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MacApp + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h2,.hd1 {text-align: center;} + h2 {font-weight: normal;} + .hd1 {margin-top: 2em;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 1em auto; clear: both; visibility: hidden;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .poem {margin: 2em auto; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; font-size: large; text-align: left; width: 20em;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .i0,.i1,.i2,.i3,.i4,.i5 {display: block; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i0 {margin-left: 0em;} + .poem span.i2 {margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {margin-left: 4em;} + .poem span.i1 {margin-left: 1em;} + .poem span.i3 {margin-left: 3em;} + .poem span.i5 {margin-left: 5em;} + .trn {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; padding: 1em; text-align: justify;} + p.cap:first-letter {float: left; margin-right: .05em; padding-top: .05em; font-size: 300%; line-height: .8em;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} +// --> +/* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tulan, by Carroll Mather Capps + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tulan + +Author: Carroll Mather Capps + +Release Date: February 2, 2009 [EBook #27968] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TULAN *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1><big>TULAN</big></h1> + +<h2>By C. C. MacAPP</h2> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">To disobey the orders of the<br /></span> +<span class="i3">Council of Four was unthinkable<br /></span> +<span class="i1">to a Space Admiral of the old<br /></span> +<span class="i2">school. But the trouble was,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">the school system had changed.<br /></span> +<span class="i3">A man, a fighter, an Admiral<br /></span> +<span class="i1">had to think for himself now, if<br /></span> +<span class="i5">his people were to live.<br /></span> +</div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">While</span> facing the Council +of Four his restraint had +not slipped; but afterward, +shaking with fury, the Admiral +of the Fleets of Sennech +slammed halfway down the +long flight of stone steps before +he realized someone was +at his elbow. He slowed. "Forgive +me, Jezef. They made me +so mad I forgot you were +waiting."</p> + +<p>Jezef (adjutant through +most of Tulan's career, and +for some years brother-in-law +as well) was shorter and less +harshly carved than his superior. +"So they wouldn't listen to +you. Not even Grefen?"</p> + +<p>"Even Grefen." That vote +had stabbed deepest of all.</p> + +<p>Jezef took it with the detachment +that still irritated +Tulan. "The end of a hundred +years of dreams; and we +go back under the yoke. Well, +they've always been soft masters."</p> + +<p>They reached the ground +cars. Before getting into his +own Tulan said coldly, "Since +you're so philosophical about +it, you'll be a good one to bear +the sight of men saying good-bye +to their families. We're +to take full crews to Coar and +surrender them with the +ships. Requisition what help +you need and get everybody +aboard by noon tomorrow."</p> + +<p>Jezef saluted with a hint of +amused irony, and left.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Whipping through the dark +icy streets, Tulan smiled sourly, +thinking how Sennech's +scientists had reversed themselves +on the theory of hyperspace +now that Coar had +demonstrated its existence. +Maybe the Council was right +in mistrusting their current +notions. As for himself, he +saw only two things to consider: +that with Coar swinging +behind the sun, the accuracy +of her new weapon had +gone to pot; and that before +she was clear again he could +pound her into surrender.</p> + +<p>His swift campaigns had already +smashed her flabby +fleets and driven the remnants +from space, but the Council, +faced with the destruction +and casualties from just a few +days of the weird surprise +bombardment, was cowed.</p> + +<p>He'd spent the previous +night at home, but wasn't going +back now, having decided +to make his farewell by visiphone. +It was the thing he +dreaded most, or most immediately, +so as soon as he +reached the flagship he went +to his quarters to get it over +with.</p> + +<p>Anatu's eyes—the same +eyes as Jezef's—looked at him +out of the screen, filling him +with the familiar awkward +worship. "You've heard?" he +asked finally.</p> + +<p>"Yes. You won't be home +before you go?"</p> + +<p>"No; I ..." He abandoned +the lie he'd prepared. "I just +didn't feel up to it."</p> + +<p>She accepted that. "I'll +wake the boys."</p> + +<p>"No! It's—" Something +happened to his throat.</p> + +<p>She watched him for a moment. +"You won't be back +from Coar. You've <i>got</i> to +speak to them."</p> + +<p>He nodded. This wasn't going +according to plan; he'd +intended it to be brief and +controlled. Damn it, he told +himself, I'm Admiral of the +Fleets; I've no right to feelings +like this. He straightened, +and knew he looked +right when the two sleepy +stares occupied the screen.</p> + +<p>Their hair was stiff and +stubborn like his own, so that +they wore it cropped in the +same military cut. It could +have stood a brush right now. +They were quiet, knowing +enough of what was wrong +to be frightened.</p> + +<p>He spoke carefully. "I'm going +to Coar to talk to them +about stopping the war. I +want you to look after things +while I'm away. All right?"</p> + +<p>"All right, Dad." The older +one was putting on a brave +front for the benefit of the +younger and his mother, but +the tears showed.