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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cccd830 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #66380 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/66380) diff --git a/old/66380-0.txt b/old/66380-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 168eb64..0000000 --- a/old/66380-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,773 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Incredible Aliens, by William Bender - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Incredible Aliens - -Author: William Bender - -Release Date: September 25, 2021 [eBook #66380] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE INCREDIBLE ALIENS *** - - - - - Narant's personal problem seemed of more - importance than his mission as an interstellar - investigator. But they combined when he met-- - - The Incredible Aliens - - By William Bender, Jr. - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy - July 1954 - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -It was only a tiny dot on the view screen when the military lookout -on the armed cruiser identified it as an alien spaceship and sounded -the general alert. Technicist Ninth Class Narant, chief psychanalyst -aboard, studied its approach with a rebellious, almost passionate hope -that the impossible was at last going to happen. - -Or was it impossible? They were the first men to visit this planetary -system. Why couldn't they expect to encounter a truly superior race for -a change? - -Intently, Narant examined the course of the alien craft. Rather -mischievously he hoped the stranger would suddenly adopt evasion -tactics showing it had detected their presence in the black void -between the 6th and 7th planets of the Star Restus. That would -certainly be a sign of superiority! And what a blow to Central -Scientific Headquarters back home. The anti-detection shield was one of -their proudest accomplishments. - -And yet, though still wishful, Narant realized deep in his heart that -such hopes were blighted. Illogical and improbable. No people in the -Universe could even compare with them. Explorers and merchants and -military ships and privateers had prowled all the great planetary -systems of the galaxy. They and their technology reigned supreme -everywhere. Indeed, the accumulated evidence of their supremacy even -formed the irrefutable foundation of Central Scientific's dogma on -selective breeding. - -"I must ask you to leave the bridge now, doctor." The voice, crisp and -authoritative, crackled over Narant's shoulder. - -Commander Karsine had entered the control room during Narant's brief -reverie in front of the viewing screen. An able and successful combat -officer still in his early thirties, Karsine wore the light weight -space armor the regulations prescribed for moments of impending action. -Even if the enemy blasted a hole in the control room itself, that armor -could protect Karsine long enough to save or disintegrate the cruiser, -as the case might be. - -"Commander," Narant suddenly blurted. "One request. I should like to -remain this one time and observe your tactics right here." - -"Denied." Karsine explained brusquely that only combat personnel were -allowed in the central control room during contact with a strange -vessel. "But," he ended, patronizingly, "you can watch from the -observation room. When we have made the capture, I'll be happy to -review my operations with you." - -_When_ we have made the capture. The Commander's abundant self -confidence only served to further depress Narant. Out there in the -void rode a space vessel of an altogether unknown race. And there was -no question in Karsine's mind but that their cruiser would take the -alien. Not "_if_" we make the capture. Simply, "_when_." It was small -solace for Narant to recall that he himself had firmly established -Self Confidence as one of the highest-rated mental traits for military -command. It had been one of his major projects as a Psychanalyst 4th -Class. - - * * * * * - -As he left the bridge, the airlock rumbled shut behind him, sealing -off the control room from the rest of the ship. Narant climbed the -spiral staircase into the observation room. One entire wall was a thick -quartzite pane over-looking the control center. You could see as much -from up here as down below. But somehow it wasn't the same. - -Other technicists with non-combatant specialties were already strapped -to seats in the room, prepared to watch the show on which their very -lives might depend. The "VM" lamp winked slowly on and off, its orange -glow warning against "possible violent maneuvers." Narant found a seat -and obediently fastened the safety harness. He studied the view screen -on the bridge below. The alien ship, seemingly unaware of the danger -that now threatened it, still followed its initial course. - -Narant tried to concentrate on the scrambling activity in the control -center, but his rebellious mind would have none of it. Unwanted -memories rose up to haunt him. He had been assigned to this trip -mainly to purge