Part 9 (2/2)

”Again,” said the king, more fretfully still, ”I do not deny that the fighting ability of our s.h.i.+ps was multiplied by the new way of using missiles. What I do say is that if we'd come upon the Mekinese fleet in combat formation instead of dispersed; if we'd attacked them when they were ready for us, it would be doubtful that we'd have been so disastrously successful! Say that the new missile settings gave each of our s.h.i.+ps fire-power as effective as two or three or five of the enemy.

The enemy was ten to one! If we hadn't hit them when they were in confusion, we'd have been wiped out. And if we'd hit their fleet anyhow, we'd be dead. We did not hit the main fleet. We annihilated a division of it, a small part. We are still hopelessly inferior to the vast Mekinese fleet.”

Bors took a seat at the rear of the room.

A stout rear-admiral said somberly, ”We hope we annihilated it, Majesty.

There's no report of any s.h.i.+p fleeing in overdrive. But if any did escape, its report would lead to an immediate discovery of the exact improvement in our missiles. I am saying, Majesty, that if one enemy s.h.i.+p escaped that battle, we can look for all the enemy s.h.i.+ps to be equipped with revised missiles like ours.”

Bors raised his voice. ”May I speak?”

”Ah,” said the king. ”Bors. By all means.”

”I make two points,” said Bors with reserve. ”One is that the Mekinese are as likely to think our missiles captured theirs as that they were uncomputable. Missile designers have been trying for years to create interceptors which capture enemy missiles. The Mekinese may decide we've accomplished something they've failed at, but they're not likely to think we've accomplished something they never even thought of!”

Voices babbled. A pompous voice said firmly that n.o.body would be so absurd. Several others said urgently that it was very likely. All defense departments had research in progress, working on the capture of enemy missiles. If it were accomplished, s.h.i.+ps could be destroyed as a matter of routine.

Bors waited until the king thumped on the table for silence.

”The second thing I have to say, Majesty, is that there can be no plans made until we know what we have to do. And that depends on what Mekin thinks has happened. Maybe no enemy s.h.i.+p got home. Maybe some s.h.i.+ps took back inaccurate reports. It would be very uncomfortable for them to report the truth. Maybe they said we had some new and marvellous weapon which no fleet could resist. In that case, we are in a very fine position.”

The king said gloomily, ”You think of abominably clever things, Captain.

But I am afraid we've been too clever. If Mekin ma.s.ses its entire fleet to destroy us, they can do it, new missile-system or no new missile-system! We have somehow to keep them from resolving to do just that!”

”Which,” said Bors, ”may mean negotiation. But there's no point in negotiating unless you know what your enemy thinks you've got. We could have Mekin scared!”

There was a murmur, which could not be said to be either agreement or disagreement. The king looked about him.

”We cannot continue to fight!” he said sternly, ”not unless we can defend Kandar--which we can't as against the Mekinese main fleet. We were prepared to sacrifice our lives to earn respect for our world, and to leave a tradition behind us. We must still be prepared to sacrifice even our vanity.”

The vice-admiral said, ”But one sacrifices, Majesty, to achieve. Do you believe that Mekin will honor any treaty one second after it ceases to be profitable to Mekin?”

”That,” said the king, ”has to be thought about. But Bors is right on one point. We should come to no final conclusion without information--”

”Majesty,” Bors interrupted. His words came slowly, as if an idea were forming as he spoke. ”The enemy may have no news at all. They may know they've been defeated, but they'd _never_ expect _our_ freedom from loss. Why couldn't a single Kandarian s.h.i.+p turn up at some port where its appearance would surely be reported to Mekin? It could pose as the sole survivor of our fleet, which would indicate that the rest of us were wiped out in the battle. If we _had_ all been wiped out, there'd be no point in their fusion-bombing Kandar. Certainly they expected us to be destroyed. One surviving s.h.i.+p can prove that we _have_ been!”

The king's expression brightened.

”Ah! And we can go and intern ourselves--”

There was a growl. The pompous voice said, ”We would gain time, Majesty.

Our fear is that Mekin may feel it must avenge a defeat. But if one s.h.i.+p claims to be the sole survivor of our fleet, it announces a Mekinese victory. That is a highly desirable thing!”

The king nodded.

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