</p> + +<p>As Tulan cut the connection +he saw that Anatu's eyes were +moist too, and realized with +surprise that he'd never before, +in all the years, seen her +cry. He watched the last faint +images fade from the screen.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Sometime near dawn he +gave up trying to sleep, dressed, +and began composing +orders. Presently Jezef came +in with cups of steaming +amber liquid. They sipped in +silence for a while, then +Jezef asked "You've heard +about Grefen?"</p> + +<p>Tulan felt something knot +inside him. He shook his head, +dreading what he knew was +coming.</p> + +<p>"He killed himself last +night," Jezef said.</p> + +<p>Tulan remembered the +agony in the old Minister of +War's eyes when he'd voted +for surrender. Grefen had +been Admiral in his day; the +prototype of integrity and a +swift sledgehammer in a +fight; and Tulan's first combat +had been under him. A +symbol of the Fleet, Tulan reflected; +and his death, yes, +that too was a symbol—what +was there but shame in surrender, +for a man or a fleet +or a world?</p> + +<p>His hand clenched, crumpling +the paper it was resting +on. He smoothed the paper +and re-read the order he'd +been writing. He visualized +the proud ranks of his crewmen, +reduced to ragged lines +shuffling toward prison or execution.</p> + +<p>It seemed impossible, +against the laws of nature, +that men should strive mightily +and win, then be awarded +the loser's prize. His anger +began to return. "I've a mind +to defy the Government and +only take skeleton crews," he +said. "Leave the married men, +at least."</p> + +<p>Jezef shrugged. "They'd +only be bundled into transports +and sent after us."</p> + +<p>"Yes. Damn it, I won't be a +party to it! All they did was +carry out their orders, and +superbly, at that!"</p> + +<p>Jezef watched him with +something like curiosity. +"You'd disobey the Council? +You?"</p> + +<p>Tulan felt himself flush. +"I've told you before, discipline's +a necessity to me, not +a religion!" Nevertheless, +Jezef's question wasn't unfair; +up to now it really +hadn't occurred to him that +he might disobey.</p> + +<p>His inward struggle was +brief. He grabbed the whole +pad of orders and ripped them +across. "What's the Council, +with Grefen gone, but three +trembling old men? Get some +guns manned, in case they +get suspicious and try to interfere."</p> + +<p>Blood began to surge faster +in his veins; he felt a vast relief. +How could he have ever +seen it differently? He jabbed +at a button. "All ships' Duty +Officers; scramble communication +circuits. This is the +Admiral. Top Secret Orders...."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Shortly before noon the +four-hundred-odd ships lifted +out of Sennech's frosty atmosphere, +still ignoring the furious +demands from the radio. +Fully armed, they couldn't be +stopped.</p> + +<p>Tulan's viewer gave a vivid +picture of the receding fifth +planet. The white mantle of +ice and snow was a backdrop +for blue artificial lakes and +the dark green of forest-strips +(hardy conifers from Teyr) +alternated with the lighter +shades of surface farms. The +ice had been almost unbroken +until men came, bringing +more heat than Sennech had +ever received from a far-off +sun.</p> + +<p>That had been before the +First Solar War, when Teyr +(the race of Aum had originated +there) ruled. That awful +struggle had bludgeoned +the home planet back to savagery, +and left Coar and Sennech +little better off.</p> + +<p>With recovery, Coar had +taken over and prospered immensely. +Teyr stayed wild except +for small colonies planted +there by the other two planets, +and Sennech lagged for a +while.</p> + +<p>Within Tulan's lifetime his +world had found itself ready +to rise against the lax but +profit-taking rule of Coar, and +that rebellion had grown into +the present situation.</p> + +<p>Sennech's wounds were +plainly visible in the viewscreen; +great man-made craters +spewing incandescent destruction +blindly over farm, +city, or virgin ice. The planet +was in three-quarters phase +from here, and Tulan could +see the flecks of fire in the +darkness beyond the twilight +zone. Near the edge of that +darkness he made out the +dimmer, diffused glow of Capitol +City, where Anatu would +be giving two small boys their +supper.</p> + +<p>He checked altitude, found +they were free of the atmosphere, +and ordered an acceleration +that would take them +halfway to the sun in fifty +hours. It was uncomfortable +now, with Sennech's gravity +added, but that would fall off +fast.</p> + +<p>Jezef hauled himself in and +dropped to a pad. "I wish I +had your build," he said. "Do +you really think we can pull +this off?"</p> + +<p>Tulan, in a good mood, grinned +at him. "Have I ever led +you into defeat yet, pessimist?"</p> + +<p>"No; and more than once +I'd have bet ten to one against +us. That's why the Fleet fights +so well for you; we have the +feeling we're following a half-god. +Gods, however, achieve +defeats as terrible as their +victories."</p> + +<p>Tulan laughed and sat +down beside Jezef with some +charts. "I think I'll appoint +you Fleet Poet. Here's the +plan. No one knows what I +intend; we could be on our +way around the sun to overtake +Coar and either fight or +surrender, or we might be diving +into the sun in a mass +suicide. That's why I broke off +the siege and pulled all units +away from Coar; the fact that +they're coming back around +to meet us will suggest something +like that."</p> + +<p>"Are they going to join +up?"