"Yes, but it is remote, and wasteful to boot." "Why? "Anything you might grab out of any sun would be more difficult than grabbing the planet itself--the one you want to annihilate, I mean. Better do it directly by just taking the planet, stopping it in its orbit, and hurling it to its sun itself. The forces present in a sun would be more difficult to handle. And besides, what would you anchor it to?" "Space itself," suggested Downing. "With a driver beam." "You'd end up by warping space. Nope, I can think of easier ways of beating out my brains. But Cliff, if you'll see what they have, we can use it, perhaps. Stellor, any suggestions you'd like to make?" "Someone better start converting the manufacturers. Hotang Lu's picture isn't at all good, you know. The Loard-vogh have conquered about a quarter of the Galaxy now. Their numbers are legion and they are a conquistadorial outfit at best. They'll fight to the last one, and they outnumber us thousands to one." "Millions," corrected Hotang Lu. "Looks futile right there." "Let's not quit before we're licked," snapped Thompson. "Before they collect Sol in their list, they're going to have to kill each and every Terran." "Um-m-m--not a bright prospect." "Makes us as tough as they are," mused Kennebec. "Tough, but not as nasty," offered Billy. "They want conquest for the sake of conquest. They'll die to the last man fighting for the sake of fighting. We'll die to the last man fighting for peace." "Right." "So," offered Downing, "I'll take a scout of the Loard-vogh if you want." "O.K.," said Thompson. "This is going to keep us all busy for a long time. We'd best relax tonight--tomorrow we can all leave." "You'll take my crew?" asked Stellor Downing. "Since spying can't be done with twenty-five ships at your back, I will," agreed Lane. "You can handle 'em," said Downing. "After all, you do have my ability now." Lane smiled cheerfully. "O.K. I'll see you later." "Right," said Downing. "And keep this under your hat, fellows. Terra has one great secret weapon that the Loard-vogh can never get nor use. It is a weapon that must wait until the time is ripe. It must never be disclosed, until it is in use. Then--it will be too late for the Loard-vogh to stop it." "What is it?" "If you don't know, I'll not tell you yet." "But why tell us at all?" "The idea of fighting a race that has conquered the Galaxy is staggering. Especially a race that, until lately, has been Terra's mental superior. The knowledge of a secret weapon of definite capability tends to make our battle less foolish. We will win." XII. Patricia Kennebec peered out of the window at the screech of brakes on the pavement. Then, to avert open hostility, she ran to the door and out upon the sidewalk. She faced them, and was slightly baffled to hear them speak: "Well?" asked Lane. "You didn't beat me." "It was a dead heat," smiled Lane.