C. N. Gloeckner - MISCOUNT [ss]

Nothing exceeds like excess ...

Memorandum to: Koranstan V.B.X.

From: Hdrxx Z.

Re: Salvage operations on Vitrix 4

The Cultural Encounter Office sent some representatives here yesterday afternoon, and they claim we've been picking up some Atomic Age artifacts on a satellite of a stage-one planet.

I don't need to tell you how serious this is. If they can prove we took something we shouldn't have, we could get slapped with a large fine and/or penalty on our trading license.

I hope to hear from you about this matter very soon.

Memorandum to: Hdrxx Z.

From: Koranstan V.B.X.

Re: Purported salvage operations on Vitrix 4

For the record, I want to say that neither I nor anyone in my department would step outside the bounds of law to pick up salvage on Vitrix 4.

We receive communiques from C.E. quite regularly, and I understand from them that Vitrix 4 is a near satellite of a civilized culture with which we cannot come into contact for a few more centuries. Consequently, we have been giving the whole area wide berth on salvage expeditions.

Memorandum to: Farstokk Z.

From: Koranstan V.B.X.

Re: Purported salvage operations on Vitrix 4

cc: Hdrxx Z.

Apparently the company has become the target of one of the C.E.'s disorganized search-and-destroy efforts. They suggest that we have been carrying out salvage operations on Vitrix 4. Just thought I'd let you know in case you hear from them on this.

Memorandum to: Farstokk Z.

From: Koranstan V.B.X.

Re: Salvage operations on Vitrix 4

As you can probably guess from the attached memo, the old man is excited about this one. I guess those suits and that visual recording equipment we lifted from Vitrix 4 had better go back. Seems the C.E. boys think the natives might, on their next little exploratory jaunt to the satellite, want to land where we salvaged the stuff. It might look pretty bad if something was missing that the previous landing team dumped.

Let me know if you have any trouble with the recovery.

Memorandum to: Koranstan V.B.X.

From: Farstokk Z.

Re: Vitrix 4 salvage

Sorry to tell you we can't recover the original suits or recording equipment. Outlet sold it to a big museum out on Farnn, and they refuse to give anything up. However, I did get permission to have facsimiles made, at forty xartm per.

Memorandum to: Farstokk Z.

From: Koranstan V.B.X.

Re: Vitrix salvage

Forty xartm! I see by your records that we barely made that much on the sale after operation expenses. All right, they've got us over a barrel. One thing--make a few extra suits while you're about it and I'll sell them to one of the circuses on Barx. That Vitrix alien is a real monster, judging by the shape of the suits. Seeing one of them is enough to make a person jump right out of his scales.

Memorandum to : Koranstan V.B.X.

From: Farstokk Z.

Re: Vitrix problem

All taken care of. I'm sending you the facsimile suits you asked for, and I'll dispatch a ship to replace the suits and equipment on Vitrix sometime this afternoon.

Memorandum to: Farstokk Z.

From: Koranstan V.B.X.

Re: Vitrix business

Just got your monthly financial report. What is this item: seven facsimile Atomic Age artifacts? You only sent me four suits. If you dropped two on the satellite to replace the ones we took, then what happened to the other suit?

Memorandum to: Koranstan V.B.X.

From: Hdrxx Z.

Re: Possible C.E. suit arising from illegal salvage operations on Vitrix 4

I hate to bring this up again, but I hear from friends in high places that we are about to get hit with a C.E. suit. Now, I believe you when you say we're blameless, but I'd feel a lot better if you came down here to represent the company's interests. I hear that the aliens did land again in the place where the C.E. believes we were carrying out illegal salvage operations. There was some kind of irregularity that caused a great deal of excitement among the aliens. The C.E. office seems quite upset about it, whatever it is.

I hope to see you soon.

Memorandum to: Koranstan V.B.X.

From: Farstokk Z.

Re: Item from last monthly report

You mean there were only two suits on the Vitrix 4 site in the first place?