Anne McCaffrey - Doona 2 - Crisis on Doona

Crisis on Doona

by Anne McCaffrey &

Synopsis:

For 25 years, humans and the cat-like alien Hrrubans have lived together

on the unspoiled planet of Doona. But when their treaty comes up for

renewal, someone tries to sabotage all that the two races have worked

for by framing Doona's most worthy citizens for terrible crimes.

Anne McCaffrey was educated at Radcliffe College, Massachusetts, and has

a degree cum laude in Slavonic Languages and Literature. She now lives

in Ireland and enjoys riding, cooking and knitting. She is a past

winner of both the Hugo and Nebula Awards, and has written many novels,

short stories and novellas, and various articles. Her most celebrated

series is the world4amous DRAGONRIDERS OF PERN saga.

MAYDAY, MAYDAY,' A VOICE REPEATED over and over again in Middle Hrruban

through thick static on the audio pickup. "Anyone who is within the

sound of my voice, Mayday! We require assistance. Our ship is down and

damaged. Mayday!" Todd Reeve and his friend Hiriss, at the controls of

the Alien Relations Department scout ship Albatross, stared at one

another in surprise. It was impossible to tell if the speaker was male

or female, a Human like Todd, or a catlike Hrruban like Hiriss. The

message repeated, sounding more panic-stricken.

"Where's that coming from?" Todd demanded, scanning the readouts on his

control panel. They had just emerged from the second warp jump on their

journey back to their home world of Doona from a diplomatic mission on

the nascent colony world of Hrretha, and had not yet taken bearings on

their position to initiate the third.

Hiriss's retractable claws extended as he reached for the controls.

There was a low humming as the ship's benchmark program triangulated the

distress signal and readings began to register. The readouts indicated

they were positioned beyond the envelope of a star system whose

blue-white primary glittered coldly on their screen. "Not too very far

away. It comes from the vicinity of this sssystem's fourth planet,' he

said in a low, cautious voice that resembled a cat's purr.

"We've got to respond,' Todd insisted at once.

Firriss shook his head, his pupils widening over green irises.

"Todd, we cannot. We bear the markings of a Trran ship, your

Alrrreldep, and this system is interdicted by the Hrruban exploration

arm. It would be a violation of the Zreaty of Doona to enter this

sssystem."

"But it's a Mayday! You have to answer Maydays,' Todd insisted, staring

at his friend in disbelief. "The oldest naval laws on Earth required

it.

Space laws can't be so rigid as to deny assistance in an emergency.

Someone's in trouble! They need our help. Why is this one

interdicted?" Todd demanded. "What's so dangerous about it?"

-"Explorers from my people have claimed this system, called Hrrilnorr,

for mineral exploitation, but also perhaps for colonization,' the

Hrruban explained.

In the Archives established on the Treaty Island back on DoonaiRrala,

extensive records were kept of the status of various systems in each

species' chosen sector of exploration. Though Doona was cohabited by

Humans and Hrrubans, each race had committed to a Treaty spedfying

separate territorial rights to all other claimed systems.

"There are trace radioactive elements on the inner, solid worlds,'

Hiriss went on. "The Byzanian Glow Stones of the fourth planet have a

curious, milky glow, most beautiful to look upon. They had a strange,

mesmerizing effect upon my people, but even more odd upon the analysis

equipment they carried. The glow affects short-term memory of both

people and things. Until the effects have been proved hrrrmless, no one

may enter here." Hiriss regarded Todd, his closest friend of either

species anywhere in the galaxy. They both knew how Treaty Law read.

Violation of a system claimed by the other species was an overt act of

hostility, which could end in war. The penalties for infractions

started with grounding of the ship, and could end with them in prison on

a hardship mining colony, or worse yet, remanded to Earth and Hrruba,

separated forever.

Todd set his jaw. "If we start ignoring fellow beings' cries for help,

we're no better than Rralan snakes. Someone's in trouble. We heard it.

The voice said "our" ship. "We" require assistance. So there's more

than one of them! We have to help." Hiriss shook his head slowly,

clearly uneasy.

Todd took charge.

"Look, it's my responsibility. The ethics of my culture require me to

act." He prodded his chest.

"I'd never forgive myself for ignoring that call and letting people die.

