Islands of Space

ey find the Nigrans already there readjusting the system. After taking observations of the changes, they take the Ancient Mariner onward at greater velocity and pass too close to a red giant. The resulting jar throws their gyros and drains power; their current orientation within the galaxy is problematical. Luckily, they relocate Sol and then move on, taking photographs of the surrounding stars at each stop. Traveling through intergalactic space, they are gravitationally captured by a collapsed star. Though they manage to break free, the great shock renders them unconscious and the ship travels without guidance for some hours. They are lost in intergalactic space. Restoring the Ancient Mariner to full operation, they select a galaxy close to their present course and then search therein for an advanced civilization having detailed intergalactic maps. The first star that they select goes nova centuries before they reach it. They find the remains of a city among the ice containing the frozen bodies of the inhabitants. Later they locate a central repository containing the works of the frozen race, select some elementary items to learn the language, and leave message about their presence and origin. The team eventually locates two planets with intelligent inhabitants, but then become embroiled in an interplanetary war..