The Space Pioneers

by Carey Rockwell

  CHAPTER 5

  "For the last time, Captain Strong has been sent on a special mission toPluto!" said the supervisory officer at the Academy. "Now stop botheringme or I'll log all three of you with twenty galley demerits!"

  "Very well, sir," said Tom. "But could you tell us if the mission hadanything to do with the Roald project?"

  "Cadet Corbett," replied the officer wearily, "even if I knew I couldn'ttell you. It was a special order from Commander Walters' office. CaptainStrong blasted off three days ago with a full crew of guardsmen in arocket cruiser."

  "And he didn't--" began Roger.

  "And he didn't leave any message for you," concluded the officer.

  "Thank you, sir," said Tom. "Come on, fellows, let's go. We've got toblast off for Mars in half an hour and we haven't got our gear packed."

  The officer watched the three cadets leave and then called after them."If Captain Strong returns before you get back from Mars, Corbett, I'llask him to leave a message!"

  "Thanks, sir," said Tom.

  The three boys left the Tower building and hopped on a slidewalk forthe spaceport. The Academy was buzzing with activity as Solar Guardofficers, scientists, and enlisted men attended to the millions ofdetails of the mass flight of the colonists into deep space.

  They met Mike McKenny, the stubby warrant officer, at the air lock ofthe Solar Guard rocket destroyer that would take them to Mars. Afterthey had climbed into the ship, they waited for a full hour before theycould get clearance to blast off. And, in flight, they were forced tomaintain constant alert and careful position in the heavy flow oftraffic to and from Earth.

  "Never saw the Academy so busy in all my life," commented Mike. "Must bea thousand ships there and in the Atom City fitting docks."

  "Yeah," agreed Roger. "This is going to be some push!"

  From Mars, Titan, Ganymede, Luna City, Venus, the Asteroid Colonies, andas far away as the uranium mines of Pluto, the colonists arrived, to bequartered at Space Academy. Excited, and anxious to begin their newlife, they assembled for their antibiotic shots and the last medicalcheck by the Solar Guard doctors. There were crystal miners from Titan,farmers from Venus, Mars, and Earth, prospectors from the New Saharadesert of Mars, engineers from the atmosphere booster stations onGanymede, and just plain citizens who wanted a new life on the distantsatellite of Wolf 359. All had gathered for the great mass flight intospace.

  At the same time the giant fleet of ships needed to carry the coloniststo Roald was being assembled. Officers of the Solar Guard worked lateinto the night, examining the construction of every ship in the Alliancefor use in the flight to Roald. If a jet liner or merchantman was foundto be satisfactory, it was purchased at full price from the owners andflown to refitting docks at Space Academy and Atom City where work wasbegun converting it to a special use. Every ship was to be cannibalizedon Roald, its hull taken apart to provide housing and its power decksconverted into electropower plants. Now working with Mike McKenny, thethree Space Cadets were part of a large group of transfer crews engagedin flying ships to Earth.

  _The Solar Guard worked late into the night, examiningevery ship in the Alliance_]

  Returning from Mars, where they had picked up a giant jet liner, thethree cadets landed on the crowded Academy spaceport and turnedhopefully to Mike.

  "You think we can get a twenty-four-hour pass, Mike?" asked Roger.

  "Yeah," growled Astro. "Governor Hardy promised us a two-week leave, butI guess he got swamped under details!"

  Mike scratched his head. "I don't know, boys," he said. "I can't give itto you, but I'll speak to Commander Walters for you. I know it's been apretty rough grind for all of you."

  "Thanks, Mike," said Tom. "We'd appreciate it."

  Later, when the three boys had signed over the giant ship to therefitting crews, they headed for their dormitory for a refreshingshower.

  As Astro began to strip off his jacket, he suddenly asked, "Do you thinkCaptain Strong has returned from Pluto yet?"

  "I doubt it," answered Roger. "I'm sure there would have been a messagefor us on the chatter wire if he had." Roger referred to a tape recorderthat was standard equipment in each of the dormitory rooms, usedexpressly for messages.

  "You know something," said Tom. "I think we ought to go directly toCommander Walters about Vidac."

