Novel Report on the game V Archery Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Novel Report on the game V Archery - Coursework Example To find the answer to this hypothetical question, the research has been done in a systematic process to find all the necessary data required to accept or reject the hypothesis. To do this, the research comes up with a points based location of the game target in which the various colors used in the target represent different accuracy levels of the game player, the archer. Highest scores are achieved when the archer aims at the middle of the target. The scores decrease as targets hit further from the middle of the target. The different colors used in the target represent different scores and an archer would want to aim the colors closest to the middle of the target possible to earn the highest points possible. The scores used include 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 10. The target is aimed using a track arrow, whose tip and direction is controlled by the player. Precision of the arrow is controlled by both TUI and effects of vibration (Hansard 1841). A player chooses the game using specified crit eria. The precision is influenced by a number of factors that include vibration, which increases precision according to the research results. Design Concept The design concept includes the research question, which brings out the hypothesis being proved or disapproved. The design concept also structures the tested idea of the game as well as the purpose of the experiment done on the game. The experiment was done to point out whether vibration effects increased the user precision through enhanced experience. Research question The research question extracts a general picture of the research including the objectives and hypothesis. The research question is used to guide the research through all steps in the experiment and report writing. The research question in this case is: Does the use of vibration improve the user experience and lead to better targeting? Research Objective The research objective is structured from the research question. The research objective provides guidance for w hatever has to be done. This includes the methodologies used, the data collected, and the techniques used in data analysis in order to obtain effective results. The objective of the research is: To find out whether the use of vibration improves the user experience and lead to better targeting Prototype The research uses a fixed process in order to obtain effective results about the relationship between vibration and improvement of vibration and the resulting effect on user experience and improved targeting. The prototype in this case is the V-archery game, which include the bows, the tracked arrows, the player (archers), the target, and location. The combination of all these components forms the v-archery game. The bows are used to exact pressure from where the track arrows are released to hit the game target (Klopsteg 1963). The player or archer achieves better target depending on his or her use of the bow and track arrows. The track arrow has a sharp tip used to hit the target but it is controlled by its tail. The precision of the arrow is mainly controlled by TUI and the vibration effect as the research finds out. The Prototyping Process The prototyping process includes the use of vibration within the game and the criteria used to choose the game. In the use of vibration in this game, a uniform vibration is first felt when the archer is aiming the game target. This

Describe What Is Meant By Market Orientation Marketing Essay

Describe What Is Meant By Market Orientation Marketing Essay Market orientation is a business approaches that focuses on identifying and try to meet the needs or wants of customers. Market orientation occurs when the customers identify difference in a company when all the advantages offered to customers are measured. Market oriented companies focus customers wants and for the companies it is a good opportunities arise from changing needs of the market. The advantages of market oriented companies are it would have a higher customer value. Besides that, market oriented companies can do better than their competitor hence it will increase their profit. Company will focus the needs of the customers and try the best to meets their needs due to the level of competitive among the companies is high. Market orientation can be achieved by market research. In market research, the companies are gathering, record, and analysis of data from the customer and market. After analysis the data from customer and market, the company can easily to meets the customer s needs and wants. Based on the case given, Nestle already done their market research about their consumers and the result shows that their customers needs want more information about what they eat and drink. Nestle try to understand the economic, geographic and social factors which affects the diets of the consumers and try to concentrate on the nutritional and health value of the products. Example, Nestle have used their research and technological expertise to their ice cream products to lower the calories and fats and yet to have the same taste. In order to promote their product as a healthy product, Nestle provide the information about their products to the customers by using visual form of Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs). GDAs symbolic will make consumers to easily understand and make correct decision on the average amount of nutrients that they consume over an average day. Moreover, Nestle also focus on their customers and to understand their physical desires. Nestle have many products and consumed by all age of groups. They have introduced sugar free products like Polo and lower sugar product Kit Kat Light. Thus, it is clear that Nestle is market oriented companies since they are trying to understand the customers and market needs in order to achieve organizations goal. Using an example, explain what is meant by business ethics. Ethics are the moral principle or values held by those within the organization. For Nestle, in order to be ethical in operations, Nestles decisions are guided by a series of business principles. The well-being of consumers and employees is central to its business principles. For example, one of the principles is Nestle recognizes that its consumers have sincere and legitimate interest in the behavior, beliefs and actions of the company behinds its brands in which they place they trust, and that without its consumers the company would not exist. Business ethics is a study of what is