两国人民 - 一个关于外星人的故事
两国人民 - 一个关于外星人的故事
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两国人民
有关外星人的故事
林奎斯特通过卡林
-序幕，
尼斯托尔- Margis抬眼盯着火箭，各种名目繁多的开销，这将发送到地球上的致命病毒。 经过这么多年，还焚烧了里面的仇恨他。 这是很好的。 这是不是一个项目可以有一种怀疑。
他站在巨大的工艺敬畏，思考未来将是什么一样，当战争开始了。 他能以他的报复。 他一生的工作最终会看到它的宗旨：人类的完全毁灭。
“这将是光荣的，”他自言自语地在共同Cafgran语言。
“什么？”
尼斯托尔- Margis低头看着自己的儿子，Thifmin。 “战争来，”他说。
“战争是光荣的？”Thifmin问。
“这将是。”
“为什么？”
“因为我们将赢得这个时候。”
“你怎么知道，爸爸？”
“这船为我们提供了保证。”他指着火箭了。
“什么工艺做什么？”
“这将携带人类疾病'homeworld，它会杀死他们。”
“他们呢？”Thifmin问。
“只有那些生活在地球上。 我已解释过这是你。“
“有多少呢？”
“我不知道。15，20亿美元。”
“这是一个很多人。 你为什么要杀死人类，父亲？“
尼斯托尔- Margis愤怒地盯着下来的孩子，他的4个武器胃交叉在胸前。 或许我没有教他，以及我的意思是，他想。 如此多的时间花费在这里，帮助建造的船舶，而不是足够用了我的儿子，他对我们的教学文化的东西做给人类，我们homeworld，祝我们的精神状态，作为宇宙的最高统治者。 他没有儿子获悉谋杀或不正确的设想他们，无辜的轰炸十亿Cafgrans ...我需要去恨就像每一个孩子的人类，应该的。沮丧，他摇摇头。 “你太年轻了，记得伟大的战争，”他说。 “太年轻了，记得有一天，他们告诉我们，人类谋杀了你的母亲。 他们该死。 这仅仅是这样。“
“但我们的人民已经发现的和平，”男孩说。
“这时候即将结束。”
“你确定它是正确的结束呢？ 我国政府将反对这个，如果他们能够知道。“
“我意识到这一点。 这是为时过晚，必须做什么，虽然它。“
“是吗？”
“你是反对的发射过于我自己的儿子？”
Thifmin没有回应。
“你要回答我，孩子？”
“我不否认我的信仰。”
尼斯托尔- Margis摇了摇头。 “我已经做了非常恶劣的工作提出你。”
“你已经做了很好的工作，父亲。”
“来吧：让我们再从一个地方找到了火箭的发动机坐下观看了卫星发射。”他们一起走了几分钟，在草丛坐在一个安全距离。 围绕火箭的基地蜂拥数十人，成为最后的准备。
“是不是这些人大多是和平的日子吗？”Thifmin。 “我知道他们有没有违反了两个民族条约”。
“不要说你的事一无所知，”尼斯托尔- Margis回答。
“但是是不是真的吗？”
“你来这里观看了卫星发射，男孩，所以让我们看在和平的。”
他们坐了很久没有说话。 山上到处是现在随着人们偶尔组，等待观看升空。 工人们终于完成了他们的发射准备工作，不久之后一个很大的火警从火箭基地爆发。 一种恐惧位命中尼斯托尔- Margis的船没有立即升空，但经过短暂的一刻开始上升的速度越来越快，很快就失去了查看。
这两个坐了一会儿，然后尼斯托尔- Margis说：“这是做。 将不会有走回头路了。“
“我希望你对你做什么，父亲肯定。”
“这不只是我，Thifmin。 如果我没有在这里，别人会采取我的地方。 这将仍然发生了。“
“但你是其中的一部分。 他们的死是对你的脑袋。“
“我知道我不应该带你到这一点，”尼斯托尔- Margis愤怒地说。 “你一直在我的享受，不过是消极的流失！”
“对不起，爸爸。 我只是不能确定这是否是正确的。“
“嗯，我没有把握。 来吧：我们要回家了。“
他们走了争取在该建筑群的另一边停他们groundcar 10分钟。 有一巨大的爆炸声，都停在自己的轨道。 尼斯托尔- Margis看到了不远处的建设还要不要了。
“这是什么吗？”尼斯托尔- Margis。
“他们是来停止发射，”Thifmin说，“但是他们来晚了。”
“谁？”
Thifmin了一步远离他的父亲和尼斯托尔- Margis感受到他的愤怒迅速上升。 他的儿子做了什么事了？ 如果他不只是恼人的谈话引起更大的问题？
“你做了什么？”他喊他的儿子。
“他们了解此项目，”Thifmin说，退后一步。 “但是他们不知道该发射场。 我发出了一个信息，告诉他们，我们所在。 我一直在思考这一段时间，我今天早上才决定：我不希望战争。 他们应该到这里来早。“
尼斯托尔- Margis'颚下降开放。 Thifmin又喝了退一步。 他仰望天空。 数艘现在在观景，迅速接近。 尼斯托尔- Margis惊恐地看着他们，因为他们与能源和部队登陆退出步枪，并立即分散在整个大院。
尼斯托尔- Margis转身回到了他的儿子，但Thifmin已经起飞，运行。 “回来吧，孩子！”但他并没有停止。
尼斯托尔- Margis比赛后，他在巨大的跨越式发展。 他会做什么时，他抓住了他，他不知道。
Thifmin圆一个角落，成为一个胡同作为他的父亲随后破灭，稳步缩小它们之间的差距。 几秒钟后，他圆的另一角落，跑到门口轻率。 他试图把它打开，但发现它锁上。 正如他转过身来，尼斯托尔- Margis抓住他，抓住他的周围设置较低的解除他的武器，他和砰击腰部对他的门。 尼斯托尔- Margis举起右上胳膊，好像要罢工，但Thifmin既抓住他的左手臂，并举行他回来了。 他与其他武器一样，他们在对峙了。
“你想毁掉我的孩子！ 你可以选择一个更好的时间来违抗我。 你可以选择一个伴侣，我并不赞同，但你没有必要攻击我一生的工作。 我会被监禁了，你可能再也见不到我了。“和他们的目光相遇。
“我别无选择。”
“你做什么，虽然。 该火箭已经离开。 在几天之内，每一个世人将感染了该病毒，我们将处于战争状态。“
“船上可以停止。”
“你是个愚蠢的小男孩！”尼斯托尔- Margis喊道。 “引擎排出的废气是外衣。 船几乎是不可能发现任何距离。“过了一会儿：”你还关心，你将再也看不到你的父亲吗？“
Thifmin没有回答。
“嗯，如果我要去了，我正与我。 我不在乎你是我的儿子。“
就在这时，尼斯托尔- Margis感到他背上的压力，立刻知道尖锐那是什么。 他听到的话来说，“设置下来，他回来了，”从他身后。 他没有因为他被告知，慢慢地，回头一看，看到几个士兵，其中之一是他的背部一压入能量武器。
他们把他猛烈的地面，并开始具有约束力背后将他的双手。 尼斯托尔- Margis看着他的儿子默默地站在谁一边。
“至少现在我们有一个停止这场战争开始前的机会，”Thifmin说。
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“船长，有东西来为你从中央司令部说，”中尉毛尔基什，值班人员通讯。
史蒂夫丹尼尔斯， 莱纳上尉的抬头看着她。 “谁是怎样来的，具体？”
“阿考夫曼先生，布什总统的内阁成员之一。”
丹尼尔斯有点惊讶的。 从这么高的官方信息是极为罕见的。 “玩，”他说。 “把它的主要观众。”
“这不是一个预先录制的消息说，”毛尔基什。 “考夫曼是生活，你的等待响应。 他说，这应该是私有的了。“
他的生活！，丹尼尔斯思想。 这是一个令人难以置信的昂贵的通信方式在这种距离。“音频只是，我看，”他说，站起来。
“不。 音频和视频。“
“你想可能是这么重要？”
“我不知道。”
“我将在我的宿舍了。”船长留下的桥梁和走下大厅迅速进入自己的房间。 他轻轻打开他的电脑终端，并提供指纹识别。 “在从命令中央通讯锁，”他告诉计算机。 “安全通道”。
第二个以后，深色头发的形象，人谁在他的五十年代中期就出现在屏幕上看着。 “你是队长丹尼尔？”他问。
“我。”
“我的名字的Jorj考夫曼。 我们有一个问题，先生丹尼尔斯。“
“好吧。”
“是你的最终担保的频道吗？”
“是的。 这是什么约，考夫曼先生？“
“这是对Cafgrans。”
“该Cafgrans？ 我们没有听到他们在几年什么。 他们有没有违反条约？“
“不完全是，”考夫曼说。 “他们已经派人到人类领土的船舶。”
“这是违反原则的，是不是？”
“没有，但它关闭。 我们收到了预先录制的消息，约半小时前，说他们已派人到我国境内的船舶。 他们试图找回失去的调查。“
“因此，他们已经派出2艘进入我国领土。 这必须是一个对他们非常重要的探针去追逐它这样。“
“有一对夫妇的事情没有意义，不过，”考夫曼说。 “第一：他们似乎无法找到探头。 他们要求我们给他们一个信息，如果我们拿起任何奇怪的信号。 我们一直在扫描的Tachyon排放自从我们得到的消息，并已无法检测到任何。 唯一可以解释这是因为探头隐形才行。 第二：我们已经发现了他们派出船只检索，并直接对地球上的课程的。 这意味着探头如果有这样的事情，是为homeworld为首的一样。“
“听起来像一个把戏对我来说，”丹尼尔斯说。 “这是一个手无寸铁的船？”
“关于提到的Cafgran直接向条约，其中规定，两国人民也不得发送到对方的领土在任何情况下的武装船只的信息。 但是，我们没有证据证明它没有核武器的能力。“
“那你莱纳需要从？”
“现在你是最接近装运到Cafgran船只。 我们需要你与他们会合，只是让他们的眼睛。 不要在他们开火，除非绝对必要的，即使你找到，他们已违反了该条约。 了解他们是怎么到。 最重要的是，保持两国人民之间的和平。 我们不能处理另一场战争。“他停顿了一下。 “好吧...我会发一份邮件的副本发给我们的Cafgrans，随着坐标，以满足其检索船了。 任何问题，队长？“
丹尼尔斯摇了摇头。
“完沟通，”不好意思地笑了笑考夫曼。
“最终的沟通。”丹尼尔斯翻转关闭电脑屏幕。 他坐在那里沉思了一会儿才匆匆地走向桥回的情况。
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该莱纳已重定向的历程与Cafgran会合检索船只。 他们预计将达到约4个小时。
丹尼尔斯在他的宿舍坐，这与他的第二把手，Sephen彼得时间。 他们盯着电脑屏幕，看着Cafgran译员宣读他的消息。 他以带有浓重口音的英语。
