There was no answer. No running footsteps sounded. The ship was clear. As if his neck had suddenly developed a will of its own, he felt it turn on his shoulders as something entered the control room. Coming through the open door was a glowing, vibrating, angry ball of flowing crystal light. Adam did what he had planned to do--what had to be done. Beside the ramp, Craig knew he was losing the battle with Captain Martin. The captain was tough, hard, strong. He fought like a wild man. Using knees and elbows, he fought as if he was taking orders from someone else and his life was of no consequence. Kicking Craig in the head, he scrambled to his feet. The last of the crew were rushing from the ship. "Yes, Filo," Captain Martin was screaming. "Yes, yes, I know. A horrible mistake has been made. I will correct it." "See that you correct it immediately!" Filo's angry voice whispered in the air. Captain Martin leaped up the runway. "Back into the ship!" he shouted at the crew. He ran up the ramp toward the open lock. Ponderously, the lock swung shut in front of him. He stopped, dazedly stared at it. The lock could be opened or closed from the control room. He suspected he knew what had happened. Filo's voice raged at him. "Get into this ship instantly." "But, I can't! Open the lock for me." "I can't open it, you fool! Someone has jammed the controls!" "Ah--" Captain Martin said. The single sound had all the overtones of a prayer. Craig got to his feet, wobbled up the gangway in time to hear the last of the conversation. He caught Captain Martin's arm. "We've got to get out of the hangar," he whispered. "If we don't--" He whispered what was going to happen next. The captain stared at him from bewildered eyes. A vast throb came from the ship. "He's warming up the drive!" the captain said. "You're right. Where's the general?" * * * * * The _Andromeda_ went out of the hangar without waiting for the vast doors to be opened. There was no time to wait for that, nor would the request to open the doors have been obeyed even if it could have been transmitted. There was a tremendous, thundering screech of tortured metal as she tore the doors down. Then, with Adam March at the controls, she mounted to the sky. The thing in the air behind him was thrown completely off-balance by the unexpected takeoff. It did not know what to do, consultation with its comrades was necessary before action could be taken. The Sorodrome spun back out of the control room. Only minutes, perhaps less than minutes, were needed for the Sorodromes to agree on what had to be done. Filo made the decision. "Destroy that human in the control room!"