Stand by for Mars!

by Carey Rockwell

  CHAPTER 3

  "I just can't understand it, Joan," said Captain Steve Strong, tossingthe paper on his circular desk. "The psychographs of Corbett, Manningand Astro fit together like gears. And yet--"

  The Solar Guard officer suddenly rose and walked over to a huge windowthat filled the entire north wall of his office, a solid sheet of glassthat extended from the high domed ceiling to the translucent flooring.Through the window, he stared down moodily toward the grassy quadrangle,where at the moment several hundred cadets were marching in formationunder a hot sun.

  "--And yet," continued Strong, "every morning for the last three weeksI've got a report from McKenny about some sort of friction betweenthem!"

  "I think it'll work out, Steve," answered the pretty girl in the uniformof the Solar Guard, seated in an easy chair on the other side of thedesk.

  Joan Dale held the distinction of being the first woman ever admittedinto the Solar Guard, in a capacity other than administrative work. Herexperiments in atomic fissionables was the subject of a recentscientific symposium held on Mars. Over fifty of the leading scientistsof the Solar Alliance had gathered to study her latest theory onhyperdrive, and had unanimously declared her ideas valid. She had beenoffered the chair as Master of Physics at the Academy as a result,giving her access to the finest laboratory in the tri-planet society.

  Now facing the problem of personality adjustment in Unit 42-D, she satacross the desk from her childhood friend, Steve Strong, and frowned.

  "What's happened this time?"

  "Manning." He paused. "It seems to be all Manning!"

  "You mean he's the more aggressive of the three?"

  "No--not necessarily. Corbett shows signs of being a number-onespaceman. And that big cadet, Astro"--Strong flashed a white smile thatcontrasted with his deep space tan--"I don't think he could make amanual mistake on the power deck if he tried. You know, I actually sawhim put an auxiliary rocket motor together blindfolded!"

  The pretty scientist smiled. "I could have told you that after one lookat his classification tests."

  "How?"

  "On questions concerning the power-deck operations, he was letterperfect--"

  "And on the others? Astrogation and control deck?"

  "He just skimmed by. But even where the problem involved fuel, power,supply of energy, he offered some very practical answer to the problem."She smiled. "Astro is as much an artist on that power deck as LiddyTamal doing Juliet in the stereos."

  "Yes," mused Strong. "And Corbett is the same on the control deck. Goodinstinctive intelligence. That boy soaks up knowledge like a sponge."

  "Facile mind--quick to grasp the essentials." She smiled again. "Seemsto me I remember a few years back when a young lieutenant successfullyput down a mutiny in space, and at his promotion to captain, thecitation included the fact that he was quick to grasp the essentials."

  Strong grinned sheepishly. A routine flight to Titan had misfired intoopen rebellion by the crew. Using a trick picked up in ancient historybooks of sea-roving pirates in the seventeenth century, he had joinedthe mutiny, gained control of the ship, sought out the ring-leaders andrestored discipline.

  "And Manning," asked Strong. "What about Manning?"

  "One of the hardest, brightest minds I've come across in the Academy. Hehas a brain like a steel trap. He never misses."

  "Then, do you think he's acting up because Corbett is the nominal headof the unit? Does he feel that he should be the command cadet in thecontrol deck instead of Corbett?"

  "No," replied Dr. Dale. "Not at all. I'm sure he intentionally missedproblems about control deck and command in his classification test. Heconcentrated on astrogation, communications and signal radar. He wantedto be assigned to the radar deck. And he turned in the best paper I'veever read from a cadet to get the post."

  Strong threw up his hands. "Then what is it? Here we have a unit, onpaper at least, that could be number one. A good combination of brains,experience and knowledge. Everything that's needed. And what is theresult? Friction!"

  Suddenly a buzzer sounded, and on Steve Strong's desk a small teleceiverscreen glowed into life. Gradually the stern face of Commander Waltersemerged.

  "Sorry to disturb you, Steve. Can you spare me a minute?"

  "Of course, Commander," replied Strong. "Is anything wrong?"

  "Very wrong, Steve. I've been looking over the daily performance reportson Unit 42-D."

  "Dr. Dale and I have just been discussing that situation, sir." Arelieved expression passed over the commander's face.

  "Good! I wanted to get your opinions before I broke up the unit."

  "No, sir!" said Strong quickly. "Don't do that!"

  "Oh?" replied the commander. On the screen he could be seen settlingback in his chair.

  "And why not?"

  "Well, Joan--er--Dr. Dale and myself feel that the boys of Unit 42-Dmake it potentially the best in the Academy--if they stay together,sir."

  Walters considered this for a moment and then asked thoughtfully, "Giveme one good reason why the unit shouldn't be washed out."

  "The academy needs boys like this, sir," Steve answered flatly. "Needstheir intelligence, their experience. They may be a problem now, but ifthey're handled right, they'll turn out to be ace spacemen, they'll--"

  The commander interrupted. "You're pretty sold on them, aren't you,Steve?"

  "Yes, sir, I am."

  "You know, tomorrow all the units will be assigned to their personalinstructors."

  "Yes, sir. And I've selected Lieutenant Wolcheck for this unit. He'stough and smart. I think he's just the man for the job."

  "I don't agree, Steve. Wolcheck is a fine officer and with any otherunit there'd be no question. But I think we have a better man for thejob."

  "Whom do you suggest, sir?"

  The commander leaned forward in his chair.

  "You, Steve."

  "Me?"

  "What do you think, Joan?"

  "I wanted to make the same suggestion, Commander," smiled Joan. "But Ididn't know if Steve really would want the assignment."

  "Well, what about it, Steve?" asked the commander. "This is noreflection on your present work. But if you're so convinced that 42-D isworth the trouble, then take them over and mold them into spacemen.Otherwise, I'll have to wash them out."

  Strong hesitated a moment. "All right, sir. I'll do my best."

  On the screen the stern lines in Commander Walters' face relaxed and hesmiled approvingly.

  "Thanks, Steve," he said softly. "I was hoping you'd say that. Keep meposted."

  The screen blacked out abruptly and Captain Strong turned to Joan Dale,a troubled frown wrinkling his brow.

  "Huh. I really walked into that one, didn't I?" he muttered.

  "It isn't going to be easy, Steve," she replied.

  "Easy!" He snorted and walked over to the window to stare blankly at thequadrangle below. "I'd almost rather try a landing on the hot side ofMercury. It would be icy compared to this situation!"

  "You can do it, Steve. I know you can." Joan moved to his side to placea reassuring hand on his arm.

  The Solar Guard officer didn't answer immediately. He kept on staring atthe Academy grounds and buildings spread out before him. When he finallyspoke, his voice rang with determination.

  "I've got to do it, Joan. I've got to whip those boys into a unit. Notonly for their sakes--but for the sake of the Academy!"