constitutes right or wrong, good and bad. It also means the human conduct in a business context. Business ethics can influences the decision making of one company. One of the examples of business ethics is in the situation when the company deals with their customers. The ways that the company deals with their customers is they must treat them fairly and honestly. It means prohibiting the employees from cheating the customers or providing them misleading information. The employees should not hide the true price of a products, services and policy and trick customer to buy the product. They should not promise more than the product or services can deliver. Nestle practices a good business practice which the company play an important roles in the development of Guidelines Daily Amounts (GDA). The company added the visual form of the GDAs in the front of the pack of each product. Hence, every customers know the information of the amounts of calories, sugars, fat, salt, saturates of each product. The company also did not exaggerating the GDA in their product. It can show that Nestle is practicing a good business ethics. Question 3 What is the purpose of having business principles? Business principles are basically the guidelines used by business organizations. These principles play an important role as they influence the decision making of a company. Besides that, they serve as a supporting tool which provide a reference point and guide to the detailed implementation for the companies. There are several purposes of having business principles. First of all it acts as a guideline for the employees to follow in order to achieve the goal of the company. Business principle of a company is an approach to create a shared value between the shareholders and consumers besides influencing how the employees of an organization should behave. Nestle has its own business principle. The Nestle corporate business principles are the basis of the company culture. It has been developed over the span of 140 years. Nestle is committed to the following business principles in all countries, taking into account local legislation, cultural and religious practices. All these principles provide clear guidelines for employees and help them make choice which reflects the companys ethical stance. The first principle is Nutrition, Health and Wellness. The purpose of this principle is to enhance the quality of consumers lives every day, everywhere by offering tastier and healthier food and encouraging a healthy lifestyle. Nestle express it through their corporate proposition Good Food, Good Life. Next business principle is quality assurance and product safety. Nestle name represents a promise to the consumer that their product is safe and of high standard. The third principle is consumer communication. Nestle is committed to responsible, reliable consumer communication that empowers consumers to exercise their right to informed choice and promotes healthier diets and respect their consumer privacy. The fourth principle is human rights in the business activities. Based on this principle, Nestle fully supports the United Nations Global Compacts (UNGC) guiding principles on human rights and labour. The aim is to provide an example of good human rights and labour practices througho ut their business activities. The fifth principle is leadership and personal responsibility. Nestle companys success lies on its people. Nestle corporate treat each other with respect and expect everyone to promote a sense of personal responsibility. They recruit competent and motivated people. Nestle also provide equal opportunities for every employees development and protect their privacy.The next one is safety and health at work. This principle is basically designed to prevent accidents, injuries and illness related to work. The seventh principle is supplier and customer relations. Nestle require their suppliers, agents, subcontractors and their employees to be honesty, integrity and fairness. The eighth principle is agriculture and rural development. This principle shows that Nestle wants contribute to improvements in agricultural production, social and economic status of farmers, rural communities and in production systems to make them more environmentally sustainable. The next principle is environmental sustainability. Nestle commits to environmentally sustainable business practices. At all stages of the products life cycle Nestle wants to strive to use natural resources efficiently and target zero waste. The final business principle is water. Through this principle we can see that Nestle is committed to the sustainable use of water and continuous improvement in water management. This is because the world faces a growing water challenge and that responsible of management. Question 4 Use examples of business organizations known to you to illustrate examples of ethical decisions and comment upon why you feel those decisions to have been ethical. The decision of the Tesco to going green is an ethical decision. Basically, going green is mean to live life in a way that is friendly to the natural environmental and is sustainable for the earth. Going green also means contributing towards to maintaining the ecological balance in environment and minimizes the harm that the community do to the environment as a result of inhabiting in the earth. Tesco took several ways to achieve the objective of going green decision. Climate week is one of the ways that the company going green. Climate week took place to help tackle climate change. Tesco sold the Climate Week- branded Bags for Life on Buy One Get One Free. Tesco have achieved highest weekly sales of Bags for Life. If just 10% of the customers reuse their Climate Week bags, it will save an additional 2.3 million carrier bags per year. By this Tesco can helps to reduce the use of plastic bags. The reduction in the use of plastics would help in the conservation of energy. Besides that, Tesco had lots of green offers in stores and sales of the climate Week T-Shirt to raised money for the Environmental Justice Foundation. Besides that, Tesco also become the first supermarket that has carbon labels their own brand products. Tesco labeled hundreds of products which help customer to make greener purchasing choices. Tesco carbon label show how much of carbon dioxide is emitted from the production, use and disposal of each product. The products which have carbon label are orange juice, washing detergent, light bulbs, milk, kitchen and toilet roll. Tesco also provide automated recycling centre that help customer to recycle their plastic bottle, cans and