"What sounds like a fairy tale today, may be tomorrow's reality." "Here's a fairy tale from the day after tomorrow." "There are no more nations." "Only humanity and its colonies in space." "Distant stars have been settled." "The ocean beds are inhabited." "Space ships cross the galaxy at unimaginable speeds." "One such ship is the Orion." "A small link in a great chain of defense against threats from space." "Let's join Orion and her crew on patrol at the edges of infinity..." "5." "Battle for the Sun" "Subtitles by Anders M Olsson" "Damn." "We aren't drunk, are we?" "Maybe just a bit hung over?" "May I ask what's going on?" "You may." "The planetoid N116A, which we have routinely approached, has a completely unexpected atmosphere and temperature." "If we assume that the data we've been given is correct, then N116A should be just as sterile as..." "Here's what we expected, rocks and desert." "But watch this:" "Distinct short vegetation, organic life." "Do you know of the extraordinary meetings at the committee for bio-control?" "No." "I don't work for Intelligence." "Those meetings aren't secret." "If you had devoted some of your free time to more important matters..." "I don't meddle in your free time." "That's where the shoe pinches." "But since you're so well informed, perhaps you can explain N116A?" "What stops you from landing and seeing for yourself?" "Only the fear for my security officer who usually reports my initiatives to at least ten authorities." "Let me ease your mind." "Lieutenant Jagellovsk to engineering." "Ready for landing, magnetic cushions on!" "Is that an order, Cliff?" "It sure is!" "Come on!" "Now, really!" "And it's hot too." "The instruments are OK." "Do you think I would have chased you out if they weren't?" "Look!" "Plants!" "A herd of sheep would make the idyll complete." "I assume you expect a lady shepherd to go with it?" "Major, will you bring both plants and rock samples?" "Yes of course." "Will do." "I'll be brief." "This is N116A as it's always been." "And here are the recordings of commander McLane." "And the plant samples?" "On their way to the institute." "Even before the evaluation, some distinct connections show up." "Which ones?" "You see, general, we've made some disturbing observations." "One very obvious:" "The persistent and, for the season, unnatural heat." "I'd say." "We wouldn't have endured without our ocean bed dwellings." "Do you know that the temperature in the Arctic Seas is grotesque?" "The poles melt." "The glaciers give off enormous amounts of melted ice, causing daily floods." "There must be a cause!" "Yes, general." "Something we can't ignore." "The energy balance of the sun has been seriously upset." "More precisely?" "Inside the sun, hydrogen is converted to helium." "4.3 million tons of the sun's mass is radiated every second." "Its loss of mass is too large." "9.8 million tons." " More than twice as much." " Unnatural prominences, solar flares now lasting three times as long as normal, 120 minutes." "And what are the practical consequences for us?" "If the development continues, there will at first be huge tidal waves, then the Earth will be turned into a wasteland." "And what's the connection with McLane's observations at N116A?" "The sun's radiation, while mortal to us, may turn a distant planet into a paradise." "The beginning of that can be seen on N116A." "Even Intelligence has made a note of that." "Question is if it's a freak of nature or if someone's trying to create earth-like conditions on N116A?" "Artificially heating the sun?" "It can't be ruled out." "Is it even possible?" "Not for us." "So it's aliens." "The frogs!" "The frogs?" "They are probably somewhere in the Hunting Dogs nebula." "Our sun is rather uninteresting from there." "Then there are aliens who are unknown to us." "Maybe, maybe not." "But we must soon find out who's behind it..." "And if it's only a cosmic phenomenon?" "Then humanity will have to look around for another planet." "When Cliff and I went swimming in the Euphra-lakes..." "You spend a lot of time together, privately?" "We have much in common." "Hobbies, I mean." "Music, films, sports." "The major is a man of many interests." "I wish he was a better dancer." "Have you danced with Cliff?" "No, but I guess I haven't missed anything." "You know, it's like... he can't let himself go when he's dancing." " Do you know what I mean?" " No, but I bet you'll explain." " Cliff is a man who..." " Cliff is a man who's trying to sleep." "Turn off the intercom." "Your chatter is heard all over the ship." "He always hears what he isn't supposed to