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Updated: June 4, 2025
"Unless we can think of something fast, this will be a Connie asteroid by then. The Consops cruiser is moving in on us. He’s careful, because he isn’t sure of the situation. But even at his present speed he’ll be here in ten minutes." "Stand by." Terra base was silent for a few moments, then the voice replied. "I think we have an answer for you, Foster. Terra base off. Go ahead, MacFife."
"There’s no reason to drill three holes," Rip explained as they ran. "We’ll use one hole for all three charges. They don’t have to be fired all at once." "How do we fire them?" Koa asked. "Electrically. Who has the exploders and the hand dynamo?" "Dowst has the exploders. One of the Connies is carrying the dynamo." Speaking of the Connies ... Rip hadn’t seen the Consops cruiser recently.
They would claim sanctuary in the Federation. Rip shook hands solemnly with the grinning Scotchman. It would be a long time before Consops tried space piracy again. "We’ll be back at our family fight again tomorrow," MacFife said, "but today we celebrate together. Ah, lad, this is pure joy to me. I’ve had a score to settle with yon Connies for years. Now I’ve done it."
Rip stared up at the brilliant stars, thinking fast. The Connie would have almost an hour’s lead on the space patrol cruisers. In that hour, if the Connie were willing to pay the price in blasted snapper-boats, Consops would have the asteroid. And Terra base had made it clear that the space patrol would not try to blast the Connie cruiser and take back the asteroid, because that would mean war.
It was pale blue, the color used for highly confidential documents. "Sir, this came in Space Council special cipher." "Read it aloud," O’Brine ordered. "Yessir. It’s addressed to you, this ship. From Planeteer Intelligence, Marsport. ’Consops cruiser departed general direction your area. Agents report crew Altair may have leaked data re asteroid.
The Connie teams came quickly and willingly, and they seemed almost glad to give up their pistols and knives. This was not unusual. Rip had seen many Planeteer reports that spoke of the same thing. Many Connies, it seemed, were glad to get away from the iron Consops rule, even if it meant becoming Federation prisoners. Inside one of the snapper-boats a light glowed.
"Sir, this came in Space Council special cipher." "Read it aloud," O'Brine ordered. "Yes, sir. It's addressed to you, this ship. From Planeteer Intelligence, Marsport. 'Consops cruiser departed general direction your area. Agents report crew Altair may have leaked data re asteroid. Take appropriate action. It's signed 'Williams, SOS, Commanding." Rip saw the meaning of the message instantly.
O'Brine gave him a grim smile. "Certainly not, Foster. It's against orders to start anything with Consops cruisers. You know why. The situation is so tense that a fight between two spaceships might plunge Earth into war." His smile got even grimmer. "But you never know. The Consops ship might fire first. Or an accident might happen." The commander leaned forward.
"We'll find that asteroid for you, Mr. Planeteer. We'll put you on it and see you on your way. Then we'll ride space along with you, and if any Consops thieves try to take over and collect that thorium for themselves, they'll find Kevin O'Brine waiting. That's a promise." Rip felt a lot better. He sat back in his chair and regarded the commander with mixed respect and something else.
The Planeteers on the asteroid blinked at the speed of the cruiser's getaway. Fire flamed from the stern tubes for an instant, and then there was nothing but a fading glow where the Scorpius had been. Rip had a mental image of everything movable in the ship crashing against bulkheads with the terrific acceleration. And in the same moment, the Consops cruiser reacted.
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