“我们欢迎和出价平安，人类。 我会来我点千里发送消息很快是昂贵的。 我们失去了一个人领土的探讨。 根据两国人民，第7，第4，第5个条约，我们有合法的权利，使其回来。 我们发送此消息，并解释为进入人体的领土和其他项目的原因，因为根据条约规定。 正如我所说，船已经遗失，我们需要回去。 我们将需要70个小时全港最大的边境，很多时间，因为我们没有对船舶的位置知识。 如果检测到任何人的船只的船，请发送邮件到我们的检索船只。 我们恳求你：不要尝试接纳我们的沉船。 这种行动将被允许根据条约，但我们现在警告你，这将是人类的危害比Cafgrans这样做。 我们现在必须结束的消息，所以这可能是迅速发送给您。 我们深表歉意到人类可能造成的不便。 维持和平谢谢你。“
丹尼尔斯和彼得沉默了片刻，在黑屏。 丹尼尔斯说：“很简单。”
“你猜他叫'多危险比Cafgrans'？”彼得说给人类。 “请问这是否意味有东西在探测危险吗？”
“也可以理解为一种威胁。”
“我希望不会。”
“无论哪种方式，”丹尼尔斯说，“我们不应该试图任其船舶板。 我们需要尽可能友好，发现他们失去的探针，并让他们回到他们自己的空间。“
彼得说，“我想知道是什么，他们又如何失去这个探测器？ 为什么会这样接近人类的空间，开始呢？“
丹尼尔斯耸耸肩。 如果探头实际存在，它可能没有无论他们如何失去了它。
“难道Cafgrans派遣武装船只？，我不知道，”彼得说。
“他们不能根据该条约，”丹尼尔斯说。
“我们只有一个激光银行，没有鱼雷的能力。 如果他们派出武装船，我们将无法处理。 您是否与条约熟悉吗？“
“没有。”
“也许我们应该有人学习它的任务。”
“我已经下令毛尔基什开始学习它，”船长说。
“她在整个这个考验我们的通信官？ 应该有可能是唯一的一个。 我们不想与任何人比他们有更多的Cafgrans处理。 我们应该摒弃换挡并把责任毛尔基什直到结束了。“
“让她连续工作70个小时？”
“机遇是Cafgrans不会需要所有70个小时，但如果他们这么做，她很可能就会很乐意足够的工作。”彼得说。
“你也许是对的。”
这两名男子在默默地盯着电脑屏幕。 为了丹尼尔斯，彼得似乎紧张。 他看到这名男子的脸颊的汗水和他的小珠子似乎是喘着粗气。
“你知道我怎么想？”丹尼尔斯说。 “我认为我们对任何担心。 我们将会见Cafgrans时，他们会友好，手无寸铁。 我们将帮助他们找到自己的探索，我们都会回家十分高兴。“
“我们可以一直希望，”彼得说。 他站了起来。 “我们最好的桥梁。”
丹尼尔斯点点头。 “你走吧。”
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这座桥船员看着静静的Cafgran船只的显示屏上出现。
“什么是他们的速度？”丹尼尔斯问。
“大约35光年每小时，”传感器人员回答。
“他们放缓，以满足我们？”
“没有，先生。”
“他们知道我们在这里？”
“未知”。
“他们打开一个通道，中尉毛尔基什，”丹尼尔斯说。
几秒钟后，一个绿色毛皮Cafgran出现在主要观众。 他或她：丹尼尔斯也不太知道，是什么使一个可能是在一个微笑的尝试。 “问候人说：”Cafgran。
“问候。 我的名字是史蒂芬丹尼尔斯。 我欢迎你到人类的空间。“
“我的名字是伊斯塔酚。 我们来看看探针。 你说话Cafgran语言？“
“对不起，”丹尼尔斯表示。 “我们在这里呼吁在短时间内。 我们没有谁可以在船上的人说你的语言。“
“对不起，”说伊斯塔酚。 “我们是带着紧急情况。 我是最好的人力，船舶健谈...我不明白你。 ，小的话吧。 对不起。“
“你说得不够好，我们可以沟通，至少，”丹尼尔斯说，在慢词发音。 他所担心的侮辱和他谈话，仿佛他是一个孩子的Cafgran。 “我们能不能慢的船只和满足的人吗？ 我们可以比较容易谈面对面的交锋。“
伊斯塔酚似乎并不明白。 没有回答，他指着坐在他后面的另一Cafgran说：“是船，负责人。 他的名字是Cabniscar。 我替他说话。“Cabniscar，在一个大椅子似乎是他们坐在桥中心，既介绍了他的右手浪潮。
“你好，”丹尼尔斯说。 “我们能不能停下来和人交谈，而我们的船，你觉得呢？”
茫然地盯着的Cafgrans。
丹尼尔斯慢慢地重申他的问题用不同的词。
经过长期的时刻伊斯塔酚回答说：“第 没有到此为止。 是紧急...我们发现探针，然后我们的谈话。 谢谢。 对不起。“
“你想我们在寻找你的探头帮助吗？”
伊斯塔，苯酚等了一会儿，转身对他作了简短的发言船舶负责人，然后转身面对丹尼尔斯。 “是的。 谢谢。 我们需要帮助。“
“我们将开始的Tachyon然后扫描。”
“没有，”外国人迅速回答。 “没有的Tachyon扫描。 探头不作任何tachyons。 寻找快速移动的金属的东西。 请。 谢谢你。“
“如果它移动速度超过光速，”丹尼尔斯说，几乎是自言自语道：“它已经产生tachyons除非你来掩饰它。”
“我不明白，”伊斯塔酚说。
“没关系。”
“你帮助我们探头看看吗？”
“我们将按照你的船，并帮助你寻找你的探头，是的。”
伊斯塔酚看着Cabniscar和他们讲了自己的语言再几分钟。 他回头一看，说：“谢谢你，人类。 抱歉不便。 我们说再见了。“
丹尼尔斯礼貌地挥手。 “再见。”消失的Cafgran他把目光转向了船员。 “任何人有任何意见吗？”他问道。
“他似乎极力要有礼貌，”Sephen彼得说。
