On the Trail of the Space Pirates

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  ON THE TRAIL OF THE SPACE PIRATES

  A TOM CORBETT Space Cadet Adventure

  By CAREY ROCKWELL

  WILLY LEY _Technical Adviser_

  ILLUSTRATIONS BY LOUIS GLANZMAN

  GROSSET & DUNLAP _Publishers_ New York

  COPYRIGHT, 1953, BYROCKHILL RADIOALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

  [Transcriber's note: This is a rule 6 clearance. PG has not been ableto find a copyright renewal for this book.]

  ILLUSTRATIONS

  Hawks stood up and eyed the two men coldly

  Tom saw three pretty girls board the ship

  The hatch opened again and the two spacemen entered the air lock

  The scar-faced man obviously wanted something from Tom

  The young cadet timed his move perfectly

  All Solar Guard defense measures seemed to be futile

  Astro and Coxine were locked in mortal combat

  ON THE TRAIL OF THE SPACE PIRATES

  CHAPTER 1

  "ALL ABOARD!"

  A metallic voice rasped over the loud-speakers and echoed through thelofty marble and aluminum concourse of the New Chicago MonorailTerminal. "Atom City express on Track Seven! Space Academy first stop!Passengers for Space Academy will please take seats in the first sixcars!"

  As the crowd of people waiting in the concourse surged through the gateleading to Track Seven, three boys in the royal-blue uniforms of theSpace Cadet Corps slowly picked up their plastic space bags and joinedthe mass of travelers.

  Wearily, they drifted with the crowd and stepped on the slidestairsleading down to the monorail platform. In the lead, Tom Corbett, thecommand cadet of the unit, a tall, curly-haired boy of eighteen,slouched against the handrail and looked back at his two unit-mates,Roger Manning and Astro. Manning, a slender cadet, with close-croppedblond hair, was yawning and blinking his eyes sleepily, while Astro, thethird member of the unit, a head taller than either of his unit-matesand fifty pounds heavier, stood flat-footed on the step, eyes closed,his giant bulk swaying slightly with the motion of the slidestairs.

  "Huh! A real snappy unit!" Tom muttered to himself.

  "Hmmm? What?" Roger blinked and stared bleary-eyed at Tom.

  "Nothing, Roger," Tom replied. "I only hope you guys can stay awake longenough to get on the monorail."

  "It's your own fault, Tom," rumbled Astro in his bull-like voice. "Ifyour family hadn't thrown so many parties for us while we were on leave,we'd have had more sleep."

  "I didn't hear any complaints then," snorted Tom. "Just get into the carbefore you cork off, will you? I'm in no shape to carry you."

  Seconds later, the slidestairs deposited the three boys on the platformand they slowly made their way through the crowd toward the forward carsof the monorail. Entering the third car, they found three seats togetherand collapsed into their luxurious softness.

  "Oh, brother!" Tom groaned as he curled himself into the cushions, "I'mgoing to sleep all the way to the Academy."

  "I'm asleep already," mumbled Roger, his voice muffled by his cap pulledlow over his face.

  Suddenly Astro sat bolt upright. "I'm hungry!" he announced.

  "Oh, no!" moaned Tom.

  "Why, you overgrown Venusian ape, Mrs. Corbett gave you dinner less thanan hour ago!" Roger complained. "Steak, French fries, beans, corn, pie,ice cream...."

  "Two helpings," chimed in Tom.

  "And now you're hungry!" Roger was incredulous.

  "Can't help it," calmly answered Astro. "I'm a big guy, that's all." Hebegan digging through his space bag for an apple Mrs. Corbett hadthoughtfully provided.

  Tom finally stirred and sat up. He had learned a long time ago thefutility of trying to deny Astro's Gargantuan appetite. "There's adining car on this section of the monorail, Astro," he said, slapping acrumpled mass of credits into the Venusian's hamlike hand. "Here. Haveyourself a good time." He slumped back in his seat and closed his eyes.

  "Yeah," growled Roger, "and when you come back, don't make any noise!"

  Astro smiled. He got up carefully and climbed over his two sleepingmates. Standing in the aisle, he counted the credits Tom had given himand turned to the front of the car. Suddenly a heavy voice growledbehind him.

