Page 19 - The Perpetrations of Captain Kaga

Persuading the Zookeeper of Apadat

actions while in training, but their abilities had enabled them to
remain in their class long enough to graduate.
“All set for another discourse on humanoid superiority?” asked
Kaga.
“Oh, certainly. A little torture to relieve the boredom is always
welcome.”
“I’ve just been looking through the log of this ship,” said Kaga in a
low voice, as they walked down a long curving corridor. “Borjug has
made more than forty expeditions in the Jai Singh, and he’s contacted
about ninety-five new species of intelligent life. Quite a record, eh?”
“I suppose so,” said Lugo with a shrug.
“But get this: I followed up on the developments on those ninety-
five planets after the first mission had left the real work to PKU
representatives—officers like we’re about to become—and it doesn’t
look so impressive. Thirty percent of those new worlds refused to
deal with us; more than fifty percent of those that did sign an
agreement made trouble of one sort or another afterward. And some
of that trouble necessitated military action to rescue or re-establish
our representatives.”
“No!” exclaimed Lugo, horrified. It had been emphasized at the
Academy that the proper approach to contact and negotiation would
almost always lead to smooth, peaceful relations. “Well, let me tell
you what I’ve found out, Kaga. I’ve been talking with some of the
crew members who’ve been on this vessel for several trips. The ones
who’ve noticed anything at all agree that the Admiral has been getting
steadily worse. Has it occurred to you that there are very few non-
humanoids among the crew? I—”
“Later,” cautioned Kaga. They were approaching the
communications room and the other cadets were already standing
around the door. None looked very pleased at the prospect of sitting
through the lecture, but all were present and on time. The military
side of PKU training had instilled in most of them a strong respect
for authority; those in whom it hadn’t still obeyed the form.
Observing that it was almost 0800, the group silently filed into the
chamber and found seats. The majority of them were humanoid,
reflecting the continuing dominance of Earth and its offshoots in the
PKU hierarchy. It was not easy to become an officer if you had

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