those thoughts from his mind with work and action, but -the cure appeared no cure at all. - -Three months ago his final request for the marriage permit had returned -disapproved. The accompanying explanation had been a masterpiece -of scientific doggerel. It analyzed the genetic composition of -Narant and Technicist 3rd Class Melda. It presented carefully -worked-out Tables of Probability regarding the nature and potential -achievement of the offspring of such a union. It called attention -to the low probability rate of Melda and Narant begetting a genius. -"Therefore," it had concluded, "it is not in the best interests of the -intended participants, nor will it serve to build the race, if the -aforementioned are joined in matrimony." - -There followed a rare bit of sterilized philosophy: "It is to be hoped -that each party mentioned in the above will readily find another -individual in whom to repose his and her natural emotional interest." -Narant felt, with a startling sense of the primeval, that if he should -find the person who phrased that report he would delightfully club him -to death. - -But of course emotionalism was absurd. The whole thing had been -handled dispassionately. Certain basic factors had been fed into banks -of electronic calculators and, a few micro-seconds later, the resultant -statistical data came out. It simply failed to measure up. There was -no arguing or quibbling about the results for the calculators were -mechanically infallible. - -However, Narant had taken one more step: an application for "random -mating." But the retention drums of the master calculators had -accumulated a far too overwhelming amount of information about the -advantages of scientific breeding. So that application, too, had been -refused. - -And shortly after, Narant found himself assigned to this cruiser bound -for Restus. A report that the inhabitants had begun space flight. A -distant, but conceivable threat to the security of the home planet. He -knew the assignment resulted from some scientific effort to mollify his -disappointment. So he left home. But he took with him the forlorn hope -that on this voyage, or the next, or the one after that, he would find -somewhere in the vast reaches of space an advanced people who still -practiced random mating; that he might find them, analyze them and feed -that information back to the master calculators. For only by placing -hard new facts into the "brain" could there be any chance of changing -the decision. - - * * * * * - -In the sealed combat control center, Commander Karsine finished -strapping himself into the anthropometric chair in front of the view -screen. A subordinate lowered the master control panel into position. -Narant perked up with new interest. A specialist of Karsine's class, he -realized, could manipulate that control panel with the consummate skill -of a master musician at a great organ. The battery of keys, buttons and -switches built into the panel gave Karsine complete domination over the -thousands of small engines and servo-mechanisms, tens-of-thousands of -electric tubes, and the millions of electrical synapses that comprised -the fighting apparatus of the space cruiser. - -Abruptly the "VM" sign began flashing more rapidly, its color changing -from orange to red. A siren whooped throughout the ship. Karsine's -voice, somewhat metallic over the speakers, gave the "Imminent Combat" -alert. The ship was going into action. - -Narant felt the seat straps pull at his chest. In the view screen -below, the alien vessel began to swell rapidly. A low hum permeated -the observation room. Narant glanced out the nearest port. Glistening -metallic spines were expanding outward from the body of the cruiser. -At the tip of each bulged the glowing cone of the force and detection -heads, the cruiser's most potent tools of attack and defense. - -"Engine room!" Karsine's peremptory voice snapped through the speakers. - -"Engine room standing by." - -"For ten seconds only, do not ... repeat, do _not_ act on manual signal -control. This is a test only. Read them off." - -"Yes, sir. Reading test signals: Fire eight ... fire six ... fire -nine ... fire one ... fire main." The voice paused. "Is that all, sir?" - -"The ten seconds are up," reproached Karsine. Henceforth, his every -command would have to be acted upon instantly. "Divert seventy per cent -of main power supply into armament system." - -"Yes, sir." - -"Check spinal extension." - -"Extended and locked. All force heads burning, Commander." Another -voice had answered this time. - -"Good." Karsine's brief acknowledgment for an efficient crew. "Activate -the combat calculator." - -"In action, sir." - -There, Narant realized, was another de-humanizing achievement of -Central Scientific. Years ago in the war with the repulsive exoskeletal -inhabitants of Sirius 13, earth's military commanders had gone into -battle with terrible ardor. To destroy the Sirians they had taken -frequent, unnecessary risks, and in so doing had sacrificed dozens -of brand new combat ships. So a special calculator had been designed -for all craft except