"Give me the details. I was afraid of their secret weapon."
"Lord of All, the phrase 'secret weapon' is an old Solarian trick. It is meaningless."
"Go on."
"We landed on the isthmus that connects the two areas of land on the Second Hemisphere of Terra. The going was very hard, Vorgan. They drew power out of their sun like a torrent and we caught it all. It was terrible, and it was glorious. Our brave men died like flies—and not even the rock itself could stand against the energy turned loose. But we outnumbered them. We invaded again and again, and divided their power. Now we are screening the sun to run down their power intake. The globe expands, and we are holding most of the southern Land Area. From the northern pole, an invasion circle is spreading to meet the one on the isthmus."
"The other planets?"
"All taken."
"Terra is about through," breathed Vorgan.
"They are."
"I was deeply afraid," admitted Vorgan. "They are a vicious threat."
"Once conquered, though, they will be most useful."