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Updated: June 4, 2025
A few minutes later they entered his quarters for the second time that evening. Vidac was ready and waiting when they entered the room and came to attention. He leaned back against his desk and looked at each cadet through half-closed eyes. Finally, after a full minute of silence, he began to speak.
He turned and pressed the annunciator button and the hatch slid open. The three cadets entered the room and snapped to attention. "Polaris unit reporting as ordered, sir," said Tom. Vidac swung around in his chair and stared up at the three cadets, a hint of a smile curling his lips. "You've done a fine job, boys," he said. "The fleet is in good formation."
Do you know anything about it?" The three cadets were dumfounded. Finally Roger shook his head. "No no, sir," he muttered. "We don't know anything about it." Vidac smiled. "All right. That's all. Make out a full report on the scouting mission and send it to me immediately." When the lieutenant governor had disappeared, Roger turned to face Tom and Astro. "Well, what do we do now?"
"Well," said Hardy, "there's a lot to be done now that we've arrived, Corbett. I'll take this matter up with Vidac as soon as I get a chance." He turned and walked off the control deck. "Well, I'll be a space monkey!" exclaimed Roger. "Yeah," agreed Tom, "I'll be two of them!"
Bush slid under the wheel and started the jets. "You think the cadets are still up there in the hills?" asked Bush. "Never mind what I think," snapped Vidac. "Head for the spaceport." Vidac spun around in his seat and looked back along the highway. He punched Astro in the shoulder and motioned for him to look. Astro turned to see the jet car left by Vidac pulling away from the hills.
"Tell him to come back later," said Vidac. "I'm busy." "He says it's very important," replied the aide. "All right all right, send him in," snapped Vidac and closed the key on the teleceiver irritably. A second later the door opened and Professor Sykes entered hurriedly. He was dirty and dusty from his ten-day stay in the desert wastes of the satellite. "Vidac!" cried Sykes excitedly.
His voice was as smooth as the purr of a cat. "How could you have replaced him, mister?" asked Tom, with just a little more self-control than Roger or Astro had shown. "Very simple," said Vidac. "Governor Hardy has the final say on all applications, as you know. He has unquestioned authority to appoint, approve, and select anyone he wants.
Tom lay in his bunk, hands under his head, wondering about Vidac, and then he began to think about the colony of Roald. He lay a long time, thinking about the fine people who were giving up comfortable homes, successful businesses.
The man turned back to the messroom just off the control deck, put the coffee cup down on the table, and returned to face the three cadets. "My name is Paul Vidac. I'm the new lieutenant governor of Roald." "You're what?" gasped Tom. "You're space happy!" exclaimed Roger. "Your application was refused. Captain Strong rejected it himself."
"But one thing more, Sykes. If there are any more petty disagreements, please settle them with Vidac. Don't come up here again, unless I order you to!" "You order me," gasped Sykes. "That's all, Sykes!" said Hardy coldly, picking up some papers in an obvious gesture of dismissal. His fury redoubled, the professor backed out of the room and hurried below to Vidac's quarters.
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