Besides, we're in this sector of space and we could be in bigger trouble

for ignoring a Mayday-if someone else comes by." Hiriss regarded his

friend somberly. "This is not a very well travelled area and the system

is interdicted." Hrriss then saw how Todd's jaw was set and the

implacable expression on his face and knew that his friend would not

yield. So the Hrruban gave a slow nod of acceptance. "We have both

heard the Mayday. I will say that I insisted on answering though you

argued that the system was interdicted!" The Hrruban dropped his jaw in

his distinctive grin. "It is better thus. The initial blame is mine,

for this is a Hrruban system. I convinced you we must respond." Todd's

expression cleared immediately and he gripped his friend's shoulder in

relief and approval.

"I'd rather acknowledge my own errors, Hrriss, but your idea makes too

much sense in this instance.

So, just this once, I'll let you carry the can for one of my bright

ideas. Anyway, the ship's recorders are. . . Wait a minim . .

." He tapped the small illuminated dial on the panel between them.

"Log's not recording, Hrriss. No movement whatever on the VU meter.

Those flaming Hrrethans. . .1 told them the Albatross had been

serviced before we went out on this jaunt. . ." As he grumbled, he

lifted himself out of his chair. "I'll go see."

"That recording is important, zOdd." Hrriss called after him.

"Don't I just know it?" Todd hurried down the narrow companionway to the

engineering compartment, growling Hrruban curses under his breath.

Duplicate meters to those on the pilot's consoles were attached to the

front of each panel in the rear section. Todd dashed past the standing

cases that operated space drives, life support, landing gear, food

service to a blue and pipeclay cabinet. The feed switcher in the center

of the panel was on the correct output. The dials were jumping,

following the audio of the Mayday call still blaring over the speakers.

Obviously the power was running. Only one set of dials wasn't working,

the one attached to the holographic log recorder at the foot of the

panel.

"Wouldn't you just know? Those Hrrethans aren't worth the leather they

belt with!" Todd groaned. Every system had been in perfect working

condition before the Hrrethans insisted on the mechanical-overhaul

courtesy.

Frustrated, Todd kicked the front panel of the device and turned to look

for the toolbox. With a wowing sound like a bear waking up from

hibernation, the recorder started to move again, its disk turning and

needles moving. Surprised, Todd glared at it and stalked disgustedly

back to the pilot's chair.

"The good ol' reliable correcting kick. Try it again, Hrriss."

"A-OK now."

"Them and their "courtesy,"' Todd muttered, watching the VU activity as

the Mayday was now obviously being recorded. That "courtesy' had been

yet another delay when he was fretting to get back aboard the Albatross

and out of the tight uniform he had to wear on such occasions. Sometimes

the courtesy appearances that he and Hrriss had to undertake as

representatives of their respective cultures' were unredeemed boredom as

well as too much spit, polish, and restricting clothing: this latest

jaunt to open a new transportation facility at Hrretha being an

excellent example. "Wonder how long that Mayday's been bleating?" From

his training in space flight, he knew the fate of spacers whose life

support ran out. Recorders on passenger liners kept on until power was

exhausted. Others ended when no more activity was recorded by the life

support systems. "I'd hate to think we'd jeopardized everything for a

cargo of corpses."

"We will assume rescue is required,' Hrriss said.

He transmitted a reply. "Stranded ship, this is the Albatross.

We meceive your message and are coming to help. I will make the course

correction,' Hrriss added, working without looking up.

As they passed through the heliopause, a wild wailing made the cabin

speakers vibrate unpleasantly. Hrriss's ears flattened against his

head, and his eyes narrowed.

"Perimeter buoy,' he said, wincing. "I knew we ought to be close to

one. Can never dodge them.

Good engineering. Records even the most fleeting pass,' he said,

reading the control panel, "and our entry. It will also broadcast a

rrrecord of the intrusion to the Zreaty Island beacon,' he reminded

Todd, his tone gloomy.

"So? It's not as if we didn't expect one,' Todd said, his eyes on the

screen. "We're committed now." His remark was more statement than a

request for agreement.

The blue-white sun was a dwarf, much the size of Sol in the Earth home

system. The Albatross had come out of its jump directly above it, so

that the computer-plotted ellipses of its seven planets spread out below

the ship like ripples in a pond.

The Mayday originated from the fourth planet from the sun, a small,

solid sphere with a ring of eight small and irregular satellites. The

triangulation crosshatches appeared on the viewscreen and closed down on

a point near the planetary equator, and just passing into the night

meridian. Anxiously they watched the blip disappear around the planet's

curve.

Todd adjusted the Albatross's course to meet its orbit at the earliest

possible moment.

