Then began a three day procession through the offices of many sub-secretaries, four under-secretaries and two deputy ministers. In each office our diplomats were received skeptically and passed on to the next.
Finally, in desperation, the delegation released the survivors of the Morning Star. Although Ser Alaga realized that their account of the incident probably would be distorted, he knew that it would serve to verify the delegation's identity.
The Abilene News of December 19, 2042, shouted at the top of its headline voice:
SPACE INVADERS HERE
The Bugle:
EARTH ATTACKED
The Times:
"MORNING STAR" DESTROYED
11 Survivors Of Space Liner Tell Story Of Attack