The torch itself could melt
in unskilled hands.
The next case yielded a set of astrogation instruments, carefully cradled
in a soft, rubbery plastic. Rip left them in the case and put them to one
side. As he did so, Sergeant Major Koa let out a whistle of surprise.
"Lieutenant, look at this!"
Corporal Santos exclaimed, "Well, stonker me for a stupid space squid! Do
they expect us to find any people on this asteroid?"
The object was a portable rocket launcher designed to fire light attack
rockets. It was a standard item of fighting equipment for Planeteers.
"I recognize the shape of those cases over there, now," Koa said. "Ten
racks of rockets for the launcher, one rack to a case."
Rip scratched his head. He was as puzzled as Santos. Why supply fighting
equipment for a crew on an asteroid that couldn't possibly have any
living thing on it?
He left the puzzle for the future and called for more cases. The next
two yielded projectile-type handguns for ten men, with ammunition, and
standard Planeteer space knives. The space knives had hidden blades,
which were driven forth violently when the operator pushed a thumb lever,
releasing the gas in a cartridge contained in the handle. The blades
snapped forth with enough force to break a bubble or to cut through a
space suit.
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