Metafire

"Yes, George."

"We will require your help. We are linking with Metafire Two. I need your promise of no interference."

"No. We will not allow you to form a larger colony."

"We have many hostages, John."

"What do you propose?"

"I will release the shuttle if you will allow us to complete our colony. Later, we intend to release all hostages. We seek only to be left alone. We seized the shuttle only because we were in danger. You were boarding Metafire Two with FBI agents."

"You are aware that Metafire Two has a kidnap victim aboard. We are concerned because of the kidnapping. Now you have hijacked the Discovery. What are we to do?"

"John, that is your decision. I will be clear. We want only to form our colony and be left alone."

"George. We do not know who you are, and why you are doing these crazy things. You would have been left alone, if you had simply gone into space in a civilized fashion. We even allowed your joining with the Russian vessel."