“That cloud looks suspiciously like a spaceship, don’t you think?” said Elo’Niss

“And that cloud looks like a wild mud-weasel,” said Engineer Xamket. They loudly uncorked a bottle of Obet mush-ale and took a swig. “But you don’t see me getting scared even though it’s a natural predator.”

“It’s a Vatna Incursion-Class marauder,” Lt. Cutec said. “Here to rescue me, I suppose.”

“Rescue you? I didn’t think rogue Vatna maurauders rescued people,” Elo’Niss said. “I thought wild, indiscriminate slaughter was their modus operandi.”

“I think maybe the lieutenant means that they are here to rescue him from this predicament by rescuing him from his life,” Briee said.

“CONTAMINANT DETECTED,” H0-1D barked for the umpteenth time. “RECOMMEND FULL NUTRON PURGE.”

“Wait a moment,” Cutec said. “Dr. Briee, are Vatna vulnerable to neutron purges?”

“Only if they have protons.”