Earth was the next goal. Miran scout-ships had been sent out before this — and severely handled by the concentrated fleets of the IP that hung grimly off Earth and Luna now. But the scouts had learned one thing. Mirans could never hope to attain a firm grasp on earth while terribly armed Luna hung like a Sword of Damocles over their heads. Further, attack on earth directly would be next to impossible, for, thanks to Faragaut's Interplanetary Company, nearly all the Mercury metal in the system was safely lodged on earth, and saturated with power. Every major city had been equipped with great UV apparatus. And neutron guns in plenty waited on small ships just outside the atmosphere to explode harmlessly any atomic or gamma bombs Miran ships might attempt to deposit.
An attack on Luna was the first step. But that terrible, gigantic fort on Luna worried them. Yet while that fort existed, earth ships were free to come and go, for Mirans could not afford to stand near. At a distance of twenty thousand miles, small Miran ships had felt the touch of those great UV beams.
Finally, a brief test-attack was made, with an entire fleet of one hundred ships. They drew almost into position, faster than light, faster than the signaling warnings could send their messages. In position, all those great ships strained and heaved at the mighty magnetic vortex that twisted at the field of the fort. Instantly, twelve of the fifteen-foot UV beams replied. And — two great UV beams of a size the Mirans had never seen before, beams from the two ships, "S Doradus" and "Cephid."
The test-attack dissolved as suddenly as it had come. The Mirans returned to Jupiter, and to the outer planets where they had further established themselves. Most of the Solar System was theirs. But the Solarians still held the choicest planets — and kept the Mirans from using the mild-temperatured Mars.
CHAPTER IX
"THEY can't take this, at least," sighed McLaurin as they retreated from Luna.
"I didn't think they could—right away. I'm wondering though if they haven't something we haven’t seen yet. Besides which—give them time, give them time."
"Well, give us time, too," snapped McLaurin. "How are you coming?"
Buck smiled. "I'm sure I don't know. I have a machine but I haven't the slightest idea of whether or not it's any good."
"Why not?"
"I can destroy—I hope—but I can't build up their ray. I can't test the machine because I haven’t their ray to test it against."
"What can we do to test it?"
"The only thing I can see is to call for volunteers—and send out a six-man cruiser. If the ship's too small, they may not destroy it with the big crumbler rays. If it's too large—and the machine didn't work—we'd lose too much."
Twelve hours later, the IP men at the Lunar Bank fort were lined up. McLaurin stepped up on the platform, and addressed the men briefly, told them what was needed. Six volunteers were selected by a process of elimination, those who were married, had dependents, officers, and others were refused. Finally, six men of the IP were chosen, neither rookies nor veterans, six average men. And one average six-man cruiser, one hun-
