Frater Vincent nodded. The understanding between the two men--at least
on that point--was tacit and mutual. He traced a symbol in the air and
left the commander to his thoughts.
Mentally, the commander went through the symbol-patterns that he had
learned as a child--the symbol-patterns that brought him into direct
contact with the Ultimate Power, the Power that controlled not only the
spinning of atoms and the whirling of electrons in their orbits, but the
workings of probability itself.
Once indoctrinated into the teachings of the Universal Assembly, any man
could tap that Power to a greater or lesser degree, depending on his
mental control and ethical attitude. At the top level, a first-class
adept could utilize that Power for telepathy, psychokinesis, levitation,
teleportation, and other powers that the commander only vaguely
understood.
He, himself, had no such depth of mind, such iron control over his will,
and he knew he'd never have it. But he could and did tap that Power to
the extent that his physical body was under near-perfect control at all
times, and not even the fear of death could shake his determination to
win or his great courage.
He turned again to the window and looked at the alien sky. There was a
great deal yet to be done.
* * * * *
The commander needed information--needed it badly. He had to know what
the government of the alien empire was doing. Had they been warned of
his arrival? Surely they must have, and yet they had taken no steps to
impede his progress.
For this purpose, he decided to set up headquarters on an island just
offshore in the Great Bay. It was a protected position, easily defended
from assault, and the natives, he knew from his previous visit, were
friendly.
They even helped him to get his men and equipment and the carriers
across on huge rafts.
From that point, he began collecting the information he needed to invade
the central domains of the Greatest Noble himself. It seemed an ideal
spot--not only protection-wise, but because this was the spot he had
originally picked for the landing of the ship. The vessel, which had
returned to the base for reinforcements and extra supplies, would be
aiming for the Great Bay area when she came back. And there was little
likelihood that atmospheric disturbances would throw her off course
again; Captain Bartholomew was too good a man to be fooled twice.
But landing on that island was the first--and only--mistake the
commander made during the campaign. The rumors of internal bickerings
among the Great Nobles of the barbarian empire were not the only rumors
he heard. News of more local treachery came to his ears through the
agency of natives, now loyal to the commander, who had been
indoctrinated into the philosophy of the Assembly.
A group of native chieftains had decided that the invading Earthmen were
too dangerous to be allowed to remain on their island, in spite of the
fact that the invaders had done them no harm. There were, after all,
whisperings from the north, whence the invaders had come, that the
armored beings with the terrible weapons had used their power more than
once during their march to the south. The chieftains were determined to
rid their island of the potential menace.
As soon as the matter was brought to the commander's attention, he
acted. He sent out a patrol to the place where the ringleaders were
meeting, arrested them, and sentenced them to death. He didn't realize
what effect that action would have on the rest of the islanders.
He almost found out too late.