  "Commander Walters!" growled Astro. "Are you off your rocket?"

  "Why shouldn't we?" agreed Roger.

  "I'll tell you why!" said Astro. "Commander Walters probably is so busyyou couldn't get near him with a six-inch atomic blaster. And what arewe going to say after we get there? Just that Vidac has let some spacecrawlers into the expedition?"

  "That's enough, isn't it?" asked Roger.

  "We can't let this slide, Astro," said Tom determinedly. "Somebody's gotto do something about Vidac, and if the governor won't, it should bebrought to Commander Walters' attention."

  "Come on. Let's do it right now," urged Roger. "We'll be sticking ournecks out, but since when have we ever let that stop us?"

  Astro shrugged his shoulders and quickly redressed. The three boys leftthe dormitory building and started hopping from one slidewalk toanother, as they made their way to the Tower building. All around themthe activity of the Academy seemed to have increased. Everyone seemed tobe rushing somewhere. Even the green-clad Earthworm cadets had beenpressed into service as messengers. And mixed in with the officials werethe colonists wandering around sight-seeing.

  "Say!" exclaimed Astro. "Isn't that Jane Logan?"

  "Where?" asked Roger. Astro pointed to a parallel slidewalk where thegirl colonist from Venus was being whisked along in the same direction."Well, blast my jets!" cried Roger. "So it is!"

  "Relax, Roger," said Astro with a wink at Tom. "Business beforepleasure!"

  "Yeah--yeah, but this is business too," said Roger, jumping lightly tothe near-by slidewalk beside the pretty young colonist.

  "Well," he exclaimed, "if it isn't the little space doll from Venus!"

  Jane Logan turned around and smiled. "Well, Cadet Manning!" And seeingAstro and Tom come up, she smiled a greeting to them. "And Cadets Astroand Corbett!"

  "Never mind them," said Roger. "I'm the only one that counts."

  "Why, Cadet Manning," said the girl archly, "I had no idea you were soimportant."

  "As a matter of fact, I'm going up to see Commander Walters right now onsome important business."

  "Commander Walters?" gasped Jane. "Ohhhh!"

  Roger grinned. "Sure, and while I'm up there, I'll get atwenty-four-hour pass and we'll take in the sights at Atom City tonight.O.K.?"

  "Well, I don't know what my father would say about that!"

  "Ah, tell him you're going to go out with me," said Roger, "and therewon't be any trouble."

  "Psst! Roger!" Astro hissed suddenly, punching Roger in the ribs. Rogergave the big cadet a frowning look and turned back to Jane.

  "We'll have dinner, and then see a stereo, and I know a nice quiet spotwhere we can talk--"

  "Talk?" demanded a gruff voice behind Roger.

  The cadet whirled to find himself staring into the grim face of HyramLogan. "Just what would you talk about, Cadet Manning?" demanded Jane'sfather. Billy stood at his father's side, grinning broadly.

  "Uh--er--ah--radar, sir, the--er--problems we find in radar."

  Logan turned to Jane. "Are you interested in radar, Jane?"

  "Not particularly, Father," said Jane, a twinkle in her eye. Tom andAstro were trying unsuccessfully to stifle their laughter.

  His face suddenly flushing crimson, Roger looked around and stammered,"I--uh--I just remembered--got to see a feller about a hot rocket!" AndRoger jumped off the slidewalk to disappear into the Tower building.

  Laughing out loud now, Tom and Astro said good-by to Jane and her fatherand followed Roger.

  Inside the gleaming Tower of Galileo, the two boys raced up theslidestairs and caught up with Roger.

  "Well, Romeo," said Astro, slapping him on the
back, "that was what Icall a strategic retreat in the face of overwhelming odds."

  "Ah, go blast your jets!" snarled Roger.

  "Never mind, Roger," said Tom, "we probably won't get the pass, anyway."

  Suppressing smiles, Astro and Tom followed Roger down the long corridortoward the office of Commander Walters. In the anteroom they waitedwhile an aide announced them to the commander. Standing before theaide's desk, they could see the commander's face come into focus on thesmall teleceiver screen, and they were alarmed to see Governor Hardyseated beside him.