</p> + +<p>"No; I want them on this +side of the sun but behind us. +I have a use for them later +that depends on their staying +hidden. Incidentally, I'm designating +them Group Three.</p> + +<p>"In a few hours we're going +to turn hard, this side of the +sun, and intercept Teyr. I +want to evacuate our forces +from the moon, then decoy +whatever the enemy has there +into space where we can get +at them. That's their last +fleet capable of a sortie, and +with that gone we can +combine our whole strength +and go around to Coar. She'll +probably give up immediately, +on the spot."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Jezef thought it over. "Will +they be foolish enough to +leave the moon? As long as +they're safely grounded there, +they constitute a fleet-in-being +and demand attention."</p> + +<p>"We'll give them a reason +to move, then ambush them. +Right now we've a lot of reorganizing +to do, and I want +you to get it started. We're +splitting this Force into +Groups One and Two. Here's +what I want."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>They cut drives and drifted +in free fall while supplies +were transferred between +ships, then Tulan held an inspection +and found crews and +equipment proudly shipshape. +Despite the proliferating rumors, +morale was excellent.</p> + +<p>A few hours later the realignment +began. Space was +full of the disc-shapes; thin, +delicate-looking Lights with +their projecting external +gear, and thicker, smoothly armored +Mediums and Heavies. +He had twenty-three of +the latter in Group One, with +twice as many Mediums and +a swarm of smaller craft.</p> + +<p>Group Two, composed of +the supply ships and a small +escort, was already formed +and diverging away. That was +a vital part of his plan. From +a distance they'd look to telescope +or radar like a full combat +fleet.</p> + +<p>He was almost ready to +swerve toward the third +planet and its moon, but first +he had a speech to make. It +was time to squash all the rumors +and doubts with a dramatic +fighting announcement.</p> + +<p>He checked his appearance, +stepped before the scanner, +and nodded to Communications +to turn it on. "All +hands," he said, then waited +for attention.</p> + +<p>The small monitor screens +showed a motley sampling of +intent faces. He permitted +himself a tight smile. "You +know I have orders to surrender +the Fleet." He paused +for effect. "Those are the orders +of the Council of Four, +and to disobey the Council +would be unthinkable.</p> + +<p>"Yet it is also unthinkable +that a single ship of the Fleet +should surrender under any +circumstances, at any time; +therefore I am faced with a +dilemma in which tradition +must be broken.</p> + +<p>"The Council of Four has +lost courage, and so, perhaps, +have many of the people of +Sennech. We have ways of +knowing that the people of +Coar, far more than our own, +clamor at their government +for any sort of peace.</p> + +<p>"Coar's fleets are smashed +and the remnants have fled +from space.</p> + +<p>"Clearly, courage has all +but vanished from the Solar +System; yet there is one place +where courage has not wavered. +That place is in the +Fleet of Sennech.</p> + +<p>"At this moment we are the +only strength left in the Solar +System. We dominate the +System!</p> + +<p>"Would we have history +record that the Fleet won its +fight gloriously, then cravenly +shrank back from the very +brink of victory?</p> + +<p>"We left Sennech fully +armed, though our orders +were directly opposite. I need +not tell you that I have made +the decision any man of the +Fleet would make.</p> + +<p>"This is our final campaign. +Within a short time we shall +orbit Coar herself and force +her surrender. That is all."</p> + +<p>There was a moment so +quiet that the hum of the circuits +grew loud, then the monitors +shook with a mighty +cheer.</p> + +<p>Later, alone, Jezef congratulated +him amusedly. "They +are certainly with you a hundred +percent now, if there +was any doubt before. Yet +there was one argument you +didn't even hint at; the +strongest argument of all."</p> + +<p>"What was that?"</p> + +<p>"Why, you're offering them +a chance at life and freedom, +where they might be going to +imprisonment or execution."</p> + +<p>That irritated Tulan. "I'm +sure you're not so cynical +about Fleet loyalty and tradition +as you pretend," he said +stiffly. "I wouldn't affront the +men by using that kind of an +argument."</p> + +<p>Jezef grinned more widely. +"Did it even occur to you to +use it?"</p> + +<p>Tulan flushed. "No," he admitted.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Teyr and her moon Luhin, +both in quarter-phase from +here, moved steadily apart in +the viewers.</p> + +<p>Group One's screen of light +craft probed ahead, jamming +enemy radar, and discovering +occasional roboscouts which +were promptly vaporized. Far +behind, Group Two showed as +a small luminescence. It would +never be visible to Luhin +as anything else, and then +only when Tulan was ready.</p> + +<p>They reversed drives, +matched speeds neatly, and +went into forced orbit around +Luhin. On the flagship's first +pass over the beleaguered oval +of ground held by Sennech's +forces—unsupported and unreinforced +since the home +planet's defection—Tulan sent +a message squirting down. +"Tulan commanding. Is Admiral +Galu commanding +there? Report situation."</p> + +<p>The next time around a +long reply came up to them. +"This is Captain Rhu commanding. +Galu killed. Twenty +percent personnel losses. Six +Lights destroyed; moderate +damage to several Mediums +and one Heavy. Ground lines +under heavy pressure. Ships' +crews involved in fighting at +perimeter. Food critical, other +supplies low. Several thousand +wounded. Combat data +follows." There was a good +assessment of the struggle, +with some enemy positions +that were known.