The alien ship did not reply; instead it turned, rising up through the exosphere of the gas giant, gathering itself in.

"The patient's life was never in danger," the ship replied humorlessly.

"Him and his ship," the doctor replied, visibly shaking.

'That ship just replied with the information you asked for.'

"If you could find a sample that'll submit to examination, possibly," the ship replied wryly.

Before he could struggle for his own answers to those questions, the ship was replying: "Nothing is wrong.

"The ships, your Majesty," he replied in a shaky voice.

"Yes, my ship for the moment," she replied.

"Yes, three ships," Picard replied, limiting his response to that one single point.

"A ship that flies in the air," I replied.