humble merchantmen. It kept a running check on -the enemy's tactics, his power output, his course, speed and relative -aggressiveness; it measured the power consumption of its own ship -in counteracting enemy weapons, and a score of other factors. Once -activated, the "brain" computed the mathematical probabilities of -ultimate success at each instant of the battle. If the scale ever -tipped in favor of the enemy craft, the calculator instantly selected -the best evasion course, fired auxiliary rockets and broke off the -engagement. - - * * * * * - -Narant unconsciously shook his head in disapproval. He wondered if he -was getting old? Such efficiency disturbed him more than he cared to -admit. Only in the histories, it seemed, could you find those thrilling -battles where human ingenuity played the decisive role. Where a handful -of courageous men could face outrageous odds and win through to victory -by wit and resourcefulness. Yes, only in the histories. - -Nowadays warfare, like love, revolved about mathematics and probability -curves and trillions of electrons chasing themselves through a maze of -wires and throwing switches and making decisions that once had been the -prerogative of man alone. - -Narant yearned for man's lost freedom to make an honest error. - -Suddenly Karsine's harsh voice came blasting over the loudspeaker. -"Prepare to grapple!" - -Narant glanced quickly out through the port into the black sky. The -alien ship, its bright metal reflecting the light of the distant sun, -floated a mile away. Motionless. Or so it seemed against the unchanging -stellar background. - -It possessed hard sleek lines, pointed nose, flaring tail vanes. Its -designers, he guessed, must still be thinking in terms of atmospheric -flight. It hardly seemed the type of craft that could cross the broad -interstellar reaches; probably had been built simply to plod about its -neighboring planets. It must be an early development, for spaceships -had never before been detected in the Restus system. More than likely -the ship had not even become aware of their presence. Small wonder -Karsine had decided to grapple. - -The force heads on Narant's side of the cruiser began to shimmer under -the surge of power being fed to them. They grew red hot, almost -translucent. They would hold fire until the beam became powerful enough -to withstand tremendous forces. Sometimes in grappling, an enemy craft -had been known to discharge its main rocket batteries in an effort to -wrench loose. But any second now.... - -"Execute grapple!" Karsine ordered. - -The cruiser shuddered. Lights dimmed as the force heads sucked at every -available bit of power. With a blinding flash, a blue-white ribbon of -energy streaked across the mile-wide void to the alien ship. It flicked -the nose of the Restus craft, gripped, and swept over the entire hull -like a glittering cocoon. - -"Tension indicator: Nine-eight-point-eight," reported a too-casual -voice over the speaker. "Enemy ship secured." - -"Opposing force?" - -"Negative." - -Karsine cautiously studied his dials, alert for the first sign of -a counter-blow. Nothing happened. A minute dragged by. The tension -indicators remained constant; detection heads, zero. And then: "Bring -it alongside." - -The grappling beam slowly began to contract, bringing the alien ship -closer. As it passed through the invisibility screen, multi-colored -de-action rays focussed upon it, nullifying virtually every weapon -known to man. - -Narant's hopes dissolved. The emptiness left only an aching futility. -As usual, the capture had been simple ... and complete. - -"Advance parties prepare to go aboard," commanded the loudspeaker. - -A man behind Narant unbuckled his straps, got up and stretched. "Here -we go again," he said. And then, to nobody in particular: "I used to -get a kick out of investigating strange creatures. Now it's work. Just -work." - -Narant looked over his shoulder at the cruiser's anthropometrist. He -would have to board the ship right behind the combat team, analyze -the tools, controls, living conditions of the crew. Perhaps he, too, -experienced this ennui of persistent success? - - * * * * * - -Narant had ended his preparations in the psych-examination chamber by -the time they brought the first of the alien people to him. Narant -stared in sudden amazement. The creature was humanoid. It had a -well-formed head with a squat, shrunken nose and steep brows; there -were prehensile arms, and hands with five fingers. But the man was -hairy and, Narant winced, immodestly naked. - -The humanoid was still in the grip of the paralytic when they took him -into the examination chamber and strapped him to the table. Narant -judged the alien a little taller, give or take a few inches, than a -normal human being. His interest began to perk up. It always did when -he could study another creature that had learned to conquer space. -For perhaps the first time in three months, thoughts of Melda were -over-shadowed by the immediate prospect of exploring the mysteries of -an alien mind. - -As the attendant came back out of the chamber, Narant