hear." "Are you sure he wasn't supposed to hear?" "Radio beacon EAS4 calling the Orion 8, over." "What might they want?" "This is the Orion 8, officer on duty Helga Legrelle." "Message from the space patrol." "Your observations at N116A have been very useful to us." "Absolute secrecy!" "New orders:" "Head for the other planets of that belt." "Check for similar changes." "Signed general Wamsler." "EAS4 to Orion 8." "Is that understood?" "That's understood." "End." "Another fine mission." "Going over the entire N-group." "That means 30 days more in space." "30 days without a chance to teach McLane to dance and to "let himself go"." " How am I doing, Cliff?" " You don't seem too pleased?" " Isn't our work rather childish?" " That's what we get paid for." "On every planetoid the same moss and grass, and then some moss for a change." "And then the weather." " Be thankful that we don't need pressure suits." " Cliff, do you read?" "Yes, where are you?" "We followed the rock gutter to its end." " There's a nice view from here." " And... ?" "We've found something strange." "There's a shuttle down there, but it's none of ours." " Occupied?" " Can't tell from here." " Stay put, we're coming." " Atan's already approached it." "I tried to stop him." "What a fool!" "Not only is he inexperienced..." "Hello kids." "You almost frightened me." "From Earth?" "Where else?" "What are you doing here?" "It's a long story." "Looking for lilies of the valley." " Are you alone?" " Where's your space-ship?" " What should I tell you first?" " You'll come with us." "Get in!" " I won't." " Do I have to force you?" "First tell me who you are, and what you want." "I'll ask the questions!" "May I ask for a favor?" "May I have a look at your guns?" "That model is new to me." " They work." "You can rely on that!" " Stay away from our guns!" "Cliff, they are threatening him with their guns." "Where are you?" "We're on our way." "Please hurry!" "If you've got time to wait, I'll be happy to introduce you." " Is the major alone?" " No, he's with two officers." "Then it's two against four." "Commander McLane is a very nice man." "He would love to talk to you." "Get in!" "Get going!" " Commander..." " I'm no commander." "Hurry up!" "You'll regret this!" "At our place, you'll recover from your pains at a sanatorium." "Now get in!" "Too late, Cliff." "He's already inside." " Shall I shoot at the shuttle?" " What about Atan?" "You must aim to disable it." "Give up and drop your weapons!" "Get out!" "Mario, take care of Atan!" "Where were you going to take him?" "Who are you?" "Where do you come from?" "We're scientists." "Researchers." "Is that so?" "Aren't we all?" "Who do you work for, and what are you researching?" "You don't talk to anyone?" "Let me introduce myself:" "Commander McLane of the Orion 8." "On disciplinary assignment at the space patrol." "Now listen:" "Either you tell me who sent you, or you'll accompany us at our continued journey." "Cliff..." "A word with you." "What is it?" "I've never seen a model like that in my life." "You mean... ?" "If those two are from Earth, I'm the emperor of China." " But they speak like us?" " I'm sorry." "There's no such vessel on Earth." "Even the material is alien." " How is he?" " He asks for a whiskey." " And the other?" " Asleep for now." "Our boy must have hit him hard." "So you won't reveal where you're from?" "Then I must ask you to come with us to Earth." "There we have relatively painless ways to find out everything that you're so desperately keeping to yourself." "Walk on!" " We'll take the shuttle as well." " Will do!" "And the brain wave test is reliable?" "Is fraud impossible?" "Unfortunately not." "Both were subjects to a mind block." "Once broken, it all came clear." " It appears that on..." " Chroma." "On Chroma, there's a human race or nation outside terrestrial control." "Do you call that "clear"?" "How is it at all possible?" "I'll bounce that question back to the supreme commander." "According to available documents, it's people from the former Neptune colony who joined the rebels." "More than 400 years ago." "And according to the electronic records of that time, everyone from the revolting colonies returned to Earth." "Apparently not everyone." "There's without a doubt a small human world on Chroma which has developed its own laws, technology, science, and so on." "Unbelievable." "A new continent, outside Earth." "You might say that." "Is it known why Chroma hasn't made contact?" "They're humans like us." "That's the most difficult question." "I have only theories." "Not too flattering for us." "Simply put:" "They