the intercom. "Have you got the station's guiding beam,
Roger?"

"All lined up, Tom," replied Roger from the radar bridge. "Get that
Venusian on the power deck to give me a three-second shot on the
starboard rocket, if he can find the right handles!"

"I heard that, Manning!" roared Astro's voice on the intercom. "Another
crack like that and I'll make you get out and push this baby around!"

"_You execute that order and do it blasted quick!_" Major Connel's voice
exploded over the intercom. "And watch that loose talk on the ship's
intercom. From now on, all directions and orders will be given and
received in a crisp, clear manner without unnecessary familiarity!"

Connel didn't expect them to acknowledge his order. The cadets had heard
him and that was enough. He knew it was enough. In the short time it had
taken them to traverse the immense gulf of space between the Academy and
the station Connel had handed out demerits by fives and tens! Each of
the cadets was now tagged with enough black marks to spend two months in
the galley working them off!

Now, working together like the smooth team of junior spacemen they were,
Tom, Roger, and Astro maneuvered the great rocket ship toward the gaping
hole of the air lock in the side of the white ball-like satellite.

"Drop your bow one half degree, _Polaris_, you're up too high," warned
the station control.

"A short burst on the upper trim rocket, Astro," called Tom.

The great ship bucked slightly under the force of sudden thrust, and
then its nose dropped the required half degree.

"Cut all thrust and brake your speed to dead ship, _Polaris_," ordered
traffic control.

Again Tom relayed the order to Astro, and a moment later the great ship
hung silently in the airless void of space, a scant half mile from the
station.

[Illustration: _The junior spaceman maneuvered the great rocket ship
toward the air lock_]

Through the teleceiver Tom could see the jet boats darting out from the
station carrying the magnetic cables. In a moment the lines were
attached to the steel skin of the ship, and gradually the lines
tightened, pulling the mighty spaceship into the waiting port. Once
inside, the outer air lock was closed and the _Polaris_ was slung in the
powerful magnetic cradles that held her in a rigid position. Elsewhere
on the satellite, quick calculations were made for the additional
weight, and the station was counterbalanced to assure an even orbit
around Venus.