Horsip was promptly challenged by one Supreme Commander Strins Rudal, a subordinate of Ganfre’s, who ordered that the ‘dummy fleet’ be withdrawn at once.
Horsip, wishing to defeat the dictators separately, listened politely as Rudal delivered his warning from the communications screen.
“I am aware,” said Rudal, “of your deception fleet, General Horsip. I suggest you put it back in your asteroid belt before we blow it up.”
Horsip looked stern, but kept his voice level. He selected the name of a powerful Snard dictator none too popular even among his fellows.
“I am not interested in attacking you, General. My quarrel is with Q. Schnerg, who is, I think, in this group of ships somewhere.”
“High Leader Schnerg is a member of the Coalition. What of it?”
“I have told you, General. I have a quarrel with Schnerg.”
“High Leader Schnerg.”
“I don’t care what you call him. I want him.”
Rudal looked blank.
“Surely, General Horsip, you can see we are occupied here. High Leader Schnerg is not available.”
“Schnerg will either come out, or I will go in and get him.”
“You do not have the ships to challenge the Coalition.”
“I don’t challenge the Coalition. I want Schnerg.”
“Would you mind telling me why?”
“I would mind. I will tell Schnerg.”
“General Horsip, I will pass the word to the High Leader. It is not fit that one of his rank be approached by—”
Horsip said coldly, “Do you now question the power of the Integral Union to defend its honor?”
Rudal looked uneasy. “I didn’t mean that. I meant I would take your message personally. But—”
Horsip looked Rudal in the eye. “My message for Schnerg is not something you can hand to him. It can only be fired at him. Where is he?”
Rudal lowered his voice.
“General Horsip, I mean no offense, of course, but the real portion of your fleet cannot defeat High Leader Schnerg. Besides, the Coalition is one solid force. We are as one. We will defend each other as if we ourselves were attacked.”
Horsip smiled and said nothing.
Rudal looked uneasy.
Horsip said politely, “I have no quarrel with you, or with the Coalition. But I am going to get Schnerg. Now, don’t tell me you are going to stop me. I can see the situation you are in as well as you can. If you let go of Columbia to stop me, the Columbians will take back everything you have won. Don’t tell me my ships are dummies. Just show me where Schnerg is, and I will show you what my ships are made of. Now, either you get me Schnerg, and get him fast, or I will go in and get him myself.”
Rudal looked browbeaten and exasperated. His feelings showed on his face. Why, he was obviously asking himself, had this mess had to come about at this moment? Horsip, calculating that anyone with Schnerg’s traits would be bound to make enemies, was not surprised to hear Rudal say, “General Horsip, I . . . ah . . . must admit I am not surprised that the High Leader has given you offense in some way . . . But, could you not possibly wait until some more propitious moment?”
“I want Schnerg,” said Horsip, “and I want him now.”
“To separate his ships from the rest will create chaos!”
“That is too bad,” said Horsip, straining to look regretful, “but if Schnerg does not come out, I will go in after him.”
“Just a moment, General. I will take this matter to our leaders.”
There was a short delay, which Horsip used to beam messages at the Columbians, pointing out that he was neutral in that fight, and interested only in getting Schnerg. Since Schnerg was one of Columbia’s main enemies, the Columbians were only too happy to recognize this kind of neutrality. Then Dictator Ganfre came on, to offer to mediate the trouble between Horsip and Schnerg. Schnerg, said Ganfre, claimed that he had never had anything to do with Horsip, or the Integral Union, and was not interested in either of them.
“Ah,” snarled Horsip, “he is not interested in either of us, eh?”
Ganfre made an earnest plea for Horsip to wait until the battle was over, then he could do anything he liked with Schnerg. Schnerg apparently intercepted that message, and didn’t like it, as Horsip promptly received a note from Moffis that the Coalition Fleet was breaking up, large units pulling out in the midst of the battle. Ganfre obviously learned the same thing at the same time. His eyes narrowed and a look of calculation passed across his face. Horsip thought he could follow his train of thought. Schnerg was temporarily allied to Ganfre, but that alliance would break up as soon as Columbia was defeated. If, therefore, Horsip beat Schnerg now, Ganfre would not have to beat him later. If Schnerg beat Horsip, that would simplify the calculations too.
“May the best man win,” said Ganfre.
“Thank you,” said Horsip. “I hope to.”
Then he led his fleet against Schnerg.
* * *
Horsip had a sizable numerical superiority over Schnerg alone, but did not dare to use it. If he got into a vulnerable position, the other dictators might decide to rid themselves of this nuisance by letting go of Columbia to attack Horsip. Schnerg maneuvered as if to take advantage of this possibility, and Horsip had to use a large part of his fleet to guard against a possible attack by the rest of the dictators. Halfway through the battle, a huge host of Mikerils, their bodies rigid and unmoving, passed through empty space around his ships as if traveling on unseen wires. Shaken by this sight, Horsip was none too sure of victory or anything else; but his tactics worked, and the Centran Fleet destroyed the dictator’s fleet.
Horsip now found himself in the rear of the other dictators, with a fleet approximately half their size, while their attack on Columbia was out of gear because of Schnerg’s withdrawal.
The dictators at once offered Horsip a share of the spoil if he would join the attack on Columbia.
Horsip declined.
The dictators proposed a mutual accommodation. Horsip, certain they would stay together against him now that their own danger was clear, considered that he had done all he could for the moment, and was inclined to agree, as they outnumbered him two to one. He asked for time to consider, and as the screen went blank, Moffis, looking pale, stepped forward.
“A message,” said Moffis, “from the High Council.”
Horsip unfolded the yellow slip of paper. He looked at it, and chills ran up and down his spine. It read:
By CommandThe High Council
We, the guardians of the essential strength of our race, in accord with the ancient law, do hereby proclaim throughout the Realm of Centra the edict of the clokal detonak.
We hereby vest in our loyal servant Klide Horsip that power gathered to us from all the race, to reduce the aberrant of the Realm to obedience, or by death cleanse them of their abomination. Let the sinful lay down their arms, abase themselves before the Great One, admit the error of their ways, seek the aid of the Holy Brotherhood in again finding the True Way, and the sword of chastisement will be withheld.
If they fail so to do, we require General Klide Horsip, Commander of the United Arms of Centra, to destroy the traitors utterly and without mercy.
This command is absolute and binding, it cannot be questioned or negotiated, its effect is immediate, and its term shall last until the submission or death of the last traitor.
By command
The High Council
J. Roggil
Chairman
The hair at the back of Horsip’s neck bristled. He glanced at the battle screen, which showed in stylized symbols the strength of the enemy, and his own strength. He glanced at Moffis.
Moffis looked helpless.
Horsip glanced back at the message. There in front of him were the words “it cannot be questioned.” Horsip straightened his tunic. “Get Ganfre for me.”
High Commander Strins Rudal appeared on the screen, trying to look cordial.
“Well, well, General Horsip, we are very busy, of course, but always glad to talk to an old friend. I am sorry we will have to make this quick, but—”
Horsip said evenly, “Are you still convinced my fleet is made of dummies?”
Rudal looked uneasy. “We all make mistakes—”
“I have just received a message from the High Council which requires—”
Rudal burst out, “We all know, General, that you are the Integral Union. We have to admire the way you have pulled the pieces together, but spare us this play-acting!”
Horsip observed Rudal’s nervousness, and hid his own.
“I am merely the tool of the Integral Union,” said Horsip, “and if I break, I will be tossed aside, and another chosen to do the work. I am the servant of the High Council.”