  "One side, spaceboy!"

  A hand grabbed him by the shoulder and pushed him to one side. Caughtoff balance, Astro fell back on his sleeping unit-mates.

  "Hey! What th--" stuttered Astro as he sprawled on top of his friends.The two sleepy cadets came up howling.

  "Astro! What in blazes do you think you're doing?" roared Tom.

  "Why, you space-brained idiot," yelled Roger, "I ought to lay one onyour chin!"

  There was a tangle of arms and legs and finally the three cadetsstruggled to their feet. Astro turned to see who had pushed him.

  Two men standing at the end of the car grinned back at him.

  "It was those two guys at the end of the car," explained Astro. "Theypushed me!" He lumbered toward them, followed by Tom and Roger.

  Stopping squarely in front of them, he demanded, "What's the big idea?"

  "Go back to your beauty rest, spaceboy!" jeered the heavier of the twomen and turned to his companion, adding with a snarl, "How do you likehis nerve? We not only have to pay taxes to support these lazy kids andteach them how to be spacemen, but they're loud-mouthed and sassy on topof it!"

  The other man, smaller and rat-faced, laughed. "Yeah, we oughta reportthem to their little soldier bosses at Space Academy."

  Astro suddenly balled his fists and stepped forward, but Tom grabbed hisarm and pulled him back while Roger eased himself between his mates andthe two grinning men.

  "You know, Tom," he drawled, looking the heavier of the two right in theeye, "the only thing I don't like about being a Space Cadet is having tobe polite to _all_ the people, including the space crawlers!"

  "Why, you little punk," sneered the bigger man, "I oughta wipe up thedeck with you!"

  Roger smiled thinly. "Don't try it, mister. You wouldn't know what hityou!"

  "Come on, Wallace," said the smaller man. "Leave 'em alone and let'sgo."

  Astro took another step forward and roared, "Blast off. Both of you!"

  The two men turned quickly and disappeared through the door leading tothe next monorail car.

  The three cadets turned and headed back down the aisle to their seats.

  "Let's get some sleep," said Tom. "We better be in good shape for thatnew assignment when we hit the Academy. No telling what it'll be, wherewe'll go, or worse yet, when we'll blast off. And I, for one, want tohave a good night's rest under my belt."

  "Yeah," agreed Roger, settling himself into the cushions once more."Wonder what the orders will be. Got any ideas, Tom?"

  "No idea at all, Roger," answered Tom. "The audiogram just said reportback to the Academy immediately for assignment."

  "Hey, Astro!" exclaimed Roger, seeing the Venusian climb back into hisseat. "Aren't you going to eat?"

  "I'm not hungry any more," grunted Astro. "Those guys made me lose myappetite."

  Tom looked at Roger and winked. "Maybe we'd better tell Captain Strongabout this, Roger."

  "Why?"

  "Get Astro mad enough and he won't want to eat. The Academy can cut downon its food bills."

  "Ah, rocket off, you guys," growled Astro sleepily.

  Tom and Roger smiled at each other, closed their eyes, and in a momentthe three cadets of the Polaris unit were sound asleep
.

  * * * * *

  Suspended from a single gleaming rail that stretched across the westernplains like an endless silver ribbon, the monorail express hurtledthrough the early dawn speeding its passengers to their destination. Asthe gleaming line of streamlined cars crossed the newly developedgrazing lands that had once been the great American desert, Tom Corbettstirred from a deep sleep. The slanting rays of the morning sun wereshining in his eyes. Tom yawned, stretched, and turned to the viewportto watch the scenery flash past. Looming up over the flat grassy plainsahead, he could see a huge bluish mountain range, its many peaks coveredwith ever-present snow. In a few moments Tom knew the train would rocketthrough a tunnel and then on the other side, in the center of a deep,wide valley, he would see Space Academy, the university of the planetsand headquarters of the great Solar Guard.

  He reached over and shook Roger and Astro, calling, "All right,spacemen, time to hit the deck!"

  "Uh? Ah-ummmh!" groaned Roger.

  "Ahhhoooohhhhhh!" yawned Astro. Standing up, he stretched and touchedthe top of the monorail car.

