Koa looked out at the asteroid. "I sort of hate to see that rock cut up. There isn’t much about a chunk of thorium to get sentimental over, but after fighting for it the way we did, it doesn’t seem right to cut it into blocks." "I know how you feel," Rip admitted, "but after all, that’s what we brought it back for." He studied Koa’s brown face. The big Hawaiian had something on his mind. "Got vack worms chewing at you?" he asked. Vack worms were a spaceman’s equivalent of "the blues." "Not exactly, sir. I happened to overhear the doctor talking today. You’re due for a leave in a week." "That’s good news!" Rip exclaimed. "You’re not unhappy about it, are you?" Koa shrugged. "We were all hoping we’d be together on our next assignment. The gang liked serving under you. But we’re overdue for shipment to somewhere, and if you take eight weeks’ leave, we’ll be gone by the time you come back to the platform." "I liked serving with all of you, too." Rip replied. "I watched the way you all behaved when the space-flap was getting tough and it made me proud to be a Planeteer." Major Joe Barris came in. He was carrying an envelope in his hand. "Hello, Rip. How are you, Koa? Am I interrupting a private talk?" "No, Major," Koa replied. "We’re just passing the time. Want me to leave?" "Stay here," Barris said. "This concerns you, too. I’ve been reassigned. My eight years on the platform are up, and that’s all an instructor gets. Now I’m off for space on another job." Rip knew that instructors were assigned for eight-year periods. And he knew that the major’s specialty was the Planeteer science of exploration. Barris’s specialty required him to be an expert in biology, zoology, anthropology, navigation and astrogation, and in land fighting. Not to mention a half dozen other lesser things. Only ten Planeteers rated expert in exploration and all were captains or majors. "Where are you going?" Rip asked. "Off to explore something?" "That’s it." Major Barris smiled. "Remember once I said that when they gave me the job of cleaning up the goopies on Ganymede I’d ask for you as a platoon leader?" Rip stared. "Don’t tell me that’s your assignment!" "Almost. Tell me, would you recommend any more of your men for promotion? I’ll need a new sergeant and two more corporals." Rip thought it over. "Koa can check me on this. I’d suggest making Pederson a sergeant and Dowst and Dominico corporals. Kemp and Santos already have promotions." "That would be my choice, too," Koa agreed. "Fine." Barris tapped the envelope. "I’ll correct the orders in here and recommend the promotions. We’ll get sixteen new recruits from the graduating class at Luna and that will complete the platoon I’m supposed to organize. Two full platoons are waiting, and the new platoon will give me a full-strength squadron. Except for new officers. How about Flip Villa for a platoon commander, Rip?"