don't want anything to do with us." "Why not?" "Perhaps we didn't behave very well in the two galactic wars." "We assume they don't recognize our authority." "Can such be concealed from the brainwave monitors?" "Don't forget that the captured men are rather insignificant characters." "A geologist and a biochemist on a partial mission." "The interesting part is that their mission was to examine the puzzling developments at the N-group, the sprouting vegetation that's also of interest to us." "But one thing startled us." "They knew what we could only assume:" "The organic life is a direct result of the intensified solar radiation." "In other words:" "For Chroma, these are no unexpected phenomena but calculated results." "That would mean that Chroma is behind..." "No, that's impossible." "The interrogations continue." "The government must be informed." "Done." "The offices of science and bio-control have been brought in." "The government gets all current information from the central computer." "You'll be informed as soon as a decision is made." "Stay in range." "Excuse me, I am in range." "So is Chroma." "From seven of our space stations." " When?" " At all times." "May I remind you that the people of Chroma has the ability to heat the sun?" "We don't." "They might be superior to us in other ways." "We didn't even know they existed." "I only know that Chroma is a small star with Earth-like conditions, and that its energy source is probably dying." "Thus the experiments." "At our expense." "Perhaps we should contact them before resorting to violence?" "An ultimatum?" "Certainly not!" "That might provoke a preemptive strike." "Above all, we're not sure that Chroma is behind the solar flares." "The results of the central computer are ready." "Chroma has been found responsible for the intensified solar flares." "You're summoned to an extraordinary meeting." "That means war." "Go by yourself, Mario!" "I'm too tired to dance." "Dancing isn't important." "Don't be a kill-joy!" "Not in the mood." "What shall I do with two girls?" "When I come along, you always say that I pick up the girl who's your type." "CQ13-1A, switch to channel X!" "Urgent call from the science center." "Take care, Mario!" "They're paging me." "Do you have a girlfriend at the science center too?" "Major McLane?" "Sorry to bother you." "I have an important question." " Yes, who are you?" " Doctor Stass, department 3A." "Question:" "The rock samples from N116A and N108," " Yes?" " Are they really from there?" "Where else?" "Might there have been a mix-up?" " Do you take me for a fool?" " Certainly not." "Thanks for the information." "Why do you ask?" "The samples contain solar matter." "And... ?" "We might get new energy sources, by heating up the planetoids to solar temperatures, activating them as radiation sources." "That probably doesn't mean anything to you." "Sorry to have bothered you." "Good evening." "Good evening." "Space patrol 172815." "Space patrol, general Wamsler's office." "I must urgently speak to the general." "And send me a submarine." "Sorry, the general is in an important meeting." "I still need to talk to him." "That's impossible, major McLane." "He mustn't be disturbed." "Good evening." "RQ 15 2D" "Hello?" "Have I reached Tama..." "lieutenant Jagellovsk?" " Yes, commander McLane?" " It's urgent." " Why don't you turn on the camera?" " Guess three times!" "I guess you have a visitor." "No, no, I'm not dressed." "I've drawn a bath." "You must be kidding." "Only your face and neck will show." "Yes, but my neck seems so private with nothing on." "One moment." "What's on fire?" "Nothing yet." "But that may soon change unless I get to meet your superior at once." " Colonel Villa, now?" " Yes, immediately." " But he's in a meeting." " That's why I need you." "Request to speak to him by alpha-order." "I'll be there in half an hour." "I may have to pay dear for that." "Don't you know that the decision about Chroma will be made tonight?" "That's what it's all about!" "So get going!" "Ok, I'll try." "Thanks." "And by the way - nice bathrobe." "Especially when you forget to button it." "Then I don't see why dr." "Schiller hasn't used that argument." "The discovery was only made a few hours ago." "Besides, I know him." "He doesn't tell anything that hasn't been examined over and over again." "We'll lose days and weeks..." "Assuming that the N-group really contains solar matter..." "Then it's the opinion of dr." "Stass that we can use the planetoids for energy." "And so can Chroma." "Then there's no need to heat our sun." "That makes a military action against