nel, taking command of the situation.

Troy walked to the center of the room and sat down in the indicated
chair, facing Walters, Connel, and Strong.

"We'd like to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible, Troy,"
began Connel. "So I suggest that you tell us the truth and save us the
trouble of pulling it out of you.

"I will answer all of your questions to the best of my ability, sir,"
said Troy calmly. "And I will tell the truth at all times."

"Very well," snorted Connel. "Now, who are you working for?"

"Professor Hemmingwell," replied Troy.

"Stow that," snarled Connel. "Who paid you to sabotage the ship?"

"I have not committed any sabotage for anyone, sir."

"Then you deny that you wrecked that firing unit?"

"Yes."

Walters suddenly leaned forward. "But you do not deny that you knew
about the special unit that Professor Hemmingwell had created," he said.
"A unit that only he and I knew about?"

"I knew about the unit--yes, sir," replied Troy.

"How could you?" demanded Walters.

"I overheard you both discussing it one day."

"Where?"

"In the hangar," said Troy. "You and Professor Hemmingwell were talking
on the main deck while I was inside--what will be the radar
deck--working. I heard you talking about the unit, and after you left, I
happened to find a blueprint on the table. It coincided with what you
had been talking about. I looked at it and then thought nothing of it. A
few minutes later the professor came running in and took the blueprint
away."

"Did he ask you if you had read the print?" asked Connel.

"No, sir," replied Troy. "If he had, I would have told him that I had."

"Now," said Connel, "did you have anything to do with the so-called
accident to the oscillating timing device?"

"No, sir."

"Do you know who did?"

"No, sir."

"We can put you under drugs, you know, and get the truth out of you,"
warned Connel.

"You'll get the same answer, sir," Troy calmly replied.

Walters, Strong, and Connel moved to one side of the room and talked in
low tones while Troy remained seated.

"Well," said Walters, "do we give him drugs or not?"

"I may be sticking my neck out, Commander," said Steve, "but I think
that he's telling the truth."

"Same here," said Connel. "I would suggest that we let him loose, and
even let him go back to work, but keep an eye on him."

"And you wouldn't give him drugs now?"

"No. I'd give the benefit of the doubt to a man any time," said the