glass. Tesco provide a recycle machine to make the recycle process simplest. The automated recycling centre enables the customer to recycle their things easily and hence it can also encourage them to recycle. Recycling help in reduce greenhouse effect. Gas emission occurs during the disposal of product that is not biodegr adable. If the greenhouse gas emission reaches the dangerous levels, it will cause the change in temperature globally. Therefore, Tescos automated recycling centre can help reduce the manufacture paper, plastic bottles, glass and also can save energy needed to manufacture new products. Tesco also give Green Clubcard points for those customers which recycle two aluminum cans. Another example of company that illustrates an ethical decision is Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad. In line with its new mission of Helping Malaysians move forward in life with trusted dairy nutrition, Dutch Lady has launched its two-year plan which is Sugar Reduction Campaign to aggressively reduce sugar consumption via its product ranges. Dutch Lady plan to reduce the sugar consumption by 40% or 2700 tons by 2013 from its current level as one of its effort to improve nutritional profile of its products. Research carried out shows that sugar consumption in Malaysia is averages 26 teaspoons a day, which is obviously more than the recommended average of not above 10 teaspoons a day. This has caused many people will suffered from obesity and diabetes in our country. Dutch Lady said currently around 32% of its total stock are made without any added sugar and by the end 2013, the company aims to reduce annual consumption of added sugar by over 2700 tons. This effort will begin with the withdrawal of its sweetened creamers starting from December 2011. Currently, 110 of its total products were made without added sugar. Dutch Lady is trying to replace sugar with natural sweeteners and also reformulating the products based on emerging nutritional science and as a new idea of healthy choice options which can be consider. The company also believes that consumers will replace sweetened creamers with evaporated or UHT milk and take one teaspoon of sugar every day as this will help to reduce the sugar consumption in the long run. This will be followed by the introduction of the improved range of existing products with 25 per cent less sugar namely Dutch Lady Kid, Dutch Lady School and Dutch Lady Low Fat Drinking Yogurt. By showing these products with lower sugar contents in the product, consumers will expect that the sugar levels to be reduced in most of Dutch Ladys products. This will attract more consumers to buy Dutch Ladys products as it is good for health. In our opinion, Sugar Reduction Campaign carried out by Dutch Lady reflects that they are making ethical decision for their business. This campaign is also part of Dutch Ladys corporate social responsibility programme and business sustainability efforts as a commitment for helping Malaysia become a healthier nation in future. This campaign also aligns with government and medical fraternitys effort to promote healthier lifestyles amongst Malaysians as well as to help educate Malaysians about the negative effects of high level of sugar consumption. Besides, it is also aimed to improve the health of consumers by reducing the amount of sugar consumption in a day which is not good for our healthy. The lower the level of sugar consumption in a day the better it is as it will encourage consumers to have a healthier lifestyle. This means that Dutch Lady also concern about their consumers health besides aim for earning high profits only for their business. The action taken by Dutch Lady refle cts that company is responsible to continuously work towards improving the nutritional profile of its products line by making some improvement to its existing products. Thus, it will also encourage positive reputation to the company as consumers will loyal to Dutch Ladys brands in future.

Mixing Music and Politics Essay -- Pop Music Politics

Many have thought the entertainment world should be separate from the world of politics. Some celebrities go on to be involved in politics, such as Ronald Reagan and Sonny Bono, but rarely does an entertainer command a large sphere of influence in the world of entertainment and politics simultaneously. While entertainers can move the masses, their voice is usually discarded among politicians. In addition to this, many have highlighted the negative influence of the entertainment industry, and particularly rock music, on American culture. Often, it is seen as a corrupting force that leads people astray. For many people, rock and roll seems to highlight all that is wrong with American popular culture. These critics fail to take note of the potential that rock stars have for positively affecting their world. Bono, of U2, is an example of an entertainer that breaks the rule. Since the early days of U2, Bono has believed in, and pushed for, political change. He has used his status as a pop culture icon to fight poverty and other issues that pose a threat to the stability and livelihood of many of the worlds' citizens. He has proven that rock stars can transcend the cultural baggage that is normally attached to them, and positively impact reality. Bono is an entertainer who has the ability to both move the masses and, at the same time, play an active and effective role in fostering positive humanitarian change. In recent years, the press has been filled with negative images of rock stars. Nearly every major news magazine has run articles that speak to the negative effects of pop music in regards to racism, violence, and sex. Pop musicians, such as Two Live Crew and Judas Priest have been placed on trial for explicit lyrics.... ...umph of Vulgarity: Rock Music in the Mirror of Romanticism. New York: Oxford, 1987. Pettifor, Ann. "Jubilee: Supporting Economic Justice Campaigns Worldwide." rev. 1 Dec. 2002. 2 Dec 2002 <www.Jubilee2000uk.org>. Rompalske, Dorothy. "Rock Star to the Rescue." Biography Oct 2002: 56-61. Academic Search Elite. Palni SiteSearch. Goshen College Good Library. 26 November 2002. Waddel, Ray. "Uw on Career High with Elevation Tour." Billboard 23 Jun 2001: 97. Wicke, Peter. Rock Music: Culture, Aesthetics and Sociology. New York: Cambridge, 1990. Wroe, Martin. "U2.com" Rev. 21 Nov. 2002. 23 Nov. 2002 <WWW.U2.com>. Wurtzel, E. "Me2." The New Yorker 17 Feb 1992: 75. "U2." The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Ed. Stanley Sadie. New York: Grove, 2001. "U2's Spiritual Journey Defies Categorization." Christian Century 13 Feb 2002: 12-18.