Chroma unnecessary." "We can negotiate." "Negotiate?" "With whom?" "There's a bunch of mad scientists at Chroma who will slowly dry us up." "Left over rebels from the first galactic war." "Not a great partner for negotiations." " But they're humans, colonel." " Who spell disaster for us." "Tell me honestly, colonel:" "Have we ever asked ourselves what damage our inventions do to other people in space?" "You're a little philosopher, McLane." "Nowadays it's a rare hobby." "I know." "Instead computers decide about war and peace." "Not quite true." "The government hasn't made a decision yet." "We only know that the central computer recommends a preemptive strike against Chroma." "Fire at will for the generals?" "No, no." "There are opponents against the action." "Please give McLane a chance!" "What would you like to do?" "Give me a special assignment:" "Departure for Chroma in two hours." "Call on their authorities." "We don't even know who they are." "That's why it can only be done unofficially." "Neither the government nor high ranking officers can do it, but I, the simple McLane, can do it on a secret mission." "And if you're vaporised before you've even landed?" "Not if the two scientists from Chroma come along." "They will be our contact." "Yes, that might work." "I must speak to the minister." "Drum up the crew!" "And dr." "Stass must bring his documents about the rock samples." " I'll try." " Problems?" "It may get rough once the strategists learn about the rock samples." "I doubt Villa will tell Kublai-Krim or Wamsler." "It's a deal, McLane." "You'll get your instructions at deep sea base 4." " Thanks, colonel." " And McLane..." "You'll be on your own." "No one will know a thing if the Orion gets lost in space." "I understand." "And time is running out." "I know." "What you don't know is that a dam has been flooded in the Himalayas." "Still, the government awaits, against military advice." "But any more disasters will trigger an attack within 48 hours." "And nobody will miss you." " No one does anyway." " Except the female cadette corps." "One more thing:" "You must not present an ultimatum." "Threats may make them push the button." "We don't know which buttons they have." "I guess we're there." "Orion from Earth calling Chroma." "Orion from Earth calling Chroma." "In ten minutes we'll pass Retuka 1-7-8-1." "Chroma, do you read?" "Go get one of the Chroma-men!" " Cliff, I've got a faint contact with moving objects." " Stay on it!" " Shouldn't you turn on the force field?" " No, that may be misinterpreted." "The slightest misunderstanding, and it will all be in vain." "Hasso, medium speed." "I'd like to be able to stop on the spot!" "Trust me!" "Space surveillance to the commander." "Four UFOs at a constant distance." "146, 146, 146 - constant!" "They're escorting us from a distance." "Orion calling Chroma." "Do you read?" "Are you ready to speak to the Chroma space surveillance?" "Commander McLane calling Chroma space surveillance." "Calling the escorting ships." "I come in peace." "We're approaching Chroma at coordinates 10-BL-25." "Two of your scientists are on board." "We're returning them unharmed." "Here's one of them now." "This is Wahlheim from department 9." "Calling space station TORR-4." "TORR-4, do you read?" "This is Chroma station TORR-4." "Calling the ship from Earth." "Head for coordinates 11-BL-04!" "Head for coordinates 11-BL-04!" "Enter orbit at a distance of 4000." "End." "Chroma to Orion 8." "You're clear to land at space base 10." "After the fourth revolution, set final speed and distance 1000." "Orion 8 to Chroma." "A question:" "Will the landing take place automatically in a shaft?" "If so, please send programming data for the automatic landing." "What's that supposed to mean?" "Do they think I can take her down manually?" "Fourth revolution complete." "Orion 8 to Chroma." "Now setting landing speed and distance 1000." "Look at that!" "A garden of Eden!" " Do you see a welcoming committee?" " Did you expect a guard of honor?" "Ready for landing, Hasso!" "Ready for landing!" "Look Hasso!" "They have the same kind of nature reserves as we do." "But why land here?" " Wrong coordinates?" " How about looking around?" "Security center to Orion 8." "Do you read?" "We do." "Commander McLane, do you have a shuttle?" "We've got four of them." "Enter a shuttle with the two scientists and head for coordinates 11-BN-05." "But only yourself and the two scientists." "Lovely voice!" "Can't we get video?" " What's 11-BN-05?" " We'll be waiting there." "The rest of the crew must stay aboard, or stay within 200 meters of the