“这是一个好兆头，”丹尼尔斯说。 “他们得罪我们非常担心。”
“那伊斯塔酚的东西似乎很紧张，”毛尔基什中尉说，仍然在通信站站在一桥侧。
“这是可以理解的，”彼得说。 “他可能是一个低级别官员，把整个事情没有任何事先警告抛出，选择只是因为他会讲英语。”
弗里曼中尉，谁在传感器站，问道：“你认为他是伪装他那可怜的语法，我们扔了吗？”
“也许，”彼得说。 “如果他不伪装，那么我们知道他们有他们的任务一起扔在赶时间，不花时间找一个合格的翻译。 如果是的话，那么他们失去的可能是合法的探针索赔。“
“所以，我们怎么办呢？”毛尔基什问。
“现在，我们等待，”船长丹尼尔斯说。
-4 -
丹尼尔斯坐着，窗户盯着“的Cafgran船舶通过，”那排的莱纳在休息室的在前面。船在技术上的Cafgran太远待观察。 而不是有实际的窗口，将显示只是黑暗的太空中，莱纳了屏幕，使看起来像窗户，用计算机生成的恒星会连胜过去图像如该船舶仍然是移动或停留，如果事实并非如此。 窗户有助于减少幽闭恐怖的感觉，很多时候发生在小型船舶如莱纳。 在这样的一个，当莱纳会见了其他工艺的个案，窗户产生了对其他船舶的形象。
该Cafgran船只有一个圆滑，银色的光泽。 这是两个伟大的翅膀，这似乎弥补船舶大多数都是在与推进器底部衬里。 显然，这船是专为行星着陆。 丹尼尔斯希望这不会在他们失去探针检索必要的。 如果是，该莱纳就没有了以下这些方式，没有行动方式的保留曲目的Cafgran。
丹尼尔斯注意到了他的咖啡喝一点。
“他们非常有吸引力的船舶建造，是不是？”这是指挥官彼得。
丹尼尔斯在谁看了看刚刚进入休息室的人他的肩膀，但仍然保持沉默。 他们是仅有的两个在昏暗的房间的人。 彼得又缓步走到丹尼尔斯，坐在他旁边。
“你想知道他们是怎么到那边，史蒂夫？”彼得问。
过了一会儿，丹尼尔斯说：“我只是不明白为什么我们不能认为这是他们的调查。 我们一直在寻找15个小时，还是有任何痕迹。“
“没有探头，船长。”
“你怎么这么肯定？”
彼得说，“唯一能够解释的，我们没有发现其实尚未将是它的外衣不知何故，而且当时不太可能，他们可以制定这样一个有效的发动机排放的盾牌。 我们对他们的领导，就看到我们如何作出反应的存在。 他们必须如此。“
“也许他们正在寻找在错误的地方。”
“也许他们是故意在找错了地方。 你知道，我们正朝着地球的直线？ 这似乎太巧合的是多给我。“
“你知道吗？”
“我的电脑解释该命令，中央给我们送来的坐标。”
“那你觉得他们提出来，Sephen？”
“他们只是检查我们出去，”彼得说。 “他们希望看到我们将如何反应，他们的存在。 他们想知道，如果我们害怕他们。“
“你不认为他们正在计划入侵？”
“那不是把它过去他们。”
“你不认真想”
“你不会真的认为，这是所有合法？ 这是一场游戏。 他们说，他们已经失去了一个探头，但他们在向地球接近最高速度热潮。 什么是机会，一个在船舶上的故障会导致它的头朝向居住在这个星球上速度直接关闭？ 一个在一亿元？“
“我当然明白你的意思，Sephen，但是有一些必须是合乎逻辑的解释。”
“我只是给你一个，”彼得说。 “他们正在考验我们。”
“那你认为我们应该做些什么？”
“我不太确定。 我们或许应该只是尾巴，直到命令发出了一个船的更有资格处理他们这样做。 也许我们应该扫描，从而找出究竟他们是怎么带过那里。“
“不扫描，”丹尼尔斯说。 “他们可以解释为一种侵略行为。 他们没有扫描我们呢。“
“也许他们。 也许我们的传感器都看不到它捡起来。“
“你真的不信任他们，你呢？”
“如果我？”彼得说，他的声音提出了上面的正常水平少。 “他们是杀人犯，史蒂夫。 冷血杀人犯。 这么多已经证明，在两个民族战争一次又一次。 我不希望再有战争在这里，任何比你做，但没有那些...动物，可以信任的。“
“我们还没有在近15年的Cafgrans任何交易。 他们可能已经改变其政策。 我认为我们应该给予他们合理的怀疑。“
“也许我们应该给予他们似乎是无辜的。 也许我们应该避免扫描他们，让他们认为我们信任他们。 但没有办法，其实我们应该相信这些东西。“
丹尼尔斯茫然地盯着在Cafgran船只。 “我想我同意。”
过了一会儿，彼得说，“没有调查。 不能有。 我们要一起玩，假装像我们信任他们，直到他们开始了他们的欢迎停留，然后我们送他们回家。 我们可以让他们认为我们信任他们，但我们还需要坚持我们的枪。 我们不能让他们走了我们和所有的条约，因为他们就会回来，再做一次，更糟的是，在未来的时间。“
“这一切对我来说很有意义。 但是，为什么会有人来把我们的领土，丢失探针说谎？“
“我不知道，”彼得回答。 “但我敢打赌你钱，有没有调查。”
“我不会采取这种赌注。 我敢肯定你是对的。 我只是想知道为什么。“
彼得摇了摇头。 “不能告诉你。”
The two men sat and stared at the Cafgran ship. Daniels sipped his drink. After a time he said, “Sephen, don't you find it odd that the only two known intelligent races in this galaxy are at war?”