</p> + +<p>The Fleet Force that had +escorted nearly one hundred +thousand ground troops included +five Heavies and other +craft in proportion, besides +the transports and supply +ships. Alone, they'd been pinned +down by superior enemy +ground forces and by a sizable +fleet holed up all around +the satellite. With Tulan's +support they could be taken +off.</p> + +<p>Tulan composed orders. +"Withdraw ships' crews from +lines and prepare to lift. Get +wounded aboard transports +and prepare to evacuate +troops. Set up fire control network +to direct our ground +support."</p> + +<p>The tedious job of shrinking +the perimeter, a short +stretch at a time, began, harassed +by the quickly adapting +enemy.</p> + +<p>During the first twenty +hours the hostile fire was all +from ground projectors, the +enemy ships not risking detection +by joining in. By that +time one section of the front +had pulled back to where several +ships, sheltered in a crater, +would have to lift.</p> + +<p>Lines of men and equipment +converged on the ships +and jammed aboard. The actual +lift was preceded by a +diversion a few miles away, +which succeeded in pulling +considerable enemy fire. The +ships got off in unison, slanting +back across friendly territory +and drawing only light +missiles which the defenses +handled easily.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Then, suddenly, a salvo of +heavy stuff came crashing in, +too unexpected and too well +planned to stop. One of the +lifting ships, a transport, vanished +in a great flash.</p> + +<p>Tulan yelled into his communicator. +"Plot! Where did +that come from?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sorting, sir. Here! A +roboscout got a straight five-second +plot before they downed +it!"</p> + +<p>"Intelligence!" Tulan snapped. +"Get the co-ordinates and +bring me photos!"</p> + +<p>There were already pictures +of the area where the +salvo must have originated, +and one of them showed a +cave-like opening in a crater +wall. "That's it!" Tulan jabbed +a pencil at it. "You could +hide a dozen ships in there. +Let's get a strike organized!"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The strike group included +four Heavies besides the flagship, +with twelve Mediums +and twenty Lights. They +slanted down in a jerky evasive +course while pictures +flashed on screens to be compared +with the actual terrain.</p> + +<p>Ground fire, chemically propelled +missiles, erupted +ahead of them and the small +craft went to work intercepting it. +They were down to a +hundred miles, then fifty, +streaking along the jagged +surface so close they seemed +to scrape it. This was point-blank +range; as the computers +raced with the chaos of +fire and counter-fire, human +senses could only register a +few impressions—the bruising +jerks, the shudder of concussions, +white streaks of +rocket-trails, gushers of dirt +from the surface, winking +flashes of mid-air interception.</p> + +<p>Then the Heavies were on +target. The flagship jumped +as the massive salvo leaped +away—not chemical missiles, +but huge space torpedoes propelled +by Pulsor units like the +ships' drives, directing their +own flocks of smaller defensive +missiles by an intricate +network of controls. The +small stuff, augmented by fire +from the lighter ships, formed +momentarily a visible tube +down which the big stuff +streaked untouched.</p> + +<p>The whole crater seemed to +burst upward, reaching out +angry fingers of shattered +rock as they ripped by, rocking +and bucking with the +blasts. Tulan's viewer swivelled +aft to hold the scene. Secondary +blasts went off like +strings of giant firecrackers. +Great black-and-orange fungi-like +clouds swirled upward, +dissipating fast in the thin atmosphere. +Then Tulan spotted +what he was looking for: +three small ships flashing over +the area, to get damage-assessment +pictures. There +was still a lot of ground-fire +from farther out, and it +caught one of the three, which +wobbled crazily then disappeared +in a flash which blanked +out the viewscreen.</p> + +<p>"Intelligence!" Tulan shouted. +"Casualties?"</p> + +<p>Intelligence was listening to +his earphones and punching +buttons. "Two Lights lost, +sir. Slight damage to seven +more and to one Medium."</p> + +<p>"All right. Get a telecopy +of those pictures as soon as +you can; we certainly hit +something. Maybe a Heavy or +two." He relaxed, aching, and +reflected that he was getting +a little mature for actual combat.</p> + +<p>The pull-back went on, +drawing only the local +ground-fire now that the enemy +had been taught his lesson. +Groups of ships lifted +almost constantly. The final +position was an oval forty by +sixty miles, held almost entirely +from the sky. The last +evacuees straggled in like +weary ants, and when the +radio reported no more of +them the last fifty ships lifted +together and ran the gauntlet +with slight losses.</p> + +<p>Tulan pulled the Force +away for rest and repair. +Group Two was idling at extreme +radar range, making a +convincing blip, and he designed +some false messages +to be beamed toward it with +the expectation of interception. +The impression he wanted +to give was that Group +Two was the Force that had +been bombarding Coar, coming +in now to join him. Actually, +the latter fleet was farther +away, hidden in the sun +and, he hoped, unsuspected.