The Warhead

“Captain, we’re drifting again,” informs the navigation officer, “they’ve locked their tractor beam on us nice and tight.”

“This has been going on for too long. Ensign, arm disruptors. Prepare proton torpedoes 3 through 5,” orders the captain.

“Disruptors armed… and ready to fire, sir.”

“Sir,” booms the navigation officer suddenly, “they released us. We have control. But they’re preparing to fire as well.”

“Shields up, maximum power. Prepare for evasive maneuvers.”

“Sir, they’ve launched a proteic missile with a five terrayens warhead. Impact in 15 seconds.”

“Five terrayens???” shout the bridge crew almost at unison.

“Ensign, repeat that. Did you say five terrayens? Are you sure you’re reading correctly? Navigation, begin evasive maneuvers. Expedite. Battle deck, launch radioactive chaff. Expedite. Engineering, cloak us, expedite. Expedite expedite EXPEDITE!”

“Yes sir that is fiver – terra – yens of atomic energy coming straight at us, impact in 8 seconds.”

“Evading, sir,” says the navigation officer, “chaff is away and cloak is on, but we’re not shaking it sir. Fiver seconds to impact.”

All the crew are now staring at the main screen which shows the proteic missile approaching despite all their efforts. When it gets to almost impact, it starts furthering away, heading for the other ship.

“Holy Mother of The Nine,” says the captain in awe, “they have the technology to control a five terrayens proteic missile! These fellows are trying to teach us a lesson and they’ve put up quite a demonstration. They’re playing with us like we’re some child’s toys.”

They are now a little relieved, but still scared. They watch the proteic missile furthering away, back to the ship that launched it and now was capturing it back into her hangars. Or so they thought…

“Sir,” says the navigation officer, “she’s heading back too fast. They haven’t opened any hangars. Impact in eight seconds. Sir, it WILL blast. And with a five terrayens warhead everything on a distance of ten qarsecs will turn to radioactive ashes…”

“Great Reverend Mother of Muscat! This can’t be true! O’brain, take us out of here, warp nine, expedite, fast expedite, EXPEDITE!!! NOW! EXPEDITE!!! EX-PE-DITE!! They are here!”

And now the riddle: who was there? What did the captain realize?

---

Note: The official answer to this riddle has not yet been confirmed by the riddle maker. Make your best guess in the comments below. You can subscribe via RSS or email to get the new riddles and answers automatically.