QRM-Interplanetary

Illustrated by Kolliker
QRM—International code signal meaning Interference of controllable nature, such as man-made static, cross modulation from another channel adjoining or willful obliteration of signals by an interfering source.
Interference not of natural sources (designated by International code as QRN), such as electrical storms, common static, et cetera.
— Handbook, Interplanetary Amateur Radio League.
Korvus, the Magnificent, Nilamo of Yoralen, picked up the telephone in his palace and said: I want to talk to Wilneda. He is at the International Hotel in Detroit, Michigan.
I'm sorry, sir, came the voice of the operator. Talking is not possible, due to the fifteen-minute transmission lag between here and Terra. Interplanetary Communications will not permit audio. However, teletype messages are welcome.
Her voice originated fifteen hundred miles north of Yoralen, but it sounded as though she might be in the next room. Korvus thought for a moment and then said: Take this message: 'Wilneda: Add to order for mining machinery one type 56-XXD flier to replace washed-out model. And remember, tobacco and sublevel energy will not mix!' Sign that Korvus .
Yes, Mr. Korvus.
Not mister ! yelled the monarch. I am Korvus, the Magnificent! I am Nilamo of Yoralen!
Yes, your magnificence, said the operator humbly. It was more than possible that she was stifling a laugh, which knowledge made the little man of Venus squirm in wrath. But there was nothing that he could do about it, television still being distant by the same five years that it was behind in 1929.
To give Korvus credit, he was not a pompous little man. He was large—for a Venusian—which made him small according to the standards set up by Terrestrians. He, as Nilamo of Yoralen, had extended the once-small kingdom outward to include most of the Palanortis Country which extended from about 23.0 degrees North Latitude to 61.7 degrees, and almost across the whole, single continent that was the dry land of Venus. He was a wily monarch, making his conquest of the wild and lawless country by treaty, and by double-double-crossing those who might have tried to double-cross him. Armed conquest was scorned, but armed defense was desirable in the Palanortis Country—and Korvus had defended himself up and down the inhabitable Northern portion of the planet. His conquest had been a blessing to civilization, and though publicly denounced, it was privately commended. Those who could have stopped it did all they could to delay and intercept any proceedings that would have caused the conquest of Korvus' intended country any trouble.

George O. Smith
Содержание

О книге

Язык

Английский

Год издания

2022-05-06

Темы

Science fiction; Space stations -- Fiction

Reload 🗙