'Twas the parsec before Christmas
And all through the base,
Not a 'bot was stirring,
Even Danguard Ace.

The cargo units were stowed,
By the MedLab with care,
The warp coils were quiet,
The airlocks....bare.

When all of a sudden, there was a 'ping!,
The long range sensors had begun to sing!

In a high orbit, the sublight flash -flashed,
I raised the blast shield and threw back the sash!

One of the stars had begun to grow,
It's brightness gleaming with scramjet glow!

'An attack!' I screamed as I ran for the shaft,
The sentry bots must have all gone daft!

From the north tower, to the skies I looked,
To strangest sight had ever been brooked.

Not aliens, not missiles, no bombs or spores,
No freighter of fighter had come to my door.

In the earthlight a silhouette was caught,
A vessel with train to several little bots.

The retros did jingle as they came to land,
The callsign said 'Kringle' on subspace band.

I ran to the weapons locker, thought of my kin,
The air crackled with energy...he was beaming in!

I dove behind the console and peered out with fear,
The invader in crimson envirosuit had come right here!

From his matter converter, I expected a phaser,
Instead came a wrapped box, bright as a laser.

Gift after gift the converter did drop,
Long ones, short ones...would they ever stop?

When the last one was placed, the being stood still,
I was frozen with anxiety, no power of will.

Slowly he turned, scanning the room
Stopping at me, his flight helmet loomed.

With a short flick, the blast plate turned up,
Behind it a beard, a nose and a tuck.

With a wink from his coal black eyes,
The matter beam whisked him back to the skies.

A jingle, a roar, a meshing of gears
The base shook as it had not done in years.

From the viewport I looked to the heavens
With a flash of light, 8 stars became 7.

A special visit had come to this place,
A Merry Christmas to all, and all a good

.space!