ship." "The landing area is magnetically shielded." "Understood." "Have the coordinates 11-BN-05 been converted for terrestrial automation?" "Yes." "Now, get going!" "I'll bring one of your men." "The other one stays as security." " Very well." "Now, get going!" " Mario, prepare shuttle 1." "Is it wise to go alone?" "They want it that way." "I wish we knew who they are, or what they look like." "I've been here for more than an hour now." "Don't you enjoy our company?" "I do, and I'd love to spend my vacation here." "But if I'll have to wait too long, I may not get a vacation." "Have a smoke while you wait!" "Our space travelers aren't allowed to smoke." "Do you put up with that?" "Typical for Earth." "Bans, regulations, commands." "Is nothing forbidden here?" "Little things." "Then give me my communicator!" "That's one of the little things." "The mistress at office 4 says..." "Don't you have any men?" "Why yes." "Look out there!" "Are men on Chroma only allowed to work as gardeners?" "Gardeners, technicians, scientists." "Specialists." "Or soldiers in the guard of honor." "Yes, that's harmless." "Besides that, they may of course contribute to a pleasant life." "Girls, don't confuse the poor major." "He may come in now." " Who was that?" " She!" " Who's "she"?" " She!" "You may speak to her now." "I'd like to see the boss, the superior." "The one in charge!" "You wanted to see me, commander McLane?" "And you are... ?" "The one you call "the boss"." "The superior?" "For your matter, yes." "Listen closely:" "The matter is of vital importance, both to Chroma and to the Earth." "Women are in charge of matters of "vital importance" here." "Get used to that!" "I'm not in the mood for jokes." "Neither am I." "Are the women really in command on Chroma?" "Incredible." "It's worked well." "So far, perhaps." "But since you started to heat up the sun..." "That was an idea of our scientists." "Math and technology is for the men." "But for common sense, we don't hold them in high esteem." "Then I appeal to your female sense:" "Please cancel the experiments!" "Those experiments aren't for fun." "We need more solar energy in order to survive here." "And we want to survive." "So do we." "Your earth has fought two terrible wars, just for the sake of power." "We've learnt not to lust for power." "We want a peaceful world without space conquering ambitions, without colonization, without hyperspace fleets and generals." "But at our expense." "We'll dry up unless you stop." "I didn't know that." " I've got evidence." " It will be evaluated." " When?" "It's urgent!" " Are you threatening me?" "The Earth is going towards a disaster." "So it's your world or ours." "A mean question:" "Which is better, the survival of a peaceful world, or one of warriors who throughout history has been dependent on wars." "You're descended from that world yourself." "This female colony isn't even 500 years old." "You're a child of Earth." "A child of bad parents must free herself to gain success." "That's only a cliché." "We're facing never-ending disasters." "Glaciers melt, epidemics break out." "While you're making reflections upon the value of our Earth." "How can you be so arrogant?" "I'm not used to that tone from a man." "Your male workers probably don't voice their opinion." "Now listen to what I think about your amazon circus!" "Afterwards, you're welcome to make me labor in your gardens." "Go ahead." "I'll listen, major McLane." "Lend us an ear, lieutenant." "An encoded message is coming in from Intelligence." " When did it come through?" " Two minutes ago." "But it took several hours to clear up the frequency." "Orion 8, lieutenant Jagellovsk." "Beta-X 27 8 4 19 8." "Gamma-X Chroma 84 37." "4 11 56 1 94 beta-X." "Understood." "End." "It's serious." "There seems to have been another flood." "They're mounting a preemptive strike." "When?" " In six hours." " We've got to get away from here." " And if we can't reach McLane?" " I won't leave without Cliff." "The magnetic shield stops us from leaving." "Emergency liftoff at escape velocity?" "Possible, but risky." "At least it's a chance." " Where's the man from Chroma?" " He's asleep." " Why?" " We might put him to use." " Which means?" " I'll talk to him." " Would you like a drink?" " Please." " Major?" " Yes." "Thanks." "Madam," " I don't know where to begin..." " Maybe you'd like to shout some more?" "Which sun is that?" "Xun 1." "But it's cooling off, thus the experiments." " That's why I'm here." " Not a pleasant task." "Sadly no." "It's beautiful on Chroma." "At the "amazon circus"?" "Yes, "Penthesilea"." "For an