Campora was in the control room when Ray arrived. The First Mate was anxiously focussing the triangulation vernier on the magnaflux screen.
"There's a ship on our tail," he muttered. "See if you can analyze it."
Ray took over and explored the field for tensions around the black dot on the screen.
"Got an eight plate Benson Drive," he concluded at last. "It's a Company ship!"
Campora sounded a general alarm. "I told Lodar to keep off an Earth course!" he gritted.
There was a rush of feet in the corridor as the crew ran for their stations. In minutes the captain himself appeared. Lodar already knew what to expect. He brushed Campora aside after a dozen words.
"Get the gun crews set," he told him shortly.
"How about changing course?" the mate demanded sullenly.
"I know what to do!" Lodar rapped. "Get going!" His eyes narrowed angrily as he watched Campora stamp out and slam the door. Then abruptly he turned to prowl nervously from control panel to magnaflux and back again.