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diff --git a/58735-0.txt b/58735-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..aa1bd96 --- /dev/null +++ b/58735-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,530 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 58735 *** + + + + + + + + + + + + + PEACE + + BY NORMAN ARKAWY AND + STANLEY HENIG + + _We bid you welcome, Earthmen! + Take your rightful place + beside us, share our peaceful + existence. By your endless + struggles you have earned it_. + + [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from + Worlds of If Science Fiction, October 1954. + Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that + the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] + + +_Peace Communique No 1.--Abilene--April 1, 2049_ + +The war is over. Iverson is safely exiled on asteroid 14, and the other +leaders of the aggressor forces--Cartwright, Briande, Remberg, Kiang +and Risofsky--are all in confinement on their respective space islands. +Peace has been restored to the system: on Rios and on Nwad. + + (signed) SER GULLA + Sup. AC + Rios Adm. + + * * * * * + + AC Pamphlet + PIE Rios No. 1-1-1 + 10 APR 49 RT + + REPORT TO THE PEOPLE OF RIOS + +On March 29, 2049 (Rios Time), the Rios-Nwadian war ended. + +This report on the recent conflict has been prepared by the Bureau +of Public Information and Education, Rios Branch, for the purpose of +enlightening the inhabitants of Rios about the War, its causes, and the +proposed policy of the Nwadian government concerning the administration +of your planet. + +In order to provide for full understanding by the people of Rios, +Riosic terminology shall be used wherever possible in this report. +Thus, Rios shall be called 'Earth', Nwad shall be designated 'Venus', +and all dates, measurements and other data which are different on the +two planets shall be indicated according to the Riosic calculation. + + * * * * * + +The War ended on March 29, 2049 when the last Earthian troops +surrendered to the Venusian peace forces. + +When did the War begin? The first battle was fought on December 18, +2048, but the first 'incident' that led directly to the conflict +occurred in November, 2042. And even before that date, many years +before, officials on Venus knew that war between the two worlds was +inevitable. + +Space scientists of Venus have been observing Earth for hundreds +of years. The first space ship to reach your planet and return +to Venus made its voyage in the Earth year, 1891. From that time +on, explorations were made sporadically until the 1950's, when +revolutionary improvements in the design of our ships made possible +more economical and faster trips. + +It is an interesting coincidence, incidentally, that atomic power +was discovered on Earth just as we on Venus had made atomic driven +spacecraft obsolete by the introduction of the magnetico-gravitational +drive. This fact is mentioned because it was the evidence of atomic +explosions on Earth that increased our interest in your planet a +century ago. + +In all our observations of Earth, the most obvious fact we learned was +that its dominant race was aggressive and war-like in nature. Having +no desire to introduce this war-mindedness to our peaceful world, we +avoided all contact with Earth. + +We realized, however, that in time the Earth race would accomplish +space travel and thus force a contact with us. Therefore, we devised +highly potent weapons for our defense in the event that the people of +Earth ever stopped quarreling among themselves and attempted an attack +on our world. + +High officials in our government were appalled at the thought of war +with its chaotic and indiscriminate killing. There were those who +deemed it an actual act of aggression on our part to arm ourselves +in preparation for a war. The opposition to our defense program was +strong. Yet, it was our preparedness which saved our civilization from +destruction when your forces launched their invasion of our planet +last year. + + * * * * * + +To understand the events which led to The War, it is best that we +briefly review the history of space travel by Earthians. In the year +2002, the six remaining nations of the Earth formed the Federation +to abolish war and to enable the people of your planet to put forth +a united effort to discover the secret of interplanetary travel. +This endeavour, in itself, was considered by our leaders to be most +creditable. But the entire pattern of your development, observed +for many centuries, instilled seeds of doubt in our minds. You were +conditioned to war and the mere establishment of a Federation to +monitor the future was not adequate insurance, we felt, against further +conflict. In your concentration on conquering space, however, you did +stop warring among yourselves. + +Space travel from Earth began thirty-eight years ago. The first +successful trip to Luna and back was made in 2011, and by 2020 the +Lunar space port was opened. It was in 2020, also, that the space ship, +Pioneer, left for Mars. It was never heard from again. + +Unsuccessful attempts to travel to the other planets were made during +the years 2021-2027. The Pioneer II, bound for Mars, the Adventurer, +bound for Mars, and the Enterprise, bound for Venus, all disappeared +without a trace. + +In September, 2028, the Space King returned to Earth after completing +a voyage to Mars. The ship landed safely, but the excited celebration +that greeted it was short-lived when it was discovered that the +entire crew was afflicted with a neurological disease that your Earth +scientists labeled 'space sickness'. This disease posed a new obstacle +to interplanetary travel. It attacked indiscriminately and it proved +fatal in almost every case. + +Research and experimentation on the cause and cure of 'space sickness' +was carried on continuously from the time the Space King returned with +its dying crew until the disease was conquered in 2041. During these +years, the experimental ships Enterprise II, Razorback, and Space King +II were utilized as laboratories in orbital flights. + +In April, 2041, the space liner Morning Star was completed, +incorporating technological improvements designed to prevent the +occurrence of 'space sickness'. The Morning Star left the Lunar station +on July 17, 2042. Its destination was Venus. + +In government circles on Venus, it was felt that no further delay +could be permitted in establishing contact with the people of Earth. +They were already too close to space flight maturity to forego any +opportunity for formulating an understanding. Therefore, The Morning +Star, whose flight had been observed constantly, was allowed to pass +through our ionic barrier and land unharmed on our planet. Emissaries +of our _Lora Dannun_ (nearest translation: Supreme Council) were on +hand to greet the Earthmen when they left their ship. + +As a precautionary measure, two atomic scorchers were trained on the +ship, but our officials approached the debarking Earthmen without +side arms and in a friendly manner. The Earthmen, understandably +apprehensive, came forward with their hand weapons drawn. + +Although we on Venus were already familiar with your International +English language, our welcoming committee did not think it wise to +further startle the men from Earth by greeting them in their own +tongue. Therefore, our friendly intentions were made known by elaborate +and unmistakable gestures. + +The aliens from Earth, nevertheless, were startled enough by our +appearance. They stared wide-eyed at what appeared to be four +child-like specimens of human beings. This resemblance which Venusians +bear to humans, and which should have impressed the crew of the Morning +Star with the possibilities of intelligent negotiations, did not deter +them from jumping to irrational conclusions. + +Our chief emissary, Ser Madi, heard their leader and his lieutenant +in the following conversation (which is reproduced from the auto-tape +recording made on the spot): + + _Leader: What do you make of them, Jensen? They look almost like + human children, don't they? + + Lieutenant: There doesn't seem to be anything to worry about here, + sir. They seem friendly enough. But why children? You'd think + they'd send some bigwigs out to welcome us. Why did they send + children? + + Leader: I don't know.... Maybe it's a trap! + + Lieutenant: You're right, sir. We can't afford to take any chances. + + Leader: Take them back to the ship for the psych boys to work on. I + don't like the looks of this._ + +At this point Ser Madi revealed his knowledge of the Earth language. "I +assure you, gentlemen," he said to the strangers, "that this is not a +trap. Please follow us peacefully." + +The invaders were stunned into silence, but it took the leader only +a moment to recover. "I'll be damned!" he exclaimed. "The sly little +devils understand English! Jensen! Have these creatures escorted onto +the Star. This is something we'll have to talk over on the ship." + +At a signal from the man called Jensen, eight of your people advanced +toward the four members of our welcoming committee. Ser Madi spoke +again: "I warn