Christopher Anvil - The Trouble with Aliens

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- Chapter 1

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- Chapter 1

THE WAR WITH THE OUTS

The Prisoner

ROUTINE04-12-2308-1623 TCT

STAFF

COMGEN IV TO OPCHIEF GS CAPITOL

REQUEST PERMISSION ADVANCE DEFENSE LINE TO SYSTEM CODE R3J RPT

R3J

* * *

ROUTINE04-13-2308-0715TCT

STAFF

OPCHIEF GS CAPITOL TO COMGEN IV

PERMISSION ADVANCE DEFENSE LINE TO SYSTEM CODE R3J RPT R3J

REFUSED RPT REFUSED

* * *

URGENT04-14-2308-150TCT

PERSONAL

COMGEN IV TO OPCHIEF GS CAPITOL

STINKO IT IS VITALLY NECESSARY THAT I TAKE OVER R3J RPT R3J BEFORE

THE OUTS GET HERE STP YOU KNOW THE SIZE OF MY FLEET STP LOVE TO

TANYA AND KIDS MART MARTIN M GLICK COMGEN IV

* * *

ROUTINE04-15-2308-0730 TCT

PERSONAL

OPCHIEF GS CAPITAL TO COMGEN IV

SORRY MART I CANT LET YOU DO IT STP R3J RPT R3J IS TOUGH NUT TO

CRACK AND NOT ENOUGH TIME TO CRACK IT STP ONLY QUADRITE IN

SYSTEM IS ON FIFTH PLANET STP TWO PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS TO TAKE

FIFTH PLANET ABORTED STP SYSTEM AS A WHOLE IS NO GOOD WITHOUT

QUADRITE AND WE COULD NOT SUPPLY YOU FROM HERE YOU KNOW

THAT STP CANNOT HAVE YOUR FORCES IN STATE OF DISORDER WITH

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MINOR CONFLICT GOING ON WHEN OUTS ARRIVE STP I KNOW YOUR

POSITION BUT R3J RPT R3J IS NO SOLUTION STP CAN ONLY HOPE THEY

WILL ATTACK ELSEWHERE STP JACKIE IS FINE STP YOUNG MART HAS

GROWN STP GOOD LUCK STP STINKO J J RYSTENKO OPCHIEF GS

* * *

VITAL04-16-2308-1632 TCT

STAFF

COMGEN IV TO ALL STATIONS

U EXPLOSION D308L564V013

U EXPLOSION D308L562V013

U EXPLOSION D308L560V013

U EXPLOSION D308L562V015

U EXPLOSION D308L562V011

EXPLOSIONS SIMULTANEOUS TIME OF OBSERVATION 04-16-2308-1624TCT

VITAL TRANSMIT TRIPLE AT TEN-MINUTE INTERVALS

* * *

URGENT04-16-2308-1640TCT

PERSONAL

COMGEN IV TO OPCHIEF GS CAPITOL

STINKO THEY ARE NOT GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE THEY ARE COMING HERE

STP IF THEY GET BY ME THERE IS NOTHING FROM HERE TO CAP BUT THE

GR AND THAT WILL NEVER HOLD THEM STP THEIR TIMING PERFECT STP

MAXIMUM CONFUSION STP IF THEY CAME ANY SOONER THEY COULD

HAVE VOTED IN THE ELECTION STP IN CIRCUMSTANCES DESPERATELY

NECESSARY TO TAKE R3J RPT R3J STP SEND PERMISSION BEFORE WE

WASTE MORE TIME STP MART MARTIN M GLICK COMGEN IV

* * *

(Reply requested today.)

Office of the Secretary for Defense

Dear General Rystenko:

As a member of the new President's cabinet, responsible for the overall direction of the defense effort, I

am determined to acquire, as soon as possible, some appreciation of the overall strategic picture.

So long as I do not understand the meaning of certain technical terms, this will be impossible. These

terms are regarded as secret, and no civilian has any sure idea of their meaning until he is thrust into an

office where his ignorance may be fatal. Looking at the dispatch copies which come to my office, I find

the following terms I would like defined: a) quadrite; b) GR; c) CAP; d) U explosion; e) Henkel sphere;

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f) SB; g) abort.

I also want a brief summary, on no more than two sheets of paper, of the overall defense strategy, a

similar summary of known enemy capabilities; and a brief point-by-point comparison of our important

weapons, considering not only quality but amounts, and present and projected rates of production.

You need not handle this yourself; but if you do not, I want you to check the papers before they come to

me. You will be held personally responsible for their accuracy.