secured the door. -"How many of them?" he asked. - -The attendant shook his head in evident amazement. "Four. I don't know -how they do it, but that ship had only a four man crew." - -"Impossible," Narant exclaimed. - -"That's all there are," the man insisted. "We've covered the whole -ship." - -"But how could they...?" - -"The engineers are working on that now. I heard one of them remark -about the great number of automatic controls, but even so ... isn't -that one for the book?" - -That, Narant agreed, was one for the book. Four men. The space vessels -he knew usually held scores of crewmen and specialists to handle the -manifold emergencies that arose in flight. His imagination soaring, -Narant turned rapidly to begin his experiments. - -He started the automatic recorder that would code his findings on -a thin strip of tape and then, more excited than usual, began the -examination. Inside the chamber, a giant multi-faceted crystal began to -rotate slowly in the gimbals which held it suspended from the ceiling. -Sharp individual beams of light swept over the face of the alien being -on the table. One by one, the lights flickered over him and passed on, -each one probing, measuring, comparing with universal norms, and then -recording its findings on both dial and tape. - -Long before the five-hour examination was over, the hopes of -Technicist 9th Class Narant far transcended any he had experienced in -the past three months. The aliens had almost human potential. They -were fun-loving, kindly, clannish. Their resourcefulness _and their -ingenuity_ were literally unsurpassed. - -But then the most amazing fact of all revealed itself: The time-lapse -since this race had been entirely primitive was fantastically short. -In one brief--almost abrupt--transition, they had gone from jungle to -the conquest of space. The mind, the racial background and the obvious -achievements of these creatures presented such a picture of rapid -advancement as to stagger the imagination. - -Once he had transmitted the coded tapes to Central Scientific, Narant -sought out the anthropometrist. His lingering doubts vanished when -the two compared findings. Everything inside the spaceship had been -designed expressly for these strange creatures with the five fingers -and the prehensile hands and arms. - -As the cruiser finally pointed toward home, Narant was a new man. Of -course their information would set the scientific world spinning on -its collective ear. But more important, it would have vast personal -significance. According to the crystal, the mating pattern of these -surprisingly progressive beings was entirely one of random selection! - -Already that data would be digesting inside the master calculators. -The knowledge would become a part of all future decisions. Probability -rates would change strikingly ... especially those that governed the -issuance of "random-mating" licenses. For Narant, the voyage had been a -tremendous success. - - * * * * * - -However, in the space experimental laboratories near the Nevada desert -on the third planet of the sun Restus, no such optimism existed. - -Twenty-four hours had passed since the S-X-2 had vanished. They had -had a precise fix on it as it blistered through the void on an elliptic -course that would return it automatically to Earth. Everything had -seemed to be going perfectly. All the bugs of the first Spacerocket -Experimental had evidentally been straightened out in making the "2". -And then, some 250-thousand miles beyond Saturn, it had disappeared. -Just like that. - -Dr. Gordon Basset glanced distastefully at the telephone on his desk. -Then he began thumbing through the metropolitan directory for a number. -The hands that held the directory were strong, supple. They would have -been a revelation to Technicist Ninth Class Narant, if he had seen them. - -But then Technicist Ninth Class Narant himself would have been -something of a revelation to Dr. Gordon Basset, what with his twenty -claw-like extensors. - -Basset found the number, dialed, and waited for the connection. - -"Hello, Dr. Farrell? Basset here. I've got bad news on the S-X-2.... No -details yet, but the ship has broken contact.... Yes, I must presume -it's lost.... I'll file a complete report as soon as possible.... -What's that?... I suppose you're right--we'll have the S.P.C.A. on our -necks for sacrificing four more test animals. What the hell, they -can't expect us to send men on these experimental flights!" - -Basset talked for a moment longer and then replaced the phone. He -sighed. Another report. Another failure. Another requiem to be written -for a lost ship--and four chimpanzees. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE INCREDIBLE ALIENS *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following -the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use -of the Project Gutenberg trademark. 