THE PRIZE: BOOK TWO - RETRIBUTION Read Online Free PDF Page B

Professor?”
    “Well Director, you have to realize that I had little or no input…”
    “Calm yourself. You are not here through any fault of yours. This is merely a conversation to enlighten me about these mad humans.”
    “But, that’s just it. They aren’t mad… or at least by any standard I can apply.” That surprised the Director as he and so many others had taken it as an article of faith that all humans were mad.
    “Please explain, very carefully Professor, how you came to that conclusion.” The Director leaned forward in his seat as a student would who was interested in a particular tale the Professor was imparting.
    “The survey data proposed to show the humans had a class II civilization by imperial standards, denoted by the fact they had space flight, and were on the cusp of taking their first jump into interstellar space.”
    “That is correct…” The Professor held up his hand.
    “On reviewing the data again, and adding it to that which we accumulated later, that proved not to be the case.”
    “But… but…” For once Director Markoff found himself at a loss for words. He quickly accessed the data he had at his disposal through his mind link, and at first glance, there didn’t appear to be anything that contradicted the military’s original conclusion.
    “The human race had only recently reached out into the space surrounding their planet, despite having a technologically advanced class II civilization, and only sent out one interstellar probe, which by the way was how we located the planet.”
    “That makes no sense at all. Once a civilization reaches class II status, they begin to utilize the resources of their planetary systems. H3 from their moons, heavy metals from…”
    “The humans did none of that. They still relied primarily on fossil fuels, oil, coal, some wind and solar generation, and primitive nuclear technology. They seemingly spent most of their most technologically advanced research and resources building bigger and better weapons of war.”
    “I see, but that doesn’t explain their madness.”
    “True, but that was only the first wrong conclusion the Imperial Institute for psychological study of indigenous races made.” The Professor started to look a little smug.
    “There is a point you are desperately trying to make, Professor Var Veolan?” Markoff remarked sharply as a not too subtle reminder of who he was talking to.
    “Yes, of course, Director.” The Professor swallowed uncomfortably. A Surl he might be, but the Director had the Emperor’s ear. “I understand that your time is precious. I will endeavor to come to the point as quickly as I can.”
    “Thank you, Professor. It is much appreciated.” The Director added dryly.
    “It is in the nature of the second mistake the Institute made. The assumption was, that as a class II civilization, they had a world government.”
    “Of course. That would be the conclusion I would have come to as well. You don’t become a class II civilization unless you have.”
    “But that is the point, Director. They didn’t! When our emissary addressed this… council… organization… this UN or United Nations of theirs, it was nothing of the sort. We assumed they were the governing body of the whole planet. They weren’t!” The Director sat back in his seat, blinking slowly as he viewed his files, his forefinger beating a slow tattoo on the armrest. In hindsight, he could see not only how the Institute, but also the Professor had reached their conclusions. Once reorganized, the data fell into place, yet it still didn’t explain the madness.
    “No world government,” He muttered, more to himself than the Professor. “I take it there was something else we overlooked?”
    “Oh yes, a number of factors. Beside there being no central government, their planet is broken down by regions called ‘countries’, each competing against its neighbor for resources, dominance, prestige and any number of other things, including