destroyed the ship!"
28 "Perhaps," guessed North, "for some reason they didn't want to kill.
As strange as it seems, there are some beings that will not kill, even
to protect their own existence. We'll dock her up and carry her home.
Seal all the crew's quarters. The other Officers and I will secure the
crew's personal effects later."
29 The 'Eyes Of God' handled very well. North had no trouble docking it
up with The Lord's Vengeance. The automatic systems joined their
controls so that the two ships now functioned as one.
30 North returned to his own ship through the hatches and made his
report to Fleet. "It is my opinion," he said, "The Eyes Of God"
encountered what our early space travelers referred to as 'ghosts,'
giant ships that hung just over the edge of their censor range. There
was obviously something wrong with this one, because it couldn't outrun
the destroyer. So to protect itself, it somehow removed its crew.
For a destroyer or any vessel to attack a ship of this mass,
alone, was pure insanity.
31 I would suggest that a standard order be issued, that should any of
our vessels encounter one of these ships in the future, that they make
no effort to attack, but merely standoff outside of weapon's range and
observe.
32 Will repair communication's relay and return destroyer to its
station, then continue on to pick up crewmembers receiving medical
attention, unless otherwise ordered, end report."
33 Once the report was on its way, North went down to engineering.
Taking the Chief aside, he told him to go over the destroyer from bow
to stern. Any parts it had that were in better condition than theirs,
switch them, except for the equipment they already had ordered.
34 The Engineer smiled. "I'll find plenty of goodies, sir!" he agreed,
"And we'll have to build some of the parts for the relay station. We'll
be here two days, at least. Then, we've got to line up for
the leap. At least another day.