"I move an expedition be sent into space to find an available planet suitable for our purpose."
"I second the motion," said the Chief Astronomer.
"All in favor—?" came the Chief's deep voice.
A forest of hands shot up.
"Carried unanimously!"
The eleven members of the Council of Elders and the Chief Scribe conferred briefly, whereafter the Chief Scribe spoke into a recorder. When he was through, a junior Scribe took the plastic ribbon from the machine and inserted it in a loud-speaker, that the governing body might hear and approve the details before it was made law:
"Decision 14 of the Council of Elders, given on the second day of the Emergency Session, Year 3749 since the Confederation of the Planets of Norga.
"Let this be known as our Decision:
"That a suitable spaceship be constructed for the purpose of exploring such solar systems as are within reasonable range, and that it be equipped with all the scientific instruments necessary for that purpose.
"That Ros Vinla, Commander of the Spacefleet of Norga, be in command of this expedition and duly authorized to pick his own crew of scientists, navigators, technicians, scouts or any other persons he deems necessary to the fulfilment of his mission.