The scene behind them now was like something on a slow-motion film. Almost lazily Phobos was expanding, as a ghastly bluish radiance enveloped the area. Then Ric came alert, as spinning, disintegrating fragments larger than their ship began hurling about them. He blasted away, and minutes later they were looking back at the deadly area. Only a vast powdery haze occupied the former orbit of Phobos. Soon even this haze would disappear as the infinitesimal particles drew together. A few larger fragments were falling toward Mars now, where doubtless they would take up individual orbits about the planet. Ric set his course, and on full rocket blast they headed for Earth. Tal was worried, as he scanned the visi-panel. "Ric ... just before Gorak rushed out of the room ... when he touched that row of buttons...." "Yes, I know. I'm sure that released the bombs. He already had the sights set for Luna!" Hours later Earth came into view, became rapidly larger in their visi-panel. They could see Luna, far to the left. And a moment later, part of Earth's Fleet was seen blasting out to meet them. A voice stabbed through their radio. "Hello, hello! Commander Graham of Patrol ship _Terra_ speaking. We've had you in our magniview for the past ten minutes. As you carry no insignia, you will go into a drift immediately and announce yourself!" Ric did so gladly. Then, briefly, he explained what had happened. He chuckled as the Commander's amazed voice came back to him. "We observed the disruption of Phobos! You came from there? What about those spore-bombs?" "They're on the way! You've sighted none of them yet?" "No. We've been watching...." Praana spoke into the sender, anxiously. "What about my people? Dar Mihelson, and the others--" "They're safe. The Battle of Luna is over, and already the Martians have trans-shipped to Earth. We're patrolling the dark side of Luna. If we sight the bombs, we can deflect them from their course, send them into a free orbit and destroy them at our leisure." "No!" Ric said. "They may land on Earth if you try that. Send a flash to your patrol not to touch those bombs, but get away from there fast. Take my word, it's urgent!" He received the Commander's assurance, and the televise blanked out. "It's better to let Luna go," Ric said to Tal, "than to place Earth in danger. We can reclaim it later--Mars, too--now that you have the counter-active." Tal nodded. There would be work, long and hard and dangerous. There would be problems. He and Praana stood arm in arm at the visi-panel, watching eagerly as the welcome panorama of Earth spread out below.