and maybe a slash
through the nitrogen tank at the back. Here, make me a bracket to fit
these two things together, so I can see what I'm aiming at." He handed
the theodolite telescope and the laser milling-head to Paul.

"How much of the machine do I have to take to power that
milling-head?" he asked Tombu.

"Oh, most of it's just control circuits. This box on the back is the
power supply. Plugs right in to ship's power."

"Hey!" Mike called over to Paul now busy constructing a bracket. "Make
that bracket to hold this power supply, too. Oh, and round me up about
sixty feet of extension cord, Tombu."

"But, Mike, how are you going to get out there?" Millie's voice was
concerned. "They've probably got men all over the place out here on
the rim. If you try to go through the corridor towards an emergency
lock, they'll have you sure with their needle guns. You heard
Elbertson delegate three men to kill you!"

"I expect I can find a place where they aren't." And picking up the
Security radio from the intercom bench, he turned it on and spoke into
it.

"Elbertson, this is Mike Blackhawk. You now have twenty minutes to
surrender," and he cut off.

Mike turned to Tombu. "Get me some plastic wrapping material.
Preferably a plastic bag. I've got to make this stuff waterproof."

When the power supply, telescope, milling head and extension cord were
rigged and carefully wrapped in plastic to make a waterproof package,
he attached them with a shoulder rope.

"Too bad we didn't make a lock in the wall right here," he muttered.
"But I don't suppose the Security guards will be guarding those empty
labs over in the R-12 sector. Guess I'm going for a swim now." And
with that, Mike reached down and carefully removed the inspection
plate from one of the floor tanks, and lowered himself over the edge
into the racing waters.

Hanging there with one hand, he carefully pulled his plastic bag into
position beside and slightly behind his body, and let go. Instantly he
was sucked away into the subdued blue fluorescent-lighted glow of the
waters of the rim.

"Glad they figured these planktons need light," he thought to himself.
"I'd have a time finding where I'm going in the dark."

Forty-five seconds later, he reached up and snatched at a passing
hand-hold, next to a plate marked with the numbers of the lab he
sought.

Wrenching the handle of the inspection plate and pushing it free, he
climbed out into the deserted lab; made hi