James White - Federation World

“No,” Martin said stubbornly. Through the translator he went on, “Before I deliver my judgment I must first draw analogies with the systems which govern Teldi and the Federation.

“Undesirables, troublemakers, the power seekers are excluded, rendered impotent, and ignored,” he went on. “The Citizens are free and protected, and the non-Citizens do the hard but interesting work associated with the maintenance of the World’s systems and ongoing projects. This work is not forced on them and the reason they do it is two-fold. They feel a self-imposed responsibility in the matter and they, regardless of their species or level of intelligence or competence, belong to that group of restless and adventurous entities who are not sure that the protected life of a Citizen is for them. They are the errand boys, the servants, the slaves of the Federation, save only in the area of personal responsibility.”

Around the horseshoe table hands were twitching restively toward their swords, but Martin did not touch the hilt of his own. Not yet.

“On Tekli,” he went on, “the system of government and the general display of mistrust were initially abhorrent to me, as was the tight mental control which apparently was being imposed by the Masters. But the reason for the mistrust and the insistence that hearsay be vouched for by a highly responsible person, a Master, became plain when I learned of the original cause of the Scourge. Regarding the control of imparted knowledge, I learned that much of the forbidden hearsay was available to low-level slaves trying for higher and more responsible positions. But few of them feel impelled to accept the ultimate responsibility. There are never enough Masters on Teldi.

“I also discovered,” Martin continued, still keeping his hand well away from the sword, “that the slaves of Teldi are, in spite of its low-level technology, the most self-motivated, independent, self-reliant, and widely trained group of beings that I have ever experienced or learned of through hearsay.

“There is no reason for that level of technology to remain low if the Scourge is removed,” he went on, hoping that the unsteadiness in his voice would not be apparent in translation. “I am not a Master of the mechanisms which can do this work, nor have I any direct knowledge of the length of time required, other than it will take many of your years. But the Scourge can be removed, allowing you to build again on the surface, and travel in safety, and grow…”

Martin broke off because he was talking to a three-dimensional picture again-there was absolute stillness in the room.

Slowly and deliberately he reached forward and gripped the hilt of his sword, then lifted it into a defensive position, diagonally across his chest.

Had he misjudged them? Was he about to misjudge them again?

He said gravely, “If the Federation was to set up examination and induction centers on Teldi at this time there would be very few beings judged Undesirable, and few also who would be accepted as Citizens. The great majority would be deemed unsuitable for the Federation World. I will explain.”

The Masters were either touching or gripping the hilts of their swords now. Like the slave population of Teldi, they were proud, independent, self-reliant, and fantastically caring of the animate property from out of which they had risen to become Masters. Any criticism of that property was a personal insult to them.

“Teldi is a special case,” Martin went on. “On Teldi there are never enough Masters, never enough people able and willing to accept the crushing responsibility that Mastership entails. In the Federation it is likewise said that there are never enough non-Citizens, and for a very similar reason: because the qualities required for the job are rare. It is my judgment that Teldins are not now and probably never will be suitable for Federation citizenship.

“It is my decision,” he said, tightening his grip on the sword, “that the Scourge be removed and your world left alone for at least three of your generations. And it is my confident expectation that when the Federation next contacts you, it will make a unique and most valuable discovery-a planetary population composed entirely of non-Citizens ready to assume extra-planetary duties and responsibilities.”

The Masters were sitting still and silent, and suddenly Martin knew why.

“My arrival on Teldi was not a secret one,” he said, lowering his sword and placing it on the Federation flag. As he resumed speaking, he slowly rolled the weapon in die cloth. “As a result, much new hearsay will arise and more slaves will be impelled to try for Mastership when the Scourge is gone and they realize what was and what will again be possible for Teldins. There is something I would like to leave with you, with your permission…”

He walked slowly toward Skorta with the flag-wrapped sword held before him in both hands, then proffered it to the Teldin. Behind and around him he could hear the movements of Masters getting to their feet and the soft, rustling sound of metal scraping against fabric, but he did not look aside.

“Martin,” the Teldin said, taking the sword from him, “I am honored to accept this additional responsibility of Master of Off-World Affairs and I, and my successors, will respect and promulgate the knowledge you have given us.”

It did not say anything else, and neither did the other Masters, but as Martin turned and began walking toward the entrance, they remained standing, silent, motionless and with their swords held high in salute until he had passed from sight.

On Teldi, he had belatedly realized, silence was approval. It meant that there was no dissenting voice.

EVEN though Martin was certain that he had done the right thing on Teldi, he knew that his actions and decisions had been high-handed to say the least, so that he spent the return trip worrying in case their supervisor, or the Galactics placed in authority above it, would show themselves less certain than he was. While insisting that it was silly to be so concerned about something which might never happen, Beth helped him worry.

But in the event, it was clear that there was nothing to worry about, because at the conclusion of the post-mission debriefing they were given another assignment.

YOUR PROCEDURES WERE UNORTHODOX AND SEVERAL RULES WERE CONTRAVENED REGARDING SHIP HANDLING AND FIRST-CONTACT DIRECTIVES, BUT TO GOOD EFFECT. THE REPORT. ASSESSMENT, AND RECOMMENDATIONS REGUARDING THE TELDIN SYSTEM HAVE BEEN APPROVED.

WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT, THE ENTITY MARTIN, SERVICE IDENTITY MJC/221/5501 IS PROMOTED NON-CITIZEN CONTACT SPECIALIST LEVEL THREE. THE ENTITY BETH, ECM/221/4977 IS APPOINTED NON-CITIZEN SHIP HANDLER, LEVEL ONE. YOU ARE TO BE COMPLIMENTED.

SINCE YOUR FORMAL TRAINING IS NOW COMPLETE, YOU WILL HENCEFORTH REGARD ME AS YOUR SUPERVISOR AND NOT YOUR TUTOR. YOU ARE NO LONGER TRAINEES, BUT HOPEFULLY YOU WILL CONTINUE TO LEARN.

Martin did not know if their supervisor was capable of audible speech, since it was the rule that all inter-species communications were by the printed word. But he knew sarcasm when he saw it, and remained silent.

SYSTEM TRL/5/11765/G3 AWAITS YOUR ATTENTION. THE DETAILS HAVE BEEN RECORDED FOR LATER STUDY.

QUESTIONS?

“Is this planet’s dominant life form to be contacted,” Martin asked, “and its suitability or otherwise assessed for membership in the Federation?”

CORRECT. BUT ONLY IF YOU FIND THE DOMINANT LIFE FORM TO BE INTELLIGENT.

“Surely that was a job for the searchships,” Martin protested. “Ours is to decide whether or not they are nice people. And why does this assignment follow so closely on the Teldi job? Is it urgent?”

IT IS NOT URGENT. THE ASSIGNMENT IS TO CONFIRM THE FINDINGS OF AN EARLY SEARCH-SHIP INVESTIGATION WHICH DECLARED THE PLANET FREE OF INDIGENOUS INTELLIGENT LIFE, SO THAT TRU5/11765/G3 CAN BE REMOVED FROM OUR LISTS OF WORLDS REQUIRING ATTENTION.