The suave voice, with its hint of French accent, replied, "Ah, my friend! Do not be alarmed. We have had a slight accident to our control circuit, and the ports are jammed open. We are trying to repair the situation. But I assure you that we have only the friendliest of intentions." Rip grinned. This was about the same as a man holding a cocked pistol at another man's head and assuring him that it was nothing but a nervous arm that kept the gun so steady. The Connie demanded, "What do you want?" The two friendly cruisers were within a few miles of the Connie now, and their blasts were just strong enough to keep them edging closer, while still counteracting the sun's pull. The French spaceman spoke reassuringly. "My friend, we want only the courtesy of space to which the law entitles us. We have had an unfortunate accident to our astrogation instruments, and we wish to come aboard to compare them with yours." Rip laughed outright. Every cruiser carried at least four sets of instruments. There was as much chance of all of them being knocked off scale at once as there was of his biting a cruiser in half with bare teeth. MacFife's voice came on the air. "Foster, switch to Federation frequency." Rip did so. "This is Foster, Commander." "Lad, it's a pity for ye to miss the show. I'm sending a boat for ye." "The sun will get it!" Rip exclaimed. "Never fear, lad. It won't get this one. Now, switch back to universal and listen in." Rip did so in time to catch the Connie commander's voice. "... and I refuse to believe such a story! Great Cosmos, do you think I am a fool?" "Of course not," the Frenchman replied. "You are not such a fool as to refuse a simple request to check our instruments." The _Sagittarius_ commander was right. Rip understood the strategy. Equipment sometimes did go out of operation in space, and Connies had no hesitation in asking Federation cruisers for help, or the other way around. Such help was always given, because no commander could be sure when he might need help himself. "I agree," the Connie commander said with obvious reluctance. "You may send a boat." MacFife's Scotch burr broke in. "Federation SCN _Aquila_ to Consolidation Sixteen. Mister, my instruments are off scale, too. I'll just send them along to ye, and ye can check them while ye're doing the _Sagittarius_!" "I object!" the Connie bellowed. "Come, now," MacFife burred soothingly. "Checking a few instruments won't hurt ye." A small rocket exhaust appeared, leaving the _Aquila_. The exhaust grew rapidly, more rapidly than that of any snapper-boat. Rip watched it, while keeping his ears tuned to the space conversation. "Surely sending boats is too much of a nuisance," the French commander said winningly. "We will come alongside." "It's a trick," the Connie growled. "You want me to open my valves, and then your men will board us and try to take over my ship!"