Greylorn

Greylorn, by John Keith Laumer

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Title: Greylorn
Author: John Keith Laumer
Release Date: October 13, 2007 [EBook #23028]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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GREYLORN ***

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GREYLORN
By KEITH LAUMER
Keith Laumer is a writer new to science fiction. In this story he
displays the finesse, artistry and imagination of an old pro. Here is one

of the tightest, tautest stories of interplanetary adventure in a long
while:

PROLOGUE
The murmur of conversation around the conference table died as the
World Secretary entered the room and took his place at the head of the
table.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," he said. "I'll not detain you with formalities
today. The representative of the Navy Department is waiting outside to
present the case for his proposal. You all know something of the
scheme; it has been heard and passed as feasible by the Advisory
Group. It will now be our responsibility to make the decision. I ask that
each of you in forming a conclusion remember that our present
situation can only be described as desperate, and that desperate
measures may be in order."
The Secretary turned and nodded to a braided admiral seated near the
door who left the room and returned a moment later with a young
gray-haired Naval Officer.
"Members of the Council," said the admiral, "this is Lieutenant
Commander Greylorn." All eyes followed the officer as he walked the
length of the room to take the empty seat at the end of the table.
"Please proceed, Commander," said the Secretary.
"Thank you, Mr. Secretary." The Commander's voice was unhurried
and low, yet it carried clearly and held authority. He began without
preliminary.
"When the World Government dispatched the Scouting Forces
forty-three years ago, an effort was made to contact each of the
twenty-five worlds to which this government had sent Colonization
parties during the Colonial Era of the middle Twentieth Centuries.
With the return of the last of the scouts early this year, we were forced

to realize that no assistance would be forthcoming from that source."
The Commander turned his eyes to the world map covering the wall.
With the exception of North America and a narrow strip of coastal
waters, the entire map was tinted an unhealthy pink.
"The latest figures compiled by the Department of the Navy indicate
that we are losing area at the rate of one square mile every twenty-one
hours. The organism's faculty for developing resistance to our chemical
and biological measures appears to be evolving rapidly. Analyses of
atmospheric samples indicate the level of noxious content rising at a
steady rate. In other words, in spite of our best efforts, we are not
holding our own against the Red Tide."
A mutter ran around the table, as Members shifted uncomfortably in
their seats.
* * * * *
"A great deal of thought has been applied to the problem of increasing
our offensive ability. This in the end is still a question of manpower
and raw resources. We do not have enough. Our small improvements in
effectiveness have been progressively offset by increasing casualties
and loss of territory. In the end, alone, we must lose."
The Commander paused, as the murmur rose and died again. "There is
however, one possibility still unexplored," he said. "And recent work
done at the Polar Research Station places the possibility well within the
scope of feasibility. At the time the attempt was made to establish
contact with the colonies, one was omitted. It alone now remains to be
sought out. I refer to the Omega Colony."
A portly Member leaned forward and burst out, "The location of the
colony is unknown!"
The Secretary intervened. "Please permit the Commander to complete
his remarks. There will be ample opportunity for discussion when he
has finished."

"This contact was not attempted for two reasons," the Commander
continued. "First, the precise location was not known; second, the
distance was at least twice that of the earlier colonies. At the time, there
was a feeling of optimism which seemed to make the attempt
superfluous. Now the situation has changed. The possibility of
contacting Omega Colony now assumes paramount importance.
"The development of which I spoke is a new application of drive
principle which has given to us a greatly improved effective velocity
for space propulsion. Forty years ago, the minimum elapsed time of
return travel