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Things were going according +to plan except for one +puzzling item: there was no +message from Sennech's small +garrison on Teyr. All he could +get from the planet was a +steady radar scan, which +might mean that Sennech's +colony had been conquered by +Coar's.</p> + +<p>He'd been hoping to get certain +supplies from Teyr, and +now he took a strong detachment +in close to the planet to +find out what was wrong. The +threat finally raised an answer. +"This is the Chief of +Council. What is it that you +want?"</p> + +<p>"Chief of Council? What +are you talking about? I want +the Garrison Commander."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you're Admiral +Tulan. There's been a change +here, Tulan; Teyr is now an +independent planet. Your garrison, +with Coar's, comprise +our defense forces."</p> + +<p>Tulan stared at the planet's +image. "You're at war with +Coar!"</p> + +<p>"Not any more, we aren't." +There was a chuckle. "Don't +sound so shocked, Admiral; +we understand you're in mutiny +yourself."</p> + +<p>Tulan slapped the microphone +onto its hangar. He +sat, angry and bewildered, until +he remembered something, +then buzzed Communications. +"Get me that connection +again. Hello? Listen. I have +sixty thousand troops in +transports, with almost no +food. I intend to land them."</p> + +<p>"They're welcome as noncombatants, +Admiral. They'll +have to land disarmed, in +areas we designate, and live +off the country. We've already +got more refugees than we +can handle."</p> + +<p>"Refugees from where?"</p> + +<p>"Haven't you been in contact +with Sennech at all?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Oh." There was a thoughtful +pause. "Then you don't +know. There's bad radiation +in the atmosphere and we're +hauling as many away as we +can. We can use your ships +if you're finished playing +soldier."</p> + +<p>Tulan broke the connection +again and turned, fuming, to +Jezef. "We'll blast our way +in and take over!"</p> + +<p>Jezef raised his eyebrows. +"What good would that do?" +he asked.</p> + +<p>"Why; they—for one thing, +we've got to think of those +troops! We can't land them +unarmed and let them be +slaughtered by the savages!"</p> + +<p>Jezef grinned. "I doubt if +they'll refuse to let them have +enough small arms to defend +themselves. They can't stay +where they are."</p> + +<p>"But they're military men, +and loyal!"</p> + +<p>"Are they? The war's over +for them, anyway. Why not +let them vote on it?"</p> + +<p>Tulan jumped up and strode +around the command room, +while Jezef and the staff +watched him silently. Gradually, +the logic of it forced +itself upon him. "All right," +he said wearily, "We'll let +them vote."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>A few hours later he studied +the results gloomily. +"Well, after all, they're not +Fleet. They don't have the tradition."</p> + +<p>Jezef smiled, then lingered, +embarrassed.</p> + +<p>"Well?" Tulan asked.</p> + +<p>"Sir," (that hadn't come +out, in private, for years) +"I'd like to be relieved."</p> + +<p>It was a blow, but Tulan +found he wasn't really surprised. +He stared at his +brother-in-law, feeling as if +he faced an amputation. "You +think I'm wrong about this +whole thing, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to judge +that, but Sennech's in trouble +far worse than any question +of politics, including your +own family."</p> + +<p>"But if we turn back now +Coar will recover! It's only +going to take us a few more +hours!"</p> + +<p>"How long does it take people +to die?"</p> + +<p>Tulan looked at the deck +for a while. "All right. I'll +detach every ship I can spare, +and put you in charge. You'll +have the transports too, as +soon as they're unloaded." He +stared after Jezef, wanting +to call out to him to be sure to +send word about Anatu and +the boys, but somehow feeling +he didn't have the right.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>He took the fighting ships +away from Teyr, to where +Group Two could join up +without being unmasked, then +started sunward as if he were +crossing to intercept Coar. A +few miles in, where they'd +be hidden in the sun, he left +a few scouts.</p> + +<p>As he saw it, the enemy +commander on the satellite, +noting the armada's course +and finding himself apparently +clear, would have no choice +but to lift his ships and start +around the sun by some other +path to help his planet.</p> + +<p>That other path to Coar +could be intercepted, and as +soon as Tulan was lost near +the sun he went into heavy +drive to change direction. He +drifted across the sun, waiting +for word from his scouts. +At about the time he'd expected, +they reported ships +leaving the satellite.</p> + +<p>He looked across the room +toward Plot. "Plot! Feed that +data to Communications as it +comes in, will you?" And to +Communications: "Can we +beam Group Three from +here?"</p> + +<p>"Not quite, sir; but I can +relay through the scouts."</p> + +<p>"All right; but make sure +it's not intercepted. I want +Group Three under maximum +acceleration for Luhin, and I +want them to get running reports +on the enemy."</p> + +<p>"Right, sir."</p> + +<p>Tulan was in the position +he wanted, not needing to use +his own radar, but able to +pick up that of Coar's fleet at +extreme range, too far to give +them a bounce. He'd know +their course, speed, and acceleration +fairly well, without +even being suspected himself.</p> + +<p>He held that position until +the enemy was close enough +to get a bounce, then went +into drive on an intercepting +course.