Space-6

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GLOSSARY

Once the data dump was complete, Finn hailed the mystery ship, which responded, “Received. Please Stand By,” in the same voice that had originally hailed the Amanda Ray, and then fell silent.

“Try them again,” said the captain fifteen minutes later. By now Kershaw, the senior comm-off, had reached the bridge, and it was his portly fingers that danced over the communications console. “Received. Please Stand By,” replied the mystery ship, falling silent again.

Captain Leigh drummed her fingers in a moment of indecision. She was tempted to scan them, but that would be seen as a hostile act, wouldn’t it? Or would it? And there was something strange about that voice on the mystery ship, too. Something not human.

Ten more minutes passed. “Scan them,” said Captain Leigh.

Several moments passed as R & S scanned the mystery ship and formulated their report. “Approximately our size,” read the sublieutenant. “Strong energy signatures, though they seem suspended or attenuated. Possible life readings. Weapons are present but don’t seem to be activated. Shields are up but low - as if they were using their docking shields rather than combat shields. R & S can’t identify it, but it doesn’t look malignant - malevolent, I think they mean. But that’s the best they can do.”

“That’s it?” asked the first lieutenant.

“Few of them have ever scanned a vessel, lieutenant. Most of the folks in the original department have died.”

“Very true, I was forgetting,” replied the first lieutenant, sulkily.

Several more miutes passed during which the mystery ship said nothing, did nothing. “Send a CQD,” said Captain Leigh, finally. “That should get their attention. And put the whole thing through on the speakers.”

“Working,” said Kershaw as he processed the captain’s order. “Coming though now.”

“All Stations, Distress,” said the Amanda Ray’s automated distress signal. “Amanda Ray Requests Emergency Assistance.”

“Greetings Amanda Ray,” the mystery ship immediately replied. “Please State The Nature Of Your Emergency.”

The voices were the same.

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GLOSSARY