“We're not at war.”
“We're close.”
“Actually,” Peter said, “I don't find it odd. We threaten each other.”
“How so?”
“The Cafgrans thought they were unique until they met us. They thought they were special, the only species capable of space travel and other such feats. We threaten that uniqueness, so they make war with us.”
“You don't think it works backwards as well?” Daniels asked. “You don't think Humans are threatened by the Cafgrans?”
“Perhaps it works backwards too.”
They were interrupted by a third voice, Lieutenant Markis, calling over the intercom. “Captain,” she said. “We've picked up an odd signal, traveling at about two-thirds of our own speed, up ahead. There's no tachyons that we can detect. Sir, we think it's the Cafgran probe.”
Daniels looked at Peter. “I think I should have taken the bet.”
“Sir?” said Markis.
“How long until we intercept the probe, Lieutenant?” Daniels asked.
“Fifteen minutes,” she answered.
“Have the Cafgrans noticed it yet?”
“No, sir. They're not moving to intercept.”
“All right, hang tight and I'll come up to the bridge in a second.”
“Aye, sir.” The intercom clicked off.
“Looks like you were wrong,” Daniels said to Peter.
Peter shrugged. He stood up and began walking toward the door to the lounge.
As Daniels started to stand, he gave a last look at the Cafgran ship, and noticed something. He peered closer and after a second said, “Commander Peter.”
“Huh?” Peter said. He was nearly out the door now.
“Come look at this.”
Peter walked back up to the window and looked at the Cafgran ship, where Daniels was pointing.
“Do you see that?” said Daniels. “Right there at the back, nestled under the rear thruster. What does that look like to you?”
Peter peered closer. After a second he said, “It looks kind of like a laser cannon.”
“That's what I thought.”
-5-
“Open a channel, Lieutenant,” Daniels said as he entered the bridge.
“Yes, sir,” Markis replied and several seconds later the image of the Cafgran's bridge appeared on the viewscreen. The Ship-Leader was seated in the same spot as before. A moment passed and Istar-Phenol appeared, rushing in from one side.
“We have located your lost ship,” Daniels said.
Istar-Phenol looked back at Cabniscar, then said to Daniels, “You find probe?”
“We found it, yes.” Daniels replied.
Istar-Phenol spoke briefly to Cabniscar. “Where?” he asked Daniels.
“We'll send you the coordinates shortly.”
“Thank you, Human.”
“You're welcome. I was wondering if we could stop our ships now and talk face to face.”
“You ask question, Human?”
“Yes, that was a question. Could we talk face-to-face sometime soon?”
The alien spoke to his Ship-Leader again for a few moments. “Yes, we talk soon. After we stop probe.”
“What's the rush?” Daniels asked.
“'Rush'?”
“What's the hurry? Your probe will be around after we talk.”
“Sorry,” said Istar-Phenol. “No talk when we stop probe.”
“Until you stop the probe,” Daniels corrected.
“Until you stop–until we stop probe, yes. Emergency, thank you.”
“Emergency,” Daniels repeated. “You haven't told me why it's an emergency.”
“We say bye now? You tell where probe?”
“We can say bye now,” Daniels said. “We'll transmit the coordinates to your ship.” He paused. “Oh, and one other thing: we've noticed something strange on your ship, on the back, just underneath your rear thruster. I'm just curious as to what it is.”
Istar-Phenol paused a moment, then looked back at the Ship-Leader and began a long conversation with him in the Cafgran language. Cabniscar seemed to become more and more agitated as they spoke to each other. His voice raised higher than normal and he seemed to be speaking quickly; both of them were. Finally, Istar-Phenol looked back at Daniels and said, “Is nothing.”
“It's nothing?”
“Is nothing. We say bye now?”
“Oh,” Daniels said. “It's nothing. Well, I was just curious. We can say bye now.”
The communication ended without another word.
“Are you sure it was wise to ask them about the cannon?” Peter asked.
“We can't let them think we're completely naive,” Daniels answered. “How long until we reach Earth?” he asked.
