Eckisster looked at Roysland. "Well, sir?"
Roysland shook his head. "I didn't expect that," he said. "I honestly didn't expect that."
"I know you didn't," Eckisster said softly. "I know you didn't. But look at it this way: It's data. And we need data."
"I know," Roysland said. "It's not that. Excuse me; I've got to think." He slammed his hand down, and the whole group collapsed into nothingness.
"What?" asked Commander Allerdyce.
"I said," Roysland repeated, "that I think I have the answer to something that was brought up in the meeting last night. And I want you to give me permission to take the X-69 into enemy territory."
"I will," Allerdyce said, "if you'll give me a good reason for going."
"All I want is a sample of alien animal life. I think I know what's going on, but I'm not sure."
Allerdyce shook his head. "We can't do it. We don't know where the enemy bases are, any more than the Enlissa know where our own planets are. We keep our subetheric devices shielded, and so do they. If we didn't, this would have ceased to be a spatial war long ago—you know that."