m grinned. "We'd better hurry up. There must be something going on.
There aren't any lights on here at the spaceport and all the
administration buildings are dark."

He hurried to the air lock and swung it open, jumping lightly to the
ground.

"Halt!" growled a rough voice. "Get your hands in the air and stay right
where you are!"

Puzzled, Tom did as he was told, announcing, "I'm Space Cadet Tom
Corbett, _Polaris_ unit. I request immediate transportation to Commander
Walters. I have important information for him."

He was momentarily blinded by the glare of a ring of lights around him,
and when he finally could see, he found himself in the middle of a squad
of Solar Guardsmen in battle dress.

"What's the password?" asked a tough sergeant whose shock rifle was
aimed right at Tom's midsection.

"Juggernaut!" replied Tom quietly.

The word sent the sergeant into a frenzy of action. "Peters, Smith, get
the jet car around here!"

"What's up, Sergeant?" asked Tom. "Why is everything so dark?"

"Martial law!" replied the guardsman. "Curfew from ten until six."

"Whew!" gasped Tom. "It looks as if I just made it!"

As George and Mrs. Hill climbed out of the air lock, a jet car raced up
and skidded to a stop in front of them. A moment later Tom and the
couple, accompanied by two of the guardsmen, were speeding through the
dark and empty streets of Venusport. The car was stopped once at a
mid-town check point, and Tom had to repeat the password. They picked up
another jet car, full of guardsmen as escorts, and with the echo of the
exhausts roaring in the empty avenues, they sped to central Solar Guard
headquarters.

Tom had never seen so many enlisted guardsmen in one spot before except
on a parade ground. And he noted with a tinge of excitement that each
man was in battle dress. Arriving at headquarters, they were whisked to
the top floor of the building and ushered into Commander Walters'
office. The commander smiled broadly as the young cadet stepped to the
front of his desk and saluted smartly.

"Cadet Corbett reporting, sir," he said.

In a moment the office was filled with men; E. Philips James, the Solar
Delegate, Captain Strong, fleet commanders, and officers of the line.

"Make your report, Cadet Corbett," said Walters.

Tom spoke quickly and precisely, giving full details on the location of
the base, the approximate number of fighting ships, the armament of
each, the location of supply dumps, and f