</p> + +<p>One of the basic tenets of +space maneuver was this: if +two fleets were drawing together, +with radar contact, +neither (barring interference +from factors such as the sun +or planets) could escape the +other; for if one applied acceleration +in any direction the +other could simply match it +(human endurance being the +limitation) and maintain the +original relative closing speed.</p> + +<p>When the enemy commander +discovered Tulan's armada +loafing ahead of him, +he'd been accelerating for +about ten hours and had a +velocity of a million miles per +hour, while Tulan was going +the same direction but at +half the speed. The quarry +began decelerating immediately, +knowing it could get +back to Luhin with time +enough to land.</p> + +<p>Tulan didn't quite match +the deceleration, preferring +to waste a few hours and lessen +the strain on his crews. +He let the gap close slowly.</p> + +<p>He could tell almost the +precise instant when the other +jaw of his trap was discovered, +for Plot, Communications, +and Intelligence all jerked up +their heads and looked at him. +He grinned at them. What +they'd picked up would be an +enemy beam from Luhin, +recklessly sweeping space to +find the Coar fleet and warn +it of the onrushing Group +Three.</p> + +<p>The enemy commander reacted +fast. It was obvious he'd +never beat Group Three to +Luhin, and he made no futile +attempts at dodging, but reversed +drives and accelerated +toward the nearest enemy, +which was Tulan. Tulan was +not surprised at that either, +for though Coar's fleets had +bungled the war miserably, +when cornered they'd always +fought and died like men.</p> + +<p>He matched their acceleration +to hold down the relative +speeds. The swift passing +clash would be brief at best. +He formed his forces into an +arrangement he'd schemed up +long ago but never used: a +flat disc of lighter ships out +in front, masking a doughnut-shaped +mass behind. He maneuvered +laterally to keep the +doughnut centered on the line +of approach.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Roboscouts appeared and +blossomed briefly as they +died. The fuzzy patch of light +on the screens swelled, then +began to resolve into individual +points. The first missiles +arrived. Intricate patterns of +incandescence formed and +vanished as fire-control systems +locked wits.</p> + +<p>A sudden, brilliantly planned +salvo came streaking in, +saturating the defenses along +its path. Ships in Tulan's secondary +formation swerved +frantically, but one darting, +corkscrewing missile homed +on a Heavy, and for an instant +there were two suns.</p> + +<p>Tulan, missing Jezef's +smooth help, was caught up +in the daze and strain of battle +now. He punched buttons +and shouted orders as he +played the fleet to match the +enemy's subtle swerving. +Another heavy salvo came in, +but the computers had its +sources pinpointed now, and +it was contained. These first +few seconds favored the enemy, +who was only fighting +the light shield in front of +Tulan's formation.</p> + +<p>Now the swelling mass of +blips streaked apart in the +viewers and space lit up with +the fire and interception. Two +ships met head on; at such +velocities it was like a nuclear +blast.</p> + +<p>Then Coar's ships crashed +through the shield and into +the center of the doughnut. +Ringed, outgunned, outpredicted, +they hit such a concentration +of missiles that it +might as well have been a +solid wall. Ships disintegrated +as if on a common fuse; the +ones that didn't take direct +hits needed none, in that +debris-filled stretch of hell.</p> + +<p>Tulan's flagship rocked in +the wave of expanding hot +gasses. There was a jolt as +some piece of junk hit her; +if she hadn't already been under +crushing acceleration +away from the inferno she'd +have been holed.</p> + +<p>From a safer distance the +path of destruction was a +bright slash across space, +growing into the distance +with its momentum. It was +annihilation, too awful for +triumph; there was only horror +in it. Tulan knew that +with this overwhelming tactic +he'd written a new text-book +for action against an inferior +fleet. He hoped it would never +be printed. Sweating and +weak, he slumped in his +straps and was ill.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>While brief repairs and re-arming +were under way, he +sent scouts spiraling out to +pick up any radio beams from +Sennech or Teyr. There were +none. The telescopes showed +Sennech's albedo down to +a fraction of normal; that, +he supposed, would indicate +smoke in the atmosphere. He +wavered, wondering whether +he should detach more ships +to send out there. Reason and +training told him to stick to +the key objective, which was +Coar's surrender. He waited +only for Group Three to +achieve a converging course, +then started around the sun +again.</p> + +<p>They didn't encounter even +a roboscout. He crossed the +sun, curved into Coar's orbit, +matched speeds, and coasted +along a million miles ahead of +the planet, sending light sorties +in to feel out any ambushes. +Still there was no +sign of fight, so he went in +closer where the enemy could +get a good look at his +strength. Finally he took a +small group in boldly over the +fourth planet's Capitol and +sent a challenge.</p> + +<p>The answer was odd. "This +is Acting President Kliu. +What are your intentions?"</p> + +<p>Tulan realized he was holding +his breath. He let it out +and looked around the silent +command room, meeting the +intent eyes of his staff. He +had an unreal feeling; this +couldn't be the climax, the +consummation—this simple +exchange over the radio. He +lifted the microphone slowly. +"This is Admiral Tulan, commanding +the Fleets of Sennech. +I demand your immediate +and unconditional surrender."