panied by Firehouse Tim Rush, returned
five minutes later with the audio recorder and set it up for operation.

Connel took the small needlelike microphone in his hand and spoke into
it as the reel of sound tape unwound slowly.

"This is a preliminary inquiry into the sabotage of the control deck of
spaceship XX, Operation Space Projectile," he said. "This is Major Lou
Connel, interrogator!" He paused and nodded to Barret who stepped
forward. "My first witness will be Dave Barret." Holding the microphone
close to the young engineer's mouth, Connel said, "Tell us everything
you know of this incident."

Barret spoke slowly and carefully, describing how he and Professor
Hemmingwell had been at the other end of the hangar when the explosion
had occurred. Professor Hemmingwell had immediately run out of the
hangar to inform Commander Walters, leaving Barret alone to check the
damage. "Then you and Commander Walters and the Space Marines showed up,
sir," he concluded. "That's all I know."

"All right," said Connel and turned to the professor. "Your statement,
Professor Hemmingwell."

"It happened just about the way Dave said," Hemmingwell began. "Except
for one thing. I cannot see why there weren't any guards at their posts
this afternoon. We were without any men at the entrances for nearly an
hour. Anyone could have slipped into the hangar and planted the bomb."

"Why weren't the entrances guarded?" snapped Connel, looking directly at
Firehouse Tim Rush.

"Cadets Manning and Astro left their posts without leave, sir," reported
the stocky little spaceman.

Captain Strong took an involuntary step forward, his face drained of all
color. Connel looked at him, steely-eyed. "Did you hear that, Strong?"
he growled.

Strong nodded. "I--I did," he stammered.

"So those two idiots not only stole a rocket scout, but they left their
posts."

Strong could only shake his head in utter disbelief. Commander Walters
looked at him pityingly.

"I knew they had taken the scout," said Walters, his voice hard and
tight. "But I didn't think they were foolish enough to leave their
posts."

"Well, they did, sir," declared Rush. "They left about four hours before
they were to be relieved. I was making the rounds when I discovered that
they were gone. I put two other men on guard right away, but the doors
were unguarded for at least an hour. Anyone could have walked in without
the slightest trouble."

Connel turned back to Walters.