The formal "court" was of more ample proportions. The proscenium arched forty feet high and the entire room was a full hundred feet in diameter. A vast room to Tlemban standards, but not much larger than a very tiny theater to the hulking Terran that had tripped over a table in one of the minute corridors. Billy had been equally hard on the ceiling fixtures, and the doors had been somewhat of a pinch, too. But he was now in where he could take a full breath without fracturing the plaster on both sides of the room, and he took one, in relief. He felt very much like making a few pleasantries about his difficulties, but he realized that the little man on the dais before him would not appreciate any inference to size. So Billy merely saluted formally and waited for the tiny monarch to speak first. "You are Billy Thompson of Terra." "I am." "You are the man who directed the Battle for Sol?" "I am." "And the man responsible for the destruction of all hope for civilization." "That I deny." "You refused to use your secret weapon." "It is that factor that I am here about," said Billy. "But first I wish to reach an agreement with you." "An agreement? What agreement can we possibly reach? Tlembo has devoted her life to the job of stopping the Loard-vogh. Terra, when she had victory within her power, threw it away." "I have come to tell you that Tlembo has failed in her mission in life. That Tlembo will always fail. That Tlembo will be better off if she recognizes that fact and accepts the inevitable." "Get out!" snapped Indan Ko. "You dare to force yourself into my presence and insult me!" "Before you make any rash motions," said Billy calmly, "such as having me shot on sight--yes, I perceive the modine-ports in the walls--I wish to warn you and all of Tlembo that primates are gregarious and resent the destruction of one of their band. Kill me and Terra will descend in all of her power. We, who you claim could have been victorious over the Loard-vogh will find little difficulty in wiping Tlembo right out of the universe itself!" "Providing that you have the support of your fellows--those whom your defeatist practice must have betrayed. Will those you failed now come to your rescue?" "Hotang Lu is quite familiar with the Terran action," said Billy. "Did he report one single cry--from any Terran--for me to order retaliation?" "You claim that the entire Solar Sector was in agreement with your surrender-policy?" "I do." "Then I understand our defeat. Terra has not the honor nor the willingness to fight for the freedom that is her right." "Terra retains her integrity." "At the will of a conquering race." "We are leaving the subject," said Billy. "I made a statement to the fact that Tlembo has failed and will never be able to do otherwise. You are the one that can not face facts, Indan Ko." "We shall fight to the last."