Though it took a long time for the scout to cross the distance to the

fourth planet, neither Todd nor Hrriss moved. Todd leaned forward,

elbows on knees, watching the planet and its moons grow on the

viewscreen. Unconsciously he rubbed at his neck where the tight formal

tunic had rubbed the skin. Even though he was now in the comfortable

one-piece shipsuit, he still felt the constriction.

Another reason he loathed these formal occasions.

Why they never made the collars or sleeves with sufficient material to

encompass one's neck or biceps Todd could not figure out.

Hrriss sat, apparently at his ease in his impact couch, but his tail tip

switched back and forth, revealing tension.

"That buoy was alive and kicking, so no smart marauder has tried to

blank it and get in for a quick decco. Of course, if any of those

stones turn up on the market, the vendor's in real deep kimchee,' Todd

said, shooting Hrriss a mischievous grin. "Or maybe they'll try to tell

us that their equipment's malfunctioning and they didn't "hear" the

buoy." His grimace was mocking as he shoved a finger in his ear,

pretending to clear it of a deafening obstacle.

"I am still uneasy myself about entering here,' Hrriss admitted.

"Zomezing makes my hackles rise." He shook his maned head and then

extended both long arms in a gesture of futility. "But we have no

choice if lives are at stake. "This shouldn't take that long,' Todd said

reassurringly, making sure the Albatross was on course.

"Not more than a few hours. In any case, a rescue is surely a

defensible reason for breaking prohibition." He sighed, once again

easing the soft collar off the back of his rubbed neck. "I'll be glad

when we can slough this sort of duty off on someone else.

I hated leaving home while all the Treaty Renewal debates are going on.

I was needed there,' and he jabbed a finger in the spatial direction of

Rrala, "not there!" A second jab, contemptuous this time, was for the

system they had just left. Todd's eyes locked on the viewscreen showing

the fourth planet, and he began to tap his fingers impatiently on the

console.

"Will only your two hands hold back the flood tides of disaster?" Hrriss

asked him teasingly, to relieve the tension.

Todd turned red and laughed sheepishly. "Hope there's no flooding at

all. But you gotta admit, Hrriss, I speak the best formal High Hrruban

of anyone on the Treaty Island."

"That I do admit,' and Hrriss's eyes glowed warmly. "Did I not help

teach you myself?" What Hrriss did not add was that, in many eyes, Todd

was the first real Doonan. The experts said you couldn't true-teach

another language to an adult, but a very young child could assimilate

one as if it was his mother tongue. Todd, with his booming voice,

far-ranging ways, and quick mind, was the first Terran totally at home

on Rrala, the Hrruban and official name for Doona. Life on Earth was

too confining, too rigid for the six-year-old he was when he arrived on

Doona. He was thirty-one now. His swift adoption of Hrruban ways and

language, and his innate courtesy, made him, when he came of age, a

natural choice for Alreldep's diplomatic service. Over the years, Todd

had been careful to be most punctilious about courtesies and laws,

schooling himself to ignore slights and insults that often roused his

hot temper and begged for retaliation.

"I feel as you do about the Zreaty negtia~~5, Hrriss said firmly. "The

arrangement must continue. I cannot conceive of going back to Hrruba.

My life is on Rrala. My career, my family, my hrrss . . . and my

best friend." His grin exposed awesome teeth.

Todd grinned back. "Mine, too. Well, you'd think that twenty-five

years of peaceful coexistence between Human and Hrruban on Rrala would

convince them,' Todd offered. "The trouble is, we're the ones living

with it. I'm worried about the politicians, too far removed from the

situation, who have power over it. They're liable to dissolve the

Treaty without considering the effect on the people already involved."

"Zat is undoubtedly trrue,' Hrriss acknowledged.

"We have been on enough diplomatic missions to see where the distant

governments have made purely political decisions that are irrrrelevant

to the true needs of the colony. Theirr continued meddling without

sufficient investigation borrrderrrs the rrridiculous.

"In the words of an unknown but often quoted Terran philosophist, "ain't

that the truth!"

As the first successful attempt at colonization of a nonmining, pastoral

world, Doona was the natural focus of much curiosity and speculation on

Earth. The Space Department and the Colonial Department of the

Amalgamated Worlds were beside themselves with pride and worry lest the

experiment prove to be a failure, after all' leaving them without

sufficient funding or approval to send more missions and colonists into

space.

