The news of Murdoch's first blow came that same day. It was a news report from the Interplanetary Network that the Titan Penal Colony had been attacked by a huge black ship of space that carried a huge dome-shaped turret on the top. Beams of invisible energy burned furrows in the frozen ground, and the official buildings melted and exploded from the air pressure within them. The Titan station went off the ether with a roar, and the theorists believed that Murdoch's gang had been augmented by four hundred and nineteen of the Solar System's most vicious criminals. "That rips it wide open," said Channing. "Better get the folks to prepare to withstand a siege. I don't think they can take us." "That devil might turn his beams on the Station itself, though," said Walt. "He wants to control communications." "With the sub-electron beams we now have, he could do it on far less Station for some time. Not perfectly, but he'd get along." "Fine future," gritted Channing. "This is a good time to let this project coast, Walt. We've got to start in from the beginning and walk down another track." "It's easy to say, chum." "I know it. So far, all we've been able to do is to take energy from the solar intake beams and spray it out into space. It goes like the arrow that went--we know not where." "So?" "Forget these gadgets. Have Charley hook up the solar intake tubes to the spotter and replace the cathodes with pure thorium. I've got another idea." "O.K., but it sounds foolish to me." Channing laughed. "We'll stalemate him," he said bitterly, and explained to Walt. "I wonder when Murdoch will come this way?" "It's but a matter of time," said Walt. "My bet is as soon as he can get here with that batch of fresh rats he's collected." * * * * * Walt's bet would have collected. Two days later, Hellion Murdoch flashed a signal into Venus Equilateral and asked for Channing. "Hello, Hellion," answered Channing. "Haven't you learned to keep out of our way?" "Not at all," answered Murdoch. "You won't try that betatron on me again. This ship is coated with four tenths of an inch of lithium metal, which according to the books will produce the maximum quantity of electrons under secondary emission. If not the absolute maximum, it is high enough to prevent your action." "No," agreed Channing. "We won't try the betatron again. But, Murdoch, there are other things." "Can they withstand these?" asked Murdoch. The turret swiveled and the triple-mount of tubes looked at Venus Equilateral. "Might try," said Channing. "Any particular place?" countered Murdoch. "Hit the south end. We can best afford to lose that," answered Channing. "You're either guessing, or hoping I won't fire, or perhaps praying that whatever you have for protection will work," said Murdoch flatly. "Otherwise you wouldn't talk so smooth."