“一个不到两小时，”回答掌舵的年轻人。
“这就是他们的忙，”彼得说。 “他们不希望自己的燃烧探测地球大气层。”
“我们对地球的标题吗？”毛尔基什。 “为什么？”
“我们不知道为什么，”丹尼尔斯说。 “另外，我不知道关于我：为什么我们不是被送往另一个命令中船？ 他们应该很容易能够给我们现在一个更合格的船。“他站了起来。 “我要去给他们发送消息，并找出延误。”
-6 -
船长丹尼尔斯已经发出一个信息：命令中，约半小时前，与当前的任务，求助。 同样Jorj考夫曼刚刚发出了答复和丹尼尔斯在看他的宿舍就在电脑监视器上。
“会议讨论的问题发送到另一个工艺取代莱纳这个任务一直是，”考夫曼说。 “我们已经达成的结论，认为Cafgrans很可能成为习惯了莱纳和她的船员。 发送第二艘，我们认为，将他们扔了，我们不想这样做。 该Cafgrans有合法权利在人类空间，但我们不希望他们在这里再比他们要。 迫使他们将自己的新船可能会延迟。 从你告诉我们，船长，你正在处理的情况，以及可预期。 至于激光炮你认为你已经发现，不面对他们介绍自己，因为你可能已经对什么是错了。 但是，我们有十几个船舶在下列情况下的距离变得毛茸茸的东西，和我们不希望你容忍对他们的项条约的任何进一步的侵犯，甚至小事情。 让他们知道这一点。 我们想让他们知道，虽然我们是爱好和平的民族，我们仍然意味着业务。 还有一点，队长：不要停下来说话的Cafgrans。 我们不是要与他们建立关系，我们只是想让他们得到他们的探索，并取得了人类的领土。 谢谢你，先生丹尼尔斯。 我们知道你会做这个任务的命令好。“
丹尼尔斯翻转了屏幕和起身去的桥梁，有感觉，以未经处理的命令中央援助的情况有点担心，但他们在他的船员信心受宠若惊。
“所以什么结果呢？”彼得问道丹尼尔斯进入桥梁。 “难道我们要得到任何援助？”
“我们对我们自己的一样，”丹尼尔斯说简单。
“他们甚至不打算派遣一个小的援助？”
“无”。
“为什么？”
“出于同样的原因，我们把责任毛尔基什下去，因为我们不想让更多的人比他们的Cafgrans处理。”丹尼尔斯中将毛尔基什起来看着他穿过房间，坐在船长的椅子上。 “你有多久了值班，无论如何，中尉？”
“18个小时，先生，”她说。
“开始觉得有点累了？”
“是的，先生，但我会好起来的。”
“你不会有任何对我们使用，如果你通过了。 你为什么不给你的宿舍去休息一会？“
“但是，先生，”她说，“如果Cafgrans再打？”
“我们将处理它。”
“如果你需要了解条约的东西吗？”
“我们将看看它。 去你的宿舍，中尉。 睡觉。 回来时，你休息。“
毛尔基什离开后，彼得说：“她很有决心做她的一部分，不是吗？”
“也许她认为她可能会在历史书上提到，如果她超越职责要求有云：”丹尼尔斯说。
“难道你真的认为这是她唯一的动机是什么？”
“我不知道。 我不在乎。“
“这有什么错，队长？”
“我有一个坏的感觉...”丹尼尔斯开始。 “我们应该找到他们自己的探索，并让他们在地狱在我们的空间。”
“如果我们邀请他们对茶和松饼，也许是bongtoke？”Sephen问。
“当然。 为什么不呢？“
“因为他们是凶手。”
“这些人是不是杀人犯，”
“我们不知道。”
“嗯，这就像一个逻辑跳跃说似乎只是因为有一群人被打死一个30年前的战争，这些特别Cafgrans了在它的一部分。 我不是说我们应该信任与出生活或我们的秘密，但他们现在在这里。 也许这些特殊的是友好的，我们可以利用这个机会，了解彼此的东西这一点。“
“我认为Cafgrans发展需要道义上，作为一个种族，在我们能认真考虑与他们的友谊。 他们的船是武装，记住。 为什么他们会派一个关于这次访问的武装船，如果不刺激我们？“
“我们不知道一些，它的武装。”
“不，我们没有。 这就是为什么我说，我们给他们的船一扫描，发现虽然我们可以对他们，如果这是激光炮，我们所看到的，那么我们就会把他们赶出人类的空间，并明确他们不回来。“
“我不愿意这样做。”
“它的。在我们的法律权利”
“即使它是一门大炮，”丹尼尔斯说，“这是一小一。 我们有超过该船舶装备。“
“我们不知道这一点。 我们不知道它们的技术能力是什么。“
“我相信，”丹尼尔斯说，“那是一个激光炮，是的，但他们携带的清白。 它太小，无法做任何的船舶可以还击的损害。“
“你知道谁在这里我们谈论的？ 这些东西出来有杀手。 这就是他们关心。 他们走进我们的空间，只是让他们能尽量接近地球，因为他们可能可以拿起一些关于我们的信息，然后回家，并开始规划他们的侵略。“
“你不知道。 你不知道他们有比他们更了解我们。 你只是让你从什么其他人听到的猜测。 没有办法，我们都不能妄下结论，对他们。“丹尼尔斯抬头一看，发现桥的船员休息正盯着他们，全神贯注地倾听他们的谈话。
“无论你说，船长，”彼得说。 “事实是，虽然，一切都没有改变。 我们仍然要简单地看他们，直到他们得到了他们的探针进行，然后他们转身回家。“
“他们不能在那个年代，先生，”弗里曼说，中尉，在传感器站。 “他们一直在使用一拖梁，试图把探头出来的超空间，但他们不能这样做。 一些关于屏蔽防止他们从得到它把手。 看来，最终的调查可能打破在地球大气层外。“
“这不是那么糟糕，”彼得说。 “他们的船燃烧起来，他们回家;比让他们更好地追逐后，周围人的无休止的领土。”
“我同意，”丹尼尔斯说。 “但我们必须至少以帮助他们找回。 舵手，使我们沿着旁边的探头和尝试一拖梁。 结合起来Cafgran的拖车梁我们，让我们看看额外的功率，足以使其走出混乱。“
近四分之一的一小时，因为这是企图通过。 Finally, the helmsman reported that the exterior of the probe was shielded in such a way that made it impossible to get a lock. “I don't know what they could have built that thing out of,” he said. “They certainly didn't want anybody messing with it.”
