"If we do manage to jettison that
tube, we've got to keep this part of the power deck airtight!"
Astro pulled harder. The veins standing out on his neck. At last, easing
off, he stood up and looked down at the nut.
"That's as tight as I can get it," he said, breathing heavily.
"Or anyone else," said Tom.
"All the valve connections broken?" asked Astro.
"Yep," replied Roger. "We're sealed tight."
"That's it, then," said Tom. "Let's get to the control deck and start
blasting!"
Astro turned to the power-deck control board and checked the gauges for
the last time. From above his head, he heard Tom's voice over the
intercom.
"All your relays to the power deck working, Astro?"
"Ready, Tom," answered Astro.
"Then stand by," said Tom on the control deck. He had made a hasty check
of the controls and found them to be similar enough to those on the
_Polaris_ so that he could handle the ship. He flipped the switch to the
radar deck and spoke into the intercom.
"Do we have a clear trajectory fore and aft, Roger?"
"All clear," replied Roger. "I sent Captain Strong the message."
"What'd he say?"
"The rebellion wasn't anything more than a bunch of badly scared old
men. Al James just got hysterical, that's all."
[Illustration: _A low muted roar pulsed through the ship_]
"What did he have to say about this operation?"
"I can't repeat it for your young ears," said Roger.
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