# IV: The Great Battle explained — Short Fiction > Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Manly Wade Wellman. ## What happens Neil Andresson, having been freed by Yaxa, is taken to the Martian pleasure city of Pulambar where he attends a drama and a dinner with Martian officers. As a Terrestrial attack looms, Neil volunteers to guard Terrestrial prisoners rather than fight. He is taken to a chamber where Sukune and Bull Mike are held, and they watch the approaching fleet on a television screen. Neil reveals that his capture was a ruse to get inside the asteroid and destroy its gravity cable. Yaxa sounds an alarm, but the three Terrestrials fight their way to the cable pillar. Neil uses a disintegrator to breach the pillar but exhausts its charge. He then grabs the cable directly, suffering a severe shock. Bull Mike sacrifices himself by pulling the cable loop, causing a catastrophic failure. ## Themes in this chapter ### Sacrifice and Redemption Bull Mike's self-sacrifice to pull the gravity cable loop, and Neil's willingness to risk his life, highlight the theme of sacrifice for a greater cause. ### Science vs. Superstition The use of advanced technology (disintegrators, gravity cables, television screens) contrasts with the Martians' theatrical and ritualistic culture. ## Character check-ins ### Neil Andresson The Terrestrial protagonist who infiltrates the Martian asteroid, volunteers as a guard, and leads the sabotage of the gravity cable. ### Yaxa The Martian who freed Neil and accompanies him through Pulambar; later betrayed when Neil reveals the sabotage plan. ### Sukune A fellow Terrestrial prisoner who fights alongside Neil and Bull Mike; is beaten down by Martians during the assault. ### Bull Mike Tishinev A Terrestrial prisoner who fights fiercely and ultimately sacrifices himself by pulling the gravity cable loop. ## Key lines > The television drama broadcast from the Martian pleasure city of Pulambar, was one of the cynical tragicomedies that the men of Mars love so well. A cynical tragicomedy was playing on television in the Martian city of Pulambar, a genre favored by Martians. _Establishes the Martian cultural preference for dark, ironic entertainment._ > We have only to remain inside our defenses. They can hammer away on our surface forever without effect, while we can bomb them out of existence one by one. The Martians believe their defenses are impenetrable and that they can pick off Earth ships individually. _Reveals Martian overconfidence and the strategic situation._ > I’ve already said that I don’t want to fight. As a matter of fact, I think that I’d do best as a guard over the Terrestrial prisoners who came with us. Neil declines to fight, suggesting he would be more useful guarding the other Earth prisoners. _Neil's cover story to avoid combat and gain access to the prisoners._ > That’s why you were so curious about the cable. Right. Well, we have little time to lose. Follow me. Neil admits his earlier curiosity about the cable was part of the plan, then urges the others to act quickly. _Climactic revelation of Neil's true mission._ > He aimed his disintegrator at it anew, but no ray answered his touch on the button. The charge had been exhausted in forcing a way through the pillar. Neil's disintegrator is out of power after cutting through the pillar, forcing him to use other means. _Critical moment where technology fails, leading to desperate physical action._ > Clasping his great hands, he hurled his giant body outward with all his strength. For a moment he seemed to glow as if Bull Mike grabs the cable loop and throws his body outward, appearing to glow from the energy. _Bull Mike's final, heroic act to destroy the cable._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/iv-the-great-battle - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_37_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters