Part 24 (1/2)
”At least as good as we have!”
”I thought so, too! If a Solar Guard squadron tried to attack this base now, they'd be spotted and blasted out of s.p.a.ce!”
”What about stores, sir?” asked Tom. ”I didn't see anything like a supply depot.”
Connel told him of the small buildings which he believed housed the elevator shafts to underground storerooms. ”Only one thing is missing!”
he concluded.
”What's that, sir?”
”The nuclear chambers where they produce ammunition for their fleet.”
”It must be underground too, sir,” said Tom. ”There isn't a building in the canyon that's made of concrete and steel.”
”Right. Either that, or it's back up there in the cliffs in one of those tunnels!” The officer snorted. ”By the stars, Corbett, this place is an atom bomb ready to go off in the lap of the Solar Alliance.”
”What are we going to do, sir?” asked Tom. ”So far, it looks as if it's going to be tough to get out again.”
”We'll have to wait for a break, Tom,” sighed Connel.
”I hope they've taken good care of Roger,” said the cadet in a low voice. ”And I hope they've got Astro.”
”Watch it,” warned Connel. ”Drifi's coming back. Remember, if we're separated and you do manage to escape, get back to Sinclair's. Contact Commander Walters and tell him everything that's happened. The code name for direct emergency contact through Solar Guard communications center in Venusport is Juggernaut!”
”Juggernaut!” repeated Tom in a whisper. ”Very well, sir. But I sure hope we aren't separated.”
”Well have to take what comes. _s.h.!.+_ Here he comes.”
”All right, let's go,” said the patrol leader.
They continued across the canyon until they reached a four-story wooden structure without windows. Drifi opened a small door and motioned them inside.
”What is this?” Connel demanded.
”This is where you'll stay until Lactu sends for you. Right now, he is in conference with the Division Leaders.”
”Divisions of what? s.h.i.+ps? Men?” asked Connel offhandedly, trying not to show any more than idle curiosity.
”You'll find out when the Solar Guard comes looking for a fight,” said Drifi. ”Now get in there!”
Tom and Connel were shoved inside and the door closed behind them. It was pitch black, and they couldn't see an inch in front of their faces.
But both Tom and Connel knew instantly that they were not alone.
”Come on. Gimme that wrench!” barked Astro. The little man beside him handed up the wrench and leaned over the side of the engine casing to watch Astro pull the nut tight. ”Now get over there and throw on the switch,” snapped the big cadet.
The little man scurried over to one side of the vast machine shop and flipped on the wall switch. There was an audible hum of power and then slowly the machine Astro had just worked on began to speed up, soon revving up to ten thousand revolutions per minute.
”Is it fixed?” demanded the shop foreman, coming up beside Astro.