Danger in Deep Space | Page 2

sky, watching the
smooth steel-hulled spaceship drop toward the concrete ramp area of
the spaceport, three miles away.
[Illustration: SPACE ACADEMY U.S.A.]
In his office at the top of the gleaming Tower of Galileo, Commander
Walters, commandant of Space Academy, paused for a moment from
his duties and turned from his desk to watch the touchdown of the great
spaceship. And on the grassy quadrangle, Warrant Officer Mike
McKenny, short and stubby in his scarlet uniform of the enlisted Solar
Guard, stopped his frustrating task of drilling newly arrived cadets to
watch the mighty ship come to Earth.
Young and old, the feeling of belonging to the great fleet that patrolled
the space lanes across the millions of miles of the solar system was
something that never died in a true spaceman. The green-clad cadets
dreamed of the future when they would feel the bucking rockets in their
backs. And the older men smiled faintly as memories of their own first
space flight came to mind.

Aboard the Polaris, the young cadet crew worked swiftly and smoothly
to bring their ship to a safe landing. There was Tom Corbett, an average
young man in this age of science, who had been selected as the
control-deck and command cadet of the Polaris unit after rigid
examinations and tests. Topside, on the radar bridge, was Roger
Manning, cocky and brash, but a specialist in radar and
communications. Below, on the power deck, was Astro, a colonial from
Venus, who had been accused of cutting his teeth on an atomic rocket
motor, so great was his skill with the mighty "thrust buckets," as he
lovingly called the atomic rockets.
Now, returning from a routine training flight that had taken them to the
moons of Jupiter, the three cadets, Corbett, Manning, and Astro, and
their unit skipper, Captain Steve Strong, completed the delicate task of
setting the great ship down on the Academy spaceport.
"Closing in fast, sir," announced Tom, his attention focused on the
meters and dials in front of him. "Five hundred feet to touchdown."
"Full braking thrust!" snapped Strong crisply.
Deep inside the Polaris, braking rockets roared with unceasing power,
and the mighty spaceship eased itself to the concrete surface of the
Academy spaceport.
"Touchdown!" yelled Tom. He quickly closed the master control lever,
cutting all power, and sudden silence filled the ship. He stood up and
faced Strong, saluting smartly.
"Rocket cruiser Polaris completes mission"--he glanced at the astral
chronometer on the panel board--"at fifteen thirty-three, sir."
"Very well, Corbett," replied Strong, returning the salute. "Check the
Polaris from radar mast to exhaust ports right away."
"Yes, sir," was Tom's automatic answer, and then he caught himself.
"But I thought--"

Strong interrupted him with a wave of his hand. "I know, Corbett, you
thought the Polaris would be pulled in for a general overhaul and you
three would get liberty."
"Yes, sir," replied Tom.
"I'm not sure you won't get it," said Strong, "but I received a message
last night from Commander Walters. I think the Polaris unit might have
another assignment coming up!"
"By the rings of Saturn," drawled Roger from the open hatch to the
radar bridge, "you might know the old man would have another mission
for us! We haven't had a liberty since we were Earthworms!"
"I'm sorry, Manning," said Strong, "but you know if I had my way,
you'd certainly get the liberty. If anyone deserves it, you three do."
By this time Astro had joined the group on the control deck.
"But, sir," ventured Tom, "we've all made plans, I mean--well, my folks
are expecting me."
"Us, you mean," interrupted Roger. "Astro and I are your guests,
remember?"
"Sure, I remember," said Tom, smiling. He turned back to Captain
Strong. "We'd appreciate it if you could do something for us, sir. I
mean--well, have another unit assigned."
Strong stepped forward and put his arms around the shoulders of Tom
and Roger and faced Astro. "I'm afraid you three made a big mistake in
becoming the best unit in the Academy. Now every time there's an
important assignment to be handed out the name of the Polaris unit
sticks out like a hot rocket!"
"Some consolation," said Roger dourly.
Strong smiled. "All right, check this wagon and then report to me in my
quarters in the morning. You'll have tonight off at least. Unit

dis-missed!"
The three cadets snapped their backs straight, stood rigid, and saluted
as their superior officer strode toward the hatch. His foot on the ladder,
he turned and faced them again.
"It's been a fine mission. I want to compliment you on the way you've
handled yourselves these past few months. You boys are real
spacemen!" He saluted and disappeared down the ladder leading to the
exit port.
"And that," said Roger, turning to