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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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Incredible Aliens</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: William Bender</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: September 25, 2021 [eBook #66380]</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net</div> - -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE INCREDIBLE ALIENS ***</div> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<p>Narant's personal problem seemed of more<br /> -importance than his mission as an interstellar<br /> -investigator. But they combined when he met—</p> - -<h1>The Incredible Aliens</h1> - -<h2>By William Bender, Jr.</h2> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy<br /> -July 1954<br /> -Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that<br /> -the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>It was only a tiny dot on the view screen when the military lookout -on the armed cruiser identified it as an alien spaceship and sounded -the general alert. Technicist Ninth Class Narant, chief psychanalyst -aboard, studied its approach with a rebellious, almost passionate hope -that the impossible was at last going to happen.</p> - -<p>Or was it impossible? They were the first men to visit this planetary -system. Why couldn't they expect to encounter a truly superior race for -a change?</p> - -<p>Intently, Narant examined the course of the alien craft. Rather -mischievously he hoped the stranger would suddenly adopt evasion -tactics showing it had detected their presence in the black void -between the 6th and 7th planets of the Star Restus. That would -certainly be a sign of superiority! And what a blow to Central -Scientific Headquarters back home. The anti-detection shield was one of -their proudest accomplishments.</p> - -<p>And yet, though still wishful, Narant realized deep in his heart that -such hopes were blighted. Illogical and improbable. No people in the -Universe could even compare with them. Explorers and merchants and -military ships and privateers had prowled all the great planetary -systems of the galaxy. They and their technology reigned supreme -everywhere. Indeed, the accumulated evidence of their supremacy even -formed the irrefutable foundation of Central Scientific's dogma on -selective breeding.</p> - -<p>"I must ask you to leave the bridge now, doctor." The voice, crisp and -authoritative, crackled over Narant's shoulder.</p> - -<p>Commander Karsine had entered the control room during Narant's brief -reverie in front of the viewing screen. An able and successful combat -officer still in his early thirties, Karsine wore the light weight -space armor the regulations prescribed for moments of impending action. -Even if the enemy blasted a hole in the control room itself, that armor -could protect Karsine long enough to save or disintegrate the cruiser, -as the case might be.</p> - -<p>"Commander," Narant suddenly blurted. "One request. I should like to -remain this one time and observe your tactics right here."</p> - -<p>"Denied." Karsine explained brusquely that only combat personnel were -allowed in the central control room during contact with a strange -vessel. "But," he ended, patronizingly, "you can watch from the -observation room. When we have made the capture, I'll be happy to -review my operations with you."</p> - -<p><i>When</i> we have made the capture. The Commander's abundant self -confidence only served to further depress Narant. Out there in the -void rode a space vessel of an altogether unknown race. And there was -no question in Karsine's mind but that their cruiser would take the -alien. Not "<i>if</i>" we make the capture. Simply, "<i>when</i>." It was small -solace for Narant to recall that he himself had firmly established -Self Confidence as one of the highest-rated mental traits for military -command. It had been one of his major projects as a Psychanalyst 4th -Class.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>As he left the bridge, the airlock rumbled shut behind him, sealing -off the control room from the rest of the ship. Narant climbed the -spiral staircase into the observation room. One entire wall was a thick -quartzite pane over-looking the control center. You could see as much -from up here as down below. But somehow it wasn't the same.</p> - -<p>Other technicists with non-combatant specialties were already strapped -to seats in the room, prepared to watch the show on which their very -lives might depend. The "VM" lamp winked slowly on and off, its orange -glow warning against "possible violent maneuvers." Narant found a seat -and obediently fastened the safety harness. He studied the view screen -on the bridge below. The alien ship, seemingly unaware of the danger -that now threatened it, still followed its initial course.</p> - -<p>Narant tried to concentrate on the scrambling activity in the control -center, but his rebellious mind would have none of it. Unwanted -memories rose up to haunt him. He had been assigned to this trip -mainly to purge those thoughts from his mind with work and action, but -the cure appeared no cure at all.