Narant's personal problem seemed of more
importance than his mission as an interstellar
investigator. But they combined when he met—
The Incredible Aliens
By William Bender, Jr.
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy
July 1954
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
It was only a tiny dot on the view screen when the military lookouton the armed cruiser identified it as an alien spaceship and soundedthe general alert. Technicist Ninth Class Narant, chief psychanalystaboard, studied its approach with a rebellious, almost passionate hopethat the impossible was at last going to happen.
Or was it impossible? They were the first men to visit this planetarysystem. Why couldn't they expect to encounter a truly superior race fora change?
Intently, Narant examined the course of the alien craft. Rathermischievously he hoped the stranger would suddenly adopt evasiontactics showing it had detected their presence in the black voidbetween the 6th and 7th planets of the Star Restus. That wouldcertainly be a sign of superiority! And what a blow to CentralScientific Headquarters back home. The anti-detection shield was one oftheir proudest accomplishments.
And yet, though still wishful, Narant realized deep in his heart thatsuch hopes were blighted. Illogical and improbable. No people in theUniverse could even compare with them. Explorers and merchants andmilitary ships and privateers had prowled all the great planetarysystems of the galaxy. They and their technology reigned supremeeverywhere. Indeed, the accumulated evidence of their supremacy evenformed the irrefutable foundation of Central Scientific's dogma onselective breeding.
"I must ask you to leave the bridge now, doctor." The voice, crisp andauthoritative, crackled over Narant's shoulder.
Commander Karsine had entered the control room during Narant's briefreverie in front of the viewing screen. An able and successful combatofficer still in his early thirties, Karsine wore the light weightspace armor the regulations prescribed for moments of impending action.Even if the enemy blasted a hole in the control room itself, that armorcould protect Karsine long enough to save or disintegrate the cruiser,as the case might be.
"Commander," Narant suddenly blurted. "One request. I should like toremain this one time and observe your tactics right here."
"Denied." Karsine explained brusquely that only combat personnel wereallowed in the central control room during contact with a strangevessel. "But," he ended, patronizingly, "you can watch from theobservation room. When we have made the capture, I'll be happy toreview my operations with you."
When we have made the capture. The Commander's abundant selfconfidence only served to further depress Narant. Out there in thevoid rode a space vessel of an altogether unknown race. And there wasno question in Karsine's mind but that their cruiser would take thealien. Not "if" we make the capture. Simply, "when." It was smallsolace for Narant to recall that he himself had firmly establishedSelf Confidence as one of the highest-rated mental traits for militarycommand. It had been one of his major projects as a Psychanalyst 4thClass.
As he left the bridge, the airlock rumbled shut behind him, sealingoff the control room from the rest of the ship. Narant climbed thespiral staircase into the observation room. One entire wall was a thickquartzite pane over-looking the control center. You could see as muchfrom up here as down below. But somehow it wasn't the same.
Other tech