ed, "Tom! Tom! You big space-brained jerk! It's
me, Astro!"

Behind the corner of a house, Tom peered cautiously around the edge and
saw the big cadet scramble over the tangle of barbed wire with Connel
right behind him. Tom held up his hand for the squad in back of him to
hold their fire and stepped out to meet his friends. "Major! Astro!"

The three spacemen pounded each other on the back while the patrol of
Marines watched, grinning. "Where's Roger?" asked Tom finally.

Astro quickly told him of the heavily guarded administration building.

"Is he all right?" asked Tom.

"No one knows," replied Connel. "We haven't been able to get any news of
him at all."

"I'm going after him," said Tom, his jaw set. "No telling what they'll
try to do with him when they see their goose is cooked."

"I'll go with you," said Astro.

"No, you stay here with Major Connel," said Tom. "I think it would be
better if just one tried it, with the rest creating a diversion on the
other side."

"Good idea," said Connel. He turned to the rest of the patrol. "Men,
there's an injured Space Cadet in the sick bay of the main building.
He's the third member of the _Polaris_ unit and has contributed as much
to victory in this battle as any of us. We've got to get him out of the
hands of the Nationalists before something happens to him. Are you
willing to try?"

The Marines agreed without hesitation.

"All right," said Connel, "here's what we'll do." Quickly the major
outlined a plan whereby Tom would sneak through the lines of the
Nationalists around the administration building, while the rest of them
created a diversionary move. It was a daring plan that would require
split-second timing. When they were all agreed as to what they would do
and the time of the operation was set, they moved off toward the
administration building. The rebellion was over, defeated. Yet the
Nationalist leaders were still alive. They were desperate men and Roger
was in their hands. His life meant more to Tom Corbett and Astro than
the smashing victory of the Solar Guard, and they were prepared to give
their own lives to save his.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER 19

"Ready?" asked Connel.

"All set, sir," replied Tom.

"Remember, we'll open up in exactly five minutes and we'll continue to
attack for another seven minutes. That's all the time you have to get
inside, find Roger, and get out again."

"I understand, sir," replied Tom.

"Move out," said