“The thing to do now,” Rock said, “is to get these ships back to port, that is, if the _Dog Star_ has still got its power. I suggest we split into two groups, four on the _Northern Cross_ and three on the _Dog Star_.” It was discovered that the damage from the explosion would prevent the _Dog Star_ from traveling at its best speed because one entire rocket section was out of order. But it would run. They drew lots to see who would ride in which vessel. Rock, Hugh, Ed, and Shep drew the _Northern Cross_ and Leo, Sparky, and Johnny the _Dog Star_. Rock and his three companions who would return to the _Northern Cross_ went back to the ship by way of the towline. The ghost ship still hovered overhead in the same position it had occupied before, even though the two craft were traveling at a good pace through the deeps. The space ships were brought back into their original Earthward paths, and in a few hours’ time the braking rockets were ready to cut in. Several futile attempts had been made to contact a space station by radio, and it wasn’t until this point that the _Northern Cross_ was able to establish its first contact over the crippled set. This was by way of a continuous signal beamed out through space by a rotating antenna atop the outermost artificial satellite, the radio relay station, 50,000 miles from Earth. Hugh signaled for an operator and when he came in, Hugh gave the name of the ship and its position. “Who did you say you were?” Rock heard the operator ask in amazement. “The _Northern Cross_,” Hugh answered, “serial number A45-J, World Spacecraft, manufacturer.” There was silence on the other end for several moments. Hugh winked at Rock. “We’ll have some fun with them,” he said. “When did the ship go out?” the operator asked. “Twenty years ago,” Hugh replied. “Is this a joke?” the other retorted. “Not at all,” Hugh assured him. The radioman chose not to argue any further. “I’ll give you approach instructions,” he said. “There are two ships,” Hugh told him. “We’re together.” The operator sputtered again when Hugh told him that the _Dog Star’s_ radio was completely out. “How do you expect me to bring a ship in without a radio?” he complained. “If you give us both instructions,” Hugh answered, “we’ll relay those for the other ship to them by suit radio. We’re close enough for that.” “I guess you know this is highly irregular,” the operator replied. “I still think you’re pulling my leg!” As the approach instructions were given, Rock relayed them to the _Dog Star_. The connection was rather feeble because of the low power of Rock’s suit radio transmitter, but by hooking up his own suit radio to the ship’s antenna, damaged though it was, Leo, acting as radioman, could hear well enough. As the ships moved in parallel to the spinning station, a final adjustment by the forward jets synchronized the ships’ motion with that of the rotating station.