 What is significant about the events being broadcasted?
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Planet Stories Spring 1944. Outside, the stars were as before: tiny, myriad points of light, infinitely far away. I do not think it was what Peter called an emotion; and yet it had nothing to do with logic, either. His dream was perfect; the Citadel was complete, every minutest detail provided for—on paper. Then there would remain only the task of blasting the great, shining ship out into the carefully-calculated orbit that would be its home. In his mind's eye he could see it, slowly wheeling, like a second satellite, about the Earth; endlessly gathering knowledge into its insatiable mechanisms. He could see, too, the level on level of laboratories and storerooms that filled its interlocking segments; the meteor deflectors, the air renewal system, the mighty engines at the stern—all the children of his brain. The ship would be filled with the sounds of busy men and women, wresting secrets from the reluctant ether. The order was made public early this morning by R. Stein, Secretary of the Council, who said in part: "The reason for this ... order must be apparent to all civilized peoples. For the Invaders have spared no part of this planet in their depredations: they have laid Hong Kong waste; they have terrorized London; they have destroyed the lives of citizens in every member state and in every inhabited area. There can be few within reach of printed reports or my words who have not seen the Invaders, or whose friends have not seen them. "The peoples of the world, then, know what they are, and know that we face the most momentous struggle in our history. "Since the Invaders first appeared in Wood River, Oregon, 24 hours ago, they have not once acknowledged our attempts to communicate, or in any way taken notice of our existence as reasoning beings. They have treated us precisely as we, in less enlightened days, might have treated a newly-discovered race of lower animals. They have not attacked our centers of government, nor immobilized our communications, nor laid siege to our defenses. But in instance after instance, they have done as they would with us. They have examined us, dissected us, driven us mad, killed us with no discernable provocation; and this is more intolerable than any normal invasion. "I have no fear that the people of Earth will fail to meet this challenge, for there is no alternative. Not only our individual lives are threatened, but our existence as a race.
 Even though the imagery is horrific, it's important that the whole world is made aware. It's their only warning.
 Without the broadcast, there is no proof of what is happening. As Peter says, it's unbelievable otherwse.  Even though the imagery is horrific, it's important that the whole world is made aware. It's their only warning.  The images are horrific. It shows the brutality of the aliens.  The broadcasts will likely lead to mass panic and suicide, because of how grim the circumstances are.