human
Go to the commander's desk,
gpt
You are Brenn, Y'Nor said,
human
Yes, sir. There was a faint quaver in old Brenn's voice.
gpt
I welcome you to our world, sir, and offer you our friendship.
human
I understand you can produce Elusium X fuel?
gpt
Yes, sir. Our Dr. Larue told me the process is within our ability. We-- He hesitated.
human
We know you haven't enough fuel to return to Vogar.
gpt
What makes you think that?
human
It requires a great deal of fuel to get through the Whirlpool star cluster--and even sixty years ago, the Elusium ores of Vogar were almost exhausted.
gpt
That reminds me--you would be one of the Saints who murdered their guards and stole a ship to get here.
human
We killed no guards, sir. In fact, all of them eventually joined our church.
gpt
Where is the ship?
human
We had to cut it up for our start in mechanization.
gpt
I presume you know you will pay for it?
human
It was taking us to our deaths in the radium mines--but we will pay whatever you ask.
gpt
The first installment will be one thousand units of fuel, to be produced with the greatest speed possible.
human
Yes, sir. But in return --the old man stood a little straighter and an underlying resolve was suddenly revealed--
gpt
Free? A colony founded by escaped criminals?
human
That is not true! We committed no crime, harmed no living thing....
gpt
This world is now a Vogarian possession. Every man, woman, and child upon it is a prisoner of the Vogarian State. There will be no resistance. This cruiser's disintegrators can destroy a town within seconds, your race within hours. Do you understand what I mean?
human
I offered you our friendship; I hoped you would accept, for we are a peaceful race. I should have known that you came only to persecute and enslave us. But the hand of God will reach down to help us and--
gpt
This, old man, is the hand for you to center your prayers around. I want full-scale fuel production commenced within twenty-four hours. If this is done, and if you continue to unquestioningly obey all my commands, I will for that long defer your punishment as an escaped criminal. If this is not done, I will destroy a town exactly twenty-five hours from now--and as many more as may be necessary. And you will be publicly executed as a condemned criminal and an enemy of the Vogarian State.
human
Take him away.
gpt
Scared sheep, Y'Nor said when Brenn was gone.
human
Tomorrow he'll say that he prayed and his god told him what to do--which will be to save his neck by doing as I command.
gpt
I don't know-- Kane said doubtfully.
human
I think you're wrong about his conscience folding so easily.
gpt
Y'Nor asked.
human
Perhaps I should remind you that the ability to think is usually characteristic of commanders rather than sub-ensigns. You will not be asked to try to think beyond the small extent required to comprehend simple commands.