ven exposing the bare
rock beneath, and certainly releasing a mighty cloud of steam.

Focused to this needle sharpness, the rate of energy delivery was many
orders of magnitude higher than that delivered by man's largest
nuclear weapons only a few yards from ground zero.

Today's test was primarily scheduled as a test of control in aiming
and energy concentration. Careful co-ordination of the project by
ground control was vital, so that no misalignment of the beam could
possibly bring it to bear on any civilized portion of Earth's surface.
For, fantastic as this Project Hot Rod might be as a source of power
for Earth, Major Elbertson knew that it was also the most dangerous
weapon that man had ever devised.

Therefore, the scientists were never alone in the control booth,
despite the mile-long security records of each. Therefore, he and his
men were in absolute control of the men who controlled the laser.

Therefore, too, Steve told himself, as the time came when there would
be a question of command between himself and Captain Nails Andersen,
science advisor to the U.N. and commander of Space Lab One, his own
secret orders were that he was to take command--and the rank that
would give him that command was already bestowed, ready for
activation.

Nails Andersen, Steve reminded himself with amusement, had originated
the laser project; had fought it through against the advice of more
cautious souls; and had, through that project, attained command of the
space lab, and the rank that made that command possible, all in the
name of civilian science.

But not command of the laser project, Steve told himself.

Not of the most dangerous military weapon ever devised--dangerous and
military for all that it was a civilian project, developed on the
excuse that it would power Earth, which was rapidly eating itself out
of its power sources.

Not in command of that, Steve told himself. Nobody but a military man
could properly protect--and if necessary, properly use--such power.

Those were his secret orders; and he had the papers--and the authority
from Earth--to back him up. And orders to shoot to kill without
hesitation if those orders were questioned.

Meantime, today's peacetime experiment would bring forcibly to the
attention of Earth both the power for good and the power for
destruction of the laser which he commanded.

Project Hot Rod was manned twenty-four hours a "day." The new shift of
scientists--the ones who wo