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Updated: June 12, 2025
The three cadets came to attention in front of the desk as Walters looked up inquiringly. "Polaris unit reporting on a special privilege request, sir," announced Tom. Walters smiled. "Yes, I know why you're here, boys. Warrant Officer McKenny spoke to me a little while ago. Here's your pass. After the job you've done, you deserve it." He held out the slip of paper.
The crowd hushed as McKenny stepped forward for the starting of the last period. "What was in the note, Roger?" asked Tom. "The winning combination," smiled Roger lazily. "Get set for the fastest game of mercuryball you've ever played, Corbett! We've got to pull this mess out of the fire!" Bewildered, Tom looked at Astro who merely shrugged his shoulders and took his place ready for the whistle.
Now working with Mike McKenny, the three Space Cadets were part of a large group of transfer crews engaged in flying ships to Earth. Returning from Mars, where they had picked up a giant jet liner, the three cadets landed on the crowded Academy spaceport and turned hopefully to Mike. "You think we can get a twenty-four-hour pass, Mike?" asked Roger. "Yeah," growled Astro.
Those of you who have red slips will remain here. Those who find green slips will return to their quarters. Blue will go with Captain Strong, orange with Lieutenant Saminsky, and purple with Warrant Officer McKenny. Now please open the tubes." There was a tinkling of metal caps and then the slight rustle of paper as each boy withdrew the contents of the tube before him.
Strong turned to the tower operator and ordered the rocket cruiser Polaris readied for immediate space flight, concluding, " ... and have a full complement of Space Marines aboard. And I want Warrant Officer Mike McKenny as squad leader." "Have you forgotten, sir?" interjected the enlisted spaceman who was taking Strong's orders. "Warrant Officer McKenny cannot take acceleration."
"I've heard that big fellow knows more about a rocket deck than McKenny." "Yeah, that's true," said Tom, "but " "You know, Corbett," said Dixon, switching off the story spool, "there's something screwy in that outfit of yours." "You can say that again," agreed Tom bitterly. "You come in here with a face dragging on the floor, and Manning " Tom's head jerked up. "Manning!
Returning from a difficult afternoon of endless marching in the hot sun with the prospect of an evening of free-fall wrestling before them, the three cadets dragged themselves wearily onto the slidestairs leading to their quarters, their muscles screaming for rest. "Another day like this," began Astro listlessly, "and I'm going to melt down to nothing. Doesn't McKenny have a heart?"
At the far end of the line, a tall, ruggedly built boy of about eighteen, with curly brown hair and a pleasant, open face, was stirring uncomfortably. He slowly reached down toward his right boot and held it, while he wriggled his foot into it. McKenny quickly strode over and planted himself firmly in front of the boy. "When I say stand to, I mean stand to!" he roared.
The three members of the Polaris unit stepped off the slidewalk at the Academy spaceport and stood before Warrant Officer McKenny. "There she is," said the stubby spaceman, pointing to the gleaming spaceship resting not two hundred feet away. "Rocket cruiser Polaris. The newest and fastest ship in space." He faced the three boys with a smile. "And she's all yours. You earned her!"
As he started to follow his unit mates, one of the passengers on the slidewalk grabbed Tom by the arm and he turned to see Mike McKenny, Chief Warrant Officer in the enlisted Solar Guard and the first instructor the Polaris unit had met on their arrival at the Academy. "Corbett!" demanded McKenny. "Are those two space crawlers still acting like monkeys out of their cages?"
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