</p> - -<p>Three months ago his final request for the marriage permit had returned -disapproved. The accompanying explanation had been a masterpiece -of scientific doggerel. It analyzed the genetic composition of -Narant and Technicist 3rd Class Melda. It presented carefully -worked-out Tables of Probability regarding the nature and potential -achievement of the offspring of such a union. It called attention -to the low probability rate of Melda and Narant begetting a genius. -"Therefore," it had concluded, "it is not in the best interests of the -intended participants, nor will it serve to build the race, if the -aforementioned are joined in matrimony."</p> - -<p>There followed a rare bit of sterilized philosophy: "It is to be hoped -that each party mentioned in the above will readily find another -individual in whom to repose his and her natural emotional interest." -Narant felt, with a startling sense of the primeval, that if he should -find the person who phrased that report he would delightfully club him -to death.</p> - -<p>But of course emotionalism was absurd. The whole thing had been -handled dispassionately. Certain basic factors had been fed into banks -of electronic calculators and, a few micro-seconds later, the resultant -statistical data came out. It simply failed to measure up. There was -no arguing or quibbling about the results for the calculators were -mechanically infallible.</p> - -<p>However, Narant had taken one more step: an application for "random -mating." But the retention drums of the master calculators had -accumulated a far too overwhelming amount of information about the -advantages of scientific breeding. So that application, too, had been -refused.</p> - -<p>And shortly after, Narant found himself assigned to this cruiser bound -for Restus. A report that the inhabitants had begun space flight. A -distant, but conceivable threat to the security of the home planet. He -knew the assignment resulted from some scientific effort to mollify his -disappointment. So he left home. But he took with him the forlorn hope -that on this voyage, or the next, or the one after that, he would find -somewhere in the vast reaches of space an advanced people who still -practiced random mating; that he might find them, analyze them and feed -that information back to the master calculators. For only by placing -hard new facts into the "brain" could there be any chance of changing -the decision.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>In the sealed combat control center, Commander Karsine finished -strapping himself into the anthropometric chair in front of the view -screen. A subordinate lowered the master control panel into position. -Narant perked up with new interest. A specialist of Karsine's class, he -realized, could manipulate that control panel with the consummate skill -of a master musician at a great organ. The battery of keys, buttons and -switches built into the panel gave Karsine complete domination over the -thousands of small engines and servo-mechanisms, tens-of-thousands of -electric tubes, and the millions of electrical synapses that comprised -the fighting apparatus of the space cruiser.</p> - -<p>Abruptly the "VM" sign began flashing more rapidly, its color changing -from orange to red. A siren whooped throughout the ship. Karsine's -voice, somewhat metallic over the speakers, gave the "Imminent Combat" -alert. The ship was going into action.</p> - -<p>Narant felt the seat straps pull at his chest. In the view screen -below, the alien vessel began to swell rapidly. A low hum permeated -the observation room. Narant glanced out the nearest port. Glistening -metallic spines were expanding outward from the body of the cruiser. -At the tip of each bulged the glowing cone of the force and detection -heads, the cruiser's most potent tools of attack and defense.</p> - -<p>"Engine room!" Karsine's peremptory voice snapped through the speakers.</p> - -<p>"Engine room standing by."</p> - -<p>"For ten seconds only, do not ... repeat, do <i>not</i> act on manual signal -control. This is a test only. Read them off."</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir. Reading test signals: Fire eight ... fire six ... fire -nine ... fire one ... fire main." The voice paused. "Is that all, sir?"</p> - -<p>"The ten seconds are up," reproached Karsine. Henceforth, his every -command would have to be acted upon instantly. "Divert seventy per cent -of main power supply into armament system."</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir."</p> - -<p>"Check spinal extension."</p> - -<p>"Extended and locked. All force heads burning, Commander." Another -voice had answered this time.</p> - -<p>"Good." Karsine's brief acknowledgment for an efficient crew. "Activate -the combat calculator."</p> - -<p>"In action, sir."</p> - -<p>There, Narant realized, was another de-humanizing achievement of -Central Scientific. Years ago in the war with the repulsive exoskeletal -inhabitants of Sirius 13, earth's military commanders had gone into -battle with terrible ardor. To destroy the Sirians they had taken -frequent, unnecessary risks, and in so doing had sacrificed dozens -of brand new combat ships. So a special calculator had been designed -for all craft except humble merchantmen. It kept a running check on -the enemy's tactics, his power output, his course, speed and relative -aggressiveness; it measured the power consumption of its own ship -in counteracting enemy weapons, and a score of other factors. Once -activated, the "brain" computed the mathematical probabilities of -ultimate success at each instant of the battle. If the scale ever -tipped in favor of the enemy craft, the calculator instantly selected -the best evasion course, fired auxiliary rockets and broke off the -engagement.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Narant unconsciously shook his head in disapproval. He wondered if he -was getting old? Such efficiency disturbed him more than he cared to -admit. Only in the histories, it seemed, could you find those thrilling -battles where human ingenuity played the decisive role. Where a handful -of courageous men could face outrageous odds and win through to victory -by wit and resourcefulness. Yes, only in the histories.</p> - -<p>Nowadays warfare, like love, revolved about mathematics and probability -curves and trillions of electrons chasing themselves through a maze of -wires and throwing switches and making decisions that once had been the -prerogative of man alone.</p> - -<p>Narant yearned for man's lost freedom to make an honest error.</p> - -<p>Suddenly Karsine's harsh voice came blasting over the loudspeaker. -"Prepare to grapple!"</p> - -<p>Narant glanced quickly out through the port into the black sky. The -alien ship, its bright metal reflecting the light of the distant sun, -floated a mile away. Motionless. Or so it seemed against the unchanging -stellar background.</p> - -<p>It possessed hard sleek lines, pointed nose, flaring tail vanes. Its -designers, he guessed, must still be thinking in terms of atmospheric -flight. It hardly seemed the type of craft that could cross the broad -interstellar reaches; probably had been built simply to plod about its -neighboring planets. It must be an early development, for spaceships -had never before been detected in the Restus system. More than likely -the ship had not even become aware of their presence. Small wonder -Karsine had decided to grapple.</p> - -<p>The force heads on Narant's side of the cruiser began to shimmer under -the surge of power being fed to them. They grew red hot, almost -translucent. They would hold fire until the beam became powerful enough -to withstand tremendous forces. Sometimes in grappling, an enemy craft -had been known to discharge its main rocket batteries in an effort to -wrench loose. But any second now....</p> - -<p>"Execute grapple!" Karsine ordered.</p> - -<p>The cruiser shuddered. Lights dimmed as the force heads sucked at every -available bit of power. With a blinding flash, a blue-white ribbon of -energy streaked across the mile-wide void to the alien ship. It flicked -the nose of the Restus craft, gripped, and swept over the entire hull -like a glittering cocoon.</p> - -<p>"Tension indicator: Nine-eight-point-eight," reported a too-casual -voice over the speaker. "Enemy ship secured."</p> - -<p>"Opposing force?"</p> - -<p>"Negative."</p> - -<p>Karsine cautiously studied his dials, alert for the first sign of -a counter-blow. Nothing happened. A minute dragged by. The tension -indicators remained constant; detection heads, zero. And then: "Bring -it alongside."</p> - -<p>The grappling beam slowly began to contract, bringing the alien ship -closer. As it passed through the invisibility screen, multi-colored -de-action rays focussed upon it, nullifying virtually every weapon -known to man.</p> - -<p>Narant's hopes dissolved. The emptiness left only an aching futility. -As usual, the capture had been simple ... and complete.</p> - -<p>"Advance parties prepare to go aboard," commanded the loudspeaker.</p> - -<p>A man behind Narant unbuckled his straps, got up and stretched. "Here -we go again," he said. And then, to nobody in particular: "I used to -get a kick out of investigating strange creatures. Now it's work. Just -work."</p> - -<p>Narant looked over his shoulder at the cruiser's anthropometrist. He -would have to board the ship right behind the combat team, analyze -the tools, controls, living conditions of the crew. Perhaps he, too, -experienced this ennui of persistent success?</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Narant had ended his preparations in the psych-examination chamber by -the time they brought the first of the alien people to him. Narant -stared in sudden amazement. The creature was humanoid. It had a -well-formed head with a squat, shrunken nose and steep brows; there -were prehensile arms, and hands with five fingers. But the man was -hairy and, Narant winced, immodestly naked.</p> - -<p>The humanoid was still in the grip of the paralytic when they took him -into the examination chamber and strapped him to the table. Narant -judged the alien a little taller, give or take a few inches, than a -normal human being. His interest began to perk up. It always did when -he could study another creature that had learned to conquer space. -For perhaps the first time in three months, thoughts of Melda were -over-shadowed by the immediate prospect of exploring the mysteries of -an alien mind.