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CHAPTER SIX

MISSION

The office door opened and Haskins and Sandori came in. Agzaral looked pointedly at Saxon, then at the devices on his desk. Saxon nodded as if he understood.

And what do I understand? We’re being listened to by Agzaral’s—superiors? Masters? They’ve approved our going to Tran to increase production, but nothing else?

Agzaral stood. His expression was unreadable. If Saxon had been forced to label it, he would have said “formal.”

“I am Inspector Agzaral,” he said, “and while you have a few choices, I control them all. I have explained those choices to Mr. Saxon, and now to you. If I use terms that you are unfamiliar with do not interrupt until I am finished.

“You will be conducted to a planet settled largely by humans whose current technological level approximates that of Earth's fourteenth or fifteenth century. There are no intelligent native species, although it is possible that had humans not come the centaurs might have developed intelligence in a Galactic Cycle or so.”

Saxon frowned. He could guess the meaning of the term. Sandori looked puzzled. Haskins merely looked to Saxon, saw no action was needed, and waited.

“Your mission is to aid in the production of certain native crops,” Agzaral said. “There is already an expedition to Tran with this mission, sent there by a race called the Shalnuksis, who are merchants and traders. You should cooperate with that expedition as much as possible. You carry much of the knowledge of Earth, and you may impart any that you believe will aid to increase production. It is important that the Shalnuksis be satisfied with the crops produced. Beyond that you may be able to better the lot of the Tran humans. We would prefer that you do so, although that will not be pleasing to the Shalnuksis.” Agzaral looked significantly at Saxon, as if he expected Saxon to understand a hidden signal. “And unfortunately, I cannot give you much better advice.”

“We have the knowledge of Earth,” Saxon said. “Enough knowledge to transform that place. It’s an experiment, introducing that much knowledge into what amounts to a fifteenth-century civilization. A dangerous experiment.”

Agzaral nodded.

“Agreed.”

“But I can do so?”

“If you believe that sharing that knowledge with those actually charged with raising the crops in question will lead to increased crop production, by all means. That is the primary mission. But once that is accomplished you are not forbidden to be of general help to everyone on the planet.”

“So why us? I’m certainly not qualified.”

“I doubt anyone on Earth is qualified,” Agzaral said. “Not in the sense you meant. You meant ‘worthy.’”

“Yes—”

“And the fact that you ask it is one qualification,” Agzaral said. “We don’t have infinite choices here. We needed someone educated, willing to go, able to go without causing a lot of questions to be asked, intelligent, and not thoroughly arrogant—that does not generate a long list of candidates.”

“Now I’m astonished that you found me.”

“Accident,” Agzaral said.

“Not quite,” Dr. Lee said. “Your former student really did lead us to you. We’ve done business with him before. He believes we’re CIA.”

“And me?” Haskins asked.

“We wouldn’t have come looking for you, but once Mr. Saxon brought you in we found no disqualifications, and some of your past experience may very well prove useful. You were given ample opportunities to quit. You didn’t. Not disqualified and didn’t quit. End of matter.”

“And why am I qualified?” Sandori asked.

“Come now, Ms. Sandori, you yourself believe you are the best-qualified person in this expedition. One of the best qualified on your planet,” Lee said.

She looked at him sharply.

“It’s true, no?” Lee demanded.

“Do I have to answer?”

“You just did,” Agzaral said. “You met our requirements: no one will miss you. You volunteered. You are competent, and you have a strong desire to change things for what you think is the better—and some practical experience in what happens when you try that. Our opinion of your suitability may not be as high as your own, but we do think you suitable.”

“And you don’t have many choices,” Sandori said.

Agzaral stared at the picture of Earth for a long moment, then turned back to them.

“We’ve kept your expedition small. You have knowledge, you have enough weapons to defend yourselves, but you don’t represent enough force to make much difference in battle.

“As I say, there is already an expedition on Tran. It is composed of Earth mercenaries, and Captain Galloway, its commander, brought enough military power to change Tran’s history, although that was certainly not his mission. The Shalnuksis have commercial rights to Tran produce. They intend Galloway’s changes to be temporary, and their assessment may be correct. Galloway’s power is evaporating. He will never have the industrial base to produce modern ammunition, so he is being forced to build a new power base using locals and what technology he can introduce.

“He has had a surprising impact, not always for the better, but generally so. That will continue.”

“So why don’t we just go help Galloway?” Sandori asked.

“In fact, the Shalnuksis desire you to do precisely that,” Agzaral said. “We cannot, of course, control your actions after you arrive on Tran, but the entire reason they have agreed to sending you there is to assist Captain Galloway. Understand that. You may have a beneficial effect on the planet, but that is definitely secondary.”

He regarded them all for a moment, and Saxon nodded.

“All right, I guess that defines our priorities. Where on Tran are we going?”

“We have chosen your landing place,” Agzaral said. “It is a Republic, called the city-state of Nikeis.”

“Fourteenth-century republics were usually oligarchies,” Saxon said.

“And Nikeis is no exception,” Agzaral agreed, “but its oligarchy is surprisingly open to new talent. New talent with wealth. You will have wealth as well as knowledge. It shouldn’t be that difficult.”

“Will Galloway know we’re coming?”

“No.” Lee shook his head. “There isn’t any way to let him know.”

“No, there is not,” Agzaral agreed. “And there is one other point to keep in mind, Professor Saxon. Should Captain Galloway’s expedition fail, the Shalnuksis will expect you to produce the crops they desire. You will not have the military means he had, which means you will need local allies to produce them in return for what you can teach them.”

“That doesn’t sound like you have a huge amount of confidence in this Galloway,” Sandori observed.

“I have confidence that he will try very hard to complete his mission,” Agzaral told her. “Unfortunately, at last report he wasn’t doing so well.”


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