s communication and all subsequent information relative to
above-mentioned mission shall be classified as _topmost
secret_.

Signed: WALTERS,
_Commandant_, Space Academy

"So that's it," he thought. "A hop into deep space for the _Polaris_
unit!" He smiled. "The cadets of the _Polaris_ unit are in for a little
surprise in two ways," he thought. "One from the mission and one from
Major Connel!"

He almost laughed out loud as he turned to the small desk teleceiver at
his elbow. He pressed a button immediately below the screen and it
glowed into life to reveal a young man in the uniform of the enlisted
guard.

"Yes, Captain Strong?" he asked.

"Call the cadets of the _Polaris_ unit," Strong ordered. "Have them
report to me here on the double!"

"Aye, aye, sir."

Strong started to turn the set off, but the enlisted man added, "By the
way, sir, Al Mason and Bill Loring are here to see you."

"Oh--well--" Strong hesitated.

"They're quite anxious to know if you've reached any decision regarding
their petition for reinstatement."

"Mmm--yes, of course. Very well, send them in."

"Aye, aye, sir."

The teleceiver screen blackened. In a moment the door opposite Strong's
desk slid back, and Loring and Mason stepped into the office. They
shambled forward and stopped in front of the huge desk, obviously ill at
ease.

Strong stood up, holding their petition in his hand, and glanced over it
briefly even though he knew its contents by heart. He motioned to
near-by chairs. "Sit down, please," he said.

The two spacemen settled themselves uncomfortably on the edge of their
chairs and waited expectantly as Strong continued to look at the paper.

Loring finally broke the heavy silence.

"Well, Captain Strong, have you made a decision?" he asked. Loring was a
heavy-set man, in his middle forties. He needed a shave, and when he
talked, his mouth twisted into an ugly grimace.

"Hope it's in our favor, sir," suggested Mason. He was shorter than
Loring and, seated, his feet hardly reached the floor. His eyes darted
nervously about the huge room, and he kept rolling a dirty black
spaceman's cap in his hands.

"Yes, I've reached a decision," said Strong slowly. He faced the two men
and looked at both of them with a steady cold stare. "I've decided to
sustain Major Connel's action. You are both grounded for the next twelve
months. Earth months!"

"What?" shouted Loring, jumping to