"I get you. How about raiding Sahara Base?" "We might duck their mounted stuff. I wish I knew what they are doing with the vortex projectors." "Let's wake up the commanding officer of the convoy and ask. He'd know." "Good idea," said Maynard, and gave the order over the phone. * * * * * Eventually, the man was brought in. He was indignant, defeated, angry, and anxious about his future in turns, and his emotions changed from one to the other swiftly. He was Sector Commander Neville. "What is the meaning of this outrage?" he asked. "I know you. You're the renegade, Maynard." "Stop it!" exploded Harrison. "He is Guy Maynard, and a better man than you and I, Neville." "You, too, must have turned pirate, commander." "I'm no pirate. What I'm doing is by sheer choice. Wait until you hear his story, and you may wish to join us." "Never." "Never say 'never'," grinned Harrison. "It shows how much you don't know about everything--especially human nature." "Look, Neville, I want to know what Terra is doing with the vortex gun." "I'll never tell you." "I'll tell you, then," smiled Maynard. "Emplacements augmenting the planet-mounted MacMillans are being set up around Sahara Base. Luna is being set up with them, too, since the moon is a natural invasion-springboard. The main cities are being protected, too, and some long-range stuff is being put in the remote spots to stave off any attempt at entry. The triple-mounts in the midships turret of all constellation craft are being changed from MacMillan to vortex, and the fore turret on all cruisers. Destroyers will carry a smaller edition in a semi-mobile mount in the nose, and the fighter craft of the heavier classes are to have vortex projectors in fixed position. The three MacMillans will drop to two, the center being replaced in the lighter ships. "Oh, and yes, Neville, I mustn't forget the super-sized job that is being erected on Luna for cross-space work. That's a nice, brutal, long-futured thought, Neville, and it can do nothing but bring reprisals." "That one will not be used except in self-defense--" "Sky-juice! I only hope that it can be destroyed before it is used. The fools! Can't you realize that Mars is erecting one on Phobos, too?" Neville blanched. "Hadn't considered it." "Why not? Why shouldn't they? They're no less intelligent than we are ... don't jump up and down, Neville, they are and you know it ... and they react in about the same fashion. The only thing that has enabled us to stay ahead of Mars is the fact that we can take three times the acceleration standing up. Another item of general interest. Ertene--you've heard of that one--is erecting a projector of super-size, too. Guess where it will be used." Neville thought, and then asked: "How do you know these things?"