“Try running a scan of it,” Daniels said, a little worried about how the aliens would interpret the act.
The scan was run by Lieutenant Freeman. Again, it revealed nothing, except that the surface of the ship was composed of some compound that the Elaina’s computers did not recognize.
“How long until we reach Earth's orbit?” Daniels asked.
“About forty minutes,” Freeman replied.
“We've got a communication coming in from the Cafgrans,” said Peter, who was attending to Markis's normal task.
“Put it on the screen,” Daniels said.
Istar-Phenol and the bridge of the Cafgran ship appeared. “Thank you because you try to help us in taking probe,” said the alien. “It not work, though. You try scan of ship?”
“Yes,” Daniels replied. “We tried scanning your probe.”
“You get any knowing from scan?”
“No, we didn't find out anything.”
“We not know about probe anything. We destroy it now.”
Daniels' eyes widened in shock. “You plan on destroying the probe? For what reason?”
“We need destroy probe now. You move away now. We not want hurt your ship.”
“So you plan on firing a weapon?”
Istar-Phenol paused a moment, and spoke with his Ship-Leader. After a while, he turned back to Daniels. “We destroy probe now. You move away?”
“So that little thing on the back of your ship is a laser cannon, is it not? And you plan to use it to destroy your own probe?”
The alien paused and spoke to Cabniscar. Finally, he said slowly, “Yes.”
“You violated the treaty between our two peoples.”
“Is small weapon. No significance. Is no danger to you. You do bad things to us now you know we go against treaty?”
Daniels shook his head and smiled. “We won't do anything to you. We knew you were carrying the laser cannon for a long time. But why did you do it?”
“We need to destroy probe. Is small weapon, big enough to harm probe, nothing else. We not want to go against the Treaty of Two Peoples.”
“Your probe will burn up in Earth's atmosphere. You don't need to destroy it yourselves.”
“We must,” said Istar-Phenol, his voice raised slightly. “Probe not reach Earth. 从来没有。 It can't. Is bad thing.”
“Bad thing?” Daniels asked.
“Very bad thing.”
Daniels waited, pondering the situation. “All right, I'll tell you what, we'll say bye now for a while and we'll discuss allowing you to destroy the probe. We'll talk later.”
When the communication had ended, Daniels said, “Okay, Peter, go look up the treaty. Find out if there is any mention of the legality of destroying one's own craft in another's territory. Firing of weapons is probably a violation. I'm ordered not to allow any violation whatsoever.”
“Do you think there will be something like that?” Peter asked.
“Go find out.”
Lieutenant Freeman, at the sensor station asked, “Why wouldn't we just let them destroy their probe, Captain? The debris wouldn't be a problem. What harm could it do?”
“They're testing us, I think,” Daniels answered. “They're just seeing how far they can push us. But if Peter can't find any provision outlawing what they're proposing, then I have no reason to stand in their way. If he can find something, however, then we will know that their only purpose here is to see how lenient we are and we will tell them to leave Human space and allow their probe to enter Earth's atmosphere.”
-7-
Not much to Daniels' surprise, the action of destroying their own probe in Human space was, in fact, prohibited by the treaty. The treaty was long and detailed and seemed to have a paragraph on every little possibility. Daniels now sat, waiting for the Cafgrans to receive their hail.
He would have to ask them to leave Human territory. If they refused, he would have to insist. He worried about doing that. How would they react? He had been told by Jorj Kaufman not to tolerate any further violations of the treaty on the part of the aliens, so in the end, he would only be following orders by making the Cafgrans leave. But it didn't feel right. Daniels still felt that in the interest of peace-keeping, he should allow the Cafgrans to destroy their vessel as they wished–they seemed to want it pretty badly. It wouldn't cause anyone any real problems. But Peter had had a point when he said that the Cafgrans were probably testing them, seeing how hard they could push until the Humans recoiled. Now was the time to recoil; Daniels knew it.
“They're coming in,” Peter said.
“Istar-Phenol,” Daniels said, as soon as he saw the Cafgran appear on the screen.
“You decide?” asked Istar-Phenol.
“Yes, we have decided. You are proposing an illegal maneuver. Destroying the probe we are chasing is outlawed by the Treaty of Two Peoples, therefore we cannot allow you to do it.”
“You no let us destroy probe?”
“这是不允许的条约。 I can't let you do it, no. There's something else that is not allowed by the treaty: entering the solar system of an inhabited planet in Human territory. That means you must turn back in less than twelve minutes. We won't worry about your probe because we know that that is beyond your control, but we must insist that you turn your own ship around and head back toward Cafgran territory immediately.”
Istar-Phenol turned and spoke for a long time to his Ship-Leader. Finally, he slowly and obviously very reluctantly turned around and said to Daniels, “We will not go, Human. Must destroy probe. 请。 We destroy. You move away now or will destroy too.”
The communication ended.
“Shit!” Daniels shouted, running his fingers through his hair. “Lieutenant Freeman, what is the position of the Cafgran ship?”