International Debt Essay

a) What is meant by the problem of ‘ international debt’? (6 marks) b) Discuss the main policies that a country can use to reduce the problem of international indebtedness (i) in the short run and (ii) in the long run (7 marks + 7 marks) a) The Balance of Payment account shows all monetary transactions between our country and the rest of the world over a period of time. It is made up of the current account (trade in goods and services), capital account (Investments, Saving, Borrowing) and the balancing item, which represents the total of all errors and omissions from the above values, which are estimates. When a country spends more than it earns i.e. it imports more than it exports (Current account), or it saves and invests more abroad than other countries save and invest in that country (Capital account), it is said that the country has a current account deficit and a capital account deficit respectively. The country facing a BOP deficit must take actions to rectify it. It usually borrows money from other countries or international financial institutions. The accumulation of debt from loaning from abroad because of a recurring BOP deficit is known as international debt. International debt developed into a problem for many developing countries, Third world countries, which are the poorer countries of the world. These are countries in Africa, Asia and South America and they represent the largest group of countries in the world both in area and population, but the lowest in income and wealth. The cause of the international debt in LDCs is their chronic balance of payments problems. They owe huge sums of money and they need to pay large sums in interest. As a result, in the world as a whole, there is a net transfer of funds from the poor countries to the rich. b) i) The Balance of Payment account shows all monetary transactions between our country and the rest of the world over a period of time. When a country spends more than it earns i.e. it imports more than it exports (Current account), or it saves and invests more abroad than other countries save and invest in that country (Capital account), it is said that the country has a current account deficit and a capital account deficit respectively. The government of a country may take actions to rectify this deficit. In the short run a country can borrow from financial institutions and other countries to correct its Balance of Payments deficit. An alternative would be to use its reserves (Gold and foreign currencies) to correct its deficit. These are temporary ways to correct the deficit and do not fight the source of the problem, they do not stop it from occurring the following year. ii) In the long run the country can take actions that would eliminate the problem that cause the BOP deficit. A country can use many different policies to correct and reverse the deficit. If the government increases taxes and, or, decreases public expenditure, there will be less money circulating in the economy and the aggregate demand would decrease. People will have less money to spend on imports, imports would decrease and the BOP deficit will be corrects. Nevertheless, a decrease in aggregate demand also affects the domestic industries. Less of their products would be demanded, they will produce less and as a result they will cause unemployment. The government can also decide to increase interest rates. This will attract inflows of Hot money (Short term investments of large sums of money that investors move from country to country in search for the best interest rates) into the country correcting the BOP deficit. The downside of this will be that the high interest rates will make borrowing more expensive and as a result consumers will borrow less for consumption and firms less for investment. Protectionism policies may be applied. These are policies to prevent trade between countries and decrease imports so that the BOP deficit is corrected. Unfortunately some protectionist policies such as import tariffs or imports quotas are usually not in the disposal of countries members of custom unions such as the European Union. A devaluation in the country’s currency will lower its value and make the country’s exports cheaper for foreign countries to buy and at the same time the imports into that country will be more expensive. As a result exports will increase and impost will decrease, thus the BOP deficit will be corrected. This is not possible for members of the ERM of the EU. In the long run a country may decide to improve the competitiveness of its Industries through supply side measures such as regional policies. Nevertheless, these policies are very time consuming and will take a lot of time to work. The country can also demand through the IMF a debt rescheduling and or new loans. This involves lowering the interest rates on existing loans, lengthening the repayment period and, or, canceling part of the debts. The IMF can provide additional loans or arrange so that financial institutions do it, with a guarantee from the IMF. In order for the IMF to do these it sets certain conditions and structural adjustment programmes that the country must follow. These conditions and programmes involve most of the policies discussed above. A further, policy would be to encourage commercial banks to finance private sector development. If governments spend too much they have a budget deficit and their income is less than their expenditure. This deficit is financed by borrowing large amounts from commercial banks and as a result not many funds are left to lend to the private sector. The IMF wants commercial banks to lend more money to the private sector, which is expected to make better use of the funds for development projects.

Foundation and Empire 7. Bribery

