eriod approached. In normal space,
the substation should have been in clear detector range by now. Here,
the detectors gave occasional blurry, uncertain indications that
somewhere in the swirling energies about them might be something more
solidly material. It was like creeping through jungle thickets towards
the point where a dangerous quarry lurked.

They eased down on the coordinate points. They came sliding out between
two monstrous twisters. The detectors leaped to life.

"Ship!" said the Commissioner. He swore. "Frigate class," he said an
instant later. He turned his head toward Trigger. "Get Lyad! They're in
communication range. We'll let her communicate."

Trigger, heart hammering, ran to get Lyad. The Commissioner had the
short-range communicator on when they came hurrying back to the control
room together.

"That the Aurora?" he asked.

Lyad glanced at the outline in the detectors. "It is!" Her face went
white.

"Talk to 'em," he ordered. "Know their call number?"

"Of course," Lyad sat down at the communicator. Her hands shook for a
moment, then steadied. "What am I to say?"

"Just find out what's happened, to start with. Why they're still here.
Then we'll improvise. Get them to come to the screen if you can."

Lyad's fingers flew over the tabs. The communicator signaled contact.

Lyad said evenly, "Come in, Aurora! This is the Ermetyne."

There was a pause, a rather unaccountably long pause, Trigger thought.
Then a voice said, "Yes, First Lady?"

Lyad's eyes widened for an instant. "Come in on visual, Captain!" There
was the snap of command in the words.

Again a pause. Then suddenly the communicator was looking into the
Aurora's control room. A brown-bearded, rather lumpy-faced man in
uniform sat before the other screen. There were other uniformed men
behind him. Trigger heard the Ermetyne's breath suck in and turned to
watch Lyad's face.

"Why haven't you carried out your instructions, Captain?" The voice was
still even.

"There was a difficulty with the engines, First Lady."

Lyad nodded. "Very well. Stand by for new instructions."

She switched off the communicator. She twisted around toward the
Commissioner. "Get us out of here!" she said, chalk-faced. "_Fast!_
Those aren't my men."

Flame bellowed about them in subspace. The Commissioner's hand slapped a
button. The flame vanished and stars shone all around. The engines
hurled them forward. Twelve seconds later, they angled and d