"You know me--and my language?"
"Why not?" asked Kennebec. "Your speech is not difficult."
"No matter. You have this ability with all alien tongues?"
Downing smiled. "I spent one month among your planets, mingling with
your people. They did not suspect."
"All alien tongues?" insisted Lindoo.
"Any, and all, can be learned by us in a matter of hours."
"Your race will be useful. Do you now accept defeat?"
"It was forced upon us?"
"Accept it!" exploded Lindoo, "or die!"
"A dead slave is useless," reminded Kennebec.
"And a dead malcontent is no trouble," snapped Lindoo. "Do you accept
defeat?"
"As I said, defeat was forced upon us. Yes, we must accept defeat."
"Then broadcast the order to cease firing. Order Terra to drop its arms
and submit."
"Will the integrity of our people be preserved?"
"Unconditional surrender does not permit terms."
"I will surrender unconditionally--but I demand the right to be treated
as a worthy opponent."
"Your defeat at our hands was inevitable."
"We know that."
"Then why did you fight?"
"Only to gain your respect as an enemy."
Lindoo bowed his head briefly. "You have our respect. You have had our
respect enough to cause a major change in the Master Plan. You will not
be treated with contempt. There will be no looting, no pillage. Not if
you will submit without further fight."
"Your terms I accept."
And Kennebec picked up the communicator and snapped the switch to
General Broadcast.
* * * * *
And on Procyon IV, four survivors clustered around a crude, haywired
receiver picked up the message. When it was through, they left their
hidden cave full of Loard-vogh souvenirs. Openly they walked to the
nearest encampment and knocked on the stockade.
And across the Galaxy to Vorgan, Lord of All, went the final word:
"The Solarian Sector is complete. All Solarians are being tested
for adaptability, and upon completion will be trans-shipped to the
proper situations in the Loard-vogh empire. Terra, Sol, and the entire
Mutation Area will be left devoid of life."
Within hours, Lindoo was working on the problem of displacement.
He--and all of the Loard-vogh--worked madly to complete this project.
For all of them wanted to leave, forever, the former Planet of Terror.
Terra--conquered, completely!