"To call into the void!" Shluh said. "To—"
"Look at the DV screen."
Shluh twisted his head, looked. Against the background mist of stars, a shape loomed, dark and inert.
"It is ... a ship!" Shluh said. "A monster ship!"
"That's her," Retief said. "Nine years and a few months out of New Terra on a routine mapping mission. The missing cruiser—the IVS Terrific."
"Impossible!" Shluh hissed. "The hulk swings in a deep cometary orbit."
"Right. And now it's making its close swing past Groac."
"You think to match orbits with the derelict? Without power? Our meeting will be a violent one, if that is your intent."
"We won't hit; we'll make our pass at about five thousand yards."