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Updated: June 2, 2025
"Space Lance," said Howard. "Exploded over Deimos right after blast-off. Knight is the one that's trying the long solo hop. Haven't received any word from him yet." "But what about the crew of the Space Lance?" demanded Strong with a glance at Walters. "The pilot, Sticoon, was killed, and they haven't found Cadet Corbett yet." And then understanding flashed in Howard's eyes.
There was a sudden, ear-shattering roar and smoke and flame poured from the exhaust of the ship, spilling over the blast-off ramp. The ship rocked from side to side gently, rose into the air slowly, and then gathering speed began to move spaceward. In a moment it was gone and only the echoing blasts of thunder from its exhausts remained.
"Never thought I'd be out in space ducking hot projectiles to save old Blast-off Connel's hide." "Neither did I," said Tom. "But here we are." Stepping into the air lock, they quickly equalized the pressure and a moment later climbed out on the hull. "See him, Roger?" asked Tom over the helmet intercom. "Not yet," replied Roger. "I see him," called Astro from the control deck.
The Earthmen were too sick to talk, much less complain about anything. For Dal the blast-off from the port of Seattle and the conversion into Koenig star-drive was nothing new. His father owned a fleet of Garvian trading ships that traveled to the far corners of the galaxy by means of a star-drive so similar to the Koenig engines that only an electronic engineer could tell them apart.
The first meeting with Jack Alvarez hardly seemed promising to either Dal or Tiger, but if there was trouble coming, it was postponed for the moment by common consent. In the few days before blast-off there was no time for conflict, or even for much talk. Each of the three crewmen had two full weeks of work to accomplish in two days; each knew his job and buried himself in it with a will.
"Did I ever tell you that I love you?" "Not nearly often enough," Copper said. "You could do it every day and I'd never get tired of hearing it." The jeep settled over the lava wall. "We'll leave it in the passageway when we're through," Kennon said. "Maybe it will survive blast-off." "Why worry about it?" Copper asked. "I hate destroying anything needlessly," Kennon said.
Tense silence fell as Tom's eyes followed the sweep of the second hand. "All clear for blast-off!" came the talker's report. Tom pressed the firing button. A split second later the listeners' eardrums throbbed to a muffled roar from topside as the slender recovery missile shot skyward. The ship rocked convulsively from the shock of blast-off.
"Well, looks like we're big boys now," said Tom, as the three cadets strolled down the corridor away from Captain Strong's office. "They don't hand out secret and important missions to cadet units unless they're really on the ball!" "But we've got Major 'Blast-off' Connel to educate," grumbled Roger. "What do you mean 'educate'?" asked Astro.
"Remember! Spacemen or nothing! Now, stand by to blast off!" Without a word, the three cadets hurried to their stations and began routine procedure to raise ship. "All departments ready to blast off, Major Connel," reported Tom, saluting sharply. "Very well, Corbett, proceed," said Connel. Tom called into the intercom, "Stand by for blast-off!"
"Ask spaceport tower for blast-off clearance " Strong nodded. Tom turned back to the microphone, and without looking, punched a button in front of him. "Rocket cruiser " He paused and turned back to Strong. "What name do I give, sir?" Strong smiled. "Noah's Ark " "Rocket cruiser Noah's Ark to spaceport control! Request blast-off clearance and orbit."
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