officer, you're well versed in classic literature." "Just a few well-known quotations." "Penthesilea was the queen who killed her lover." "Yes, and thereby herself." "The rock samples are in the lab." "If we reach the same conclusions..." "Then we only know that the N-belt contains solar matter." "We won't know for weeks if any energy can be extracted." "As soon as I know, I will cancel the experiments." "Then it will be too late!" "Is that an ultimatum?" "Colonel, is it true that you've sent McLane to the area without my consent?" "What if I had done the same to you?" "If I had sent your best man away, Villa, would you put up with that?" "I would have asked for the reason." "Ok." "I'm asking." "And I'd also like to know what he's doing there." "McLane has gone to Chroma at his own request." "And why all this secrecy?" "There's a reason for that as well." "I thought McLane was on vacation." "Then I learnt that the Orion is on Chroma." "And you know its destiny." "Yes." "I can't prevent that." "And not that McLane gets killed in the process?" "I've sent an encoded message about the upcoming attack." "Jagellovsk understands the code." "So McLane has been cautioned." "And if he's being detained?" "If he's arrested?" "That's the risk he had to take." "Tell me McLane, are you authorized to hold this conversation?" " Not officially." " So the answer is no?" " Right." " So it's your own responsibility?" " Yes." " Why?" "I can't tell." "Why didn't they send one of your politicians or generals?" "I guess we're not good enough for an official delegation." "And I'm not good enough for you?" "Why yes!" "I'll make sure your stay on Chroma will be a pleasant one." "Then start by canceling the solar experiments." "You're repeating yourself." "Can't you pause until the rock samples have been analyzed?" "I've considered that, but it would delay the project by several years." "What's a year or two..." " Do you hear?" " What is it?" "A nightingale." "On Earth, they are long extinct." " You'll be arrested at once." " I count on it." "I'll be interrogated." "And I won't bend until they let me talk to McLane." "And then?" "He'll understand my reasons." "And then he can simply say goodbye and accompany you back to the ship" " for an escape?" " That's the only way." "You can of course try to get away without McLane." "And without me." "How noble." "But do you think they will let you launch in peace?" " The shuttle will be crushed by the magnetic shield." " Not if I take the Chroma-man along." "It doesn't matter anyway, since Chroma will be destroyed in a few hours." "So you would rather sit down and wait for a miracle?" "Another stupid question:" "What stops you from trying an escape with the Orion right now?" "What do you say, Mario?" "I say shuttle 2." "In three minutes." "I'll get the Chroma-man." "Atan, tell them who's in the shuttle, and ask them politely to let us live." "One moment!" "Does that mean..." "That we'll try to release the major." "Taking risks is a job for Hasso and me." "Nevertheless, I believe a woman can do more on Chroma than two men." "Excuse me?" "Why is that?" "According to our guest, women are in charge on Chroma." " Then you'll need specialists." " You're staying here!" "It's an alpha-order." "I'll go." "Always alpha-orders when you're out of arguments." "But be my guest." "I'll prepare the shuttle." "Atan, inform them!" "Attention Chroma!" "Orion 8 calling the head of security." "In a moment, we'll launch a shuttle." "Don't endanger it." "One of your own will be aboard." "Is that clear?" "Chroma to Orion 8." "We absolutely forbid you to launch a shuttle." "The shuttle launches in two minutes." "Counter-measures may harm your own man." "Shuttle 2 ready." "The automation has been programmed for coordinates 11-BN-05." "Shuttle 2, checklist!" "Fuel." "Oxygen." "Radio." "Batteries." "Checklist complete!" "Ignition!" "Good luck!" " So." "They got started." " Question is where to?" "She's brave alright." "I thought she would chicken out." "I may be committing a breach of duty." "I'll tell you something that I'm not allowed to disclose." "So why do it?" "Because I trust you." "And... ?" "All space stations in the vicinity of Chroma are at full alert." "Any incident caused by the solar experiments will automatically launch a preemptive strike against Chroma." "Your nightingales won't live long." "Will your government risk an attack while you're still here?" "You're overrating my significance." "I'm here at my own risk." "I'll expedite the evaluation of the rock samples." "Some more to drink?" "Don't you understand..." "You'll send the following