Have the missile ports cleared for action."
Rip's eyes opened. Clear the missile ports? That meant getting the
cruiser in fighting shape, ready for instant action. "You wouldn't fire
on that Consops cruiser, would you, sir?"
O'Brine gave him a grim smile. "Certainly not, Foster. It's against
orders to start anything with Consops cruisers. You know why. The
situation is so tense that a fight between two spaceships might plunge
Earth into war." His smile got even grimmer. "But you never know. The
Consops ship might fire first. Or an accident might happen."
The commander leaned forward. "We'll find that asteroid for you, Mr.
Planeteer. We'll put you on it and see you on your way. Then we'll ride
space along with you, and if any Consops thieves try to take over and
collect that thorium for themselves, they'll find Kevin O'Brine waiting.
That's a promise."
Rip felt a lot better. He sat back in his chair and regarded the
commander with mixed respect and something else. Against his will, he
was beginning to like the man. No doubt of it, the _Scorpius_ was well
named. And the sting in the scorpion's tail was O'Brine himself.
CHAPTER FIVE
The Gray World
Rip rejoined his Planeteers in the supply room and motioned for them
to gather around him.
Pages:
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65