I strongly dislike images of impalement but this time it is relevant.
The Terran armada has entered the Quetlan system. Admiral Cajal speaks to High Wyvan Trauvay, knowing that:
"...half a billion Ythrians are tuned in..." (p. 574)
He wishes that they were not. I think that it is right that they are. These two beings, Cajal and Trauvay, will discuss whether Ythri is to be bombarded. Of course the Ythrians should hear - and should be able to respond.
Cajal spells it out:
the Empire "'...can now make good our rightful claims along the border...'" (p. 574) ("...rightful...," of course!);
any remaining resistance will be sporadic and pathetic;
blockaded and isolated, Quetlan cannot maintain the Domain;
the irritated Empire will "'...eliminate the nuisance...'" (p. 575) if resistance is prolonged;
he "'...would appeal an order to open fire...'" (ibid.) and would resign if the order were draconian but would then be replaced.
This is the moment when, in Poul Anderson's prose, we have learned to expect a pathetic fallacy to punctuate Cajal's speech, something like rumbling thunder except that Cajal is in space. Anderson does present a dramatic commentary on the dialogue. It was established earlier that, when he is alone on the command bridge, Cajal prays before a crucifix so, this time, when he has finished speaking:
"Stillness murmured around crucified Christ." (p. 575)
Finally Trauvay responds.
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
You are "ironical" about the Empire's "rightful" claims on the borders where Domain and Empire met? Well, I'm sure the Domain was saying exactly the same thing during the disputes between the two powers in the period before the war. If one or both sides are unwilling to give ground, these disputes are more likely than not to be resolved by war, which means the stronger power will most likely be the one adjusting the border.
Sean
Basically, the traditional rules of war contain the assumption that if you're beaten and the balance of forces is obviously against you, you give up and concede the point in question.
If you refuse to do so, the victor is entitled to use any means necessary to make you say "uncle", and from that point on the karma is all on you. It's like using human shields, fundamentally illegitimate.
Nobody wants to lose, but war is about determining who's stronger, not who's "right".
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
IOW, cut your losses before you get beaten even worse by the winner!
Sean
Sean: yup, though that also requires that the winner not push things to the point of destroying the opponent, and that the war be fought against the enemy government, not the population -- respecting their private property, for instance.
There's more to war nor I thought.
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