Indirection | Page 3

fourteen,
Planet 3-G3-9/4871, requesting emergency condensation over the
immediate station area. Co-ordinates were not given and I checked the
planetary co-ordinates with the call sign and the Communications List.
I added these to the message and forwarded the request to the Patrol
Duty Officer for his action.
There was no visual on the call, but the voice sounded urgent. I relayed
the request without requiring special authentication, since the station
was precisely on the correct settings, no inimical culture is known to be
operating in this sector, and the coded call was correct. At the time, I
had no way of suspecting that this was not a genuine emergency call.
Florand Anremdor Comm. 1/c
CERTIFICATE
I, Captain Binkar Morancos, am assigned to the 334th Vector, which is
presently under the orders of the Commander, Sector Nine.
I was assigned as Sector Patrol Duty Officer at 261.0200, when a
message was relayed from Increment Four, requesting emergency
condensation on a planet in that increment. I checked the co-ordinates
and data furnished, consulted the situation chart, and instructed Cruiser
P-4730, Captain Klorantel commanding, to carry out the mission.
Since the message came through normal channels, I had no doubt as to
its authenticity, and treated it as routine. I felt that the cruiser
commander could deal with the matter at his discretion.
Binkar Morancos Capt. StG(C)
CERTIFICATE
I, Captain Corrondao Klorantel, am in command of the Stellar Guard
Cruiser Myloren, number P-4730. I am assigned to duty with the 334th
Vector, which is operating in Sector Nine.

The Myloren was on routine patrol in the Fourth Increment at 261.0203,
when a message was received from Sector Headquarters, giving
co-ordinates on Planet 3-G3-9/4871, with a request for emergency
condensation. I proceeded to the subject planet and took position
outside the atmosphere. Visual checks failed to show any emergency
condition on the surface, though a burned-out area was noted in the
forest a short distance to the planetary south of the station concerned. A
call was made to the resident station, requesting clarification of the
request, and the answer proved to be unsatisfactory.
There was no visual transmission, and the voice was strongly accented.
The message gave insufficient data for action, contained no
identification, and was in improper form for station-to-ship contact. I
decided to make contact by other means, and shifted my secondary
communicator to the guardsman's personal settings, requesting further
information, suitable identification, and confirmation of the request.
Guardsman Jaeger immediately informed me that the call was spurious,
stating that he was away from his station, and that he would return
immediately. During the conversation, I noted that full condensation
was taking place to atmospheric limits.
I called Auxiliary, and Technician Melran stated that his control
circuits were inoperative and that he was tracing the difficulty. He
cleared the trouble, but condensation had already been established and
precipitation had commenced. I ordered re-absorption, which was
started as soon as repairs had been accomplished.
At the request of Guardsman Jaeger, we stood by to render aid if
necessary, maintaining contact with his station. At 0572, Jaeger
requested immediate evacuation for himself and for one other person. I
entered atmosphere, made planetfall with nullified visibility, and took
off the guardsman and a young native. During the evacuation, I noted a
number of natives armed with various implements, who were
attempting to break their way into the station. Guardsman Jaeger fired
his demolitions as he left, firing the screen generator with his last flare.
For a few minutes, the natives fell back before the flames, but they
were entering the station by the time we cleared the planet. It is

believed that the installation was completely destroyed.
Corrondao Klorantel Capt. StG(C) Commanding P-4730
STATEMENT
I, Danaeo Melran, am assigned to the Patrol Cruiser Myloren, number
P-4730, for duty.
At 261.0204, I was on duty in Auxiliary Equipment when Captain
Klorantel called, informing me that a request had come in for
emergency condensation. He told me to set up and await execution
order. I preset two forward radiators for forty kilometers at low
condensation, with a three kilometer radius at surface. I then put the
controls on automatic trigger, notified the captain, and went on with my
normal duties. At 0221, we came out of trans-light, and I adjusted my
equipment for slow-drive operation.
At 0223, my indicators showed activity on the forward radiators. I
checked and discovered that full power was being applied. Attempts to
override the automatics were unsuccessful, and while I was attempting
to clear the trouble, the captain called again, saying that the request was
false, and asking why I had turned the radiators on. I told him that the
controls were jammed, and he instructed me to make repairs and set up
re-absorption.
I discovered a short between the automatic trigger and the