Horsip looked up.
“Towers solved a thing like that?”
Moffis nodded. “He found a weak point in their abilities.”
Horsip gave a low murmur.
“What is Towers doing now, Moffis?”
“The last report I read, he was enlarging his organization. He has it up to six divisions now, I think. Of course, using his theories of war, these are small divisions.”
“Is he . . . ah . . . way off at the other end of the system?”
“No.”
“This outfit is all Earthmen?”
“As far as I know. But they seem to be a special kind of Earthmen.”
“They’re loyal?”
“Absolutely.”
“But would they fight against Earth?”
“I don’t know.”
Horsip thought a moment. All over his desk lay reports, and as he glanced at them, stray words and phrases sprang out at him:
. . . chaos on this planet . . . upheaval . . . Snard landed another twenty divisions this morning . . . Control Commission voted 5-1 . . . another Snard army corps has been formed . . . now identified three flying-bomb squadrons of the Earthquake class . . . hopeless . . . ultimatum was delivered by Dictator Schmung . . . combined strength of Snard and Rogebar Soviets exceeds by a factor of four available Fleet strength in this region . . . NRPA appears to have a somewhat stronger central control, despite the still unexplained postponement of the attack on Columbia . . . local disorders continue to increase . . . Morality Index published by the Brotherhood now reached (minus) -19.2, which is lowest recorded since catastrophe of . . .
Horsip’s head whirled. He shoved back the reports.
“Send for Towers. We can use his whole six divisions right here.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to get the Supreme Staff to issue the order?”
“You’re right, Moffis. And if they won’t issue the order after I read them a few extracts from this mess, I’ll be surprised.”
* * *
The Supreme Staff, assembled at Horsip’s request, listened in glum silence to the catalog of disasters. When Horsip got through, there was a lengthy silence. Then General Maklin looked sourly at General Argit, who looked stubbornly defiant, and then Maklin turned to Horsip.
“This is what comes of that plan that was to be of such great mutual benefit, and that was incidentally supposed to split up the Earthmen so they would be harmless.”
Horsip nodded, but said nothing.
General Roffis glanced at Horsip.
“Well, General, you must have something in mind. What is it?”
Horsip said, “It’s too late to end this mess by force. These dictators are stronger than we are. But they’re divided. If we concentrate our full strength, we are still strong enough to be a factor in the situation. Moreover, there are planets that are loyal to us, or at least independent of them. I suggest that we send out the warning signal to the Fleet, bring in Able Hunter and his Special Effects Team, and try to work these two sides against each other.”
General Roffis nodded. “We might salvage something, at least.”
“If,” said General Maklin, “the High Council doesn’t countermand the order.”
“Well, let’s do it, and see what happens.”
“All right. Let’s put it to the vote.”
There was at once a unanimous vote in favor of the suggestion.
“All right,” said Roffis. “Now, we’ve got a sword. Who wields it?”
Maklin said, “Horsip has experience fighting these Earthmen.”
Horsip said, “At getting beat by them, sir. No, the most capable man should be in charge.”
Maklin bared his teeth in a grin. “You’re more capable than you think, Horsip.” Maklin looked around. “Put it to the vote. I nominate Horsip for Commander of the Fleet.”
The motion passed, with Horsip abstaining and no one against it.
“Now,” said Roffis, “let’s not waste any time. Secretary, draw up the warning order at once, and also the designation of General Horsip as Supreme Commander of the Fleet, and—what’s the phrase?—of the United Arms of Centra. Note in the body of the designation that the vote of the Supreme Staff was unanimous.”
The secretary looked unhappy.
“General Horsip didn’t vote for himself, sir, so . . . ah . . . the vote wasn’t unanimous.”
Roffis said in a no-nonsense voice, “I now ask General Horsip to so state if he wishes to not cast his vote for himself for Fleet Commander. The vote not being unanimous would convince our enemies there was disunion among us.”
Horsip kept his mouth shut. The secretary began to write.
Ten minutes later, the warning signal went out to the Centran Fleet.
Fifteen minutes after that, Horsip was officially placed in command of all the armed forces of the Integral Union, exception being made for certain minor forces such as the guard forces for the Supreme Staff and the High Council.
* * *
Horsip’s ship had apparently served many purposes in the past, and was now speedily made over as a “combined-fleets command ship,” rooms being opened up that Horsip hadn’t known were there. Meanwhile, he kept his information agency hard at work, and awaited a possible veto from the High Council.
Horsip soon was startled to receive a message reading:
By CommandThe High Council
The High Council, by unanimous vote, approves the selection of General Klide Horsip to command the United Arms of Centra, including the Fleet of the Integral Union.
The High Council warns every Centran by race and birth to obey the commands of the Supreme Commander, General Klide Horsip, on pain of death. So long as General Klide Horsip’s command shall last, his word is the word of the High Council, and from this word and this decision there is no appeal within the Integral Union.
J. Roggil
Chairman
The High Council
Horsip, slightly dazed, looked up to see a trim Earthman, with quiet, businesslike manner, wearing the uniform of a Centran general, grade III, and the insignia of the Supreme Staff, cross the room amidst the electrified staff. Horsip recognized John Towers, and got up at once. He handed Moffis the message from the High Council, and then saw, coming behind the Earthman, a well-built member of the Holy Brotherhood in black robes with purple collar. The Earthman, realizing from the stares of those nearby that someone was behind him, stepped aside to let the Brother pass ahead.
The Brother halted before Horsip’s desk to raise his hands and bow his head in an awesome gesture toward Horsip.
“By the word of the Council of Brothers,” he intoned, some resonant quality making the words seem to ring in the head after they were spoken, “the cause of the Brotherhood is placed in your hands. Use the trust wisely, nor fear that ye may not succeed. The word of the Brothers is behind you, and the Legions of the Brothers are rising, to consume the unrighteous in a flame that will burn them utterly and to the last. Until the task is complete, your authority is the authority of the Brothers so long as your command shall last . . . that there be no division in the ranks of the Union, the authority of the Council of Brothers is vested in you alone. This is the message which I am commanded to give, and to ask the blessing of the Great One on our united cause. I bow in reverent homage to the authority of the Council of Brothers, vested in you.”
The Brother bowed deeply, and in a humble voice said, “I beg the permission of Your Excellency to report that my task is done, and the message delivered.”
Horsip, with an effort, recovered the use of his voice.
“Thank you.” The words came out with an echo of the brother’s ringing tones. Horsip cleared his throat, and said in a carefully low voice, “Please give the Council of Brothers my thanks, and tell them that their message is delivered.”
That time, he sounded more like himself, but he still had a disembodied sensation.
The Brother bowed low, backed away several paces facing Horsip, bowed again, backed another pace or two, then turned and strode with steady, measured pace to the door.
Moffis, with trembling hand, returned the message from the High Council to Horsip’s desk.
Able Hunter watched the proceedings with a politely expressionless gaze.
Horsip sucked in a deep breath, and observed that his staff was looking on wide-eyed as if waiting for some spectacular manifestation.
Horsip cleared his throat.
“Back to work, men. Turn up the fans, there. Let’s get a little air in here.”
The trance seemed to evaporate, and a semblance of normality returned. Horsip loosened his collar and sat down. He still didn’t feel like himself, but he didn’t know what do about it.
Able Hunter now saluted. Horsip returned the salute, and cleared his throat.
“Pull up a chair—that pivot chair is comfortable—and tell me what you know about this mess.”