It would take weeks to get the place straightened up ... even longer to replace the smashed equipment and restore the ruined fields.
Many experiments in which time had been a factor would take months—and in some cases years—to duplicate.
All that was bad enough.
But worst of all ... the little aliens had been Contacted.
Like it or not, the aliens knew that something was very much up on this planetoid.
Like it or not, they'd report that, and more of their kind would come scurrying back to investigate.
Pud groaned, and studied the little creatures, who sat huddled together on the nose of the ship.
"Well," he thought sourly to Gop, "here we are."
"I—yes, Master."
"Do you think that from now on you'll watch the Detector?"