The water in the council pool swirled as the five council members entered and took their places in a circle. A young scribe sat on the pool's edge to record the council's decisions and to provide information. The members treaded water with their tails and talked, nothing more. They gathered as a council of equals, but Nore usually began. "What did we salvage from The Extended Claws?" "Not much," Las replied. "The penetrations and explosions that followed expelled and dissipated almost all volatile materials such as water and air. Apparently, one of the first missiles hit the fusion generator. Before the generator exploded, it must have sent a surge through everything electrical on the ship. Every device we found contains burned components." "Were there survivors?" Neth asked? "None have yet been found, though not all fragments have been searched. If we did, why would you want raiders on this ship?" Las asked. "They are of The People, and we must give them aid," Neth replied.
