SCANNERS ENABLING US TO BEND ALL TRADITIONAL SCANNING BEAMS
RENDERING US EFFECTIVELY INVISIBLE. THIS WILL CEASE TO BE EFFECTIVE WITHIN
ONE MILE OF THE TARGET. SHOULD I DESTROY THE ENEMY SCOUT SHIP CAPTAIN?
“ Errmm.Not just yet, Marshia, thank you.”
UNDERSTOOD.
“Put the ship on screen.”
IT IS ON SCREEN CAPTAIN.
“It is?” asked Phoenix, squinting at the screen. Apricot squinted likewise. A red ring appeared round a tiny white dot in the screen’s centre.
“Make it bigger please Marshia.”
UNDERSTOOD.
A larger red ring appeared round a tiny white dot in the screen’s centre.
“Make the image of the scout ship large enough for us to see in some detail please Marshia,” said Phoenix a little tersely.
UNDERSTOOD.
The screen filled, almost audibly, with the rear view of a rather unremarkable, but extremely white, box shaped vessel. The bright image caused the control room to flood with light making everyone flinch unattractively.
“It’s a standard ion-drive enemy mini-transport and scout Class “C” space only vessel, captain,”
volunteered Apricot.“Capable of carrying eight personnel and a four ton payload. A ten megawatt ion-beam mounted fore and aft.Sub-light, five ton per second inertial moment capacity.One three sixty degree magneto scanner.Ceased manufacture two years ago.”
Phoenix frowned at Apricot and then pointed to a red button on the arm of his chair. “What’s that for?”
“Sir?”Apricot leaned forward to see what Phoenix was pointing at.
“The button?What’s it for?”
“Summoning the steward, sir.”
“ Not a trap door?”
“Sir?”
“Never mind,”sighed Phoenix. “How many crew on board the scout ship, Marshia?” he asked. TWO CAPTAIN.
“Right!”Phoenix clapped his hands together enthusiastically. “What do you recommend Apricot?”
“Perhaps we should capture the crew for questioning sir.”
“Excellent suggestion, Apricot.Excellent.”
A few seconds’ silence followed while Phoenix frowned and pursed his lips in thought. Crewperson Pending filed her nails.
Someone coughed.
Phoenix came to a decision.“Marshia?”
YES CAPTAIN.
“Capture the crew of that enemy scout ship would you please.”
UNDERSTOOD.
The viewer screen went to mostly black again. The tiny white dot in the screen’s centre exploded in an orange ball of hot gasses and assorted debris.
“My God!” said Apricot looking aghast at the screen. “She’s blown them up!”
THE ENEMY CREW ARE IN HOLDING CELL FOURTEEN CAPTAIN.
“Well,” said Phoenix enthusiastically. “Nothing like a little action to get the blood flowing.Eh, Apricot?”
“No sir,” said Apricot a little meekly.
“Can’t stand around here gabbing, man,” Phoenix jumped from his seat. “I must just go and ... have a word with my wife. I’ll see you in fifteen ... make that ten minutes in holding cell fourteen, Apricot.”
“Very good, sir.”
: Interrogation