</p> + +<p>There was something in the +reply that might have been +dry amusement: "Oh; by all +means; but I hope you're not +going to insist upon an elaborate +ceremony. Right now +we don't give a damn about +the war; we're worried about +the race."</p> + +<p>There was more silence, +and Tulan turned, uncertainly, +looking at the bare spot +where Jezef ought to be +standing. He buzzed for Communications. +"Connect me +with Captain Rhu. Rhu; I'm +advancing you in rank and +leaving you in charge here. +I'm going down to accept the +surrender and find out what +this man's talking about."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Kliu was gaunt and middle-aged, +wearing, to Tulan's surprise, +the gray of Coar's First +Level of Science. He was neither +abject nor hostile, agreeing +impatiently to turn over +the secret of Coar's weapon +and to assist with a token occupation +of the planet. Again +Tulan had the unreal, let-down +feeling, and judging by +Kliu's amused expression, it +showed.</p> + +<p>Tulan sent couriers to get +things started, then turned +back to the scientist. "So you +have had a change of government. +What did you mean, +about the race?"</p> + +<p>Kliu watched him for a moment. +"How much do you +know about the weapon?"</p> + +<p>"Very little. That it projects +matter through hyperspace +and materializes it +where you want it."</p> + +<p>"Not exactly; the materialization +is spontaneous. Mass +somehow distorts hyperspace, +and when the projected matter +has penetrated a certain +distance into such distortion, +it pops back into normal +space. The penetration depends +mainly upon a sort of +internal energy in the missile; +you might think of it more as +a voltage than as velocity. +You've made it very hard for +us to get reports, but I understand +we successfully placed +stuff in Sennech's crust."</p> + +<p>"Yes; causing volcanoes. +Our scientists speculated that +any kind of matter would do +it."</p> + +<p>"That's right. Actually, we +were projecting weighed +chunks of rock. When one bit +of matter, even a single atom, +finds itself materializing +where another already is, unnatural +elements may be +formed, most of them unstable. +That's what blew +holes in your crust and let the +magma out."</p> + +<p>Tulan considered the military +implications of the weapon +for a few moments, then +pulled his mind back. "I see; +but what about the radiation? +It wasn't more than a trace +when I left."</p> + +<p>Kliu looked away for a +while before answering. +"When we learned you'd defied +your government, our +own military got out of hand. +They had a couple of days +before the sun cut us off completely, +and they began throwing +stuff as soon as it could be dug +and hauled to the projectors. +They used high energies to +get it past the sun. As we +realize now, a lot of it hit the +planet deeper than at first, +below the crust. Under such +pressure a different set of fissionables +was formed. Some +of them burst out and poisoned +the atmosphere, but most +of them are still there." He +leaned forward and eyed Tulan +hard. "We've got to get +an expedition out there to +study things. Will you help?"</p> + +<p>There was another of the +palpable silences, and when he +spoke Tulan's voice sounded +unnatural. "I—yes; we'll help. +Whatever you want. Is ... +Sennech finished?"</p> + +<p>Kliu smiled tightly. "Sennech, +for sure; and she may +take the rest of us with her. +Nobody conceived what this +might come to. A lot of those +deep materializations produced +pockets of dense fissionables, +and they're converging +toward the center under their +own weight. When they get +to a certain point, we'll have +a fine monument to Man's ingenuity. +A planet-size nova." +He stood up. "I'll start organizing."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Tulan existed someway +through the preparations, and +when they were in space +again the solid familiarity of +his ship helped. His staff was +carrying on wonderfully; +shielding him, he suspected, +from considerable hostility. +Discipline held up.</p> + +<p>A technology that had spanned +five orbits and probed beyond +was at bay, and the +expedition was tremendous. +Hardly an art or science was +unrepresented. If need be, +whole ships could be built in +space.</p> + +<p>A beam from Teyr as they +passed told of refugees by the +hundreds of thousands, dumped +in the wilderness with a +few ships still trickling in. +Tulan would have traded +everything he could command +to hear a word of Jezef or the +family, but Teyr wasn't concerned +with individuals and +he didn't ask.</p> + +<p>Sennech was dull gray in +the telescopes, showing, as +they neared, flecks of fire. +They went in fast, using her +gravity to help them curve +into a forced orbit as they +strained to decelerate. Thermocouples +gave readings close +to the boiling point of water; +that, probably, was the temperature +of the lower air.</p> + +<p>Roboscouts went down first, +then, as conditions were ascertained, +manned ships. Tulan +took the flagship down +once. Her coolers labored and +her searchlights were swallowed +in murk within a few +feet. Sounds carried through +the hull; the howl of great +winds and the thumps of explosions. +Once a geyser of +glowing lava spattered the +ship.</p> + +<p>Within hours the picture +began to form. The surface +was a boiling sea broken only +by transient mountain peaks +which tumbled down in +quakes or were washed away +by the incessant hot rain. It +would have been hard to find +a single trace of the civilization +that had flourished scant +hours before.