"I did not locate one controllable among those who might have done some
good. And now I never will. The Extremes have joined!"
"And the shock wave?"
"Has undone all the good our suppressor did for twenty thousand years."
"Order the attack."
"Yes, Lord of All. The logisticians indicate a short period of
mobilization and preparation. The Enilode Sector is being stripped of
our men--they're not too hard to handle now--and a tenth of the men in
all other sectors not actively fighting are being sent to the spearhead
sector. I hate time. It takes so much of it to handle thirty million
men and the supplies necessary for their support."
"That," grumbled Vorgan, "and the inoculations. A man undergoing them
is a sick Loard-vogh for a week."
"Our initial attack may be some time in coming. But it will be
complete, throughout that entire sector. We'll destroy the menace
immediately, and from then on, all we'll have to do is to hold that
sector against any possible enemy."
"A long and dismal prospect," said Vorgan. "But we must not give them
time."
"They will have no time to do more than plan," said Lindoo. "It takes
time to put a new skill into practice. We shall conquer them!"
"We shall conquer them," echoed Vorgan, the Lord of All.
"And we shall have to force the catmen, too, Lord of All."
"Why?" thundered the Lord of All.
"Because the catmen of Sscantoo are unsympathetic to all forms of
alliance."
"They need never know."
"They will be told. Sol will ask their help."
"But ... I see," agreed Vorgan. "Being against all forms of alliance
means that they will form an alliance, temporarily, in order to keep
from being included in an everlasting tie. Yes, you are right. We may
have to force them. But let us conquer Sol at any cost. And soon."
"As soon as we can prepare."
"Better cut the preparation somewhat. Let the initial attack come
before full preparation. Only in that way will we gain time."
"It is a gamble."
"I know it is a gamble," agreed Vorgan. "But one must gamble if the
Galaxy is worth the fight."
"I wonder if we could convince the Sscantovians that our interests--No,
it would not work. I like not that idea."
"Sscantoo would demand proof. It is far easier to prove that we have
been all-conquering than otherwise. An alliance with them could not be
made. To do so would require that we give them full confidence. And
we cannot control a quarter of a galaxy of Loard-vogh slaves so well
that they must not speak. And their weapons are less efficient than
ours--we could gain nothing but manpower which we do not need.... No,
Lindoo, we must go forward alone as we always have."
* * * * *