Sincerely,

James Cordovan

Secretary for Defense

* * *

4-17-2308

Office of the Chief of Operation

Dear Mr. Secretary:

Quadrite is a crystalline substance used as fuel in the non-radioactive, or N-drive. A small safe quantity

of radioactive material starts the reaction, which may be stopped by removal of this material. The mass

radioactive, or R-drive, is useless against the present enemy because he possesses a means of exploding

it before our ships come into ordinary firing range. Thus we use quadrite on warships.

GR means General Reserve. CAP means Capitol. A U-explosion is a large explosion of uranium or other

radioactive material by the enemy's device, or, occasionally by us. Henkel sphere is a large self-

contained unit carrying impulse torpedoes and magnetic-inductive direction finders. SB means solar

beam; a concentration of the rays of a sun for offensive or defensive purposes. "Abort," as we use it,

merely means "fail."

The overall defense strategy is simple. Our forces are located around the surface of a flattened

spheroidal defensive border. At the outer edge is a triple layer of warning devices, the U markers, which

explode on approach of the enemy. Next comes several layers of Henkel spheres, stretching from one

sun system to the next. Each sun system is equipped with solar beams, so far as possible, so that these

sun systems constitute strong points in the defense perimeter, or, if they are cut off, may function for

some time as isolated fortresses in the enemy's rear. Behind this outer line of defense lie the fleets,

which help service the Henkel spheres, fight to repair small breaches in the defensive perimeter, and in

the event of large breaches, fall back in an orderly manner and assist in forming the next defensive line.

As for the known enemy capabilities, and the comparison of their important weapons with ours, the first

item to consider is their manner of attack. They come in huge masses of ships, moving at a tremendous

velocity, and often making two nearly simultaneous attacks at far separated parts of our defense lines. A

series of U-explosions signals their penetration through successive lines of our U-markers, and then they

hurtle through the lines of Henkel spheres. The spheres automatically discharge their impulse torpedoes

on precalculated courses, and at the same time, our fleet on the spot sows a series of new layers of

spheres along the estimated course of the enemy attack. There is no such thing as a general engagement

between the two fleets, because ours is always too weak at the point of attack. It is guarding a vast area

which the enemy can, if he chooses, attack at any chosen point with his full force.

Usually, however, just as the situation becomes desperate, and we feel compelled to rush the general

reserve to the spot, a second and even stronger attack strikes us at some widely separated point from the

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first. At this stage, all resemblance to plan and order ceases, and we are forced to resort to expediency.

Fleets are rushed from all around the perimeter to the estimated position of the future enemy penetration.

Solar beams are concentrated in a webwork across the line of enemy attack. It is impossible to

generalize beyond this point. We do what we can. Usually we are forced to commit the fleet to battle at a

heavy loss, which weakens us for the next attack. The enemy cuts a swath through the whole system,

burns out a number of vitally important planetary centers en route, and erupts outward through some

place which has already been stripped for defense elsewhere. After the enemy has gone, we draw

together the bits and pieces, reapportion the weakened forces, and wait for the next blow.

We know very little of enemy weapons, save that they are similar to ours and used in overwhelming

concentrations. As for the enemy personnel, only one individual has been captured following a fluke

individual dogfight in which Colonel A. C. Nielson was killed and the enemy ship ruined. This enemy

individual showed a) human form, very compact and muscular, with peculiar eyes; b) fantastic

recuperative power, with healing of very severe wounds, such as killed Colonel Nielson, taking place

spontaneously and practically visibly; c) fanatic hostility, shown as soon as the individual recovered

consciousness; and which was followed apparently by the use of some poison, as the enemy's body then

at once decomposed, too fast to permit further examination on the spot.

As for our present rate of production, it is suitable to replace approximately forty per cent of the losses

suffered during enemy attack. This refers to warship production. Production of the cheaper Henkel

spheres would be quite respectable if it weren't for the fact that it takes ships to put the spheres in

position. Projected production of ships was cut further in the last budget.

As for recruitment of personnel, it is barely adequate to man the continually decreasing strength we are

able to maintain. Training facilities are inadequate, but the need for men is so drastic we have no time

for adequate training. The quality of recruits is poor, since the population does not believe the situation

serious, and thus has little respect for the services.

I hope this answers your questions satisfactorily. I shall be glad to help you in any way I can.

Respectfully,

J. J. Rystenko

Chief of Operations

* * *

4-17-2308

Office of the Secretary for Defense

Bart:

I am enclosing an answer from General Rystenko, the Chief of Operations, to some questions of mine. I

hope you will read it now and let me know what you think. Unless Rystenko is exaggerating for some

reason, this is worse than we ever imagined.