  "What is it, Sergeant?" asked Commander Walters.

  "Cadets Corbett, Manning, and Astro of the _Polaris_ unit to see you,sir," said the enlisted guardsman.

  "Send them right in," said Walters.

  The aide flipped off the teleceiver and smiled up at the cadets. "Goahead, fellows. He's in a good mood today, so you don't have to worryabout demerits."

  Tom thanked the guardsman and started for the door to the inner office,but Roger grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back.

  "We can't go in there now, Tom," he whispered. "Not with Governor Hardysitting there!"

  "I know," replied Tom. "But we can't back out now. He's been told we'rehere. We'll just go in and ask him for the week-end pass."

  "Good idea," agreed Astro.

  "Say, are you guys going in or not?" called the sergeant.

  The three cadets nodded quickly and stepped inside the room. GovernorHardy and the commander were studying a blueprint which was spread outon the desk. The three cadets came to attention in front of the desk asWalters looked up inquiringly.

  "_Polaris_ unit reporting on a special privilege request, sir,"announced Tom.

  Walters smiled. "Yes, I know why you're here, boys. Warrant OfficerMcKenny spoke to me a little while ago. Here's your pass. After the jobyou've done, you deserve it." He held out the slip of paper.

  Governor Hardy stood up and snapped his fingers. "You know, Commander, Iowe these boys an apology. When we left Luna City, I promised them thatI would speak to you about giving them a two-weeks' leave, and itcompletely slipped my mind!"

  "It's a good thing it did," said Walters. "I've had these boys doingsome important work and I'll have even more need for them now. Comehere, boys. I want you to look at something." He waved them around hisdesk and pointed to the blueprint on his desk. Tom, Roger, and Astrogasped. It was the plan for a large city.

  "That will be the first settlement on Roald," said Walters. "You boyswill be remembered for a long time to come." He looked up at thegovernor and winked.

  "How is that, sir?" asked Tom.

  Walters placed his finger on the many intersecting lines in theblueprint that designated streets. "Each of these streets, avenues,roads, and expressways will be named after a member of the firstcolonial expedition to Roald. Your names will be among them."

  "Ours!" exclaimed Tom. "Does that mean that--"

  "I've been talking to Governor Hardy," Walters continued casually. "Hetells me you've done a fine job. I think a tour of duty as cadetobservers on Roald will just about round out your training."

  The three boys looked at each other, eyes wide with surprise andpleasure.

  "We'll actually go with the colonists?" asked Astro.

  "That's right, Cadet Astro," said Walters. "And I'm sorry that I can'tgive you more than a twenty-four-hour pass. But time is very short."

  "Twenty-four hours will be fine, sir," said Tom. "And we appreciate yourgiving us the opportunity to go to Roald."

  "It won't be easy, Corbett," cautioned Walters. "You'll have to workharder than you've worked before. You'll have to maintain your studiesand I'll expect you to send back a report every month." He turned toGovernor Hardy. "Do you have anything to add, sir?"

  "Not a thing, Commander," replied Hardy. "I've worked with these boysfor weeks and I know what to expect of them. I know I can depend on themto take orders."

  "All right," said Walters, turning to the cadets. "Go to Atom City andhave yourself a good time. Report back to the Academy tomorrow ateighteen hundred hours. Unit dismissed!"

  The three cadets saluted and left the room. In the corridor they slumpedagainst the wall.

  "That," announced Roger, "is as close as I ever want to come to gettinga rocket shell in the side of the head."

  "You can say that again, spaceboy," sighed Astro.

  "Just think what would have happened if we'd opened our mouths aboutVidac!"

  "Come on," said Tom. "We've got twenty-four hours to soak up as much ofthis Earth as we can. And I, for one, am going to have a good time!"

  Without a word, the three cadets left the Tower building and made theirway to the monorail station, where they would catch the streamlinedexpress to Atom City. Each of the cadets was acutely aware of thetrouble that lay ahead of them, and with Captain Strong at the outeredge of the solar system on a long haul to Pluto, not even a miraclecould get him back to Space Academy in time to help them.