SHOCK TROOP
BY RICHARD BOLTON
The invaders were going to
make galactic history. Fate
made it a comedy of errors.
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Worlds of If Science Fiction, October 1956.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
Zurg thwirmed, and admitted to himself that he was uneasy. Arching histhorax, he unrolled his antennae slowly in a lazy gesture he hopedwould conceal the unseemly nervousness he felt now that the ship hadswung into an orbit around the strange planet. When a commander briefshis officers, he must radiate confidence and calm.
"Companions, an historic moment has arrived," he began pompously, hisantennae moving in the deliberate, stylized movements of the Courtlanguage. "Below us lies the verdant expanse of the third planet, greengem of the heavens."
At this, several of his subordinates turned a rather puzzled yellowaround their head orifices, obviously unable to understand a gestureof what he was saying. Only the second-in-command seemed unconcerned;he knew from long experience that his commander would revert to commonvernacular when he had finished the usual ceremonial preamble.
Zurg did so, noting the relieved hues of his officers as he continued:"As you all know, our scouts have reconnoitered this world on severaloccasions. But now the time has arrived to make an actual landing. Infact, companions, we are the vanguard of an invasion." Pausing to letthis register, he was pleased to see that none of the officers seemedto be suppressing thwirms. If anything, they were calmer than he was.
"Not a great deal is known about the inhabitants of the planet,but the dominant form of life, strangely enough, is mammalian, andpossesses some intelligence. Her Majesty desires conquest without unduedestruction. As the Queen wills, her servants shall act."
All dipped their antennae at this formula, and watched in attentivehues as the commander went on to explain that due to the highpercentage of oxygen in the atmosphere, special coverings would haveto be worn. They would filter the air before it reached the ventraltracheae, and leaving the head exposed, would shield all the restof the body. A bit clumsy, the commander admitted, but absolutelyessential.
"Now as to our behavior toward the natives—previous experience withmammalian life-types shows that they are susceptible to panic and fearwhen confronted with something totally strange, so we will use tacticswhich basically are very simple. First, we will land near a nativesettlement. When we march into the area, our alien appearance will stunthe natives. Our detachment of all-range telepathic sensitives willnotify us when the state of shock has set in, then our attack supportwill open up with full-scale mental assault, and keep the creaturesparalyzed while we seize the area before a defense can be organized.Then the Grand Fleet will proceed here at top speed."
"Remember that in this, as in all operations where the powers of thecollective mind are used, we must first trigger the enemy's reaction byphysical means, therefore nothing can be done until we know that theyare in the needed state of shock. Now are there any questions?"
How strange actually, mused the commander as he returned to hiscubicle, that a race like his own, so gifted at pure mental contactwith other life-forms, should still use signals and colorations tocommunicate among themselves. The chafed spot on his left antenna waspaining aga