
The story opens with a crisp, televised news bulletin from the capital city of Oredan, where gold and blue banners ripple over a meticulously kept parade ground. A baritone voice announces a recent wave of terrorism that has shaken the nation, and the Prime Minister, Daniel Stern, steps forward to explain the dire situation. The broadcast blends vivid aerial shots of stadiums and royal guards with the stark reality of a country on edge, hinting at a deeper conflict that has already claimed lives.
Caught in the audience is Don Michaels, a reluctant attendee who watches the performance with a mix of boredom and unease. As the ceremony unfolds, he learns of the notorious Waern affair—a former police commissioner who turned traitor, escaped custody, and now leads a band of released criminals across the countryside. Michaels finds himself drawn into the unfolding drama, forced to decide whether to stay a passive observer or become part of the resistance against a growing threat.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (234K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Greg Weeks, Bruce Albrecht and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
Oct 5, 2007
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1910–2001
Best known for brisk, idea-rich science fiction, this Army veteran brought a practical soldier’s eye to far-future adventures. His stories often mix action, satire, and big speculative concepts in a classic mid-century style.
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