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"When the Plumies understood what we were doing, and why, they drew diagrams. They hadn't thought of cutting free, out in space, without the spinning saws they use to cut bronze with. But they asked for a scanner and a screen. They checked on its use. I want to see " He flipped on the screen. And there was instantly a Plumie looking eagerly out of it, for some sign of communication established.
"Four hundred three two " On the scanner screen Tom could see the exhaust flare begin to lick at the concrete ramp, then splash its surface until it was completely hidden. He grasped the main control switch tightly and waited. "One hundred feet," Roger's voice was tense now. "Seventy-five, fifty " Tom barked out a quick order. "Blast all rockets!"
In constant contact with Space Academy, using the resources of the Academy's scientific staff to check the more difficult calculations, the six men on the Polaris worked on. Connel appeared on the radar bridge and flipped on the long-range scanner. "Have to find out where Junior is," he said to Roger and Alfie. "That doesn't work, sir," said Roger.
Tom's voice crackled over the power-deck loud-speaker and Astro snapped to quick attention. "Power deck, aye!" replied the giant Venusian into the intercom microphone. "What's up?" "Stand by for course change," said Tom. "Roger's picked up a meteor on the radar scanner and " "Here's the course change," Roger's voice broke in over the intercom.
"Though I want to thank you for your quick thinking. How did you happen to discover the bomb?" "I was sighting on Regulus for a position check and Regulus was dead astern, so when I swung the periscope scanner around, I spotted that thing stuck to the fin. I didn't bother to think about it, I just yelled." "Glad you did," nodded Connel and turned to stare at the Polaris again.
"All right, then," said Connel finally, "let's go take a look at it. I still won't believe it until I see it!" "Who's hardheaded now?" snorted Shinny, climbing into the Polaris. Later, as the rocket cruiser blasted smoothly through space, Connel joined Roger and Alfie on the radar deck. The two cadets were bent over the radar scanner. "Pick her up yet?" asked Connel.
As the regular skipper of the Polaris crew, he could not help secretly rooting for Tom, but he was determined to be fair, even to the extent of declaring the Arcturus unit the winner, should the decision be very close. He leaned forward to adjust the focus on the scanner, bringing the drifting figure into a close-up view, and then lifted the microphone to his lips. "Stand by, Corbett!" he called.
The thunder of the rockets increased and the mighty ship quivered as its plummeting descent was checked slightly. Tom quickly adjusted the stabilizer trim tabs to keep the ship perpendicular to the ground, then watched the stern scanner carefully as the huge blast-pitted concrete ramp loomed larger and larger. "Five hundred feet to touchdown," tolled Roger in more slow and measured tones.
On the scanner was a jet boat in flight. "Hey, Loring! Shinny! Mason! Get up here on the double!" he yelled into the intercom. "What's up?" demanded Loring. "Get up here!" shouted Roger. "We're in for trouble plenty of trouble!" Presently the three spacemen were grouped around the scanner, staring at the unmistakable outline of a jet boat.
Glancing quickly at the scanner screen, he saw the white blip that was the meteor flashing away from the Polaris and he smiled. "That was nice work, Corbett!" said Strong. "Get us back on course as soon as you can. Governor Hardy wants to get to Venusport as quickly as possible." "Shall I tell Astro to pour on extra thrust, sir?" asked Tom. "No, just maintain standard full space speed.
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