tion dumps, and repair shops, they passed groups of men
digging into the rubble. In sharp contrast to the careful scrutiny they
had received when they first arrived at the prison, no one noticed them
now. Strong stepped up to a man in a torn and dirty sergeant's uniform.

"What happened?" he asked.

The man turned and looked at Strong and Astro. Aside from the swollen
bump on the Solar Guard captain's head and the bruise on the cadet's
neck there were no signs of their having been in the attack. When the
guardsman finally replied, there was a sharp edge to his voice. "I
thought _everyone_ knew we were attacked, _sir_!" He turned back to a
detail of men who were watching. But Strong pulled the man up sharply.

"Attention!" he barked. The sergeant and the crew came to stiff
attention. Strong stepped forward and looked the guardsman straight in
the eye. "Under any other circumstances, Sergeant," snapped Strong, "I'd
have your stripes and throw you in the brig for your insolence! Now I
want a clear account of what happened. And I want it blasted _quick_!"

"Yes, sir!" stammered the guardsman, realizing he had gone too far. He
hurriedly gave a detailed description of the battle, ending with a
report that Major Savage had been injured and that Lieutenant Williams
was now in command of the prison.

"Where will I find Lieutenant Williams?" asked Strong.

"At the rocket destroyer, sir. It just landed."

"Very well, Sergeant!" said Strong, adding in a gentler tone, "I realize
you've had a rough time of it, so we'll forget what just happened. Get
back to your work."

As Astro followed the Solar Guard captain toward the rocket ship he saw
a familiar figure standing near the air lock. A boy with close-cropped
blond hair and wearing cadet blues.

"Roger!" yelled Astro joyfully. "Captain Strong, look! It's Roger!"

They quickened their pace and were soon beside the small space vessel
that had been blasted out of commission before it could fire a shot.
While Roger was telling them of having volunteered for radar operations
aboard the ship and of their being disabled by a near miss, Lieutenant
Williams suddenly appeared in the air lock and saluted smartly.

"Major Savage has been injured, sir," said Williams. "Since you are the
highest ranking officer on the asteroid, are there any orders?"

"I'm not acquainted with your men, or your prison, Williams," replied
Strong. "I'll accept the command as a formality but appoint you m