  "Let's get washed before the other passengers wake up," said Tom, andheaded for the morning room. Astro and Roger followed, dragging theirfeet and rubbing their eyes.

  Five minutes later, as the sleek monorail whistled into the tunnelbeneath the mountain range, the boys of the _Polaris_ unit returned totheir seats.

  "Back to the old grind," sighed Roger. "Drills, maneuvers, books,lectures. The same routine, day in day out."

  "Maybe not," said Tom. "Remember, the order for us to report back wassigned by Commander Walters, not the cadet supervisor of leaves. I thinkthat means something special."

  Suddenly the monorail roared out of the tunnel and into brilliantearly-morning sun again.

  The three cadets turned quickly, their eyes sweeping the valley for thefirst sight of the shining Tower of Galileo.

  "There it is," said Tom, pointing toward a towering crystal buildingreflecting the morning light. "We'll be there in a minute."

  Even as Tom spoke, the speed of the monorail slackened as it eased pasta few gleaming structures of aluminum and concrete. Presently the whiteplatform of the Academy station drifted past the viewport and allforward motion stopped. The doors opened and the three boys hurried tothe exit.

  All around the cadets, men and women in the vari-colored uniforms of theSolar Guard hurried through the station. The green of the Earthwormcadets, first-year students of the Cadet Corps; the brilliant rich blueof the senior cadets like the _Polaris_ unit; the scarlet red of theenlisted Solar Guard; and here and there, the black and gold of theofficers of the Solar Guard.

  The three cadets hurried to the nearest slidewalk, a moving belt ofplastic that glided silently across the ground toward Space Academy. Itwhisked them quickly past the few buildings nestled around the monorailstation and rounded a curve. The three cadets looked up together at thegleaming Tower of Galileo. Made of pure Titan crystal, it soared abovethe cluster of buildings that surrounded the grassy quadrangle anddominated Space Academy like a translucent giant.

  The cadets stepped off the slidewalk as it glided past the Towerbuilding and ran up the broad marble stair. At the huge main portal, Tomstopped and looked back over the Academy grounds. All around him lay theevidence of mankind's progress. It was the year 2353, when Earthman hadlong since colonized the inner planets, Mars and Venus, and the threelarge satellites, Moon of Earth, Ganymede of Jupiter, and Titan ofSaturn. It was the age of space travel; of the Solar Alliance, a unifiedsociety of billions of people who lived in peace with one another,though sprawled throughout the universe; and the Solar Guard, the mightof the Solar Alliance and the defender of interplanetary peace. Allthese things Tom saw as he stood in the wide portal of the TowerBuilding, flanked by Astro and Roger.

  Turning into the Tower, the three cadets went directly to the office oftheir unit commander. The training program at Space Academy consisted ofthree cadets to a unit, with a Solar Guard officer as their teacher andinstructor. Steve Strong, captain in the Solar Guard, had been theircadet instructor since the unit had been formed and he now smiled awelcome as the cadets snapped to attention in front of his desk.

  "_Polaris_ unit reporting as ordered, sir," said Tom, handing over theaudiogram order he had received the day before.

  "Thank you, Corbett," said Strong, taking the paper. "At ease."

  The three boys relaxed and broke into wide grins as Strong rounded hisdesk and shook hands with each of them.

  "Glad to have you back, boys," he said. "Did you enjoy your leave?"

  "And how, sir," replied Tom.

  "Tom's mother showed us a whale of a good time," chimed in Roger.

  "And how she can cook!" Astro licked his lips involuntarily.

  "Well, I hope you had a good rest--" said Strong, but was suddenlyinterrupted by the sound of a small bell. Behind his desk a smallteleceiver screen glowed into life to reveal the stern face of CommanderWalters, the commander of Space Academy.

  Strong turned to the teleceiver and called, "Yes, Commander Walters?"

  "Did the _Polaris_ unit arrive yet, Steve?" asked the commander.

  "Yes, sir," replied Strong. "They're here in my office now, sir."

  "Good," said the commander with a smile. "I just received a report theexposition will open sooner than expected. I suggest you brief thecadets and raise ship as soon as possible."

