our people will be forever."
7 The months passed on this first journey, and Lord Change finally came
to that world that had once been the capitol of The Three. The domes of
its cities lay in ruin, but from each one energy showed, signs that
people still lived in the deep shelters. Lord Change sent a message of
greetings which was suddenly answered by a beam of energy that shot
well passed the ship.
8 "Do not think we are helpless," came a voice over the speakers. "You
may still have a warship, but our ground batteries are still intact.
Depart. We will have nothing to do with the murders of our people. You
have brought us enough shame, enough misery. Go away, or we will
destroy you. Our weapons are now locked on your vessel. If you do not
depart in one hour, we will destroy you."
9 One of the ship's Officers looked towards Lord Change. "He's
bluffing, sir, that beam came from a secondary battery on the edge of
the city and IT was not even operating on full power. I do not even
think their sensors are working. They are tracking us by our radio
signal. They think we are one ship, they do not know we are three."
10 Lord Change nodded. Speaking into the microphone he answered the
voice below. "We are in peace," he assured, "the war is over. Peepi
lies in ruin. It's atmosphere is forever unbreathable. We huddle now in
the deep shelters as you do. We have both paid the price for our
ignorance, for our desire to take rather than give.
11 I have come to offer you an alliance, an alliance the rest of the
planets of the system have accepted, an agreement that we live together
in peace, letting each progress their own way, but helping and
protecting each other, fighting only those who attack others."
12 "Too much blood has been shed ," the voice replied, "for there to be
peace with you. Almost all of our women have been killed. There are no
daughters to father our children, but we have found a means of repopu-