CONTACT

     By Mr. David R. Dorrycott

First Brawl Posting

[Snowy... Contact....90,000 klicks and closing.]

"ummmm..??" (crawling out from under the covers) "Ok, which ship??"

[Transponder shows as KLIPPER Snowy..]

"KLIPPER!! (Sitting bolt upright), Cloak the ship, code red, battle stations!!!

[Cloaking, Snowy, we don't have any weapons....what's up?]

"Oh...yes...that's right...(standing up, wrapping the thin blanket around her)... Maybe we can pull a joke on that group of madmen... What's in the decoy rack?"

[KL-7, KL-8, SR-71. Snowy, you still have not answered my query]

"Pop the KL-8, 15K Klicks, program CP. Access file LOVELYANGLES2."

[Decoy launched, Accessing....... oh my.......]

“Right, see if you can get us under them and tap their internal comm system while I get dressed."

[Working, they seem to be having internal difficulties, this should aid the attempt.]

"Ok, do I have time for a shower?"

[No. Unless you want to be soaking wet if a problem occurs]

"In my ship? That's only ...."

[A fifty-fifty probability]

"Right, coming up now."

[Coming under their sensor net now, they show be picking up the decoy in seven seconds]

"Lovely, how long before lock?"

[Lock...... NOW]

(Slight shudder as the STAR DIAMOND matches the KLIPPER's course & speed.)

[Accessing internal communications... Unusual Security Program, appears to be an AI of high degree, bypassing. Minimal access. Running CP program]

<On board the KLIPPER's bridge>

 ALERT...ALERT.... WARSHIP UNCLOAKING....

The bridge screen shows a monster starship fading in less that 20,000 Kilometers from the KLIPPER.

#ATTENTION KLIPPER# #YOU HAVE THIRTY SECONDS TO SURRENDER#

<Onboard the STAR DIAMOND>

“How are you doing K'?"

[Access difficult... They appear to be discussing some type of plant and how to control it. Command appears to be trying to communicate with the drone]

"Ok, let's get out of here before they discover it's only a decoy."

[Understood, departing]

(Sudden shaking of the ships hull)

“What was that?"

[Ummmm...You remember I told you there was a 50-50 chance of problems]

"Oh Goddess.... What happened?"

[We are no longer cloaked]

(whimper) "...run?...."

[Running]