- Rescue
Alpha and the Synth were in Transporter Room 1, along with a
replicated coracle, which the Synth would use to board the distressed
ship. “Ready for transport?” Alpha asked.
“Yes,” the Synth answered. “I have run through all your
scenarios.”
“Very good,” Alpha said as she moved behind the console.
“Energize.”
The Synth materialisd, in the coracle a short distance from the ship.
Alpha continued to watch his progress via the probe.
Nina entered the library on her third day of work. Immediately she
was called into the head Librarian's office. She could see the
expression on her new boss' face. “Is something wrong?”
“Aialah Talan hasn't come in today.”
That was something Nina hadn't expected. “She didn't.”
“I know something of what occurred yesterday,” the Head Librarian
divulged. “Including about the book that shouldn't have been
loaned.” She shook her head.
“What I suspect is personal, but I have reason to believe she could
be in danger.”
“I knew about her and the Mayor's son. So I suspected that
something like this could happen,” the Head Librarian got up from
behind the desk and paced. “But Aialah is missing and I should have
looked out for her more.” She gestured to the pile of paperwork at
one end of the desk and sighed.
Nina could see that the Head Librarian took duty of care seriously.
It was just as well she had read up on the way this particular
society worked. “So, you have informed the Police and the Guild
then? Why are you telling me this?”
“The Guild, yes,” the Head Librarian answered. “The Police, not
yet. The latter may be more influenced by the Mayor than I like.”
'Of course. It will the Guild leading this investigation,' Nina
thought. She just wanted a quiet few days! “So...”
“Given that Aialah confided in you, a little, the Guild wants you
to help with the investigation.”
Nina nodded.
The Emergency Away Mission Synthetic analysed the refusal that the
crew member had given him. “Why?”
“You have your answer. The Captain won't see you, and we can repair
the ship ourselves!”
“I still can repair your ship.”
The crewmember then brandished a sword. “Get off this ship!”
Alpha saw saw the Synth retreat. She supposed she could beam him into
the hold, but that was still rather risky from a Prime Directive
standpoint. 'There's probably not much choice if the ship is to be
saved,' she thought. She wished she had tried to run simulations of
external repairs to the hull. She shook her head. There was no way
the Synth could have done that.
“Emergency Away Mission Synthetic to Baffin.”
“Alpha here.”
“I was unable to gain entry to the hold.”
“Could you try again?” she asked. A look at the sensor data told
her there were crew in the hold. She wasn't sure they would leave it.
“There's a high probability of failure, but I'll try.”
“Is that strange man asking to help repair the ship again?” the
Captain asked.
“He is. I should note that the cracks in the hull are getting
bigger. We won't be able to save the cargo.”
“Forget the cargo, can all of us escape?”
“Yes, barely. The jollyboats are ready to go.”
“Good. Now, tell that man to go.”
The Synth saw the Mate approaching.
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