Chapter 49-1

When a people are used as mere human instruments

For firing cannon or thrusting bayonets,

In the service and for the selfish purposes of a master,

Such war degrades a people.

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—John Stuart Mills

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KASIB

A bone vibrating shudder, like standing too close to a warp reactor core just as a ship entered hyperspace, made Lieutenant Kasib's scales rear up upon his skin. He tilted his head, straining his ear-holes to discern whether it was a sound, or the electrical discharge from a freak thunderstorm rolling in off the Akdeniz Sea.

The P.A. system outside the stone temple screeched:

"Red alert! A ship just appeared inside the atmosphere!"

A two-tone siren rose and fell in a wailing, mournful tone, building up into an ear-splitting crescendo. Kasib rushed to the small slit whic……