contaminated anyway, they will have to wait until the hospital’s synthesizers
provide some. Otherwise they are emoting feelings of confusion and loss.
“But they will feel much better,” Prilicla added, “when they rejoin their
Captain.”
COMBINED OPERATION
They emerged into normal space at a point whose coordinates placed them far out
on the galactic rim and where the brightest object to be seen was a nearby sun
burning coldly against a faint powdering of stars. But as Conway stared through
Control’s direct vision port, it became obvious that the emptiness was only
apparent, because suddenly both the radar and long-range sensor displays were
indicating two contacts, very close together and just under two thousand
kilometers distant. For the next few minutes Conway expected to be ignored.
“Control, Power Room,” Captain Fletcher said briskly. “I Want maximum thrust in
five minutes. Astrogator, give me the numbers to put us alongside that trace,
and the ETA.”
Lieutenants Chen and Dodds, seven decks below and a few feet away respectively,
acknowledged. Then Lieutenant Has-tam, from the Communications position, joined
in.
“Sir,” he said without taking his attention from his displays, “the sensor
readings suggest that the larger trace has the mass, ^nfiguration, and antennae
deployment of a scoutship engaged °n survey duty. The other trace is currently
unidentifiable, but relative positions might indicate a recent collision.”
“Very well,” the Captain said. He touched his transmit stud and, speaking slowly
and distinctly, he went on, “This is the ambulance ship Rhabwar, operating out
of Sector Twelve General Hospital, responding to your distress beacon released
six plus hours ago. We will close with you in—”
“Fifty-three minutes,” Dodds supplied.
“—If you are able to communicate, please identify yourselves, specify the
nature of your trouble, and list the type and number of casualties.”
In the supernumerary’s position Con way leaned forward intently, even though the
difference of a few centimeters could not affect the clarity of any incoming
message. But when the voice did come it sounded apologetic rather than
distressed. .
“The Monitor Corps scoutship Tyrell here, Major Nelson commanding,” it said. “It
was our distress beacon, but we released it on behalf of the wreck you see
beside us. Our medical officer isn’t sure, you understand, because its medical
experience covers only three species, but it thinks that there may still be life
on board.”
“Doctor—” the Captain began, looking across at Conway. But before he could go
on, Haslam was reporting again.
“Sir! Another, no, two more traces. Similar mass and configuration as the
distressed vessel. Also smaller, widely scattered pieces of metallic wreckage.”
“That’s the other reason why we released our beacon,” Nelson’s voice sounded
from Tyrell. “We don’t have your long-range sensor equipment—our stuff is
chiefly photooptical and computing gear associated with survey work—but this
area seems to be littered with wreckage and, while I don’t entirely agree with
my medic that some of it must contain survivors, the possibility does exist
that—”
“You were quite right to call for help, Captain Nelson,” Conway said, breaking
in. “We would much rather answer a dozen false alarms than risk missing one
which might mean a rescue. Space accidents being what they are, most distress
calls are answered too late in any case. However, Captain, as a matter of
urgency we need the physiological classification of the wreck’s survivors and
the nature and extent of their injuries so that we can begin making preparations
for accommodating and treating them.
“I am Senior Physician Conway,” he enaea. may i apvan ;to your medical
officer?”
There was a long, hissing silence during which Haslam reported several more
traces and added that, while the data were far from complete, the distribution
of the wreckage was such that he was fairly certain that the accident had
happened ; to a very large ship which had been blown apart into uniform pieces,
and that the wreckage alongside Tyrell and the -other similar pieces which were
appearing all over his screens were lifeboats. Judging by the spread of the
wreckage so far detected, the disaster had not been a recent occurrence.
Then the speaker came to life again with a flat, emotionless voice, robbed of
all inflection by the process of translation. “I am Surgeon-Lieutenant