Sergeant Mori Luk made an ideal soldier of the ranks. He came from the huge agricultural planets of the Pleiades where only army life could break the bond to the soil and the unavailing life of drudgery; and he was typical of that background. Unimaginative enough to face danger without fear, he was strong and agile enough to face it successfully. He accepted orders instantly, drove the men under him unbendingly and adored his general unswervingly. And yet with that, he was of a sunny nature. If he killed a man in the line of duty without a scrap of hesitation, it was also without a scrap of animosity. That Sergeant Luk should signal at the door before entering was further a sign of tact, for he would have been perfectly within his rights to enter without signaling. The two within looked up from their evening meal and one reached out with his foot to cut off the cracked voice which rattled out of the battered pocket-transmitter with bright liveliness. â€Å"More books?† asked Lathan Devers. The sergeant held out the tightly-wound cylinder of film and scratched his neck. â€Å"It belongs to Engineer Orre, but he'll have to have it back. He's going to send it to his kids, you know, like what you might call a souvenir, you know.† Ducem Barr turned the cylinder in his hands with interest. â€Å"And where did the engineer get it? He hasn't a transmitter also, has he?† The sergeant shook his head emphatically. He pointed to the knocked-about remnant at the foot of the bed. â€Å"That's the only one in the place. This fellow, Orre, now, he got that book from one of these pig-pen worlds out here we captured. They had it in a big building by itself and he had to kill a few of the natives that tried to stop him from taking it.† He looked at it appraisingly. â€Å"It makes a good souvenir – for kids.† He paused, then said stealthily, â€Å"There's big news floating about, by the way. It's only scuttlebutt, but even so, it's too good to keep. The general did it again.† And he nodded slowly, gravely. â€Å"That so?† said Devers. â€Å"And what did he do?† â€Å"Finished the Enclosure, that's all.† The sergeant chuckled with a fatherly pride. â€Å"Isn't he the corker, though? Didn't he work it fine? One of the fellows who's strong on fancy talk, says it went as smooth and even as the music of the spheres, whatever they are.† â€Å"The big offensive starts now?† asked Barr, mildly. â€Å"Hope so,† was the boisterous response. â€Å"I want to get back on my ship now that my arm is in one piece again. I'm tired of sitting on my scupper out here.† â€Å"So am I,† muttered Devers, suddenly and savagely. There was a bit of underlip caught in his teeth, and he worried it. The sergeant looked at him doubtfully, and said, â€Å"I'd better go now. The captain's round is due and I'd just as soon he didn't catch me in here.† He paused at the door. â€Å"By the way, sir,† he said with sudden, awkward shyness to the trader, â€Å"I heard from my wife. She says that little freezer you gave me to send her works fine. It doesn't cost her anything, and she just about keeps a month's supply of food froze up complete. I appreciate it.† â€Å"It's all right. Forget it.† The great door moved noiselessly shut behind the grinning sergeant. Ducem Barr got out of his chair. â€Å"Well, he gives us a fair return for the freezer. Let's take a look at this new book. Ahh, the title is gone.† He unrolled a yard or so of the film and looked through at the light. Then he murmured, â€Å"Well, skewer me through the scupper, as the sergeant says. This is ‘The Garden of Summa,' Devers.† â€Å"That so?† said the trader, without interest. He shoved aside what was left of his dinner. â€Å"Sit down, Barr. Listening to this old-time literature isn't doing me any good. You heard what the sergeant said?† â€Å"Yes, I did. What of it?† â€Å"The offensive will start. And we sit here!† â€Å"Where do you want to sit?† â€Å"You know what I mean. There's no use just waiting.† â€Å"Isn't there?† Barr was carefully removing the old film from the transmitter and installing the new. â€Å"You told me a good deal of Foundation history in the last month, and it seems that the great leaders of past crises did precious little more than sit – and wait.† â€Å"Ah, Barr, but they knew where they were going.† â€Å"Did they? I suppose they said they did when it was over, and for all I know maybe they did. But there's no proof that things would not have worked out as well or better if they had not known where they were going. The deeper economic and sociological forces aren't directed by individual men.† Devers sneered. â€Å"No way of telling that things wouldn't have worked out worse, either. You're arguing tail-end backwards.† His eyes were brooding. â€Å"You know, suppose I blasted him?† â€Å"Whom? Riose?† â€Å"Yes.† Barr sighed. His aging eyes were troubled with a reflection of the long past. â€Å"Assassination isn't the way out, Devers. I once tried it, under provocation, when I was twenty – but it solved nothing. I removed a villain from Siwenna, but not the Imperial yoke; and it was the Imperial yoke and not the villain that mattered.† â€Å"But Riose is not just a villain, doc. He's the whole blamed army. It would fall apart without him. They hang on him like babies. The sergeant out there slobbers every time he mentions him.† â€Å"Even so. There are other armies and other leaders. You must go deeper. There is this Brodrig, for instance – no one more than he has the ear of the Emperor. He could demand hundreds of ships where Riose must struggle with ten. I know him by reputation.† â€Å"That so? What about him?† The trader's eyes lost in frustration what they gained in sharp interest. â€Å"You want a pocket outline? He's a low-born rascal who has by unfailing flattery tickled the whims of the Emperor. He's well-hated by the court aristocracy, vermin themselves, because he can lay claim to neither family nor humility. He is the Emperor's adviser in all things, and the Emperor's too in the worst things. He is faithless by choice but loyal by necessity. There is not a man in the Empire as subtle in villainy or as crude in his pleasures. And they say there is no way to the Emperor's favor but through him; and no way to his, but through infamy.† â€Å"Wow!† Devers pulled thoughtfully at his neatly trimmed beard. â€Å"And he's the old boy the Emperor sent out here to keep an eye on Riose. Do you know I have an idea?† â€Å"I do now.† â€Å"Suppose this Brodrig takes a dislike to our young Army's Delight?† â€Å"He probably has already. He's not noted for a capacity for liking.