They didn’t see the Connie until the fire of its exhaust suddenly blasted above the horizon, then they ducked for cover. The cruiser had taken a swing at the other side of the asteroid. They peered out again and saw it making a turn to come back. "He won’t get us," Rip said confidently. "Our tough time will come when he sends a fleet of snapper-boats." "We’ll get a few," Koa replied grimly. "Wait! What’s he doing?" The cruiser had started for the asteroid. Suddenly jets flamed from every quarter of the ship. He was using all steering jets at once! Rip watched, bewildered, as the great ship spun slowly, advanced, then settled to a stop just at the horizon. "He can’t be launching boats already," he said worriedly. "What’s he up to?" They ran forward a short distance until they could see below the cave’s horizon level. The cruiser released exhausts from both sides of the ship, the outer ones the slightest bit stronger. Rip exclaimed, "Great Cosmos, he’s cuddling right up to the asteroid! Why?" "Hiding," Koa said. "By Gemini! Come on, sir!" Rip saw his meaning instantly and they raced to the side of the asteroid, away from the ship. As they crossed into the dark half, Rip looked back. He couldn’t see the cruiser from here. But he looked out into space, across the horizon, and knew that Koa’s guess had been right. The distinctive glow of a nuclear drive cruiser was clear among the stars. The _Scorpius_ had returned! "The Connie saw it," Rip said worriedly, "but didn’t blast away. That means he’s intending to ambush the _Scorpius_. Koa, if he does, that means war." The big Hawaiian shook his head. "Sir, the Connie has guided missiles with atomic warheads just like our ship does. If he can launch one from ambush and hit our ship, that’s the end of it. The _Scorpius_ will be nothing but space junk. Commander O’Brine will never have time to get off a message, because he’ll be dead before he knows there is danger." The logic of it sent chill fear down Rip’s spine. The Connie could get the _Scorpius_ with one nuclear blast and then clean up the asteroid at leisure. The Federation would suspect, but it would be unable to prove anything, because there would be no witnesses. If the Connie took time to tow the remains of the _Scorpius_ deep into the asteroid belt, it likely would never be found, no matter how the Federation searched. They had to warn the ship. But how? Their helmet communicators wouldn’t reach it until it was right at the asteroid, and that would be too late. They had no other radio. If only the radios in the snapper-boats were on a Federation frequency ... hey! They could take one of the boats and intercept the cruiser! He was hurrying toward them before Koa understood what he was saying. He tried to make his legs go faster, but they were unsteady. He knew he was losing blood. He had lost plenty. He gritted his teeth and kept going.