</p> - -<p>As the attendant came back out of the chamber, Narant secured the door. -"How many of them?" he asked.</p> - -<p>The attendant shook his head in evident amazement. "Four. I don't know -how they do it, but that ship had only a four man crew."</p> - -<p>"Impossible," Narant exclaimed.</p> - -<p>"That's all there are," the man insisted. "We've covered the whole -ship."</p> - -<p>"But how could they...?"</p> - -<p>"The engineers are working on that now. I heard one of them remark -about the great number of automatic controls, but even so ... isn't -that one for the book?"</p> - -<p>That, Narant agreed, was one for the book. Four men. The space vessels -he knew usually held scores of crewmen and specialists to handle the -manifold emergencies that arose in flight. His imagination soaring, -Narant turned rapidly to begin his experiments.</p> - -<p>He started the automatic recorder that would code his findings on -a thin strip of tape and then, more excited than usual, began the -examination. Inside the chamber, a giant multi-faceted crystal began to -rotate slowly in the gimbals which held it suspended from the ceiling. -Sharp individual beams of light swept over the face of the alien being -on the table. One by one, the lights flickered over him and passed on, -each one probing, measuring, comparing with universal norms, and then -recording its findings on both dial and tape.</p> - -<p>Long before the five-hour examination was over, the hopes of -Technicist 9th Class Narant far transcended any he had experienced in -the past three months. The aliens had almost human potential. They -were fun-loving, kindly, clannish. Their resourcefulness <i>and their -ingenuity</i> were literally unsurpassed.</p> - -<p>But then the most amazing fact of all revealed itself: The time-lapse -since this race had been entirely primitive was fantastically short. -In one brief—almost abrupt—transition, they had gone from jungle to -the conquest of space. The mind, the racial background and the obvious -achievements of these creatures presented such a picture of rapid -advancement as to stagger the imagination.</p> - -<p>Once he had transmitted the coded tapes to Central Scientific, Narant -sought out the anthropometrist. His lingering doubts vanished when -the two compared findings. Everything inside the spaceship had been -designed expressly for these strange creatures with the five fingers -and the prehensile hands and arms.</p> - -<p>As the cruiser finally pointed toward home, Narant was a new man. Of -course their information would set the scientific world spinning on -its collective ear. But more important, it would have vast personal -significance. According to the crystal, the mating pattern of these -surprisingly progressive beings was entirely one of random selection!</p> - -<p>Already that data would be digesting inside the master calculators. -The knowledge would become a part of all future decisions. Probability -rates would change strikingly ... especially those that governed the -issuance of "random-mating" licenses. For Narant, the voyage had been a -tremendous success.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>However, in the space experimental laboratories near the Nevada desert -on the third planet of the sun Restus, no such optimism existed.</p> - -<p>Twenty-four hours had passed since the S-X-2 had vanished. They had -had a precise fix on it as it blistered through the void on an elliptic -course that would return it automatically to Earth. Everything had -seemed to be going perfectly. All the bugs of the first Spacerocket -Experimental had evidentally been straightened out in making the "2". -And then, some 250-thousand miles beyond Saturn, it had disappeared. -Just like that.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>Dr. Gordon Basset glanced distastefully at the telephone on his desk. -Then he began thumbing through the metropolitan directory for a number. -The hands that held the directory were strong, supple. They would have -been a revelation to Technicist Ninth Class Narant, if he had seen them.</p> - -<p>But then Technicist Ninth Class Narant himself would have been -something of a revelation to Dr. Gordon Basset, what with his twenty -claw-like extensors.</p> - -<p>Basset found the number, dialed, and waited for the connection.</p> - -<p>"Hello, Dr. Farrell? Basset here. I've got bad news on the S-X-2.... No -details yet, but the ship has broken contact.... Yes, I must presume -it's lost.... I'll file a complete report as soon as possible.... -What's that?... I suppose you're right—we'll have the S.P.C.A. on our -necks for sacrificing four more test animals. What the hell, they -can't expect us to send men on these experimental flights!"</p> - -<p>Basset talked for a moment longer and then replaced the phone. He -sighed. Another report. Another failure. 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