Sabotage in Space

cademy,

deep in the black void of the outer universe. To support the ever-growing need for trained spacemen to man the rocket ships that linked the planets and distant satellite outposts, the Solar Alliance, the go

, or at the Academy in classrooms and lecture halls, where they studied everything from the theory of space flight to the application of space laws. A very important course of study was the theory of government. For, above all else, the Solar Alliance was a governme

or the settlement of disputes and infractions of rules by the cadets. It was to this cadet gove

rawn hard and fast. Both units were extremely popular and the argu

fair chance to defend itself against the charges. A judge and jury were sele

ide against them, they might be expelled from the Academy. The same was true about the Capella unit, of course, but the Council might decide the Polaris had

ollowing afternoon when there was a knock on the door, and a small, thin cadet, wear

ggins!" c

in!" yel

you, pal!"

mmeled him playfully in their joy at seeing ano

ger, Astro," he

re?" asked Tom. "We're

. "I'm your defense lawyer." He glanced at Roger a

d Tom. "Alfie, we couldn

n," said Roger. "Yo

ed his appr

brief case, "I would suggest that we get rig

y," said Tom. "I suppose you

Alfie, adjusting his eyegl

iscussed the details of the case. Alfie took copious notes, occasi

hem. They were in serious trouble. After a few moments of silence, Tom rose and went into the bathroom to take a shower. Astro flopped on his back in his bunk and went to sleep. Roger began throwing darts idly at his "solar system" over his bunk. It was a map of his own des

head. Never, in all the adventures they had shared or all the tough situations th

with good reason too! I feel li

cavernous chamber was packed with all the cadets who could get off duty, in addition to a liberal sprinkling of Sola

defense lawyers arranged papers and data on the table for quick reference. Little Alfie Higgins didn't say a word to Tom, Roger, or Astro, merely studied his opponent, Cadet Benjy Edwards, who was acting as attorney for the Capella unit. Edwards, a beefy boy with a florid face, looked across the chamber and sneered at Tom. The young cadet repr

of the first charge, but made a strong claim that they had more than made up for the infraction by risking censure to return the spools to their rightful owners. In addition, he forced Tony Richards to admit that he had accepted Roger's apology. The Council agreed to drop that charge and to hold the second charge in abeyance, since both

ng to sign the pass for a week's leave for Alfie when this is over," he

jy Edwards all right," muttered St

cil platform, Alfie

, if the court please," he said in

r, was sworn in, and s

and then asked almost casually,

replie

suddenly. "Call Roger Mann

the way back, took his place on

n a clear voice asked, "Cadet Mann

N

ie. "Please call Cade

began to murmur and

is he doing?"

Lou," he said. "But wait and see. I

d Alfie waited for th

th, that they did not strike the first blow. Now, I ask you to consider carefully your answer. Did you, Cade

ellowed

d Cadet Corbett, nor Cadet Manning. And I will not insist that the three members of the Capella unit be asked the same q

room burst into a roar, Benj

that the Capella unit be allowed to

ge. They freely admit that the Capella unit could not, I repeat,

" cried Edwar

d his gavel. "Polaris

unit defer to the Capella unit. I submit, your honor, that it was nothing m

?" asked the

ir," sa

you insist on having your defendants brought to

lready planted the seed. There were shouts

t last, "after consultation with the members of the Capella unit, they have directed

ict of conduct unbecoming cadets was brought against both units, with orders for a strong reprimand to be placed on their individual official records. In addit

r further orders on all time not actually accountable for i

udience, who had seen justice done and democracy in action. Tom, Astro,