oncerned, might have imagined themselves suspended in space, except
for the transmitters, levers and other signalling devices around them.

Five officers, I understand, had their posts in the control room; the
captain, and the chiefs of _scopes_, _phones_, _dis rays_ and
_navigation_. Each of these was in continuous interphone communication
with his subordinates in other posts throughout the ship. Each
_viewplate_ had its phone connecting with its "_eye machines_" on the
hull, the crews of which would switch from telescopic to normal view at
command.

There were, of course, many other _viewplates_ at executive posts
throughout the ship.

* * * * *

The Hans followed a peculiar system in the command of their ships. Each
ship had a double complement of officers. Active Officers and Base
Officers. The former were in actual, active charge of the ship and its
apparatus. The latter remained at the ship base, at desks equipped with
_viewplates_ and phones, in constant communication with their
"correspondents," on the ship. They acted continuously as consultants,
observers, recorders and advisors during the flight or action. Although
not primarily accountable for the operation of the ship, they were
senior to, and in a sense responsible for the training and efficiency of
the Active Officers.

The _ionomagnetic coils_, which served as the casings, "plates" and
insulators of the gigantic condensers, were all located amidship on a
center line, reaching clear through from the top to the bottom of the
hull, and reaching from the forward to the rear rep-ray generators; that
is, from points about 110 feet from bow and stern. The crew's quarters
were arranged on both sides of the coils. To the outside of these, where
the several decks touched the hull, were located the various pieces of
_phone_, _scope_ and _dis ray_ apparatus.

The ship into which I was gazing with my _ultroscope_ (at a telescopic
and penetrative setting), carried a crew of perhaps 150 men all told.
And except for the strained looks on their evil yellow faces I might
have been tempted to believe I was looking on some Twenty-fifth Century
pleasure excursion, for there was no running around nor appearance of
activity.

The Hans loved their ease, and despite the fact that this was a war
ship, every machine and apparatus in it was equipped with a complement
of seats and specially designed couches, in which officers and men
reclined