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The slower job was learning, +by countless readings and +painful deduction, what was +going on inside the planet. +Tulan occupied himself with +organizational tasks and +clung to what dignity he +could. After an eternity Kliu +had time for him.</p> + +<p>"She'll blow, all right," the +scientist said, sinking tiredly +into a seat. "Within half a +year. Her year."</p> + +<p>"Twenty thousand hours," +Tulan said automatically. +"How about the other planets?"</p> + +<p>"Coar has one chance in a +hundred, Teyr possibly one in +ten."</p> + +<p>Tulan had to keep talking. +"The outer satellites. We can +do a lot in that time."</p> + +<p>Kliu shrugged. "A few +thousand people, and who +knows what will happen to +them afterward? It's going to +be a long time before the System's +inhabitable again, if +ever."</p> + +<p>"Ships ... people can live a +long time in ships."</p> + +<p>"Not that long."</p> + +<p>"There must be something! +The power we've got, and this +hyperspace thing."</p> + +<p>Kliu shook his head. "I can +guess what you're thinking; +we've been all over it. There's +no way to get to the stars, +and no way to move a planet +out of its orbit. Don't think +we haven't been pounding our +skulls, but the figures are +hopeless."</p> + +<p>Tulan stared at the ulcerous +image on the screen, built +up by infra-red probing +through the opaque atmosphere. +"She looks ready to +fall apart right now. How +much of her could you blast +off?"</p> + +<p>Kliu smiled wearily and +without humor. "We've worked +that idea to the bone, too. +If you could build a big +enough projector, and mount +it on an infinitely solid base, +you could push something +deep enough and accurately +enough to throw off stuff at +escape velocity, but it's a matter +of energy and we can't +handle one percent of what +we'd need. Even if you could +generate it fast enough, your +conduits would melt under the +current." He got up and walked +a few steps, then sat down +again. "Ironic, isn't it? All +we can do is destroy ourselves."</p> + +<p>Tulan's mind couldn't accept +it; he was used to thinking +that any amount of energy +could be handled some +way. "There must be something," +he repeated, feeling +foolish as he said it.</p> + +<p>He went over the figures he +knew so well; the acceleration +and the total energy necessary +to drive a ship to the +nearest stars. Even a ship's +Pulsors, pouring energy out +steadily, were pitiful compared +to that job. Schoolboys +knew the figures; mankind +had dreamed for generations ...</p> + +<p>He sat up abruptly. "This +hyperspace; didn't you tell me +there were such things as +velocity and momentum in +it?"</p> + +<p>Kliu's eyes focussed. "Yes; +why?"</p> + +<p>"And that a projector could +be built to put an entire ship +into hyperspace?"</p> + +<p>Kliu stared at him for a second. +"Kinetic energy! Built +up gradually!" He jumped to +his feet. "Come on! Let's get +to the computers!"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Several hundred hours later +Tulan lay watching the pinpoint +on his viewscreen that +represented Sennech. He'd +been building up speed for a +long time; he ached from the +steady double-gravity. The +ship, vastly beefed up, was +moving at a good fraction of +the speed of light. It wouldn't +be much longer.</p> + +<p>The cargo of carefully chosen +matter, shifting into +hyperspace at the right instant, +would be taken deep into +Sennech by the momentum +he'd accumulated in normal +space. If the calculations were +right, the resulting blast +would knock a chunk completely +out of the planet. Each +of the thousands of other +ships tied to him by robot controls +would take its own bite +at the right time and place. +Providing the plan worked.</p> + +<p>The Solar System would +have a few hot moments, and +would be full of junk for a +long time, but the threatening +fissionables inside Sennech +would be hurled far apart, to +dribble away their potence +gradually. Kliu admitted no +one could calculate for sure +even how much, if any, of +Sennech would remain as a +planet, but Teyr, at least, with +her thick atmosphere, should +withstand the rain of debris.</p> + +<p>He wondered about his +family, and Jezef. Kliu had +tried to get word, but the +tragically few refugees were +scattered.</p> + +<p>He smiled, recalling how +severely he'd had to order his +staff to abandon him. He was +proud to remember that much +of the fleet would have come +along, if he'd let them; but +live men were going to be at +more of a premium on Teyr +than heroic atoms drifting in +space. Machines could handle +this assault. He himself had +not had to touch a single control.</p> + +<p>The indicators began to +flash, and, sweating with the +effort, he hauled himself erect +to attention. It was good to +be winding up here in his +own command room, where +he'd lived his moments of +triumph. Still, as the red light +winked on, he couldn't help +thinking how very quiet and +lonely it was without Jezef +and the staff.</p> + +<p class="hd1"><b>THE END</b></p> + +<div class="trn"><b>Transcriber's Note:</b> +This etext was produced from <i>Amazing Stories</i> June 1960. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. +copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and +typographical errors have been corrected without note.</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tulan, by Carroll Mather Capps + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TULAN *** + +***** This file should be named 27968-h.htm or 27968-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/9/6/27968/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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