Planet Of No Return

“No chance in the slightest of that,” Hegedus said. “And what you say is perfectly true. We do not want your interference, nor will we ever have it. Officially I have forgotten your subversive Party Statements — but personally I know how you feel. Your quasi-beneficent Cultural Relationships Foundation won’t be sneaking in here to change our happy way of life. To stir up the workers and create dissention. We like the way we are. You are not going to change anything. We will go now. The less you know about us the happier we will be. Sergeant!”

“Sir!” the Sergeant said, throwing open the door the instant the command had been given.

“Have your squad take these two to the transmission area at once. They are to talk to no one on the way.”

“As you command, sir!”

There were eight men in the squad, heavily armed and fully equipped. They entered the room with much stamping and clattering of equipment. With guns at the ready, they formed up in obedience to the Sergeant’s shouted orders. Lea had been holding her temper, but all this stamping and shouting and military nonsense was too much for her.

“Murderous madness! You people are the most stupid — “

“Silence!” the Sergeant bellowed, shoving her towards the door. Aiming his drawn pistol at Brion’s instinctive motion towards him. “Follow orders and you won’t be hurt. Forward … march!”

There was absolutely nothing they could do. Brion held Lea’s arm, felt it shaking, and knew it was rage not fear. He felt the same way. Frustrated. He was willing to try anything — but nothing he did would affect the outcome. They were going back to Selm-II. Alive or dead. And the insanity and waste of this war would continue as long as the planet had resources left to plunder.

They marched down the long metal corridor, footsteps thudding in step. Four soldiers before them, four to the rear. And the Sergeant, a menacing guardian, just a pace behind them.

“If there were only something we could do,” Lea said.

“There’s nothing. You can’t worry yourself over it. We’ve done our best. The war is over on Selm-II, the people there will be taken care of.”

“But what about the people on this planet? Are their lives to be stunted and deprived by this useless war …”

“No talking,” the Sergeant shouted, so close behind them that his voice hurt their ears. “I’ll do the talking here. Eyes front. Keep walking.”

And then he spoke again, in a whisper so quiet they could just make it out above the sound of the marching boots.

“We’re not all like Hegedus, you know. He’s a general. He didn’t tell you that. We have over six thousand generals in the army. Make more money than a sergeant does, let me tell you. Don’t turn around or we’re done for! That room was well bugged. I heard everything said. No bugs in this hall. Only a few moments left. People like me, its the army or the factories. Work a nine day week in the factories. No meat, ever. That was a general’s steak you had. It’s got to end. Maybe you people can help. Tell everyone about us. Tell them we need help. Bad.”

There was a large door at the end of the corridor, guarded by two soldiers. The door opened as they approached.

“This is it,” the whispered voice said. “You, Brion Brandd, turn around and say something before we reach the door. I’ll push you. Have your hand over your chest …now!”

Brion took one step, then another. Did the man mean it? Or was this a sadistic trap set by Hegedus? They were almost at the door. It might simply be a plan to kill them both …

“Do it!” Lea hissed. “Or, damn you, I will!”

“You can’t make us leave like this,” Brion shouted, turning on his heel.

“Just shut your mouth!” The Sergeant shouted angrily, slamming his hand into Brion’s chest so hard that he was pushed backwards, falling. “Pick him up! Drag him in! The woman too!”

Rough hands seized them both, hauling them forward through the door and into the large room beyond. Hurling them down onto the scratched metal flooring. The soldiers stepped back, guns pointed as they withdrew.

“Put those on,” the Sergeant ordered, as technicians advanced with a pair of the thick black suits.

They were dressed in silence, the suits sealed, the faceplates snapped shut. Then they were alone in the middle of the metal-plated area. Brion raised his hand in farewell when the force hit them …

They were standing on hard rock, a warm sun shining down on them. Brion whirled about at the sound of a sudden explosion; the Delta Beacon was just a mass of smoking rubble. He stripped off his suit, then helped Lea with hers.

“What happened?” she said, the instant her head was free of the helmet.

“He gave me this,” Brion said, slowly opening his hand. A scrap of folded paper lay on his palm. He opened it slowly and smiled at the row of numbers that had been hastily scribbled there.

“Is that what I think it is?” Lea asked.

“It is. Galactic coordinates. A stellar position relative to the navigational centerpoint. A star, a sun …”