Talents, Incorporated

"Talents, Incorporated" by Murray Leinster is a science fiction novel written in the early 1960s. The story centers around Captain Bors, a young officer in the space navy of the planet Kandar, as he grapples with an impending invasion from the militaristic planet Mekin. With time running out, he navigates through the chaos of government collapse and desperate attempts to destroy sensitive documents while racing against the clock to devise a defense strategy against their conquerors. The opening of the novel introduces Captain Bors in a tense situation as he destroys vital governmental documents while under the threat of a Mekinese invasion. His duty becomes increasingly dire as he learns about the potential threat of a Mekinese cruiser lurking at sea, thanks to intelligence provided by a mysterious organization called Talents, Incorporated. This organization boasts seemingly supernatural talents, such as precognitive abilities and extraordinary skills, which they claim can turn the tide of the impending conflict. As Bors grapples with skepticism about the organization’s credibility, he is thrust into a race against time to prepare his fleet for the battle ahead, ultimately leading to a complex interplay between hope and despair in the face of overwhelming odds.