"Probably. That's why we're taking out after them. It's the only reason why Guy Maynard was covered under the TSI order." "Too bad," said the pilot. "It is," agreed Williamson. "But--prepare for action. Check all ordnance." It was almost an hour later that the communicator buzzed again. "Observer to executive: Martian of _Mardinex_ class spotted." "Certain identification?" "Only from the cardex file. Can't see her yet, but the spotters have picked up a ship having the characteristics of the _Mardinex_ class. It's the _Mardinex_ herself, Ben, because she's the only one left in that class. Old tub, not much good for anything except a fool's errand like this." "Turretman to executive: Have we got a chance, tackling a first-line ship like the _Mardinex_ in a destroyer?" "Only one chance. They probably didn't staff it too well. On an abortive attempt like this, they'd put only those men they could afford to lose aboard. Probably a skeleton crew. Also the knowledge that detection meant extermination, therefore go fast and light and as frugal as possible on crewmen. That's our one chance." "One more chance," interrupted the technician. "We have the drive pattern of the _Mardinex_ in the cardex. We can bollix their drive. That's one more item in our favor." "Right," said Ben. "What's our velocity with respect to theirs?" "Forty miles per second." "Tim, launch two torpedoes immediately. Pete, continue course above _Mardinex_ and cross their apex at two hundred miles. Tim, as we cross their apex, drop a case of interferers. Once that is done, Pete, drop back and give Tim a chance to say hello with the AutoMacs." "Giving them the whole thing at once?" "Yes. And one thing more, Jimmy?" "Technician to executive," answered Jimmy. "I'm here." "Can you rig your drive-pattern interferer?" "In about a minute. I've been setting up the constants from the cardex file." "And hoping they've not been changed?" asked Ben with a smile. "Right." * * * * * The little destroyer lurched imperceptibly as the torpedoes were launched, and then continued on its course a hundred miles to the south of the Martian ship, passing quickly above the _Mardinex_ and across the apex of the Martian's nose. The turretman was busy for several seconds dropping his case of interferers from the discharge lock. The little metal boxes spread out in space and began to emit signals. Then the destroyer dropped back, and from the turret there came the angry buzz of the AutoMacs. On the driving fin of the _Mardinex_ appeared an incandescent spot that grew quickly and trailed a fine line of luminous gas behind it. Then the turrets of the _Mardinex_ whipped around and Tim shouted: "Look out!" His shout was not soon enough. On the turret of the Martian ship there appeared two spots of light that were just above the threshold of vision against the black sky. The destroyer bucked dangerously, and the acceleration fell sharply. "Hulled us."