"Well, we're not going to stand tamely by and let them rob us of any of our suns," said Lacq Larus, a steely quality in his voice. "Dur Nal, when you reach the galaxy's edge stand by there with your squadron and keep watch for the coming of these dark stars. I'll call up every cruiser in the Interstellar Patrol and order them to rendezvous off Betelgeuse. We'll join up with you there to combat these machines and their worlds." "One more thing, sir," I added quickly. "What if we are unable to prevent these machines from taking twenty of our suns?" "You don't think they will prove too strong for us, do you?" Lacq Larus asked. "I have been strongly impressed by the powers of these mechanisms," I answered. "I suggest that the worlds of all suns in that section at the galaxy's edge be evacuated of their inhabitants so that if the suns are taken, the inhabitants will be safe." After a moment's silence he said, "Very well, Dur Nal. I'll give orders for the evacuation to take place." * * * * * During the next hours our squadron raced at top speed toward the galaxy's edge. The dark stars faded from sight behind us, but we knew that they were still there, still rushing steadily on toward our galaxy. By the time we reached Betelgeuse the whole galaxy was aflame with news of the coming of these cosmic corsairs, who meant to plunder us of part of our suns. Despite this excitement there was no panic. Lacq Larus was on his way from Canopus with the thousand cruisers of the Interstellar Patrol that had been at headquarters. And in response to his commands, flashed across the whole galaxy, every fighting-ship in the Patrol was making for Betelgeuse. Yes, from every part of the galaxy they were coming, those lean, long hawks of space, from the great trade-routes between the bigger suns, from lonely regions in uncharted parts of the galaxy. Rushing at reckless speed through the perils of the void, the ships of the Interstellar Patrol came in answer to their Chief's call. Meanwhile all the worlds of the suns in the threatened section at the galaxy's edge were being swiftly evacuated of their inhabitants. Interstellar liners and freighters in hundreds of thousands swarmed from those worlds to suns back in the galaxy, carrying their whole populations to suns and worlds more safe. Out beside great Betelgeuse, at the galaxy's very edge, I lay waiting with my squadron. My ships still maintained their triangular formation. We had climbed several light-years above the plane of the threatened suns and now lay in the void, Jhul Din and Korus Kan and I watching intently through our instruments as the dark stars in the outer void rushed toward us. Nearer and nearer they came, still flying on in a compact group. "They're beginning to slow down," muttered Jhul Din, watching. "If Lacq Larus and the rest of the Patrol don't show up soon, they'll be too late." "Here they come now!" exclaimed Korus Kan.