o other units. One is simply the sensor box. If you
withdraw beyond a certain distance, the switches will close. That is,
the 'pilots will be turned on if you try to go beyond range of the
beams now locked onto you. The other unit we've installed in every
boat is an ordinary two-for-a-dollar radiation meter. If a nuclear
weapon goes off, anywhere within a couple of thousand kilometers, the
switches will also close. In either of those cases, the scoopships
will dive on you.

"You might knock out a few with missiles, before they strike.
Undoubtedly you can punch holes in them with laser guns. But that
won't do any good, except when you're lucky enough to hit a vital
part. Nobody's aboard to be killed. Not even much gas will be lost, in
so short a time.

"So to summarize, chum, if that rogue missile explodes, your ship will
be struck by ten to twenty scoopships, each crammed full of
concentrated Jovian air. They'll pierce that thin hull of yours, but
since they're already pumped full beyond the margin of safety, the
impact will split them open and the gas will whoosh out. Do you know
what Jovian air does to substances like magnesium?

"You can probably save your crew, take to the boats and reach a
Commission base. But your nice battleship will be _ganz kaput_. Is
your game worth that candle?"

"You're totally insane! Releasing such a thing--"

"Oh, not permanently. There's one more switch on each boat, connected
to the meteorite evasion unit and controlled by a small battery. When
those batteries run down, in about twenty hours, the 'pilots will be
turned off completely. Then we can spot the scoopships by radar and
pick 'em up. And you'll be free to leave."

"Do you think for one instant that your fantastic claim of acting
legally will stand up in court?"

"No, probably not. But it won't have to. Obviously you can't make
anybody swallow your yarn if a _second_ missile gets loose. And as for
the first one, since it's failed in its purpose, your bosses aren't
going to want the matter publicized. It'd embarrass them to no end,
and serve no purpose except revenge on Jimmy and me--which there's no
point in taking, since the Sword would still be privately owned. You
check with Earth, admiral, before shooting off your mouth. They'll
tell you that both parties to this quarrel had better forget about
legal action. Both would lose.

"So I'm afraid your only choice is to find that missile before it goes
off."

"And yours