† â€Å"Suppose it gets really bad. The Emperor might hear about it, and Riose might be in trouble.† â€Å"Uh-huh. Quite likely. But how do you propose to get that to happen?† â€Å"I don't know. I suppose he could be bribed?† The patrician laughed gently. â€Å"Yes, in a way, but not in the manner you bribed the sergeant – not with a pocket freezer. And even if you reach his scale, it wouldn't be worth it. There's probably no one so easily bribed, but he lacks even the fundamental honesty of honorable corruption. He doesn't stay bribed; not for any sum. Think of something else.† Devers swung a leg over his knee and his toe nodded quickly and restlessly. â€Å"It's the first hint, though-â€Å" He stopped; the door signal was flashing once again, and the sergeant was on the threshold once more. He was excited, and his broad face was red and unsmiling. â€Å"Sir,† he began, in an agitated attempt at deference, â€Å"I am very thankful for the freezer, and you have always spoken to me very fine, although I am only the son of a farmer and you are great lords.† His Pleiades accent had grown thick, almost too much so for easy comprehension; and with excitement, his lumpish peasant derivation wiped out completely the soldierly bearing so long and so painfully cultivated. Barr said softly, â€Å"What is it, sergeant?† â€Å"Lord Brodrig is coming to see you. Tomorrow! I know, because the captain told me to have my men ready for dress review tomorrow for†¦ for him. I thought – I might warn you.† Barr said, â€Å"Thank you, sergeant, we appreciate that. But it's all right, man; no need for-â€Å" But the look on Sergeant Luk's face was now unmistakably one of fear. He spoke in a rough whisper, â€Å"You don't hear the stories the men tell about him. He has sold himself to the space fiend. No, don't laugh. There are most terrible tales told about him. They say he has men with blast-guns who follow him everywhere, and when he wants pleasure, he just tells them to blast down anyone they meet. And they do – and he laughs. They say even the Emperor is in terror of him, and that he forces the Emperor to raise taxes and won't let him listen to the complaints of the people. â€Å"And he hates the general, that's what they say. They say he would like to kill the general, because the general is so great and wise. But he can't because our general is a match for anyone and he knows Lord Brodrig is a bad ‘un.† The sergeant blinked; smiled in a sudden incongruous shyness at his own outburst; and backed toward the door. He nodded his head, jerkily. â€Å"You mind my words. Watch him.† He ducked out. And Devers looked up, hard-eyed. â€Å"This breaks things our way, doesn't it, doc?† â€Å"It depends,† said Barr, dryly, â€Å"on Brodrig, doesn't it?† But Devers was thinking, not listening. He was thinking hard. Lord Brodrig ducked his head as he stepped into the cramped living quarters of the trading ship, and his two armed guards followed quickly, with bared guns and the professionally hard scowls of the hired bravos. The Privy Secretary had little of the look of the lost soul about him just then. If the space fiend had bought him, he had left no visible mark of possession. Rather might Brodrig have been considered a breath of court-fashion come to enliven the hard, bare ugliness of an army base. The stiff, tight lines of his sheened and immaculate costume gave him the illusion of height, from the very top of which his cold, emotionless eyes stared down the declivity of a long nose at the trader. The mother-of-pearl ruches at his wrists fluttered filmily as he brought his ivory stick to the ground before him and leaned upon it daintily. â€Å"No,† he said, with a little gesture, â€Å"you remain here. Forget your toys; I am not interested in them.† He drew forth a chair, dusted it carefully with the iridescent square of fabric attached to the top of his white stick, and seated himself. Devers glanced towards the mate to the chair, but Brodrig said lazily, â€Å"You will stand in the presence of a Peer of the Realm.† He smiled. Devers shrugged. â€Å"If you're not interested in my stock in trade, what am I here for?† The Privy Secretary waited coldly, and Devers added a slow, â€Å"Sir.† â€Å"For privacy,† said the secretary. â€Å"Now is it likely that I would come two hundred parsecs through space to inspect trinkets? It's you I want to see.† He extracted a small pink tablet from an engraved box and placed it delicately between his teeth. He sucked it slowly and appreciatively. â€Å"For instance,† he said, â€Å"who are you? Are you really a citizen of this barbarian world that is creating all this fury of military frenzy?† Devers nodded gravely. â€Å"And you were really captured by him after the beginning of this squabble he calls a war. I am referring to our young general.† Devers nodded again. â€Å"So! Very well, my worthy Outlander. I see your fluency of speech is at a minimum. I shall smooth the way for you. It seems that our general here is fighting an apparently meaningless war with frightful transports of energy – and this over a forsaken fleabite of a world at the end of nowhere, which to a logical man would not seem worth a single blast of a single gun. Yet the general is not illogical. On the contrary, I would say he was extremely intelligent. Do you follow me?† â€Å"Can't say I do, sir.† The secretary inspected his fingernails and said, â€Å"Listen further, then. The general would not waste his men and ships on a sterile feat of glory. I know he talks of glory and of Imperial honor, but it is quite obvious that the affectation of being one of the insufferable old demigods of the Heroic Age won't wash. There is something more than glory hereand he does take queer, unnecessary care of you. Now if you were my prisoner and told me as little of use as you have our general, I would slit open your abdomen and strangle you with your own intestines.† Devers remained wooden. His eyes moved slightly, first to one of the secretary's bully-boys, and then to the other. They were ready; eagerly ready. The secretary smiled. â€Å"Well, now, you're a silent devil. According to the general, even a Psychic Probe made no impression, and that was a mistake on his part, by the way, for it convinced me that our young military whizz-bang was lying.