Diablo! by Mark Cantrell Science Fiction 1988

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About the Story

The research vessel "Discoverer", Earthward bound after a six month expedition to the Edanus Star System, ploughed silently through the black void of space. She appeared normal, her engine quiet, all systems apparently functioning normally, yet there was something not quite right. Apart from the fact that the "Discoverer" had been lost to Earth some seven months previously, strange mis-shapen figures flitted past the windows - silhouetted in a dull eerie light, whilst the vessel herself was surrounded by a strange halo of orbiting debris.

Suddenly the "Discoverer" had her ghostly solitude rent asunder by the arrival of two sleek starfighters who had been on a routine patrol of this sector. Surprised by her presence they flew closer to the hull, surveying for damage and attempting to communicate with the crew when, without warning, the wingman screamed in cold terror and, closely followed by his bemused flight leader, veered away from the ship and streaked Earthwards in a state of panic, leaving the "Discoverer" to the quiet solitude she had known for so many months.

Some weeks later, after a ten-hour flight through hyperspace, the BCIS shuttle docked with the "Discoverer". On board the shuttle a small "recon" team, led by Captain Payne, prepared to board the "Discoverer". Payne gave the order to open the hatch and a strange stale smell permeated the shuttle... it reminded Russell of something but she was not quite sure what. Just then Captain Payne noticed that Lawson was missing... somehow he must have entered the "Discoverer".

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