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Frater Vincent, the agent of the Universal Assembly, complained in no uncertain terms about this state of affairs.

“As you know, commander,” he said frowningly one morning, “it’s no use trying to indoctrinate a people we can’t contact. And you can’t subject a people by force of arms alone; the power of the Truth–“

“I know, Frater,” the commander interposed quickly. “But we can’t deal with these savages in the hinterlands. When we get a little farther into this barbarian empire, we can take the necessary steps to–“

“The Truth,” Frater Vincent interrupted somewhat testily, “is for all men. It works, regardless of the state of civilization of the society.”

The commander looked out of the unglazed window of the native hut in which he had established his temporary headquarters, in one of the many villages he had taken–or, rather, walked into without a fight because it was empty. “But you’ll admit, Frater, that it takes longer with savages.”

“True,” said Frater Vincent.

“We simply haven’t the time. We’ve got to keep on the move. And, besides, we haven’t even been able to contact any of the natives for quite a while; they get out of our way. And we have taken a few prisoners–” His voice was apologetic, but there was a trace of irritation in it. He didn’t want to offend Frater Vincent, of course, but dammit, the Assemblyman didn’t understand military tactics at all. Or, he corrected himself hastily, at least only slightly.

“Yes,” admitted Frater Vincent, “and I’ve had considerable success with the prisoners. But, remember–we’re not here just to indoctrinate a few occasional prisoners, but to change the entire moral and philosophical viewpoint of an entire race.”

“I realize that, Frater,” the commander admitted. He turned from the window and faced the Assemblyman. “We’re getting close to the Great Bay now. That’s where our ship landed on the second probing expedition. I expect we’ll be more welcome there than we have been, out here in the countryside. We’ll take it easy, and I think you’ll have a chance to work with the natives on a mass basis.”

The Frater smiled. “Excellent, commander. I … uh … want you to understand that I’m not trying to tell you your business; you run this campaign as you see fit. But don’t lose sight of the ultimate goal of life.”

“I won’t. How could I? It’s just that my methods are not, perhaps, as refined as yours.”

Frater Vincent nodded, still smiling. “True. You are a great deal more direct. And–in your own way–just as effective. After all, the Assembly could not function without the military, but there were armies long before the Universal Assembly came into being.”

The commander smiled back. “Not any armies like this, Frater.”

Frater Vincent nodded. The understanding between the two men–at least on that point–was tacit and mutual. He traced a symbol in the air and left the commander to his thoughts.

Mentally, the commander went through the symbol-patterns that he had learned as a child–the symbol-patterns that brought him into direct contact with the Ultimate Power, the Power that controlled not only the spinning of atoms and the whirling of electrons in their orbits, but the workings of probability itself.

Once indoctrinated into the teachings of the Universal Assembly, any man could tap that Power to a greater or lesser degree, depending on his mental control and ethical attitude. At the top level, a first-class adept could utilize that Power for telepathy, psychokinesis, levitation, teleportation, and other powers that the commander only vaguely understood.

He, himself, had no such depth of mind, such iron control over his will, and he knew he’d never have it. But he could and did tap that Power to the extent that his physical body was under near-perfect control at all times, and not even the fear of death could shake his determination to win or his great courage.

He turned again to the window and looked at the alien sky. There was a great deal yet to be done.