When both the lab and the Security man were under control, Paul Chernov turned to Mike. "That milling-laser," he said. "It's got a focus of about six inches maximum. How did you fix it so it could burn the guard at that distance?" "I didn't," said Mike briefly. "He already knows that lasers can reach from here to Earth. Why should I bother to tell him any different?" Turning to Tombu he handed him the Security man's radio. "See if you can rig this," he said, "to broadcast everything they say over the general intercom channel. It's about time we let people know what's happening." * * * * * It took Tombu only minutes to hook in the radio. As he turned it on, Elbertson's voice came over the loud-speaker system. A roll call of Security men was apparently being completed. The last three man responded as called. The Elbertson's voice, crisp but somewhat labored, came over the Security beam, booming throughout the ship. "It is obvious that the renegade scientists and engineer of the wheel have replaced the men guarding their sectors. "As we were informed, the captain had put them in charge. Since they struck the first blow, it is now up to Security to converge on them and eliminate them. "Jones, Nackolai and Stanziale are detailed to the Dr. Chi mission. Nilson, Bernard and Cossairt are detailed to get the Indian. The rest of you will take over where you are posted, and secure all personnel to their quarters. "Clark. Drop your cover and take over control of the bridge. "I expect to have Hot Rod operational within five minutes. And Clark. Instruct the computer to discontinue precession operations that have been initiated. "Take whatever measures are necessary to carry out these instructions. "This is no longer an undercover operation, gentlemen. Security is taking control. "This is war." * * * * * As the last sentence came over the loud-speaker, Mike sprang to the intercom. He quickly keyed the direct line to engineering. "Ishie," he said, "I gather you're safe?" "Yes, Mike. Situation here very secure. I heard announcement of conflict. You need not tell me to put the Cow under our control. It is done. She will obey no one else until further instructed from here. I didn't instruct her to obey only instructions by me, Mike, because we are all expendable now." As he finished speaking, the intercom went dead. Obviously the communications officer, as his first act, had turned off the central intercom power system under his control. * * * * * On the bridge, from the time that Mike and Ishie had left, the picture of what was occurring had grown more ominous by the minute. More than the vague, official messages had been flooding in from Earth. At the captain's command, the communications officer had opened up a channel for news broadcasts, and put it on the speaker so they could all hear.