message to Earth:" "The prominences can only be controlled from Chroma." "What good is an attack that destroys the controls, the only way to restore the sun's radiation back to normal?" "Is it true?" "Not entirely." "You really have the nerve." "You're putting it all at stake." "So do you." "We haven't got women like you." "Yet." "And we haven't got men like you." "Any longer." "And this is the house of government?" "Have you been here before?" "Better let them think I've brought you here by violence." "Strange." "They must know that we're coming." "They don't seem to mind." " Do you know where the lightwave central is?" " Yes." " What's up?" " We've got visitors." "What should I do?" "Patch the video through!" " Is there nothing but corridors?" " We're almost there." "Tamara!" "Very interesting!" "One of your crew forces her way into the government building." "What do you hope to achieve?" "It's without my knowledge." "Who is she?" "My security officer." "She seeks me out." "That must mean..." "We'll soon know." "You'll be in custody until the incident has been cleared up." "While you're there, think of what you're going to tell Earth." "Only one message can stop the development now." "It reads: "The solar experiments cease immediately."" "Arrest her!" "Lieutenant Jagellovsk?" "Do you read?" "Tamara?" "She's gone." " She's been arrested." " So far, so good." "So far." "But then what?" "We don't know where they are." "Only that this star will soon explode." "Lieutenant Jagellovsk." "Congratulations!" "Well done!" "McLane, the action has started." "We must get away from here!" "Then take my arm, and we'll leave!" " But Chroma will be destroyed!" " What do you want me to do about it?" " Have you spoken to her?" " What do you think?" "She explained to me what a nightingale is." "Did she flirt with you?" "I even told her what will happen if the experiments continue." "Is she pretty?" "Is she what?" " I asked if she's pretty." " What a sense of humor." " Why care about that now?" " Maybe I'm jealous." "What do you mean?" "Usually you get it much quicker." "You must have suffered." "Yes, I have." "Ever so often." "Cliff, we're doomed." "Now I'm calm." "Calm?" "Yes, your kiss is only so-so." "Still, it's a pity that we've fought so often." "Yes." "A waste of time." "It looks like you've had a good time." "If you by pure pride will allow your planet to explode, at least keep your cheap cynicism to yourself!" "Just say it!" "Why do you always get so excited, major McLane?" "You're still alive." "Yes." "That must be by pure luck, or a mistake." "Lieutenant Jagellovsk has informed me of the attack against Chroma." "It should already have begun." "That information is no longer current, major." "The experiments have been canceled, and the Earth has been informed." "Is it true?" "Why would I lie to you?" "Why did you change your mind?" "I realized that an attack was coming when you explained how the Earth was affected by our experiments." "And I noticed that you were pressed for time." "But why did you wait until the last minute?" "I refused to believe that your generals would strike while you were still here." "I was mistaken." "Nothing has changed on Earth over the last 500 years." "We can only give up and hope for the outcome of the analysis." "Does that mean that we're free to return?" "Orion and her crew are free to return." "Thank you very much." "I'll have fond memories of my time on Chroma." "I hope so." "Because it's only just begun." "What's that supposed to mean?" "There will be lengthy negotiations between our planets." "I've asked your government to station you here for that time." "As a contact." "It's true that the Earth is too good for official diplomatic relations but even unofficial relations may improve the climate." "What will be my duties?" "There's a lot to do for a competent man like you." "Consultation, education, training of officers, and so on." "Maybe we've exaggerated the female influence." "Men like you might correct that single-minded development." "What did the supreme space command say?" "They laughed like us." "McLane up there..." "What's so funny about that?" "Who knows what they'll do to him?" "What can they do?" "How long do you think the negotiations will take?" "That depends on how long McLane puts up with it." "You were there, lieutenant." "Do you think she's in love with him?" "I know nothing of the mind of more mature women." "There are younger ones as well." "One thing is beyond me." "She should have met the whole crew before selecting a contact." "Then you would have been on Chroma now?" "Who else?" "!"