you, sir, not to try to abduct us. Order your men back." + +The leader of the Earthmen laughed. "Look at them!" he said to his +lieutenant. "These things are threatening us!" The soldiers had paused +at Ser Madi's words. "Go on," the leader ordered them. "Take them +aboard the ship!" + +"You were warned," Ser Madi said sadly. He motioned to his companions +and, in an instant of brilliant light, the space ship was reduced to +smoldering ashes. + +The stunned Earthians were easily taken into custody. They were +completely awed by the destruction of their ship, which had been +accomplished with "invisible" weapons. Ser Madi did not think it +necessary to explain the compactness and efficiency of the atomic +scorchers to them. They would not have been able to comprehend the +principles behind the finger ring weapons. + + * * * * * + +Captain Daniels, the leader of the Earth expedition, was interrogated +at great length, but he remained hostile and uncooperative. The only +information that he offered was his name, rank and serial number, which +he repeated over and over again. Jensen and the remaining crew members +refused to answer our questions also, insisting that their captain was +the spokesman for all of them. This action increased our fears that the +intellectual and emotional make-up of Earth was incompatible with that +of Venus. + +We accomplished nothing in four days of questioning. It seemed +impossible to determine the means whereby we could arrive at some +workable line of reasoning. It was equally impossible for us to +ascertain whether the hostile actions of the Morning Star represented +the attitude of the Earth government or if they were merely the +impulsive results of the emotional strain endured by Captain Daniels +and his crew on their voyage. + +The Supreme Council decided it was necessary to visit Earth now, make +our presence known, and see if friendly relations could be established +with that planet. We had hopes that this might be done, for there +had been no war on Earth for almost fifty years. It was hoped that +the people had finally achieved a civilization capable of friendly +interplanetary exchange. + +The Council ordered a delegation to leave immediately on the first +diplomatic mission from Venus to Earth. Ser Madi had justifiable +doubts about the possibility of success, but the Council overruled his +objections. + +The delegation, led by the elder statesman, Ser Alaga, left for +Earth aboard the light cruiser, Tunn. The date was December 9, 2042. +Returning to Earth aboard the Tunn, were the eleven survivors of the +Morning Star, treated not as prisoners, but as survivors of a space +wreck. + + * * * * * + +The Tunn landed on Earth two miles out of Abilene, on December 15, +2042. A few hours after touching down, the Venusian delegation arrived +in the Earth capital and presented themselves at the Ministry of State. + +The office worker who stood between them and the Secretary of the +Minister of Foreign Affairs was amused by the delegates' story. "Why +don't you kids go home and stop annoying us?" he said. "And stop +watching those TD shows!" + +Ser Buldi indignantly repeated his request to see the Foreign Minister. + +"Get out of here!" the office worker said in a tone that indicated he +was through talking to us. + +Ser Buldi began to reply but he was silenced by Ser Alaga, who wished +to avoid any unnecessary incidents which could have proved embarrassing +to the Earthmen. Instead, the elder statesman approached a young lady +seated behind a desk. + +"What can I do for you, little boy?" the girl asked with a smile. + +Ser Alaga, with the aid of his hypno-tube, quickly convinced her to +admit the delegates to the office of the Sub-Secretary for Foreign +Affairs. + +Then began a three day procession through the offices of many +sub-secretaries, four under-secretaries and two deputy ministers. In +each office our diplomats were received skeptically and passed on to +the next. + +Finally, in desperation, the delegation released the survivors of the +Morning Star. Although Ser Alaga realized that their account of the +incident probably would be distorted, he knew that it would serve to +verify the delegation's identity. + + * * * * * + +The Abilene News of December 19, 2042, shouted at the top of its +headline voice: + + SPACE INVADERS HERE + +The Bugle: + + EARTH ATTACKED + +The Times: + + "MORNING STAR" DESTROYED + + 11 Survivors Of Space Liner Tell Story Of Attack + +An immediate meeting was held between our delegation and the leaders +of your government. After the formalities of greeting were over, the +spokesman for the Earth government reviewed the facts of the Morning +Star incident as they had been related by Captain Daniels and his +crew. Venusian forces, they claimed, had been guilty of an unprovoked +attack against the ship. We had barbarously murdered all of the ship's +complement, save for the eleven "hostages" whom we had brought to Earth +aboard the Tunn. + +The government of Earth demanded an explanation. Ser Alaga spoke the +truth. The Earthians were not satisfied. + + (THE FOLLOWING CONVERSATION IS REPRODUCED FROM + THE AUTO-TAPE RECORDING OF THE MEETING) + + Earth Spokesman: _We will grant that your act of aggression was not + premeditated, but resulted from a misinterpretation, on your part, + of the friendly intentions of our forces. Nevertheless, our vessel + was destroyed. Twenty-three of our men were killed. The government + of the World Federation demands that your government make suitable + reparations._ + + Ser Alaga: _Mr. Cartwright, we respectfully deny the allegation + that our forces were guilty of any act of aggression._ + + Cartwright: _The Morning Star was destroyed by your men, was it + not?_ + + Ser Alaga: _In self-defense, yes. As we have explained, the captain + of your ship threatened our welcoming committee with...._ + + Cartwright: _None of your men were harmed!_ + + Ser Alaga: _They prevented their own imminent destruction by their + action in self-defense. It was this action which resulted in the + unfortunate...._ + + Cartwright: _Our ship and our men were attacked before they had + fired a shot. Therefore, your action cannot be deemed to have taken + place in self-defense._ + + Ser Alaga: _Your reasoning confounds me, sir. If the prevention of + aggressive action is termed aggression, then we are guilty of it. I + bow to your logic._ + + _Naturally our government wishes to express its regrets over the + impulsive act of its representatives. We want to meet with you in + peace and friendship. We want to prevent any future incidents such + as the one which has brought us here today._ + + Cartwright: _On behalf of the World Federation, I accept your + apology. We, too, would like to prevent further strife between our + worlds. There is much to be gained by a useful and cooperative + alliance between Earth and Venus. But, to insure this, we feel that + your government should make certain ... payments in reparation for + our losses._ + + Ser Alaga: _Although I am in sympathy with your views, our + delegation has not been empowered to offer any reparations. + However, if you will indicate what your government would consider + a suitable payment for your losses, we shall convey your request to + our Council._ + + (END OF AUTO-TAPE RECORDING) + +Yttrium was the reparation asked by Earth--five thousand pounds of +isolated and purified Yttrium. This metal was essential for the +construction of Earth's space ships, the "alumiryten" alloy being used +in the manufacture of the tough outer shell of these ships. + +The supply of Yttrium ores on Venus is almost unlimited, and the +Council had no trouble delivering the requested amount of the refined +metal. The last shipment of ingots reached Earth within three months. + +This conciliatory payment was intended to preserve the peace and build +good will within the system. It was our intention that, if possible, +the Earth would assume a more responsible attitude toward the greater +scope of friendly interplanetary relations. It was our hope that +harmony would form a permanent bond between our two worlds. + +Our efforts were wasted. + + YTTRIUM SHIPMENTS IMPURE + +screamed the tabloid headlines. President Iverson of the World +Federation sent a stiff note to the Council on Venus. He demanded +apologies and immediate restitutions, claiming that sixty percent of +the metal delivered was actually zirconium. We had cheated them, said +Iverson. + +In a terse reply to his note, our government branded the Iverson +accusation a lie. It was all too apparent what was intended. We refused +to discuss the matter. We broke off all diplomatic relations with Earth +and simply ignored the numerous threats and accusations that were +continuously being made. + +Our vigilance increased, however, and we prepared for the attack that +Iverson promised when he said: "Venus has not yet felt the force of +Earth.... They will!" + +Several years passed, during which time the Federation built a huge +space armada, using to good advantage the five thousand pounds of +pure yttrium they had received from Venus. It was also during these +years of preparation that Venus and its