Chapter
Twenty-One
The next days passed quickly and they leaped again, entering the system
where the ship had disappeared. It was one of those lonely suns that
had a little dust floating around it, but no planets, not even ice
fields or pebbles; just lonely, empty space. They were rare, and every
one of them gave space travelers shivers. It wasn't natural for a sun
to be so empty, so lifeless.
2 Their instruments reached out both for the communications relay and
the missing ship. The relay was right where it was supposed to be in
its stationary orbit. But it was not even broadcasting its navigational
beacons! The ship took some time to find. It was on an extended orbit
just within the sun's gravitational range, and on the far side from
them.
3 "Set an intercept course," ordered North, "we'll stay far out and go
around on star drive to meet it."
4 Helm and Navigation went to work. Hours later, they neared the
vessel, but were completely bewildered. As far as their instruments
could tell, there was absolutely nothing wrong with the ship. Its
engines were functioning perfectly. All of its life support systems
were functioning, but the only response they got from their signals was
from the ship's computer which informed them that its crew was not
responding from their stations.
5 When they got in range for their transport beam tubes, North led a
party over to investigate. They spread out from the tube station. North
and his party headed for the command deck, the others for engineering.
They found an empty ship! On the command deck the seats were empty.
6 North walked over to the command chair and pulled the Ship
Commander's battle com from its socket. "Wherever they went," remarked
North, "they didn't go willingly. These wouldn't be here if they had."
7 He activated the ship's intercom. "All search parties report!" he
ordered.