“They're off our port side sir,” Freeman replied. “They're moving forward though, to get in front of the probe so that they can fire on it.”
Since laser cannons worked at the speed of light, and the three ships were now traveling at a much greater speed, the Cafgran vessel needed to be in front of it's target in order for it to be effective.
“Helmsman, move us directly behind the Cafgran probe,” Daniels said.
“Steve, are you nuts?” demanded Commander Peter. “Putting us behind the probe won't give us a chance in hell of getting out alive if they actually fire.”
“I'm aware of that. I'm betting they won't go all the way.”
“Can we at least begin a scan of their ship so that we can tell if they power up their weapons, and we can get out of the way?”
“Negative,” Daniels said. “They could sense our scan and would feel that we were sufficiently safe. I'm trying to convince them not to fire.”
“This is too risky,” Peter said.
“You're going to shut up now,” Daniels retorted.
“I have no doubt that they will decide to fire and destroy us.”
“What did I just say, Peter?”
“Captain–”
Daniels stood to yell, but stopped himself. “You're not helping the situation any.” He paused and said to Lieutenant Freeman, “Bring the ship to full alert.”
The bridge crew sat silently, as the alert sirens began to sound. Daniels couldn't help thinking about the fact that at any moment the Cafgrans could fire and his entire ship would be destroyed instantly. He looked down and noticed his hands trembling. He forced them together and stopped the shaking, not wanting the rest of the crew seeing him in such a state of anxiety.
The sirens eventually turned off. “What's happening out there?” Daniels asked.
“The Cafgrans are in position to fire, sir,” Lieutenant Freeman replied. “But they're not going through with it. They're giving us a chance to save ourselves before they fire.”
“Hold steady,” Daniels said. “Keep us close behind the probe. Peter, I want to send a message to the Cafgrans. Audio only.”
After a second, Peter said, “Okay, recording. Go.”
“This is Captain Daniels,” he said standing up. “I must warn you, Cafgrans, that if you fire upon that ship, our two species will be at war. You will destroy my ship and I can tell you that the rest of the Human race will not take that lightly. I ask you: are you prepared to start a war over one lost probe?”
After several seconds, the Cafgrans responded with their own audio transmission: “Please, Human. You no understand what is happen. We destroy probe for your own good. Is bad thing on probe. Can't reach Earth. You move out of way now and we shoot probe and leave and we have no war. We no want war. We prevent war by destroying probe. We come to prevent war.”
A theory suddenly came to Daniels: the probe was actually a bomb, sent by some band of renegade Cafgrans, out to start another war. Cabniscar, his ship, and his interpreter, were here to prevent that bomb from reaching Earth. Daniels' mind raced. What if that was true? There was no way he could allow something like that to reach Earth.
He heard a door slide open. He looked up and saw Markis come in. “We're on full alert–Captain, what's happening?” she asked. “Can I be of any assistance?”
“Take over communications,” he told her. “Open a channel to the Cafgrans.”
The ship gave a sudden, violent, shudder. Daniels had to grab the arm of his chair in order to steady himself.
“They fired, sir,” Lieutenant Freeman said.
“Did they destroy the probe?” Daniels asked.
“They weren't aiming at the probe, sir. They were aiming at us.”
“Did you still want me to put in that communication to the Cafgrans?” Markis asked.
“Sir,” said Freeman. “I think they were firing on us to knock us off course. They weren't trying to destroy our ship. The laser fire just skimmed us; there was no damage to the Elaina. ”
“Return fire!” Peter shouted.
“Hold your fire!” Daniels screamed. “We're not in position to fire, anyway. They're still in front of us.”
“They're moving back, sir,” Freeman said. “They're behind us now. We can return fire now.”
“Hold your fire. How long until we reach Earth?”
“Four minutes,” Freeman replied.
“They're not replying to our communication,” said Markis.
“Sir, we have to return fire,” Peter said.
“Sir, they're moving back,” Freeman said. “They're slowing down. They're giving up–”
Daniels watched as Lieutenant Freeman's eye's widened as he watched his computer display. A look of shock suddenly came over his face. “Sir, they're not turning around. They've stopped. It looks like they're powering up their hyperspace drive. Sir, they're coming back for a real attack, at full speed!”
-Epilogue-
The Humans wouldn't listen to reason. Cabniscar expected that much, but he never expected it would come to this. He knew the Humans were a war like race, but he figured they would step aside when confronted with the possibility of the total destruction of their homeworld. Apparently he was wrong.
Cabniscar and his ship were sent here to stop the rocket headed for Earth, and at all cost, avoid another war. If he allowed the craft to enter the Human's homeworld, there would be tens of billions of casualties, even before the war began. Who knew how many there would be afterwards? He knew that if he destroyed the Human ship along with the probe, the Humans would never understand why he had to do it. They would all be at war and he could not allow himself to start something like that. And if he entered the solar system of the Human homeworld, they would almost certainly take that personally as well. The rocket would be crossing that threshold within thirty seconds, Human time.
He couldn't help wondering if his rather unqualified interpreter, Istar-Phenol had properly explained the situation to the Humans. But that didn't matter now. It was too late. There was only one option left.
So Cabniscar gave the order to charge the hyperspace engines to full, set a collision course, around the Human ship and into the renegade rocket. This way, the Human craft would be protected from any debris, and they would have time to reverse their engines before they ran into anything.
It took twelve seconds at full speed. In the instant before both Cafgran vessels were destroyed, Cabniscar found himself wondering what incident had started the wars with the Humans in the first place.
