"Ready to record?" asked Ray tightly.
"I said your humor is in very bad taste," said the official, and switched off with an ugly scowl.
Ray blinked weakly at the set for a while. Then he tuned in on Earth broadcasts until he caught a news program. Jupiter had declared war a month ago, defeated the U.N. navy in a running battle off Mars, seized bases on Luna, and was threatening atomic bombardment of Earth unless terms were met. "Oh, gosh," said Ray.
"Such an inbasion could only be launched, on a shoestring," said Urushkidan. "Te U.N. still has bases closer to home, it can cut Jobian supply lines—"
"And meanwhile poor old Earth is reduced to radioactive rubbish," said Ray gloomily. "And those gruntbrains in charge won't believe I've got the decisive weapon to save them."
"Would you beliebe such a claim?"
"No, but this is different, damn it."
"Ganymede dead ahead," shouted Dyann. "Stand by for action! Get ready to make a landing."
VII