Jim Cordovan

* * *

4-17-2308

Office of the President

Jim:

This is horrible. Let me know immediately if you find out anything more about this.

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Bart

* * *

(Immediate action)4-17-2308

Office of the President

General Rystenko:

Report to my office immediately unless you are occupied with matters of vital importance.

Barton Baruch

* * *

4-17-2308

Office of the President

Jim:

Rystenko is all right. But our predecessors have gutted the defense establishment to balance the budget.

Cabinet meeting tonight at 8:30.

Bart

* * *

URGENT04-16-2308-2210TCT

PERSONAL

COMGEN IV TO OPCHIEF GS CAPITOL

STINKO MY POSITION HOPELESS HERE IN PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES STP

ONLY JUSTIFICATION FOR INACTION WAS TO AVOID INVOLVEMENT IN

MINOR WAR AND THUS INABILITY TO REINFORCE IF ATTACK CAME

ELSEWHERE STP ATTACK IS COMING HERE STP IF I STAY WHERE I AM I AM

LIKE A MOUSE IN AN UNBLOCKED HOLE WITH THE WEASEL COMING ON

THE RUN STP I CANT HOLD THEM HERE STP THIS TIME THEY WILL GO ALL

THE WAY TO CAP STP STINKO I HOPE YOUR PERMISSION IS ON WAY AS I

AM GOING TO TAKE R3J RPT R3J OR DIE TRYING STP LOVE TO TANYA AND

THE KIDS STP GOOD LUCK IF THEY GET THROUGH STINKO STP MART

MARTIN M GLICK CONGEN IV

* * *

ROUTINE04-17-2308-1100TCT

STAFF

OPCHIEF GS CAPITOL TO COMGEN IV

IN ABSENCE OF GENERAL RYSTENKO MY DUTY TO INFORM LIEUTENANT

GENERAL GLICK NO PERMISSION TO ADVANCE TO R3J RPT R3J WAS SENT

OR CONTEMPLATED STP IN EVENT YOU ADVANCE CONTRARY TO

REITERATED COMMANDS TO CONTRARY MY DUTY TO INFORM YOU YOU

ARE HEREBY RELIEVED OF COMMAND AND HEREBY ORDERED TO TURN

OVER COMMAND TO DEPUTY COMGEN IV AS PRESCRIBED RGC 6-143J

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SECTION 14 STP Q L GORLEY COLONEL FOR GENERAL J J RYSTENKO

OPCHIEF GS

* * *

ROUTINE04-18-2308-1625TCT

STAFF

COMGEN IV TO OPCHIEF GS CAPITOL

ALL RECEIVING APPARATUS OUT OF ORDER STP POSSIBLY BY ENEMY

ACTION STP ADVANCE ELEMENTS OF FLEET IV APPROACHING SYSTEM

CODE R3J RPT R3J

* * *

VITAL04-18-2308-1640TCT

STAFF

COMGEN IV TO ALL STATIONS

U EXPLOSION D288L564V103

U EXPLOSION D288L562V103

U EXPLOSION D288L560V103

U EXPLOSION D288L562V105

U EXPLOSION D288L562V099

EXPLOSIONS SIMULTANEOUS TIME OF OBSERVATION 04-18-2308-1635TCT

VITAL TRANSMIT TRIPLE AT TEN-MINUTE INTERVALS

* * *

(Reply requested immediately)

4-18-2308

Office of the Secretary for Defense

General Rystenko:

As you know, OPCHIEF dispatches move through my office as a routine so I will know what your

office is doing. Now I want to know why this General Glick is being kept on a short leash. I have gone

over a set of star charts, and if I can make anything out of them this System R3J is a vital link in your

defense system. Who is this Q. L. Gorley, colonel, who sent the order removing General Glick? Why did

he send the order? Are you dodging the responsibility for it? Unless you are occupied in vital matters I

want the answers to these questions by tube within fifteen minutes.

J. Cordovan

Secretary for Defense

* * *

4-18-2308

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Office of the Chief of Operations

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I had no knowledge of Gorley's action till you called it to my attention. I am reinstating Glick

immediately.

