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. Dixter hurried to the comm room, Tusk right behind. All nonessential personnel had been ordered out. The rest remained at their posts, carrying on business as usual, though with a heightened tension. Everyone knew something was wrong; no one yet knew what. All eyes glanced at Dixter as he entered, immediately shifted back to their brightly lit screens.
Dixter sat down in the chair, faced the screen, saw the expression on the admiral's face, and sighed. "That bad, eh, Rod?"
"We had them, John," the rear admiral reported. "The 'tick' worked just like it was supposed to. The Olicien spaceplane came out of hyperspace fight under our guns-Starfire, missile cruiser. Captain James Manto ordered them twice to surrender, then sent a signal to the onboard computer which should have locked it up. But someone was able to override it. The next thing Captain Manto knows, the plane has disappeared back into hyperspace. And now the goddam homing device has shut down. Of course," he added wryly, "you know who designed it."
Tusk breathed a soft, relieved sigh.
Dixter glared at him.
"Sorry, sir," Tusk said, half ashamed of himself. "I know this is serious, but--damn it--Xris must have some logical explanation."
"I can hardly wait to hear it!" Dixter muttered. "But this leaves me no choice. Captain?" He turned to the communications chief. "I am calling a holo-conference with all flaggrade officers in the fleet now--Alpha One pfiofity
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