Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 2, 2025
"We're going to do some old-fashioned bargaining with 'Blast-off' Connel!" "Bargaining?" exclaimed Roger. "Yeah! One slightly used Space Cadet for what we came after the copper satellite!" "Connel won't bargain," said Roger. "Not for me, not for anything. You don't know him!" "I know this, Manning!" said Loring.
Even he, who had dreamed all his life of the stars and the wonders which might lie just beyond the big jump, had been honestly sick on the day he had shouldered his bag aboard and had first taken his place on this mat and waited, dry mouthed and shivering, for blast-off. One lost all sense of time out here.
For an instant, as the nose access port yawned before him, Rick had a vision of himself in pressure suit and plastic helmet, mounting the rocket as a pilot mans his plane, anticipating the signal for blast-off. Gee-Gee brought him back to earth with a prosaic, "Let's get at it, boy-oh." It was the beginning. The picturesque but highly competent and efficient electronics chief hadn't exaggerated.
When Sticoon appeared and began to prepare the ship for blast-off, Tom went through the motions mechanically. The Space Lance was scheduled to leave first, with Kit Barnard following at the exact time interval of their arrivals.
"I don't think there'll be another Major Connel in a million light years!" Shinny laughed silently, his small frame shaking slightly. "Say it again, Tommy. Not in the whole universe will there ever be another like old 'Blast-off' Connel!"
He had barely reached it and been strapped into the acceleration chair turned to face the long, narrow quartzite port, when the blast-off sirens began screaming their third and final warning. The intra-ship communicators blared, "All passengers and personnel strap in.
Devers laughed. "The last thing you'll do is kiss a space torpedo. Then no more Major Blast-off Connel, no more whimpering Professor Hemmingwell, and most important, no more projectile ship!" And as Devers laughed loudly, Tom threw the ship into another violent turn and cried, "It's no use, Major. I can't duck this one!" "All hands brace for torpedo!" warned Connel.
It was Major Lou Connel, more familiarly known as "Blast-off" Connel, a Senior Line Officer of the Solar Guard and the sternest disciplinarian in the whole Academy. Behind him stood a short, thin man, whom none of the boys recognized. Connel stepped forward slowly and menacingly, glaring at the three boys.
Connel returned their salute and put them at ease. "All right, our work here is done," said Connel. "No point in hanging around any longer. Tom, you can blast off immediately." "Yes, sir," replied Tom. Connel climbed the ladder to the radar bridge to contact Space Academy. Astro, Roger, Shinny, and Alfie went to their posts and began quick preparations for the blast-off.
When we see Major 'Blast-off' Connel again, we'll be giving the orders with a paralo-ray!" The two disgruntled spacemen turned quickly and walked to the nearest slidewalk, disappearing around a building. Aboard the Polaris, Tom confronted his two unit-mates. "Now look, fellows. After the hard time Major Connel just gave us, let's see if we can't really stay on the ball from now on."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking