"Just what would that have accomplished?"
"You Terrans are not without the means of defense," Elal pointed out. "In many ways you may be backward and primitive but you have deadly weapons. And a planet, strongly organized for resistance, would be very difficult for the Thuscans to take over. They have never succeeded in storming one outright. They have always had to rely on infiltration."
"Your weapons aren't puny either," Stan said. "You have the time fields."
"They have limited application—they are good for only small fields and only for short times. And the Thuscans have neutralizers."
Another man, who looked oddly familiar, spoke up.
"What's happened to Avis?"
Her father, Stan guessed shrewdly.
"She was captured by Tanner."
There was a short silence and the men looked oddly helpless.
"Well, what are you going to do?" Stan burst out. "You're the only hope that's left!"