray of some kind--andbelieve me, that was one educated ray. Somebody sure had something, even'way back in those days. And if they had anything at all back there,they must know a lot by now. That's why I want to look 'em up."
"But suppose they want to kill us off at sight?" objected Dorothy. "Theymight be able to do it, mightn't they?"
"Sure, but they probably wouldn't want to--any more than you would stepon an ant who asked you to help him move a twig. That's about how muchahead of us they probably are. Of course, we struck a pure mentalityonce, who came darn near dematerializing us entirely, but I'm bettingthat these folks haven't got that far along yet. By the way, I've got ahunch about those pure intellectuals."
"Oh, tell us about it!" laughed Margaret. "Your hunches are the world'sgreatest brainstorms!"
"Well, I pumped out and rejeweled the compass we put on that funnyplanet--as a last resort, I thought we might maybe visit them and askthat bozo we had the argument with to help us out. I think he--orit--would show us everything about the zone of force we want to know. Idon't think that we'd be dematerialized, either, because the situationwould give him something more to think about for another thousandcycles; and thinking seemed to be his main object in life. However, toget back to the subject, I found that even with the new power of thecompass the entire planet was still out of reach. Unless they'vedematerialized it, that means about ten billion light-years as anabsolute minimum. Think about that for a minute!... I've just got a kindof a hunch that maybe they don't belong in this Galaxy at all--that theymight be from some other Galaxy, planet and all; just riding around onit, as we are riding in the _Skylark_. Is the idea conceivable to a sanemind, or not?"
"Not!" decided Dorothy, promptly. "We'd better go to bed. One more suchidea, in progression with the last two you've had, would certainly giveyou a compound fracture of the skull. 'Night, Cranes."