ed to the Simonidean affair.
I've just returned from a planet I know both as 'Algon' and as 'Guddu.'
The planetographers are checking now for its exact location.

"The enemy--and I don't yet know entirely who they are, although the
Prime Minister of Simonides was one of the top men, if not the actual
head--are building a great fleet there. They already have at least
thirty-two capital ships in building, and each one of them is about
twice the size of our largest battleship. Yes, that's right--twice the
size. However, as near as I could find out, none of them are yet far
enough completed to fly, and perhaps not even to fight. They also have
nearly a hundred medium and light cruisers, and over two hundred smaller
ships--scouts, destroyers and so on. Many of those latter two
classifications are fully completed and at least partially manned.

"That fleet must be captured or destroyed before they can get it
finished. I know you realize that better than I, sir, but it must be
taken care of immediately.... Oh, no, sir, you can't just blast the
planet. There are natives there that are high enough in the cultural
scale so the planet cannot be colonized, but they must be freed from the
slavery under which they are now held. They are fine, friendly
people.... You'll rendezvous the fleet immediately? That's fine, sir.
Oh, one more thing, please notify SSM Regional Admiral Newton to send
all available SS men here at once. There's a lot of cleaning up to do
here on Simonides.... Thank you, sir, I hope I was in time with this
information."

Hanlon broke the connection, then sank back into his chair for minutes,
thinking seriously, and the admiral respected his silence. But after a
time the smell of that delicious food made Hanlon's hunger and weakness
reassert itself. Feeling he had done all he could at the moment, he sat
up again, pulled his chair closer to the desk, and lifted the napkin
from the tray.

"I'll talk while I eat, if you'll pardon the discourtesy, sir," he
began, picking up knife and fork. And as he ate he gave Hawarden as full
an account of the situation as he could, except for references to his
mental abilities and the part they had played.

The admiral listened attentively, and when Hanlon paused at what seemed
the end of his narrative, the officer straightened with determination.

"Then the thing to do now is to find out who all is in back of this.
That's why you asked for all available SS men, I understand th