Spacedep, as represented by then-Commander Al Landreau, had suffered

humiliation in the Amalgamated Worlds government when the first Terran

colonists found a Hrruban village on Doona across the river from their

own landing site. No habitation had shown up in any of Landreau's

scans, but the village was discovered very much an inhabited site.

Because it was Ken Reeve - and his six-year-old son, Todd-who had

managed to prove that aliens were, in fact, resident on Doona, Landreau

resented the Reeve family more than any of the other eleven original

colonists. Not only did the mysterious appearance of an alien species

on Doona seriously compromise the Phase I operation under Spacedep, and

Commander Al Landreau; but also the repercussions reverberated through

the Colonial Department (Codep) for permitting Phase II to be initiated

and colonists placed on the planet.

The most stringent rule of the Terran Colonization Plan was to avoid

planets which harbored another sentient species.

Landreau was not actually at fault. The Hrrubans had not been "in

residence' at the time of his extensive survey. By matter transmitter,

the Hrrubans had moved their entire village back to their home planet of

Hrruba, since the winter months on DoonaiRrala were long and harsh.

But Landreau neither forgot nor forgave the humiliation of being wrong.

However, the visionary leaders of both species had decided to make the

best of this coincidental colonization: to prove that two alien species

could interact without exploitation or contamination.

DoonaiRrala became the vital test for Human and Hrruban.

The original colonists of both species were allowed to stay, and more of

each species joined the project, under the loosest of control by their

respective governments. Both races were determined to make this project

work and prosper. And they were scrupulous in keeping to the rules laid

down by the momentous Decision at Doona, where a six-year-Old boy

translated the relevant clauses.

The original twenty-five years of that Decision were nearly over and

renegotiation soon to be discussed. Both Todd and Hrriss knew of the

recent incidents which they were certain had been arranged with the

express aim of creating dissension between Hrruban and Human, rupturing

the Treaty, and, more important, preventing a renewal of the unique

settlement on DoonaiRrala.

Over 100,000 settlers, Doonan and Rralan5 now lived on the beautiful

planet, year in and out, benefiting from their complementary skills and

strengths, and surviving the intense and bitter winters by mutual

support. If the Treaty was not renewed, the settlers would be forced to

return to home worlds with which they were no longer in charity. More

heart-rending, staunch friends would be forever separated: like Todd and

Hrriss.

All the while that Hrrubans and Hayumans lived in harmony on their

planet, space exploration had exploded in all directions-always aware

that each species was forbidden to explore sectors clearly marked with

space buoys of the other.

Although Landreau never forgave either species, he had gone on to

discover so many other systems and planets useful to his owaiRrala were

long and harsh.

But Landreau neither forgot nor forgave the humiliation of being wrong.

However, the visionary leaders of both species had decided to make the

best of this coincidental colonization: to prove that two alien species

could interact without exploitation or contamination.

DoonaiRrala became the vital test for Human and Hrruban.

The original colonists of both species were allowed to stay, and more of

each species joined the project, under the loosest of control by their

respective governments. Both races were determined to make this project

work and prosper. And they were scrupulous in keeping to the rules laid

down by the momentous Decision at Doona, where a six-year-Old boy

translated the relevant clauses.

The original twenty-five years of that Decision were nearly over and

renegotiation soon to be discussed. Both Todd and Hrriss knew of the

recent incidents which they were certain had been arranged with the

express aim of creating dissension between Hrruban and Human, rupturing

the Treaty, and, more important, preventing a renewal of the unique

settlement on DoonaiRrala.

Over 100,000 settlers, Doonan and Rralan5 now lived on the beautiful

planet, year in and out, benefiting from their complementary skills and

strengths, and surviving the intense and bitter winters by mutual

support. If the Treaty was not renewed, the settlers would be forced to

return to home worlds with which they were no longer in charity. More

heart-rending, staunch friends would be forever separated: like Todd and

Hrriss.

All the while that Hrrubans and Hayumans lived in harmony on their

planet, space exploration had exploded in all directions-always aware

that each species was forbidden to explore sectors clearly marked with

space buoys of the other.

Although Landreau never forgave either species, he had gone on to

discover so many other systems and planets useful to his own kind that

he quickly achieved the rank of Admiral. In a way he owed that to the

Decision at Doona, which had brought him to the notice of his superiors.

His own efforts had kept him in a highly visible situation.

Judicious manipulations on his part, the tacit assistance of powerful

companies interested in acquiring rich planets, moons, and asteroids,

and diplomatic overtures to high-ranking government officials had

resulted in his promotion to the head of Spacedep, twenty-two years

after the Doona affair.

