By Garrett and Silverberg, writing under the pseudonym "Clyde Mitchell," according to the Internet Speculative Fiction Database.

Release date is 2023-11-14

Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

"Deadly Decoy" by Clyde Mitchell is a science fiction narrative that appeared in the magazine "Amazing Stories" in the mid-20th century. The story is set in a future where galactic politics and interspecies relations are fraught with tension, particularly between the Galactic Federation and the Damakoi, a fanatically dangerous alien race. The plot revolves around themes of trust, deception, and the challenges of security in a politically charged environment, focusing on an assassination plot that threatens to kill numerous delegates in the Galactic Capitol. The storyline follows Mr. Cameron, a Secret Service agent, as he deals with a grave threat from a Damakoi assassin named Zorvash Pedrik, who possesses a lethal theta bomb. Cameron initially receives a warning from Holdreth Khain, a Damakoi who claims to oppose the assassination plans, setting the stage for a tense investigation. As the plot unfolds, Cameron faces numerous challenges, including betrayal and cleverly laid traps. The narrative reaches a climax when it's revealed that the assassination scheme involves manipulating both Khain and another Damakoi, Jedon Onomondo, leading to a suspenseful confrontation. Ultimately, the tale examines the complexities of politics, national security, and the intricate nature of trust among different species within the galaxy. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Originally published: New York, NY: Ziff-Davis Publishing Company, 1956