Almost as soon as the scan had started, several anomalies were detected.
A very large cloaked object was in orbit, detectable by the gravitational effect it had on orbital debris.
While Spike Harris watched the scan, a communications satellite passed into the general area of the object and abruptly disappeared from sensors.
"Ah crap.", Spike muttered.
He looked over to where the maintenance droid was moving around the base of the Destroyer and yelled, "XM, get the YTC prepped for launch! We might have to get out of here in a hurry!"
He noticed the robot was already removing the refueling lines.
A beep from the console drew his attention back to the scan.
"Well, well. What do we have here? A subspace rift?".
He'd heard rumours of these rifts forming, possibly into parallel dimensions. The only problem was that they weren't very stable and entering one could easily turn out to be a one way trip.
He quickly sent the location data to the onboard computers of the Destroyer and then turned to the communications console.
Quote:Transmit code: GC-555-2362
To: Veranda Incognita, SF fleet command, LoganKell
Possible cloaked battlestation in orbit near Gran Canaria.
Buggered if I know why, so I'm getting the hell out of here.
Checking out a nearby subspace rift.
Location data follows.
Spike Harris
He could hear the engines of the ship were already approaching launch readiness.
Hitting the transmit button, he turned and headed for the boarding ramp, hoping there were still some communication satellites operating.
"Go! Go! Go!"
The Destroyer launched smoothly into the sky, avoiding the area of the cloaked object and the other detected anomalies. Soon they were safely on the other side of the planet to all the strange traffic.
Spike regretfully looked at the planet dwindling in the rear viewscreen.
"So much for that part of the trip. Set course for the rift."