people were forced to accept +the hardships of a regimented economy. Our citizens, however, long +accustomed to personal sacrifice for the welfare of Society, did not +complain. + +On September 14, 2048, a fleet of four hundred Federation war-ships +took off for Venus. + +The battle in defense of our planet was carried out exactly according +to the strategy of the Supreme Council. The first wave of one hundred +attacking ships was completely demolished in our ionic barrier. Fifty +percent of the second wave was accounted for in the same manner. +Those ships which did manage to pierce the discharging barrier were +badly damaged and were easily destroyed by our cruising disintegrator +teams. The third wave of invaders was met by our ascending task force +of sixty scout ships, each equipped with twin cosmic blasters. In +this engagement, three of our ships were lost ... all the invaders +were destroyed. While this battle was being fought, our space patrol +descended upon the fourth wave from outer space. + +The Earth fleet was completely obliterated. + +On March 14, 2049, our invasion fleet attacked the Earth. After two +weeks of sporadic fighting, the occupation was completed. + +Iverson, Cartwright, Briande, and the rest of the leaders of Earth's +war-like government are in exile on their various asteroids. We shall +not kill them, nor shall we allow them to die. They are supplied with +their needs by a ship that calls once a month. Otherwise, they are +left completely alone on their space islands, each a master of his own +little world. We believe this to be a fitting punishment for men who +try to conquer a world. + +Peace has been restored to the system: on Venus, and on Earth. + + * * * * * + +_Peace Communique No. 2--Abilene--May 1, 2049_ + +One month ago, the provisional Venusian government on Earth was +established to administer the military occupation of your planet. +During the past month, that government, assisted by the Venusian +Administration Corps, has instituted reforms whereby peace and security +have been attained for all the Earth. + +What of the future? + +Citizens of Earth, here is your future: You are welcomed as equals +in a union with Venus. For a time, until you have learned how to +govern yourselves peacefully, your planet will be directed by Venusian +administrators. But even now--immediately--you shall be accorded the +same rights and privileges that the citizens of Venus enjoy. + +And you shall have peace! Perhaps you should be thankful for the last +terrible war which your leaders brought upon you, for as a result of +it, you shall no longer know the meaning of war. + +Of course, citizens have duties as well as rights. Failure to comply +with regulations is severely punished. Therefore, it is advisable that +you acquaint yourselves with the obligations of a peaceful citizen. + +The duties of a citizen vary, depending upon the individual's +classification and the location in which he lives. In addition to his +special duties, however, every citizen is required to know and observe +the five GENERAL DUTIES of a citizen, listed below. + + GENERAL DUTIES OF A CITIZEN + +1. Every citizen will work at his appointed task one-third of each day. + +2. Every citizen will perform those duties necessary to maintain his +sleeping area in such a manner as to comply with the directives posted +in his barracks. + +3. Every citizen (male) will father/ (female) will bear a child once +every alternate cycle. + +4. Every citizen will report promptly when notified of special duty +(e.g. waste disposal detail, sewer maintenance crew, restorative squad). + +5. Every citizen will report to his extermination center immediately +upon notification. (See Note) + +(Note: Certain measures are necessary to prevent the over-population +of a peaceful world. In addition to the obvious elimination of the +incurably sick, the insane, the feeble-minded, the disabled, the +dishonest, and the aged, periodic exterminations must be held among the +general citizenry. + +Citizens who have been selected will report promptly to the appointed +center for speedy, painless extermination. Failure to do so will result +in a delayed and painful process.) + + * * * * * + +Now we bid you welcome, Earthmen. Take your rightful place beside us +and share our peaceful existence. By your endless struggles through a +long heritage of war, you have earned it. + + (signed) SER GULLA + Sup. AC + Rios Adm. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Peace, by Norman Arkawy and Stanley Henig + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 58735 *** |