 Why isn’t Retief satisfied when the Groaci finally show him the missing cruiser?
I've been tied up every off-duty hour since I got here—" "You can't offend the Groaci," Miss Meuhl said sharply. "Whaffle left here three months ago," Retief said, "leaving me in charge." "Well," Miss Meuhl said, snapping off the dictyper. "Mr. Retief, those are just the sort of questions we avoid with the Groaci. Outside, Retief stood for a moment looking across at the deeply carved windowless stucco facades lining the street, then started off in the direction of the Terrestrial Consulate General. He looked at Retief and froze in mid-motion, a metal tube poised over a waiting pot. The barkeep whispered something, and two customers came up to the drunk, took his arms and helped him to the door. Retief backed into the opening to a narrow crossway and offered further verbal familiarities to the drunken local, who followed, furious. Retief backed, rounded a corner into a narrow alley-like passage, deserted, silent ... except for the following Groacian. Retief stepped around him, seized his collar and yanked. Two Groaci wearing heavy eye-shields and elaborate crest ornaments indicative of rank rose as Retief entered the room. "Have you ever heard," Retief said, looking steadily at Fith, "of a Terrestrial cruiser, the ISV Terrific , which dropped from sight in this sector nine years ago?" I understand that a Terrestrial task force stood off Groac and sent a delegation down to ask questions.
 Retief believes the cruiser they show him is a decoy. The real missing cruiser was at least twenty-tons, which is much larger than the ship the Groacians reveal.
 Retief believes the cruiser they show him is a decoy. The real missing cruiser was at least twenty-tons, which is much larger than the ship the Groacians reveal.  Retief believes the cruiser they show him isn’t human made at all, meaning the real cruiser is still out there.  Retief believes the cruiser they show him is a replica, meaning the real cruiser is still out there.  Retief believes the cruiser they show him is a decoy. The real missing cruiser was a battle ship, while the cruiser they show him is of the domestic variety.