  "Very well, sir," answered Strong. The screen darkened and he turnedback to the cadets. "Looks like you got back just in time."

  "What's up, sir?" asked Tom.

  Strong returned to his chair and sat down. "I suppose you've all heardabout the Solar Exposition that opens on Venus next week?"

  Tom's eyes lit up. "Have we! That's all the stereos and visunews andteleceivers have been yacking about for weeks now."

  "Well," said Strong with a smile, "we're going!"

  The three cadets couldn't restrain themselves and burst out in a happyshout. Then Roger calmed down enough to comment, "Sounds more likeanother vacation than an assignment, sir."

  "Hardly, Manning," replied Strong. "You see, every industry, society,organization, and governmental agency is setting up exhibits at theexposition to show the people what's taking place in their part of thesolar system. There'll also be an amusement section." Strong chuckled."I've seen pictures of some of the tricks and rides they've developed toentertain the younger generation. Believe me, I'd rather take fullacceleration on a rocket ship than ride on any of them."

  "But what will we do, sir?" asked Tom.

  "Our job is very simple. We're to take the _Polaris_ to the expositionand land on the fairgrounds. When the fair opens, we show all thevisitors who are interested, everything about her."

  "You mean we're going to be"--Roger swallowed--"guides?"

  "That's right, Manning," said Strong. "You three will guide all visitorsthrough the _Polaris_."

  "How long will we be there, sir?" asked Tom.

  "A month or so, I guess. The _Polaris_ will be the first Academyexhibit. When you leave, another unit will replace you with their shipand do the same thing."

  "But--but--" stammered Astro, "what will we say to them? The visitors, Imean?"

  "Just answer all their questions, Astro. Also, make up a little speechabout the functions of your particular station."

  Strong looked at his watch and rose to his feet. "It's getting late.Check the _Polaris_ over and stand by to raise ship in an hour."

  "Yes, sir," said Tom.

  The cadets came to attention, preparing to leave.

  "One thing more! Don't get the idea that this is going to be a spacelark," said Strong. "It's very important for the people of the SolarAlliance to know what kind of work we're doing here at the Academy. Andyou three have been selected as representatives of the entire CadetCorps. So see that you conduct yourselves accordingly. All right,dismissed!"

  The three cadets saluted sharply and filed out of the room, theirskipper's
final words ringing in their ears.

  Fifteen minutes later, having packed the necessary gear for the extendedtrip, the _Polaris_ unit rode the slidewalk through the grassyquadrangle and the cluster of Academy buildings, out toward thespaceport. In the distance they could see the rocket cruiser _Polaris_,poised on the launching ramp, her long silhouette outlined sharplyagainst the blue sky. Resting on her four stabilizer fins, her nosepointed toward the stars, the ship looked like a giant projectile poisedand ready to blast its target.

  "Look at her!" exclaimed Astro. "If she isn't the most beautiful ship inthe universe, I'll eat my hat."

  "Don't see how you could," drawled Roger, "after the way you put awayMrs. Corbett's pies!"

  Tom laughed. "I'll tell you one thing, Roger," he said, pointing to theship, "I feel like that baby is as much my home as Mom's and Dad's houseback in New Chicago."

  "All right, all right," said Roger. "Since we're all getting sloppy, Ihave to admit that I'm glad to see that old thrust bucket too!"

  Presently the three cadets were scrambling into the mighty spaceship,and they went right to work, preparing for blast-off.

  Quickly, with sure hands, each began a systematic check of his station.On the power deck Astro, a former enlisted Solar Guardsman who had beenadmitted to the Cadet Corps because of his engineering genius, strippedto the waist and started working on the ship's massive atomic engines. Aheavy rocketman's belt of tools slung around his waist, he crawledthrough the heart of the ship, adjusting a valve here, turning a screwthere, seeing that the reactant feeders were clean and clear to therocket firing chambers. And last of all he made sure the great rocketfiring chambers were secure and the heavy sheets of lead baffling inplace to protect him from deadly radioactivity.

  On the radar bridge in the nose of the ship, Roger removed the delicateastrogation prism from its housing and cleaned it with a soft cloth.Replacing it carefully, he turned to the radar scanner, checking theintricate wiring system and making sure that the range finders were ingood working order. He then turned his attention to the intercom.

