Space-2

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GLOSSARY

* * *
“Ma’am, R and S may have something,” reported the sublieutenant, referring to the division that oversaw long and medium range monitoring, and whose official name was not RADAR and SONAR, nor Rocks and Ships, but Reconnaissance and Surveillance.

“Ah?” said the first lieutenant, still a fool 30 years later.

“Yes, ma’am. Something built, though they can’t identify it. Communications is standing by to hail.”

“Are there life signs?”

“R and S says ‘no,’ but acknowledges that their equipment is insufficient to be sure. There are several readings that they can’t interpret. Strong energy readings, though.

Before the lieutenant could respond, or before he did respond, at any rate, an electronic chime sounded and the surround to the bridge’s main view screen began to pulse purple. The lieutenant stared at the pulsing light, trying to remember what it meant. “We are being hailed, ma’am,” said the sublieutenant.

The lieutenant was absorbed in the meaning of the pulsing purple light, however, and did not reply. “We are being hailed,” the sublieutenant repeated. “Shall I put them through?”

“Put them through, receive-only” said the captain, whose arrival had passed unnoticed amidst the novelty of the foreign ship, or thing, or whatever it was.

“Put them through, receive-only” said the sublieutenant to the comm(unications) off(icer).

“Receive only, aye,” said the comm-off, tapping at his console, bringing up the hail and canceling the hail-waiting signal.

A moment later a sightly garbled, though perfectly understandable and extremely loud voice filled the bridge: “GREETINGS AMANDA RAY. PLEASE RESPOND.”

“Sorry,” said the comm-off, tapping his console to bring the volume down. In the presence of the captain the first lieutenant did not respond.

Silence filled the bridge. They had been found at last. But who had found them? They were still deep in Sasquinaw space, in spite of towing with the shuttle craft for three hours a day (the most the craft could pull the Ray’s bulk for with out losing control). At least, according to their 30-year-old charts they were.

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GLOSSARY