the parent company of Universal Jet
Trucking and Surface Transportation! If the projectiles worked, surface
cargo delivery would be wiped out."

Before Connel could comment on Tom's startling revelation, they heard
the sound of angry voices just outside the control-deck hatch.

"That must be Astro and Roger bringing in Barret," said Tom with a grin.

The hatch clanked open and Astro appeared, carrying Roger under one arm
and Barret under the other. He dropped them both unceremoniously on the
deck, but when they jumped to their feet, Roger charged forward quickly
and landed a stinging right to Barret's jaw. The man dropped to the deck
again like a stone.

"Manning!" roared Connel. "What was the idea?"

"I wanted to make sure I got in my licks before the Solar Guard got hold
of him," replied Roger, rubbing his knuckles and looking down at
Barret's inert form.

Astro grinned sheepishly. "I tried to stop him, sir!" he said.

"I'll just bet you tried to stop him!" bellowed Connel. "Cadet Manning,
you put that man to sleep, now you wake him up!"

"Yes, sir!" said Roger, and while Connel, Astro, and Tom roared with
laughter, he poured an entire bottle of water on Barret's face.

CHAPTER 19

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

Shouting angrily, Barret sat in one of the pilot's chairs, flanked by
Roger and Astro, while Connel and Tom stood in front of him firing
questions.

"Barret," said Connel, "I have enough evidence on you now to send you to
a prison asteroid for ten years at least!"

"On what charge?" demanded the young man.

"Trying to kill an officer of the Solar Guard."

"Where is your proof?" demanded Barret.

"Right there!" snorted Major Connel, pointing to the sleeping figure of
Professor Hemmingwell.

"What do you mean?" demanded Barret.

"He'll swear that you deliberately sent this ship into full drive while
I was out on the hull checking the rings."

"He can't," protested Barret. "He was on the bridge! He couldn't have
seen a thing!"

Tom shook his head gently. "Barret, after what you've done to his ship
and the projectile operation," he said, "Hemmingwell will swear to
anything."

"It's a frame-up!" shouted Barret.

"And what do you think you did to us?" snarled Roger.

Barret flushed and turned away. "You can't scare me," he muttered. "Go
ahead. Let him swear to whatever he wants."

Connel stepped back grimly and turned to Astro and Roger. "All right,
boys," he said