The snapper-boats seemed miles away to Rip, but he plugged ahead until his belt light picked them up. He took a long look, then turned away, heartsick. The Connie’s exhaust had charred them into wreckage. "Now what?" he asked. "I don’t know, sir," Koa answered somberly. They went back to the cave, not hurrying because Rip no longer had the strength to hurry. Weakness and a deep desire to sleep almost overcame him, and he knew that he was finished anyway. His wound must be too deep to clot, which meant it would bleed until he bled to death. Whether he warned the _Scorpius_ or not, his end was the same. Back in the cave, he leaned against the wall and asked tiredly, "How is Dominico?" "I am fine, sir. My wound stopped bleeding." "How is the Connie I got?" "Unconscious, sir," Santos replied. "He must be bleeding badly, but we can’t tell. The one you landed on is all right now, but he may have a broken rib or two." Because his voice was weak, Rip had to turn up the volume on his communicator to tell the Planeteers about the _Scorpius_. They were silent when he finished, then Dowst spoke up. "Looks like they have us, sir. But we’ll take plenty of them with us before we’re finished." "That’s the spirit," Rip approved. He told them, "I won’t last much longer. When I get too weak, Koa will take over. Meanwhile, I want to get outside. Bring the rocket launcher outside, too. Who’s the gunner? Santos? Stand by, then. We’ll need you in case the Connie decides to send a few snappers before it goes after the _Scorpius_." The cruiser’s glow was plain above the horizon, now. It was so close they could make out its form against the background of stars. O’Brine was decelerating and Rip was certain he was watching his screens for a sign of the enemy. He would see nothing, because the enemy was in the shadow of the asteroid. He would think the coast was clear, and come to a stop near by while he asked why Rip had called for help. Failing to get a reply, since the landing boat was wrecked, he would send a landing party, and the Connie would attack while he was launching boats, off guard. Rip watched the prediction come true. The nuclear cruiser slowed gradually, its great bulk nearing the asteroid. O’Brine was operating as expected. Rip was having trouble keeping his vision from blurring. He leaned against the rocket launcher and his glove caressed one of the sharp noses in the rack. He heard his own voice before the idea had even taken full form. "Santos! Do you hear me? Santos! Get the _Scorpius_! Fire before it comes to a stop. And don’t miss!" Santos started to protest, but Koa bellowed, "Do it. The lieutenant’s right. It’s the only chance we’ve got to warn the ship. Get that scorpion, Santos. Dead amidships!"