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The captain looked off to the northeast, where they could see four brilliant red lights that appeared to be on or just above the water. They were spaced out in a box formation, about six miles on a side. "They're real and solid enough if the radar is painting them. As to what they are, it beats me. The navy does exercises in that area, but I never saw anything like this before. In fact I can say I never saw anything that red before." Occasionally one of the red lights would flare up to such an intensity that it would leave an afterimage when they averted their gaze. It was an astonishing effect. "Maybe it's some kind of flare the navy is trying out, Leo. They don't always give us warnings." Mersey shook his head. "No. When you were on the foredeck with the crew, I radioed into RCC and the harbormaster in Halifax. They don't have exercises on tonight. Besides, the radar paints them as being pretty substantial. It wouldn't show flares and they don't stay up there like that." He squinted his eyes as one of the lights flared up again. "There's something there, all right, and I'm content to keep my distance." They were interrupted when one of the younger hands knocked on the door of the wheelhouse and entered. "Sir, I thought you might like to know something I just heard on the multiband radio." "Well, things sound pretty crazy on the mainland. I guess the Mounties are getting complaints about UFOs from all over. It's really thick from Halifax to Yarmouth." Mersey nodded and looked again at the lights. He turned back to the crew member. "Thanks, son. Let me know if you hear anything solid." He considered telling the youth to keep it to himself, but thought better of it. Despite the workload on a dragger, there was always time to talk, and telling him that aa 1 "Leo, have a look at this!" Mersey's attention was immediately drawn back to the lights by the urgency in his first mate's voice. It was not like him to show excitement so plainly. One of the red lights was climbing upward, arcing toward them. It passed directly over the ship at what Leo guessed was over a mile up and continued toward the horizon. The pair stared in silence for a moment, the only sounds coming from the creaks and groans of the dragger's gentle rolling in a long sea swell. This was soon shattered by the ship's radio. "MV Nickerson, MV Nickerson, MV Nickerson, this is Coast Guard Radio Halifax, Coast Guard Radio Halifax, over." Mersey cocked his head. "What is it, son?" would only encourage him. Mersey started in spite of himself. He grabbed the microphone, thumbing the switch. "Coast Guard Radio Halifax, this is MV Nickerson. Go ahead." "MV Nickerson, I have a message for Captain Leo Mersey. Over."