se for
Earth, far across the deep black velvet void of space, but leaving Tom
Corbett, her true commander, behind.

* * * * *

Captain Steve Strong and Commander Walters watched grimly as the
_Polaris_ landed on the Academy spaceport. They had been in contact with
Connel during his trip back to Earth and had already told the bluff
major of still another incident that had taken place at the Academy
while he was gone.

Roger and Astro had stolen a rocket scout and disappeared.

"I don't get it, sir," sighed Strong. "Manning and Astro blowing wide
open, Corbett disappearing--" He shook his head. "It doesn't make
sense."

"Perhaps not," said Walters. "But those three are really in trouble now.
Connel won't stand for this kind of behavior."

"Do you think that he'll go so far as to ask for a court-martial?"

Walters hesitated. "I hate to say this, Steve," he said finally, "but if
Major Connel doesn't, I will be forced to. No other unit has had more of
an opportunity to prove itself than the _Polaris_ unit. And every time,
something like this happens."

"But suppose they have good explanations," insisted Strong.

"It would have to be better than anything they've had before," replied
Walters. "Frankly, I cannot see how that is possible."

Walters climbed into his jet car and Strong followed, biting his lip.

The car shot across the field to the now grounded _Polaris_, pulling
alongside it just as Major Connel and Carter Devers climbed out of the
open hatch. Without even the courtesy of a greeting, Connel roared,
"What's this about those two cadets stealing a ship?"

"Let's talk about that later, Lou," said Walters. "Climb in. We've got
something more important to discuss. The saboteur."

Devers stepped forward. "This is no place for me, I know," he said.
"I'll leave you here. And thanks for the lift, Major."

Connel grunted his acknowledgment and climbed into the car as Strong
turned to Devers.

"There was a message for you, Mr. Devers," said the Solar Guard captain.
"You're to get in touch with your Atom City office immediately."

"Thanks, Steve," said Devers, and with a wave of his hand to the others
walked away.

As the jet car raced back to the Tower of Galileo, Walters brought
Connel up to date on the incident at the hangar leading to the arrest of
Pat Troy. When they reached Walters' office, high in the tower, Troy was
ushered in by two guards.

"Sit down!" barked Con