The Incredible Aliens: A Personal Dilemma Among the Stars

The Incredible Aliens by William Bender Jr. - Narant's personal problem seemed of more importance than his mission as an interstellar investigator. But they combined when he met—The Incredible Aliens

It was only a tiny dot on the view screen when the military lookout on the armed cruiser identified it as an alien spaceship and sounded the general alert. Technicist Ninth Class Narant, chief psychanalyst aboard, studied its approach with a rebellious, almost passionate hope that the impossible was at last going to happen.

Or was it impossible? They were the first men to visit this planetary system. Why couldn't they expect to encounter a truly superior race for a change?

Intently, Narant examined the course of the alien craft. Rather mischievously he hoped the stranger would suddenly adopt evasion tactics showing it had detected their presence in the black void between the 6th and 7th planets of the Star Restus. That would certainly be a sign of superiority! And what a blow to Central Scientific Headquarters back home. The anti-detection shield was one of their proudest accomplishments.

And yet, though still wishful, Narant realized deep in his heart that such hopes were blighted. Illogical and improbable. No people in the Universe could even compare with them. Explorers and merchants and military ships and privateers had prowled all the great planetary systems of the galaxy. They and their technology reigned supreme everywhere. Indeed, the accumulated evidence of their supremacy even formed the irrefutable foundation of Central Scientific's dogma on selective breeding.

"I must ask you to leave the bridge now, doctor." The voice, crisp and authoritative, crackled over Narant's shoulder.