† He seemed in high humor. â€Å"My honest tradesman,† he said, â€Å"I have a Psychic Probe of my own, one that ought to suit you peculiarly well. You see this-â€Å" And between thumb and forefinger, held negligently, were intricately designed, pink-and-yellow rectangles which were most definitely obvious in identity. Devers said so. â€Å"It looks like cash,† he said. â€Å"Cash it is – and the best cash of the Empire, for it is backed by my estates, which are more extensive than the Emperor's own. A hundred thousand credits. All here! Between two fingers! Yours!† â€Å"For what, sir? I am a good trader, but all trades go in both directions.† â€Å"For what? For the truth! What is the general after? Why is he fighting this war?† Lathan Devers sighed, and smoothed his beard thoughtfully. â€Å"What he's after?† His eyes were following the motions of the secretary's hands as he counted the money slowly, bill by bill. â€Å"In a word, the Empire.† â€Å"Hmp. How ordinary! It always comes to that in the end. But how? What is the road that leads from the Galaxy's edge to the peak of Empire so broadly and invitingly?† â€Å"The Foundation,† said Devers, bitterly, â€Å"has secrets. They have books, old books – so old that the language they are in is only known to a few of the top men. But the secrets are shrouded in ritual and religion, and none may use them. I tried and now I am here – and there is a death sentence waiting for me, there.† â€Å"I see. And these old secrets? Come, for one hundred thousand I deserve the intimate details.† â€Å"The transmutation of elements,† said Devers, shortly. The secretary's eyes narrowed and lost some of their detachment. â€Å"I have been told that practical transmutation is impossible by the laws of nucleics.† â€Å"So it is, if nuclear forces are used. But the ancients were smart boys. There are sources of power greater than the nuclei and more fundamental. If the Foundation used those sources as I suggested-â€Å" Devers felt a soft, creeping sensation in his stomach. The bait was dangling; the fish was nosing it. The secretary said suddenly, â€Å"Continue. The general, I am sure, is aware of a this. But what does he intend doing once he finishes this opera-bouffe affair?† Devers kept his voice rock-steady. â€Å"With transmutation he controls the economy of the whole set-up of your Empire. Mineral holdings won't be worth a sneeze when Riose can make tungsten out of aluminum and iridium out of iron. An entire production system based on the scarcity of certain elements and the abundance of others is thrown completely out of whack. There'll be the greatest disjointment the Empire has ever seen, and only Riose will be able to stop it. And there is the question of this new power I mentioned, the use of which won't give Riose religious heebies. â€Å"There's nothing that can stop him now. He's got the Foundation by the back of the neck, and once he's finished with it, he'll be Emperor in two years.† â€Å"So.† Brodrig laughed lightly. â€Å"Iridium out of iron, that's what you said, isn't it? Come, I'll tell you a state secret. Do you know that the Foundation has already been in communication with the general?† Devers' back stiffened. â€Å"You look surprised. Why not? It seems logical now. They offered him a hundred tons of iridium a year to make peace. A hundred tons of iron converted to iridium in violation of their religious principles to save their necks. Fair enough, but no wonder our rigidly incorruptible general refused – when he can have the iridium and the Empire as well. And poor Cleon called him his one honest general. My bewhiskered merchant, you have earned your money.† He tossed it, and Devers scrambled after the flying bills. Lord Brodrig stopped at the door and turned. â€Å"One reminder, trader. My playmates with the guns here have neither middle ears, tongues, education, nor intelligence. They can neither hear, speak, write, nor even make sense to a Psychic Probe. But they are very expert at interesting executions. I have bought you, man, at one hundred thousand credits. You will be good and worthy merchandise. Should you forget that you are bought at any time and attempt to†¦ say†¦ repeat our conversation to Riose, you will be executed. But executed my way.† And in that delicate face there were sudden hard lines of eager cruelty that changed the studied smile into a red-lipped snarl. For one fleeting second, Devers saw that space fiend who had bought his buyer, look out of his buyer's eyes. Silently, he preceded the two thrusting blast-guns of Brodrig's â€Å"playmates† to his quarters. And to Ducem Barr's question, he said with brooding satisfaction, â€Å"No, that's the queerest part of it. He bribed me. Two months of difficult war had left their mark on Bel Riose. There was heavy-handed gravity about him; and he was short-tempered. It was with impatience that he addressed the worshiping Sergeant Luk. â€Å"Wait outside, soldier, and conduct these men back to their quarters when I am through. No one is to enter until I call. No one at all, you understand.† The sergeant saluted himself stiffly out of the room, and Riose with muttered disgust scooped up the waiting papers on his desk, threw them into the top drawer and slammed it shut. â€Å"Take seats,† he said shortly, to the waiting two. â€Å"I haven't much time. Strictly speaking, I shouldn't be here at all, but it is necessary to see you.† He turned to Ducem Barr, whose long fingers were caressing with interest the crystal cube in which was set the simulacrum of the lined, austere face of His Imperial Majesty, Cleon II. â€Å"In the first place, patrician,† said the general, â€Å"your Seldon is losing. To be sure, he battles well, for these men of the Foundation swarm like senseless bees and fight like madmen. Every planet is defended viciously, and once taken, every planet heaves so with rebellion it is as much trouble to hold as to conquer. But they are taken, and they are held. Your Seldon is losing.