***Analyzing target now…this device is similar in appearance to previous devices, in general dimensions and shape...it is an oblate spheroid with outer surface of linked covalent groups showing gaps permeable to select wavelengths of --***

  “Doc, I don’t need a description. Can you operate it? Or tell us how to operate it?”

  The first distant sonic booms of the meteors rattled the hut which swayed noticeably in the rolling shock waves.

  “Hurry, Skipper—“said Barnes.