Drawing Battle Lines by Robert Culp

Author:Robert Culp [Culp, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798609481610
Published: 2020-05-28T20:00:00+00:00

“Captain, you may find this of interest,” says Chief Nicholson. I walk over to her station.

“What’s new?” I ask her.

“I’ve been listening to their radio traffic for about an hour now,” she says. “The bulk of it is pretty benign, typical political propaganda. Various pundits across the political spectrum, commercial advertisements, a fair amount of musical programming, but what’s of interest to me is two broadcasts from two different governments. Both are painting themselves as the good guys, as most governments do, but both believe not only is war inevitable, but a nuclear exchange is very likely, even imminent.”

Athena has joined us. “Passive scans have revealed that seven of the countries possess crude—by our standards—fissionable weapons.”

“Make a note,” I tell her. “If we get access to their libraries, scan their journalism archives. I want to know if they really expect nuclear war or if they’re rattling sabers.” I turn to face Athena, “Do you have an idea what they’re fighting over?”

“My assessment is water,” she says. “The bulk of what we have detected on the surface is either salty or polluted. Either way, most of it is unfit for human consumption.”

“A nuclear war? Given the level of technology you’ve described it will kill millions. And it’s over water? That seems pretty extreme to me. Perhaps I’m spoiled in that I’ve always had access to it, or access to people that did. I just can’t imagine waging stakes that high over water.”

“Forgive my interrupting ladies,” says Chief Nicholson, “But most news broadcasts contain a mortality due to dehydration feature on a daily basis. And it’s towards the end of the broadcast.”

“Which means it’s old news,” Celeste says. “They’ve gotten accustomed to it. Scores, possibly hundreds die each month because they lack clean water. I believe history will prove that throughout the known galaxy, wars have been fought for less.”

“But nuclear?” I still can’t believe it. “That will poison their planet for generations.”

“Each broadcast I heard,” says the comms chief, “from each government painted the nuclear war as winnable.”

“There’s no such thing,” I say.

“They don’t know that,” says Athena. “Yet.”

“Incoming communication from the planet for you, Captain,” says the tech.

“I’ll take it here.” She nods that the channel is open. “This is Captain Sonia MacTaggert of the starship Prophecy with whom am I speaking, please?”

“Good morning Captain,” says a baritone voice from the speaker grille. “I am President Roger Fotsdam, of the free nation of Dugalle. Welcome to our world. So there are interstellar societies other than the Malorians, or are you affiliated with them?”

“There are and we are not, Mr. President. Or is there some other title by which I should address you?”

“No, Captain, that will be fine. Are you here to help us?”

“In a manner of speaking, sir. We are here to help your planet but we will not provide assistance to one nation and withhold it from others.”

“I am admittedly disappointed to hear that, Captain,” he says. “I had hoped you could give us an edge which would make the pending war unnecessary.

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