To The Stars

“No. Not in the slightest. We have the spacers, and among them are the only ships designed for military use. The enemy have freighters, tugs, a handful of deserters. Many of their worlds already face starvation. While they are thinking about survival we shall reinforce our defenses. When they try to attack us they will certainly be defeated. Then, one by one, we will reoccupy. You and I will probably not see the end, not in our time, but this rebellion will eventually be stifled and crushed. That is what will be done.”

“What must I do?” Auguste Blanc asked, still insecure.

“Send this command. It is a security order to all commanders to change codes. I am sure that the old one is compromised by now.”

Auguste Blanc looked at the incomprehensible series of letters and numbers, then nodded. Encoding and decoding were a computer function and he neither knew nor cared how they operated. He slid the sheet into the reader slot in his desk top and tapped a series of commands on the keyboard. A few seconds after he had done this the response sounded from the computer speakers.

“Command issued to all receivers listed. Response received from all receivers listed. Communication code has been changed.”

Thurgood-Smythe nodded when he heard this and put another sheet of paper onto Auguste Blanc’s desk.

“You will notice that the orders are issued in very general terms. The fleet to be withdrawn to Earth orbit as soon as possible, all advanced bases to be deactivated, the Lunar bases to be reinforced. As soon as enough transports are available they will be used to ferry troops to the Earth-orbiting colonies. They will be occupied in force. I have positive information that the colonies’ sympathies are with the rebels, not with their home world. And the same thing will be done with orbital satellite stations. Do you have any questions?”

“Will there be a shortage of food? I heard that we are going to go hungry. I had my wife send in a large order for food but it was not filled. What does it mean?”

The man is a coward — and a fool, Thurgood-Smythe thought to himself. Worried about his failure to be a hoarder! I suppose that is a new word to him. And to most people. They’ll find out what it means when we shoot a few of them. For hoarding, and spreading defeatist rumors as well.

“I’ll tell you the truth,” Thurgood-Smythe said aloud, “but I’m going to give you a warning first. We are in a war, and morale is very important in wartime. So people who spread false rumors, who attempt to hoard food depriving others of their share — these people are aiding the enemy and they will be punished. Punishment will be imprisonment and execution. Am I expressing myself clearly enough for you?”

“Yes; I didn’t really understand. I really am sorry, had no idea…”

The man was trembling again; Thurgood-Smythe tried not to let his distaste show in his expression. “Very good. There will be no starvation on Earth — but there will be shortages and rationing. We have always imported a certain amount of prole food, but I don’t think either of us will worry if their rations are short. More important is the fact that a blight has destroyed all of the Australian food crops for this growing season…”

“Blight? All their crops… I don’t understand.”

“Mutated virus. Spread by bombing from space. Self-eliminating after a few months but it will mean completely replanting all of the food crops with imported seed.”

“You must destroy them all! Criminal rebels — they are trying to starve us to death!”

“Not really. They were just delivering a warning. It appears that in enthusiasm for revenge some of our space commanders took individual actions. At least two rebel planets have been effectively destroyed. The rebel reaction was to send this ship to bomb Australia. It could just as easily have decimated the entire world’s food crops. It was a message. We of course took out the attacking ship. But we have sent a return message agreeing to their terms. Planetary bombings only of military targets.”

“We must wipe them out, every single one of them,” Auguste Blanc said, hoarsely.

“We will. Our plan is a simple one. Withdraw all our forces to Earth orbit to secure against any invasion or occupation of the space colonies and satellites. Then selective reconquest of the planets, one by one. All of our spacers are being fitted with weapons. The enemy have only a few ships manned by traitors. They may have won these battles. We will win the war…”

“Urgent report,” the computer said. A sheet of paper emerged from the desk top. Auguste Blanc looked at it then passed it over.

“It is addressed to you,” he said.

Thurgood-Smythe read it quickly, then smiled.

“I ordered all reports of enemy ship movements to be screened and analyzed. They need food more than we do. They have now sent a number of ships to Halvmork. One of the largest food planets. I want those ships to land and load completely. Then leave…”