g out
behind the mansion?

For a second, he almost rebelled; but even as he thought of answering
no, he realized that he never would. The Psych Agents had measured his
Responsibility Quotient at 9.6, and they didn't make mistakes.

"Of course," he answered with forced enthusiasm. "Who do you suggest I
discuss the matter with? For that matter, who are the Gnii?"

"I have the Manager of Defense, the Manager of Trade, and the Manager
of Foreign Affairs waiting in the anteroom. With your permission, I'll
call them in and they'll explain the problem. But first, if you would
sign this order ... it has already been approved by President Reynolds
and by all of the Managers concerned."

President Wong took the paper. It was an order sending a space
platoon, 5,000 warships and 500,000 men, to the system of Altair A, to
place themselves under the command of the Grasvian fleet for an attack
against the system of Altair D.

The President frowned. "What's the story behind this?"

"As you know," Al explained patiently, "there is an unwritten
agreement throughout the Galaxy that if any system conquers too many
other systems, an intersystem police force is formed to cut the
conqueror down. Since for all practical purposes, there is an infinity
of systems in the Galaxy, and as each conqueror borders on more and
more of them as he grows larger in three-dimensional expansion, unlike
the one-dimensional conquests that used to occur on the surface of
planets, conquest of the Galaxy is an obvious impossibility. However,
the inhabitants of Altair D seem to have embarked on a policy of
reckless expansion that could reach us in time."

"I see," President Wong said. "How far away are they?"

"It will take the platoon sixteen years to get to the rendezvous. They
will remain for ten years, then return. Because of the distance, we
are not expected to send more than this token force."

* * * * *

President Wong looked at the order. It had already been signed by
President Reynolds, by the Managers of Defense and of Foreign Affairs.
After all, even though forty-two years was a long period of time to
chop out of a man's life, only 500,000 men were involved, and it was
the duty of every citizen to give his life for his planet if required.

With an impatient motion, he rolled his thumbprint in the soft plastic
signature space, and held it for a second as it hardened. Then he
threw the order into a basket labeled