"Fortunately, the first aid station of the scout
still functioned," he explained. "I don't like those mechanical
Surgeons, but that one did a good job, under the circumstances."
50 North walked over to the scout's Commander. "Up to a report?" he
asked.
51 "Not much to report," the Officer admitted. "It was an automatic. It
laid a false trail, doubled back, and jumped us, as we came into
system. Hit us hard the first time. I was losing power, and would be
dead in a few moments. So when it came back around, I took it head on,
beam to beam.
52 We got lucky. We hit a rock near it, spinning it clean around and
got two hits on its tubes before it blew up in our faces. THAT nearly
got us! We did what repairs we could, but knew the ship had had it.
53 We didn't know if you had made it or not, so we were headed for one
of the bigger rocks and planned to strip the ship to make a shelter
until somebody found us, then sent the ship out to self-destruct. We
heard the fire. Too bad she had to be destroyed. She got us through."
54 "All right," praised North, "report accepted. You have my 'well
done,' and I will try to get some commendation for you from Fleet."
55 "Thank you sir!" the Officer replied.
56 North went to his quarters, prepared a detailed report for command,
taking full responsibility himself for the loss of the stolen vessel,
the damage to his ship, and the loss of the scout. "It will be
useless," he recommended, "to continue to search for the missing
vessel. By now all traces of her trail are gone. My failure to see
through her deception allowed her escape.
57 It is my belief the ship possessed leap capability, and that a short
time after releasing its automatics it coasted ahead, reignited its
star drive engines, and leaped for open space, avoiding any inhabited
system until it