Oli, A Very New Moon by Carl Derham

  *

  Once the bridge of Cranus was secured, the drone had set up a communication link between Robbie and Oli.

  “Hello Oli,” said the familiar voice.

  “Hey Robbie!” exclaimed Oli. “Great to hear your voice again! How're they treating you over there and how's Pardy?”

  “We're both fine,” said Robbie. He then continued to explain the Captain's plan to obliterate a city on Earth every three minutes until they surrendered. They had to get Cranus off the moon and use it to stop them. All that was left to do now was for Oli to initiate the start sequence and they could get to work. Oli sat in the captain’s seat and the computer screens swung into position. He placed his hand on the screen and said “Halibut.” With that, everything lit up and the low throb of the Graviton engines kicked into life. That’s a good reassuring sound, thought Oli. The Throgloids’ days are numbered now.

  “Commander,” said the newly and rather reluctantly appointed number one. “We’ve detected a signal coming from the ship in our hangar. It’s passing through the communications blockade and seems to be directed towards the big ship.”

  “What signal? What is it doing? Block it now! Contact the crew on the bridge of the alien ship,” the Captain howled.

  “No response, your foulness.”

  “The ugly creature is on that ship,” he bellowed. “Prepare to fire at the planet!”