Galactic Diplomat Read Online Free Page B

the Qornt honked.
    “Ah . . . demanded,
that is. Quite rightly of course. Ordered. Instructed. And, of course, we’ll be
only too pleased to follow any other
instructions you might have— ”
    “You don’t quite get the big picture, Mr. Secretary,” Retief
said. “This isn’t—”
    “Silence, confound you!” Nitworth barked. The leading Qornt
looked at Retief. He nodded. Two bony hands shot out, seized Nitworth, and
stuffed a length of bright pink silk into his mouth, then spun him around and
held him facing Retief.
    “If you don’t mind my taking this opportunity to brief you,
Mr. Ambassador,” Retief said blandly, “I think I should mention that this isn’t
an invasion fleet. These are the new recruits for the Peace Enforcement Corps.”
    Magnan stepped forward, glanced at the gag in Ambassador
Nitworth’s mouth, hesitated, then cleared his throat. “We felt,” he said, “that
the establishment of a Foreign Brigade with the P E Corps structure would
provide the element of novelty the Department has requested in our recruiting,
and at the same time would remove the stigma of Terrestrial chauvinism from
future punitive operations.”
    Nitworth stared, eyes bulging. He grunted, reaching for the
gag, caught the Qornt’s eye on him, dropped his hands to his sides.
    “I suggest we get the troops in out of the hot sun,” Retief
said. Magnan edged closer. “What about the gag?” he whispered.
    “Let’s leave it where it is for a while,” Retief murmured.
“It may save us a few concessions.”
     
    An hour later, Nitworth, breathing freely again, glowered
across his desk at Retief and Magnan.
    “This entire affair,” he rumbled, “has made me appear to be a
fool!”
    “But
we who are privileged to serve on your staff already know just how clever you
are,” Magnan burbled.
    Nitworth purpled. “You’re skirting insolence, Magnan,” he
roared. “Why was I not informed of the arrangements? What was I to assume at
the sight of eighty-five war vessels over my headquarters, unannounced?”
    “We tried to get through, but our wave-lengths—”
    “Bah! Sterner souls than I would have quailed at the
spectacle of those armed horrors advancing.”
    “Oh, you were perfectly justified in panicking—”
    “I did NOT panic!” Nitworth bellowed.
“I merely adjus ted to the apparent circumstances.
Now, I’m of two minds as to the advisability
of this foreign legion idea of yours. Still, i t may have merit. I
believe the wisest course would be to dispatch them on a long training cruise
in an uninhabited sector of space—”
    The
office windows rattled. “What the devil—!” Nitworth turned, stared out at the
ramp where a Qornt ship rose slowly on a column of pale blue light. The
vibration increased as a second ship lifted, then a third—
    Nitworth whirled on Magnan. “What’s this! Who ordered these
recruits to embark without my permission?”
    “I took the liberty of giving them an errand to run, Mr.
Secretary,” Retief said. “There was that little matter of the Groaci
infiltrating the Sirenian System. I sent the boys off to handle it.”
    “Call them back! Call them back at once!”
    “I’m afraid that won’t be possible. They’re under orders to
maintain total communications silence until completion of the mission.”
    Nitworth drummed his fingers on the desk top. Slowly, a
thoughtful expression dawned. He nodded. “This may work out,” he said. “I
should call them back, but since the fleet is out of contact, I’m unable to do
so, correct? Thus, I can hardly be held responsible for any over-enthusiasm in
chastising the Groaci.” He closed one eye in a broad wink at Magnan.
    “Very well, gentlemen, I’ll overlook the irregularity this
time. Magnan, see to it the Smørbrødian public are notified they can remain
where they are. And by the way, did you by any chance discover the technique of
the indetectible drive the Qornt use?”
    “No, sir. That is, yes, sir.”
    “Well?