Landreau had looked for, and found, others who shared his dislike of the

Doona Decision. Some purists had always argued that a treaty

promulgated through the linguistic precocity of a kid had to be

defective. Certainly that most honest and unambiguous of treaties

proved troublesome to some ambitious and aggressive Humans.

Landreau carefully cultivated such officials, always seeking a way to

burst the Doonan idylland avenge himself on the Reeves. Subtly, of

course, for he would not risk his current high status: especially one

which allowed him the facilities of Spacedep's far-flung resources and

highly skilled and trained personnel. If some of the immense budget

available to Spacedep's Commander in Chief was siphoned off to explore a

way to achieve personal vengeance, it was admirably hidden in the morass

of official reports, payments, and analyses.

There was, however, another covert reason for subverting the Doona

Experiment: Hrrubans and Humans, dissimilar in form, needed similar

worlds to colonize, and for the same pressures. If Doona failed, all

terms of the Treaty were null and void.

The forbidden sections of space would be open once again to Admiral

Landreau's mighty vessels and well-armed fleets, and if the rich world

was already inhabited by a Hrruban colony, tough on them! A few

well-placed germbombs and the Cohabitation Principle was invalid.

Unless, of course, other factions of Earth's government could be

persuaded how archaic the principle was and rescind it. How much easier

would life be on Earth if dne could ship out the unwashed masses to fend

for themselves on new worlds with viceroys to skim the riches off the

top.

The Doonan settlers were certainly aware of Admiral Landreau's hatred,

and his machinations, and there were many adherents on both home woilds

that did their best to neutralize some of the worst of Landreau's subtle

campaign in various government offices. Though Ken and Todd had never

vocalized it' they knew that they were Landreau's particular target.

I-andreau regarded Todd as an incorrigibly wild brat who went native

with distressing speed after landing on Doona.

Todd's assimilation of the formalities of High Hrruban diplomacy at the

age of six, Landreau dismissed as a fluke.

Hrriss, now nearly thirty-five, always had a cooler way of interpreting

a situation than his tall friend. Hrrubans were unassailable by any

power from Earth. By Treaty agreement, the arm of the galaxy which the

Hrrubans chose to explore was off limits to Terrans. Hrruba's home

system was protected by the same Treaty. Any incursion into either

sphere would be an act of war. Even Landreau in his obsessive hatred

for the Reeves would hardly start a war between the species to get at a

single family. Though Hrruba was run by a bureaucracy of great

antiquity fully as cumbersome as that of Earth, it was directed gently

by one mind whose interests allowed expansion and alliance to proceed.

Hrriss and his family were unlikely to be removed from their home for

any reason less serious than war. It brought Hrriss's need to defend to

two foci: Zodd and the Rrev family.

"I know Landreau's working every angle to spoil our chances if he can,'

Todd said. "But the Doona Experiment is doing incredibly well, and

everyone on Earth knows it, There would have to be an awful stink raised

to bring the Experiment to an end at this point."

"A diplomatic insult, perhaps?" Hrriss suggested delicately. "A wedge

need not be a large one to drive two elements apart. On Rrala, Terra,

or Hrruba, it makes little difference.

"Well, if Landreau thought he could start one on this latest diplomatic

mission of ours, he failed." Todd grinned. "Rogitel of Spacedep sounded

like he wanted to start an argument with me at the banquet on Hrretha,

but I pretended to be bogged down in protocol-fardles, I know all the

moves better than he does,' Todd said with a snort, his eyes on the

screen. Their quarry had reappeared on their side of the planet, and

its orbit remained unchanged. "So I got him talking about exploration

in the Eighth Sector-safe enough topic."

"I told you it would be useful to know those details,' and Hrriss

dropped his lower jaw in the Hrruban grin. "He tried me later. I

refused to be insulted when he called me a would-be Hayuman.

If he wishes to create an incident, he will have to try harder."

Hrriss's wide pink tongue now licked his upper lip, a further sign of

amusement. "Varnorian of Codep asked me if it was true that you were

applying to join a Hrruban colony to escape penalties from Earth. As if

that would not be a Zreaty violation."

"Glad you batted that rumor out of court. I heard a smitch of it, too,

and disavowed it with all the innocence at my command." Then Todd

snorted.