† â€Å"But he has not yet lost,† murmured Barr politely. â€Å"The Foundation itself retains less optimism. They offer me millions in order that I may not put this Seldon to the final test.† â€Å"So rumor goes.† â€Å"Ah, is rumor preceding me? Does it prate also of the latest?† â€Å"What is the latest?† â€Å"Why, that Lord Brodrig, the darling of the Emperor, is now second in command at his own request.† Devers spoke for the first time. â€Å"At his own request, boss? How come? Or are you growing to like the fellow?† He chuckled. Riose said, calmly, â€Å"No, can't say I do. It's just that he bought the office at what I considered a fair and adequate price.† â€Å"Such as?† â€Å"Such as a request to the Emperor for reinforcements.† Devers' contemptuous smile broadened. â€Å"‘He has communicated with the Emperor, huh? And I take it, boss, you're just waiting for these reinforcements, but they'll come any day. Right?† â€Å"Wrong! They have already come. Five ships of the line; smooth and strong, with a personal message of congratulations from the Emperor, and more ships on the way. What's wrong, trader?† he asked, sardonically. Devers spoke through suddenly frozen lips. â€Å"Nothing!† Riose strode out from behind his desk and faced the trader, hand on the butt of his blast-gun. â€Å"I say, what's wrong, trader? The news would seem to disturb you. Surely, you have no sudden birth of interest in the Foundation.† â€Å"I haven't.† â€Å"Yes – there are queer points about you.† â€Å"That so, boss?† Devers smiled tightly, and balled the fists in his pockets. â€Å"Just you line them up and I'll knock them down for you.† â€Å"Here they are. You were caught easily. You surrendered at first blow with a burnt-out shield. You're quite ready to desert your world, and that without a price. Interesting, all this, isn't it?† â€Å"I crave to be on the winning side, boss. I'm a sensible man; you called me that yourself.† Riose said with tight throatiness, â€Å"Granted! Yet no trader since has been captured. No trade ship but has had the speed to escape at choice. No trade ship but has had a screen that could take all the beating a light cruiser could give it, should it choose to fight. And no trader but has fought to death when occasion warranted. Traders have been traced as the leaders and instigators of the guerilla warfare on occupied planets and of the flying raids in occupied space. â€Å"Are you the only sensible man then? You neither fight nor flee, but turn traitor without urging. You are unique, amazingly unique – in fact, suspiciously unique.† Devers said softly, â€Å"I take your meaning, but you have nothing on me. I've been here now six months, and I've been a good boy.† â€Å"So you have, and I have repaid you by good treatment. I have left your ship undisturbed and treated you with every consideration. Yet you fall short. Freely offered information, for instance, on your gadgets might have been helpful. The atomic principles on which they are built would seem to be used in some of the Foundation's nastiest weapons. Right?† â€Å"I am only a trader,† said Devers, â€Å"and not one of these bigwig technicians. I sell the stuff; I don't make it.† â€Å"Well, that will be seen shortly. It is what I came here for. For instance, your ship will be searched for a personal force-shield. You have never worn one; yet all soldiers of the Foundation do. It will be significant evidence that there is information you do not choose to give me. Right?† There was no answer. He continued, â€Å"And there will be more direct evidence. I have brought with me the Psychic Probe. It failed once before, but contact with the enemy is a liberal education.† His voice was smoothly threatening and Devers felt the gun thrust hard in his midriff – the general's gun, hitherto in its holster. The general said quietly, â€Å"You will remove your wristband and any other metal ornament you wear and give them to me. Slowly! Atomic fields can be distorted, you see, and Psychic Probes might probe only into static. That's right†¦ I'll take it.† The receiver on the general's desk was glowing and a message capsule clicked into the slot, near which Barr stood and still held the trimensional Imperial bust. Riose stepped behind his desk, with his blast-gun held ready. He said to Barr, â€Å"You too, patrician. Your wristband condemns you. You have been helpful earlier, however, and I am not vindictive, but I shall judge the fate of your behostaged family by the results of the Psychic Probe.† And as Riose leaned over to take out the message capsule, Barr lifted the crystal-enveloped bust of Cleon and quietly and methodically brought it down upon the general's head. It happened too suddenly for Devers to grasp. It was as if a sudden demon had grown into the old man. â€Å"Out!† said Barr, in a tooth-clenched whisper. â€Å"Quickly!† He seized Riose's dropped blaster and buried it in his blouse. Sergeant Luk turned as they emerged from the narrowest possible crack of the door. Barr said easily, â€Å"Lead on, sergeant!† Devers closed the door behind him. Sergeant Luk led in silence to their quarters, and then, with the briefest pause, continued onward, for there was the nudge of a blast-gun muzzle in his ribs, and a hard voice in his ears which said, â€Å"To the trade ship.† Devers stepped forward to open the air lock, and Barr said, â€Å"Stand where you are, Luk. You've been a decent man, and we're not going to kill you.† But the sergeant recognized the monogram on the gun. He cried in choked fury, â€Å"You've killed the general.† With a wild, incoherent yell, he charged blindly upon the blasting fury of the gun and collapsed in blasted ruin. The trade ship was rising above the dead planet before the signal lights began their eerie blink and against the creamy cobweb of the great Lens in the sky which was the Galaxy, other black forms rose. Devers said grimly, â€Å"Hold tight, Barr – and let's see if they've got a ship that can match my speed.† He knew they hadn't! And once in open space, the trader's voice seemed lost and dead as he said, â€Å"The line I fed Brodrig was a little too good. It seems as if he's thrown in with the general.† Swiftly they raced into the depths of the star-mass that was the Galaxy.