The Senior Watch Officer was shouting at his assistant, the Navigator was cursing out the Pilot and the Gunnery Officer, whose job had been a sinecure until now, was bellowing at them all. Above the hubbub, suddenly, came the raucous voice of Captain Fogarty as he stalked onto the bridge.
"What in great space has happened to the motors? Why are we losing speed?"
The Senior Watch Officer saluted and shouted, "Engine Room reports the engines have all stopped, Sir. Don't know why. We're operating the lights and vents on emergency power."
The Communications Officer spoke up. "The pirate ship reports that they're responsible, Sir. They say they've got a new device that will leave us without atomic power for as long as they like."
As if to confirm this, over the loudspeaker came a voice. "Ahoy, STAR Kismet. Stand by for boarders. If you don't open up to us, we'll blast you off the map."
"Pirates! Attacking us! Incredible!" cried the Captain. "There are no pirates any more. What have we got a Space Patrol for? Where in blazes is the Space Patrol anyway?"
The Communications Officer gulped. "Er, ah, we got in contact with Commodore Trumble. He says his ship can get here in ten hours anyway, and for us to wait for him."
Captain Fogarty snorted. "Fat lot of good he'll do us. Wait for him, eh? Well, we'll just blow that pirate out of the sky right now. Stand by the guns!"
"The guns are useless," whined the Gunnery Officer. "The atomics that run them won't operate at all. What will we do?"
"Ahoy, STAR Kismet. Open up your hatches when we arrive and let us in, or we won't spare a man of you," boomed the loudspeaker.