"Anyone who knows me knows better than to try something that simple on

me." The Albatross had closed to within thousands of kilometers of its

goal. It was easy to swing into orbit from planetary north. The scout

had been designed to pass through atmosphere as easily as it did through

the frozen void of space. It swept low, across the top of the envelope

of atmosphere, above the mass of clouds enveloping the small planet,

angling toward the signal.

"If you keep a sharp watch portside Hrriss, Todd said, his own eyes on

the starboard, "maybe we can catch it first time round and not waste too

much time in-syStem." It was Hrriss who first set eyes on the source of

the distress signal.

"Zzhere!" he hissed, pointing with one of his extended claws.

Todd marked the trajectory of the floating craft, perched lust on the

edge of orbit. It was too far away for the cameras to discern much

detail about the ship itself, but one thing was clear: any passengers

would soon become cinders. The orbit had decayed so much that in only a

short time, their ship would be inexorably caught by the planet's

gravitation and fall, burning, into the atmosphere.

"Hey, what if we dip below them and drop a tractor cable?" Todd

suggested. "You know, that's awfully small for a ship, even a scout."

"And bigger than the average escape pod,' Hrriss said, his tone

thoughtful.

The size didn't seem unnatural. Hrruban and Hayuman exploration teams

flew variously sized scout vessels. The difference was that the Human

teams were larger, or doubled up in specialities.

Hrrubans sent out the minimum crew needed to make a primary judgment on

a planet. When they found one that warranted a full-team investigation,

they dropped a one-way transportation grid to the surface and then

"ported in the appropriate personnel. "It must be Hayumans, then, or

they would not still be here calling for help.

Standard procedure for Hrrubans is to drop a temporary grid and "port

home safely." The Albatross used the gravity well of the Hrrilnorr IV to

brake its speed. The next time it passed within visual range, Todd was

able to plot a course to follow their quarry.

"I have initial telemetry readings. No atmosphere leak from the surface

of the craft,' Hrriss said with relief, reading from his scopes for

traces of gas.

l integrity, it was in grave difficulties.

Rather than describing a smooth orbit, the speeding vessel jerked and

stuttered its way around the fourth planet, as if pulled this way and

that by divergent gravity fields. It passed over the day side again.

Hrriss and Todd were blinded by the glare of planetary sunrise.

"Attention, the ship,' Hiriss spoke urgently into the comunit, using

Terran, broadcasting on all frequencies. "We are the scoutcraft

Albatross. We are here in answer to your Mayday. Can you read us?" He

repeated the hail several times, and then in Hrruban. There was no

answer.

He pushed up the gain on the receiver. Nothing came from the speaker

but atmospheric noise and the repeated Mayday message.

"They could have lost all communications but the beacon,' he said,

plainly worried. "If their life support is already gone . . ." Hrriss

trailed off and pointedly did not look at Todd.

Todd blanched at that possibility and bent over his controls, trying to

keep his face expressionless.

"We can spring the tractor line on the craft and haul it in.

Passengers could use life suits to access the Albatross's lock." Hrriss

nodded approval of the strategy. "Hope it's not too late." As if taking

the pilot's words as a challenge, the small dot on the horizon appeared

to fall out of orbit, heading like a meteor for the brilliant white

layer of clouds below.

"Oh, no, you don't, said Todd, seizing the manual controls.

Todd drove the scout hard after it, hoping the damaged vessel would not

pick up too much speed from the gravitational pull until the Albatross

could swoop in on it. He toggled the magnetic tractor net into alert

status. They were dragging through the top of the atmosphere now as the

Albatross pursued its quarry, still kilometers ahead. His hands were a

blur on the keyboard. Hrriss kept calling out to the ship in both

languages, hoping for a reply from the craft ahead.

With the sun reflecting off its surface, it was impossible to see more

than a vague shape.

Hrriss kept requesting on all frequencies for details of the damage the

lone ship had suffered.

In the midst of the dense clouds thousands of meters below, Todd at last

urged the Albatross ahead of the speeding hulk. There was a powerful

jerk that bucked them around in their seats when the net of magnetic

lines engaged the metal hull of the other.

"Gotcha,' Hrriss said, his teeth snapping in triumph.

"Great. Now let's juSt tell those guys to drag ass over here." Once

Todd headed the Albatross back into space, the two men turned the

external camera onto their prize, and irised down the lens to counteract

the glare. There was a silence and an air of angry disbelief as they

stared at the object the tractors had brought in. It was cylindrical in

Anne McCaffrey - Doona 2 - Crisis on Doona

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