On the Trail of the Space Pirates | Page 5

control panel, and one by
one tested the banks of dials, gauges, and indicators that controlled the
rocket cruiser. Tom Corbett had wanted to be a space Cadet as long as
he could remember. After taking the entrance exams, he had been
accepted for the rigid training that would prepare him to enter the ranks
of the great Solar Guard. He had met his two unit-mates, Roger and
Astro, on his very first day at the Academy, and after a difficult
beginning, adjusting to each other's personalities and the discipline of
the Academy routine, the three boys had become steadfast friends.
As control-deck cadet and pilot, Tom was head of the unit,
second-in-command to Captain Strong. And while he could issue
orders to Astro and Roger and expect to be obeyed, the three cadets all
spoke their minds when it came to making difficult decisions. This had
solidified the three cadets into a fighting, experienced, dependable unit.
Tom made a final check on the gravity generator and turned to the
intercom.

"All departments, report!" he called.
"Radar bridge checks in O.K.," replied Roger.
"Power deck checks in on the nose, Tom," reported Astro.
"Right! Stand by! We blast as soon as the skipper gets around."
Tom turned to the teleceiver and switched it on. The screen blurred and
then steadied into a view of the spaceport outside. Tom scanned the
launching ramp below, and, satisfied it was clear, he switched the
teleceiver to the spaceport traffic-control circuit.
"Rocket cruiser Polaris to spaceport control," he called. "Come in,
spaceport control. Request orbit clearance."
"Spaceport traffic control to Polaris," reported the traffic officer, his
face in focus on the teleceiver screen. "Your orbit has been cleared for
blast-off. Orbit number 3847--repeat, 3847--raise ship when ready!"
"Orbit 3847," repeated Tom. "End transmission!"
"End transmission," said the officer. Tom flipped off the teleceiver and
the officer's face disappeared.
At the rear of the control deck, Captain Strong suddenly stepped
through the hatch and dropped his black plastic space bag on the deck.
Tom got up and saluted sharply.
"Polaris ready to blast off, sir," he said. "Orbit cleared."
"Very well, Corbett," replied Strong, returning the salute. "Carry on!"
Tom turned back to the control board and flipped on the intercom.
"Control deck to power deck! Energize the cooling pumps!"
"Cooling pumps, aye!" said Astro.
From the power deck, the massive pumps began their whining roar.

The great ship shuddered under the pressure.
Tom watched the gauge that indicated the pressure control and then
called into the intercom.
"Radar bridge, do we have a clear trajectory?'
"All clear forward and up, Tom," reported Roger from the radar bridge.
"Strap in for blast-off!" bawled the curly-haired cadet.
Captain Strong took his place in the pilot's chair next to Tom and
strapping himself in snapped out, "Feed reactant!"
Spinning a small wheel at the side of the control panel, Tom reported,
"Feeders at D-9 rate, sir!"
Then, as the hiss of fuel pouring into the mighty engines of the ship
blended with the whine of the pumps, Tom snapped out a third order.
"Cut in take-off six yards!"
Receiving acknowledgment from below, he grasped the master
blast-off switch and watched the sweeping hand of the astral
chronometer.
"Stand by to raise ship!" he yelled. "Blast off
minus--five--four--three--two--one--zero!"
He pulled the switch.
Slowly, the rockets blasting evenly, the giant ship lifted itself free of
the ground. Then, gaining speed, it began rocketing away from the
Earth. Like a giant shining bullet, the great spaceship blasted through
the dark void of space, her nose pointed to the distant misty planet of
Venus.
Once again Tom Corbett and his unit-mates had embarked on a mission
for the Solar Guard.

CHAPTER 2
"Stand by for touchdown!" bellowed Captain Strong's voice on the big
spaceship's intercom.
"Control deck standing by," replied Tom.
"Corbett," Strong continued, "you may take her down as soon as you
get clearance from Venusport traffic control."
Tom acknowledged the order with a brisk "Aye, sir! In a few moments
he received permission to touch down on the newly colonized planet.
Then, turning his attention to the control board, he requested a
ground-approach check from Roger.
"About two miles to touchdown, Tom," reported Roger from the radar
bridge. "Trajectory clear!"
"O.K., Roger," said Tom. Glancing quickly at the air speed and rocket
thrust indicators, he flipped a switch and sang out, "Power deck, reduce
thrust on main drive rockets to minimum!"
"Got ya, Tom," boomed Astro.
"Closing in fast, sir," said Tom to Strong, who had come up from
below and now stood at the cadet's shoulder watching as Tom
maneuvered the big ship through the Venusian atmosphere, his keen
eyes sweeping the great panel of recording gauges and dials.
"One thousand feet to touchdown," intoned Roger from the radar
bridge.
Reacting