  "Radar bridge to control deck," he called. "Checking the intercom, Tom."

  Immediately below, on the control deck, Tom turned away from the controlpanel. "All clear here, Roger. Check with Astro."

  "All clear on the power deck!" The big Venusian's voice boomed over theloud-speaker. The intercom could be heard all over the ship unless themany speakers were turned off individually.

  Tom turned his attention back to the great control panel, and one by onetested the banks of dials, gauges, and indicators that controlled therocket cruiser. Tom Corbett had wanted to be a space Cadet as long as hecould remember. After taking the entrance exams, he had been acceptedfor the rigid training that would prepare him to enter the ranks of thegreat Solar Guard. He had met his two unit-mates, Roger and Astro, onhis very first day at the Academy, and after a difficult beginning,adjusting to each other's personalities and the discipline of theAcademy routine, the three boys had become steadfast friends.

  As control-deck cadet and pilot, Tom was head of the unit,second-in-command to Captain Strong. And while he could issue orders toAstro and Roger and expect to be obeyed, the three cadets all spoketheir minds when it came to making difficult decisions. This hadsolidified the three cadets into a fighting, experienced, dependableunit.

  Tom made a final check on the gravity generator and turned to theintercom.

  "All departments, report!" he called.

  "Radar bridge checks in O.K.," replied Roger.

  "Power deck checks in on the nose, Tom," reported Astro.

  "Right! Stand by! We blast as soon as the skipper gets around."

  Tom turned to the teleceiver and switched it on. The screen blurred andthen steadied into a view of the spaceport outside. Tom scanned thelaunching ramp below, and, satisfied it was clear, he switched theteleceiver to the spaceport traffic-control circuit.

  "Rocket cruiser _Polaris_ to spaceport control," he called. "Come in,spaceport control. Request orbit clearance."

  "Spaceport traffic control to _Polaris_," reported the traffic officer,his face in focus on the teleceiver screen. "Your orbit has been clearedfor blast-off. Orbit number 3847--repeat, 3847--raise ship when ready!"

  "Orbit 3847," repeated Tom. "End transmission!"

  "End transmission," said the officer. Tom flipped off the teleceiver andthe officer's face disappeared.

  At the rear of the control deck, Captain Strong suddenly stepped throughthe hatch and dropped his black plastic space bag on the deck. Tom gotup and saluted sharply.

  "_Polaris_ ready to blast off, sir," he said. "Orbit cleared."

  "Very well, Corbett," replied Strong, returning the salute. "Carry on!"

  Tom turned back to the control board and flipped on the intercom."Control deck to power deck! Energize the cooling pumps!"

  "Cooling pumps, aye!" said Astro.

  From the power deck, the massive pumps began their whining roar. Thegreat ship shuddered under the pressure.

  Tom watched the gauge that indicated the pressure control and thencalled into the intercom.

  "Radar bridge, do we have a clear trajectory?'

  "All clear forward and up, Tom," reported Roger from the radar bridge.

  "Strap in for blast-off!" bawled the curly-haired cadet.

  Captain Strong took his place in the pilot's chair next to Tom andstrapping himself in snapped out, "Feed reactant!"

  Spinning a small wheel at the side of the control panel, Tom reported,"Feeders at D-9 rate, sir!"

  Then, as the hiss of fuel pouring into the mighty engines of the shipblended with the whine of the pumps, Tom snapped out a third order. "Cutin take-off six yards!"

  Receiving acknowledgment from below, he grasped the master blast-offswitch and watched the sweeping hand of the astral chronometer.

  "Stand by to raise ship!" he yelled. "Blast offminus--five--four--three--two--one--_zero_!"

  He pulled the switch.

  Slowly, the rockets blasting evenly, the giant ship lifted itself freeof the ground. Then, gaining speed, it began rocketing away from theEarth. Like a giant shining bullet, the great spaceship blasted throughthe dark void of space, her nose pointed to the distant misty planet ofVenus.

  Once again Tom Corbett and his unit-mates had embarked on a mission forthe Solar Guard.