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Updated: May 19, 2025
He said coolly, "If you had brains in your head instead of high vacuum, you'd know that Planeteers never surrender. Blast away, you filthy space pirate!" He jerked the plug loose, hesitated for a second over whether or not to take the snapper-boat, and decided against it. He wasn't familiar with Connie controls, and there wasn't time to experiment. He headed for the cave.
A short distance away a snapper-boat was lashed to the landing boat. O’Brine had insisted on leaving it, with a word of warning. "These Connies are plenty smart. I don’t like leaving you unprotected, even within reach of Mercury and Terra, but orders are orders. Keep the snapper-boat and you’ll at least be able to put up a fight if you bump into trouble."
He looked up, white-faced. Not only was the Connie still there, but its main air lock was sliding open to disclose a new danger. In the opening, ready to launch, an assault boat waited. The assault boats were something only the Connies used. They were about four times the size of a snapper-boat, less maneuverable but more powerful.
He leaned over the sight to fire again, but before he had sighted, an explosion blew the assault boat completely around. Koa and Pederson had scored a hit from the asteroid! The big boat fired its side jets and spun around on course again. Flame bloomed from its side as Connie gunners tried to get the range on the snapper-boat. Rip was within reach now.
He waited until the private had finished, then said, "Turn out the Connies' lights, too." If he could get in touch with the Connies, he could tell them they were finished. But using the snapper-boat radios was out, because the enemy cruiser would hear. The cruiser couldn't hear the helmet communications, though, because they carried only a short distance.
In other words, he had what he needed except for a method of putting all the pieces together to create a bomb. If only they had a tube of some sort that would withstand the chemical explosion the one that brought the critical mass together! He told the Planeteers what he had been thinking, then asked, "Any ideas for a tube?" "How about a tube from the snapper-boat?" Santos suggested.
He watched his chronometer, planning the next move. When the minute ended, he asked, "Commander, how do we know you will spare our lives if we surrender?" Through the transparent shell of the snapper-boat he saw lights moving toward the horizon and knew Koa was following orders. "You don’t know," the cruiser answered. "You must take our word for it.
He reached the snapper-boat and squeezed in, Santos close behind him. As he strapped himself into the seat he called, "Koa! Get this, and get it straight. At twenty-three-oh-five, fire the bomb. Fire it whether I'm back or not." Koa replied, "Got it, sir." That would give the Planeteers a minute's leeway.
He gritted his teeth. At least he was no longer losing blood. He wasn't getting any weaker. But every now and then his vision fogged, and he had to shake his head to clear it. The pilotless snapper-boat made another slow run, then put on speed and flashed back to the group of boats near the cruiser. Another boat detached itself from the squadron and moved toward the asteroid.
He gritted his teeth. At least he was no longer losing blood. He wasn’t getting any weaker. But every now and then his vision fogged and he had to shake his head to clear it. The pilotless snapper-boat made another slow run, then put on speed and flashed back to the group of boats near the cruiser. Another boat detached itself from the squadron and moved toward the asteroid.
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