Rystenko

* * *

VITAL04-18-2308-1125TCT

STAFF

OPCHIEF GS CAPITOL TO COMGEN IV

BY ORDER GENERAL J J RYSTENKO OPCHIEF GS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL MARTIN M GLICK IS RPT IS IN FULL COMMAND

SECTOR IV STP BY ORDER GENERAL J J RYSTENKO OPCHIEF GS FULL

DISCRETION RPT FULL DISCRETION GRANTED RPT GRANTED LIEUTENANT-

GENERAL MARTIN M GLICK COMGEN IV INCLUDING RPT INCLUDING ANY

ACTIONS REGARDING SYSTEM CODE R3J RPT R3J TIME OF ORIGINAL ORDER

02-18-2308-1125TCT VITAL TRANSMIT TRIPLE AT THIRTY-MINUTE

INTERVALS

* * *

URGENT02-18-2308-1128TCT

PERSONAL

OPCHIEF GS CAPITOL TO COMGEN IV

MY GOD MART I AM SORRY STP YOUR REASONING REGARDING R3J RPT R3J

IS PERFECTLY CORRECT STP GORLEY ACTED WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE

STP WE ARE IN MIDST OF CHANGE OF ADMINISTRATION HERE STP SOME

CONFUSION STP YOU HAVE FULL AUTHORITY STP DO WHAT YOU WANT

STP BEST OF LUCK AND GOD BE WITH YOU STP STINKO J J RYSTENKO

OPCHIEF GS

* * *

4-18-2308

Office of the Chief of Operations

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I have sent orders reinstating General Glick and giving him full authority to take System R3J. Two

previous attempts to take the only planet in the system that possesses quadrite have failed, with no

survivors returning; but it is worth trying.

Rystenko

* * *

(Reply requested immediately)

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4-18-2308

Office of the Secretary for Defense

General Rystenko:

That is fine. What about my questions concerning Colonel Gorley?

J. Cordovan

* * *

4-18-2308

Office of the Chief of Operations

Dear Mr. Secretary:

Colonel Gorley was sent here by the former President. He acted in an advisory and liaison capacity

between this office and that of the former President. I know his action in this instance has proved to be

unfortunate, but he was entirely justified by regulations covering the situation. I was with the President

at the moment, and immediate action was necessary to maintain the balance of the situation.

Respectfully,

J. J. Rystenko

Chief of Operations

* * *

(Reply requested immediately)

4-18-2308

Office of the Secretary for Defense

General Rystenko:

Do you mean that Gorley advised the former President on matters of defense?

J. Cordovan

* * *

4-18-2308

Office of the Chief of Operations

Mr. Secretary:

That is what I mean. Yes.

J.J. Rystenko

Chief of Operations

* * *

4-18-2308

Office of the Secretary for Defense

Bart:

I am enclosing some correspondence between myself and Rystenko, regarding a Colonel Q. L. Gorley

who has just taken a step I regard as well calculated to throw our defense arrangements off balance at the

decisive moment. I am enclosing the dispatch referred to. You will note that Rystenko takes a

progressively stiffer tone in protecting Gorley. Personally, I think if Gorley was defense advisor to the

previous Administration, he must be no good.

Jim

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* * *

(Reply requested today)

4-18-2308

Office of the Secretary for Defense

Comptroller of the Records:

I would like a digest of all pertinent data in the service record of Colonel Q. L. Gorley, now attached to

the office of the Chief of Operations.

James Cordovan

Secretary for Defense

* * *

4-18-2308

Office of the President

Jim:

I have been in office three days and it feels like three years, all thanks to the miserable defense picture.

If you think Gorley is no good, select some distant and unimportant asteroid and put him in charge of it.

Don't bother me with this trivia.

Bart

P. S. The time on this dispatch from Gorley to Glick is 1100. Rystenko was not with me then.

* * *

4-19-2308

Comptroller of the Records

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I have been able to ascertain that there is a Colonel Q. L. Gorley attached to the Chief of Operations

office, but the Master Recorder merely remains blank when I try to obtain his service record. No Colonel

Q. L. Gorley is listed in the Officers' Registry. There is a Q. S. Gorley, Captain, now serving with the

Tenth Fleet, and a Brigadier General Mason Gorley, Ret'd. Upon code-checking the rolls of the National

Space Academy at Bristol Bay, I find no mention of any Q. L. Gorley within the last hundred years.

It is possible to bar access to the service record of any individual if the President or Secretary for

Defense approves the action. But this is not the case here. There simply is no record. Do you wish me to

cross-check the coded Administration records of the past few years to see if any mention is made of this

man in these records?

Respectfully,

Ogden Mannenberg

Comptroller of the Records

* * *

(Reply requested today)

4-19-2308

Office of the Secretary for Defense

Comptroller of the Records:

Yes, by all means cross-check the administrative records back to the time Gorley was first mentioned.

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