Thettumir's impatience grew. "It seems impossible to wait until we reach Errth," he told Kasthel. "I want to see the Errthmen pay for what they did to us the first time we came."
Kasthel chuckled. "Revenge will be sweet, Commander."
The inter-ship communicator buzzed. The voice of Nurrgan, a junior officer, blared abruptly from the speaker.
"Commander, something is terribly wrong! Half the fleet has disappeared!"
Thettumir stiffened, congealed by an overwhelming dismay. "You must be mad!" he snapped finally at Nurrgan.
"It's true, Commander, horribly true. Come and see for yourself." Thettumir roused into action. With Kasthel close at his heels, he dashed to the control room. A glance into the scanner verified Nurrgan's words. Half of the fleet was gone! As Thettumir stared, he saw a nearby vessel puff abruptly into nothingness. Some of its crew, however, remained. He saw their strewn figures for a moment—before they exploded in the vacuum of space.
A second vessel went. A third.
Realization of what was happening struck into Thettumir stunningly. He whirled to Kasthel.
