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Updated: April 30, 2025
MacFife pointed to the Connie's nose. Projecting from it like great horns were the ship's steering tubes. Unlike the Federation cruiser, which blasted steam through internal tubes that did not project, the Connie used chemical fuel. "Watch," MacFife said. There were similar tubes on the Connie's stern, Rip knew. He wondered what they had to do with the plan. MacFife walked to a wall communicator.
He led the way through passages and up ladders to the very top of the ship, to the hatch where the astrogators took their star sights. The protective shield of nuclite had been rolled back and they could see into space through the clear vision port. Rip and MacFife hurried to the side where they were connected to the Connie. Rip looked down along the length of the ship.
"Ye're no verra friendly," MacFife said, his burr even more pronounced. He led Rip and the officer with the instruments into the Connie ship. A handsome Federation spaceman with a moustache, the first Rip had ever seen, stepped into the room from a passageway on the opposite side. The spaceman bowed with exquisite grace. "I have the honor of making myself known," he proclaimed.
There were similar tubes on the Connie’s stern, Rip knew. He wondered what they had to do with the plan. MacFife walked to a wall communicator. "Follow instructions." He turned to Rip. "Remember, lad. The Sagittarius is on the other side of the Connie, about to do the same thing." Rip waited in silence, wondering. Then the voice horn called, "Valve closed!" A second voice yelled, "Blast!"
"I’m the commander," the scowling Connie said. "Bring your instruments in quickly. We will check them, then you get out." "Ye’re no verra friendly," MacFife said, his burr even more pronounced. He led Rip and the officer with the instruments into the Connie ship.
They would claim sanctuary in the Federation. Rip shook hands solemnly with the grinning Scotchman. It would be a long time before Consops tried space piracy again. "We’ll be back at our family fight again tomorrow," MacFife said, "but today we celebrate together. Ah, lad, this is pure joy to me. I’ve had a score to settle with yon Connies for years. Now I’ve done it."
"Oh, no, Commander! You misunderstand. We had no way of communicating by radio, so I did the only thing we could do. I fired rockets as a warning. We didn't want your boats to get caught in a nuclear explosion." He shrugged. "It was very unlucky for us that the sun threw my gunner's aim off and he hit your boats quite by accident." MacFife coughed to cover up a chuckle.
"Unless we can think of something fast, this will be a Connie asteroid by then. The Consops cruiser is moving in on us. He's careful, because he isn't sure of the situation. But even at his present speed he'll be here in ten minutes." "Stand by." Terra base was silent for a few moments, then the voice replied, "I think we have an answer for you, Foster. Terra base off. Go ahead, MacFife."
You—you—" He subsided into his own language. Galliene’s voice spoke soothingly. "But my dear commander! How can I apologize enough? Believe me, the man responsible will be reward—I mean, the man responsible will be disciplined. You may rest assured of it. How unfortunate! I am overcome with shame. A terrible accident! Terrible." MacFife picked up a microphone. "Same here, Connie.
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