feature of the strange vessel, while mechanics dismantled and transferred to the Sinus
every device and instrument of interest. One or two novel and useful applications of
rays and forces were found, their visirays and communicators in particular being of a
high degree of efficiency; but upon the whole the science of the hexans was found to be
inferior to that now known to the scientists of Inter-Planetary’s flying laboratory. Brandon
studied the hexan power-system most carefully, and, everything in readiness and after a
long talk with Westfall, he called a general conference in the control-room.
“Gentlemen, we have done about everything we can do for the time being. By
combining the best features of the visirays and communicators of the hexans with our
own newly-perfected devices we now have a really excellent system of communication.
Our friends from Mars and Venus have so altered and enlarged our force-controls that
our offensive and defensive fields, rays, and screens leave little to be desired. In power
we are far ahead of the enemy. They apparently know nothing of the possibilities of
cosmic radiation, but depend upon tight-beam transmission from their own power-
plants—which transmission they have perfected to a point far beyond anything reached
by us of the three planets. They do not use accumulators, and therefore their dissipation
is limited to their maximum reception, which is about seventy thousand kilofranks. Since
we can dissipate ten times that amount of energy we could withstand for a short time
the simultaneous attacks of ten of their vessels. Eleven or more of them, however,
would be able to crush our defensive screens—and Captain Czuv has seen as many as
a hundred of their space-ships in one formation. Furthermore, since they have several
times our maximum acceleration they could concentrate quickly upon any desired point.
We could not escape them by flight if they really set out to overtake us, which they
certainly will do if we again venture into their territory. Therefore it is clear that we
cannot subject ourselves to any attack in force and it follows that we cannot do much of
anything until the police fleet of some five hundred vessels can be re-armed and can
join us near Callisto. This will require several months at best. As you already know, it
has been decided that we should not return to any of the minor planets, as to do so
might invite a hexan attack upon our as yet unprepared police fleet. We are now
heading for Uranus, in the hope that such a course will distract the attention of the
hexans from Tellus, even though they probably already know that we are Tellurians.
Our new communicator will reach any member of the Jovian system from this point. It
has been decided that it is safe to use it, since it employs an almost absolutely tight
beam of very small diameter, and since we know that that one hexan vessel, at least,
had no apparatus sufficiently sensitive to detect a beam of that nature. We will therefore
now get in touch with the Callistonians and with our own people.”
Brandon seated himself before the communicator screen, and while the others
packed themselves closely around his stool he snapped on the visiray and turned the
dials which directed that invisible, immensely complex beam through space. The screen
was apparently in itself a coign of vantage, flying through space with the velocity of light,
and the watchers gasped involuntarily and drew themselves together as with that
unthinkable speed they flashed down toward the surface of Callisto. So realistic was the
impression that they themselves were hurtling through the void that they could scarcely
reason themselves into believing their positive knowledge that the impending collision
was not an actual happening! Reducing the velocity of the projection abruptly as it
approached the satellite, Brandon flashed it down into a crater indicated by Czuv, and
along a tunnel to the city of Zbardk, where the Callistonian captain held a long
conversation with the Council of the nation. Frowning in thought, he turned to Newton
and spoke seriously and slowly.
“Immediately after the loss of our super-plane, with the supposed death of King,
Breckenridge, and myself, the other Tellurian officers were returned to Europa> since
even they could be of no assistance to us Callistonians in our struggle against the new,
high-acceleration vessels of the hexans. The present situation is much more serious
than I would have believed possible. The last vessel going to visit Wruszk, our city upon
Europa, was caught and destroyed by the hexans, and for many weeks no ship nor
message has come from there to Callisto. In spite of the fact that the hexan fleet is
smaller than ever before they are guarding Europa very closely. It is feared that they
may have found and destroyed our city there — an expedition is even now about to set
out in a desperate attempt to learn the fate of our fellows.”
“Suppose the rays of the lifeboats were detected in landing?” asked Brandon.
“That might have given them a clue.”
“Possibly; but it is equally possible that our own men became careless in the
operation of one of our own vessels. Having been unmolested so long, they might have
relaxed their vigilance. We may never know.”
“Tell ’em to cancel the expedition—we’ll shoot the visiray over there right now
and find out all about it. We’ll let ’em know pretty quick. Also you might tell ’em that
you’ve got complete plans and specifications for all the weapons that the hexans have,
and a couple besides, and that the quicker they shoot a ship out here after you the
sooner they can get to building some stuff to blow those hexans clear out of space!”
It was the work of only a few moments to drive the visiray projection to Europa,
where Czuv, to the great relief of all, found that the hexans had not yet discovered
either Wruszk or the Terrestrial workings. All Europan humanity, fully aware of the
hexan investment, was exerting every possible precaution against discovery by the
enemy. This information was duly flashed to the Council of Callisto, and the projection
was then hurled across the intervening reaches of space and into the cavern in which
was being built the enormous rocket-ship in which the Terrestrial refugees were to
attempt the long voyage back to their own distant planet.
It took some little time to convince Doctor Penfield that there had been projected
into the empty air of his little sanctum an absolutely invisible and impalpable structure of
pure force capable of receiving and transmitting voice and vision. Once convinced of the
reality of the phenomenon, however, the speaker beside Brandon’s communicator
screen fairly rattled under the fervor of his greeting, so great was his pleasure at the
arrival of the expedition of relief and in knowing that King and Breckenridge, whom they
had of course given up for dead, were aboard the Inter-Planetary vessel.
Penfield reported that the work upon the great rocket-ship was progressing
satisfactorily, although of course slowly, since it was so much larger than any vessel
there-to-fore constructed by the Callistonians. Newton in turn informed the autocrat of
the stranded Terrestrials as to the status quo of the rescuing party.
“Of course, because of the hexan blockade, you cannot take us off until they
have been wiped out, which will be several months at best.” The surgeon said, slowly,
and a shadow came over his face as he spoke. “Well, what can’t be cured . . .”
“Trouble with the personnel?” King broke in sharply.
“Personnel, yes; but not trouble in the sense you mean —we have had none of
that. It is only that there are four more of us now than there were . . .”
“Huh? How come?” demanded Brandon, in astonishment.
“Four babies have been born to us here so far, and several more are coming.
They are the ones I’m worried about. Most normal adults can stand it here without any
serious effects, but this thin atmosphere and weak gravity are certain to result in
abnormal development of children. However, there may be another way out of it. Are
you using normal acceleration, or have you Martians aboard?”
“Both,” replied Brandon. “We are carrying two inhabitants of Mars, but Alcantro
and Fedanzo are not ordinary Martians. They have been in constant training ever since
we left Tellus, and now they can stand as high an acceleration as a weak Tellurian.
We’re riding at normal.”
“Good! As you already know, there has been no communication of late between
here and Callisto. It had already been decided, however, that one more voyage must be
risked, in order to bring back material which is most urgently needed. Since the vessel
will leave here light and is large enough to carry about thirty passengers on a short trip
with some crowding, the Council will probably approve of having it carry some of our
passengers out to the Sirius—especially now, since a vessel must visit you anyway, to