Battlefield Earth

They definitely so found and Schleim hissed and spat some more.

“Therefore,” said Fowljopan, “it is adjudicated by this conference, lawfully assembled, by the power of treaty hereby made among planets, that Tolnep shall hereinafter, for a space of one hundred years, be regarded as an outlaw nation! Do you so vote?”

They so voted and with deep scowls of determination.

“All treaties with the planet and nation of Tolnep are canceled here with,” said Fowljopan. “Do you so vote?”

They so voted.

“All embassies and legations and consulates of the Tolnep planet and nation shall be closed and their diplomats expelled, and for the space of the next hundred years, diplomatic functions in minor matters shall be undertaken by the Hawvins' embassies, legations, and consulates at usual charges. Do you concur?” They concurred.

“Since the personal safety of the said Schleim was promised by this conference and since it guaranteed to return the said Schleim unharmed to his planet, it is the decision of this conference that the said Schleim be deposited naked and in chains in the public slave market of the city of Creeth, Tolnep, as an expression of disfavor of this conference. Is this your wish?”

It was their wish. Schleim hissed and spat. Jo

Fowljopan was continuing. “Since Tolnep had the majority of war vessels and since its officer was, according to the testimony of Schleim himself earlier in this conference, the senior and commanding officer of the combined force, it is the finding of this conference that the non-Tolnep nations, which complemented the combined force, are nationally absolved of the offense. But that, as the presence of their forces poses a continued threat in the skies above this conference, this absolution is dependent on the following conditions: (a) that they ensure that the Tolnep fleet deposits any and all prisoners taken unharmed, undamaged, at a spot to be designated by the Earth military commander; (b) that they themselves deposit any prisoners they may have taken, unharmed, undamaged, at the same or similar place; (c) that they then escort, with the use of any military persuasion necessary, the Tolnep fleet back to Tolnep; (d) that they direct the Tolnep fleet to land on the surface of Tolnep, it being known to the conference that the Tolnep fleet ca

There was some discussion as to whether the emissaries representing these forces should vote or abstain.

“I suppose,” whispered Voraz, “you can designate a deposit place for the prisoners in the absence of other authority.”

“Yes,” Jo

“This isn't a peace treaty,” whispered Lord Voraz. “This relates to offenses against this conference. I...uh...put in a word about Earth prisoners. They're planetary assets, you see. Prisoners you have from the fleet up there would only be mentioned if this were a peace treaty. And I doubt they'd take them back due to possible contamination– you might want to get even through biological warfare. You're covered since they included 'unharmed' and 'undamaged' in the clause.”

Assets, thought Jo

They had finally decided the emissaries of other combatants had better vote for it would look better on the record. The conference was then unanimous.

“By conference law,” Fowljopan then said, “mention must be made of personal violence used against a then-emissary, Lord Schleim."

Lord Voraz touched Jo

“One designated as Jo

They voted to do so and Schleim really spat.

“Now comes the nice part,” whispered Lord Voraz.

"In accordance,” said Fowljopan, “with Clause 103, which covers services in protecting and saving the lives of conference members, for predetermining the intentions of the said Schleim and for disarming him so that his attack was to no avail, one designated as Jo

There was a spatter of applause, a buzz of comment.

Lord Voraz whispered, “The Empress Beaz of the Chatovarians created that order eighty-three thousand, two hundred sixty-eight years ago when an attendant saved the life of her lover at a conference. Someone tried to assassinate him and the attendant prevented it but got a superficial knife slash in the process. Hence 'Crimson Sash.' " He whisked from his pocket a little book which expanded and he looked up something. “It entitles you to be addressed as 'Lord' and it carries with it a pension of two thousand credits a year. We manage the trust fund for it. I must make a note.”

They were still applauding a bit and Lord Browl indicated Jo

Fowljopan was unreeling a long roll of paper with figures on it. “It has also been found that the dignities of the emissaries and their planets have been offended by the unseemly attack or attempted attack upon them by the said Schleim. A fine and reparation in the sum of one trillion Galactic credits is hereby levied upon the planet Tolnep by the conference.”

Fowljopan rattled through the papers. “The emissaries who had ships in the skies at the time of this incident are not to be included as recipients in this indemnity because of a witting or unwitting taint of conspiracy. The sum, as already discussed in previous deliberations, shall be allocated to emissaries in accordance with populations they represent.” He rattled off a lot of figures. “Does the conference so agree?”

They corrected a couple of calculations.

“Earth,” Jo

“Some of these emissaries have populations of hundreds of billions,” Lord Voraz whispered back. “The Chatovarians have almost thirty-nine trillion beings on their seven hundred planets. What have you got here? Thirty-three thousand?”

The emissaries accepted the amended figures. Jo

“Any and all financial arrangements to be made in accordance with the practices of the Galactic Bank,” said Fowljopan. He didn't ask for any agreement on that. Lord Voraz simply nodded.

“This concludes our findings,” said Fowljopan. “Is it the wish of this conference that these be scrolled in finished form, as voted, so that they can be signed and attested?”

Jo

“I tried to get it in; it would have increased the value of the property,” Lord Voraz whispered back, “but this isn't a peace conference, you know. It 's a trial and treaty about offenses to the conference itself.”

No reparations for Earth? Jo

“A trillion credits fine,” whispered Lord Voraz, “is stiff. It will crash the whole Tolnep economy. Even if Earth were awarded city damages, Tolnep could never pay them after that huge fine. Be happy about it. You got rid of all the hostile forces.”