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.One by one the twenty-three ships thatmade up the defender's fleet checked in for orders."Astro," shouted Tom, "stand by for maneuver-and be prepared to giveme every ounce of thrust you can get!""Ready, willing and able, Tom," replied Astro."Just be sure those otherspace jockeys can keep up with me, that's all!"Tom turned to Captain Strong."What do you think of approaching-"Strong cut him off."Corbett, you are in complete command.Take over-you're losing time talking to me!""Yes, sir!" said Tom.He turned back to the control board, his face flushedwith excitement.Twenty-four ships to maneuver and the responsibility all hisown.Via a chart projected on a screen, he studied various approaches to theMoon and Luna City.What would he do if he were in command of theinvading fleet? He noticed the Moon was nearing a point where it would be ineclipse on Luna City itself.He studied the chart further, made severalnotations and turned to the teleceiver."Attention-attention-flagship Polaris to Squadrons B and C-proceed tochart seven-sectors eight and nine.You will patrol those sectors.AttentionSquadrons D and F-proceed to Luna City at emergency space speed, hoverat one hundred thousand feet above Luna City spaceport and wait for furtherorders.Attention ships three and four of Squadron F-you will proceed to chartsix-sectors sixty-eight through seventy-five.Cut all rockets and remain thereuntil further orders.The remainder of Squadron F-ships one and two-will joinSquadron A.Squadron A will stand by for further orders." Tom glanced at theclock and punched the intercom button."Have you got that course, Roger?" "Three degrees on the starboard rockets, seventy-eight degrees on theup-plane of the ecliptic will put you at the corner of Luna Drive and MoonsetLand in the heart of Luna City, spaceboy!" answered Roger."Get that, Astro?" asked Tom on the intercom."All set," replied Astro."Attention all ships in Squadron A-this is flagship-code name Starlight-amchanging course.Stand by to form up on me!"Tom turned back to the intercom."Power deck, execute!"At more than five thousand miles an hour, the Polaris hurtled toward itsdestination.One by one the remaining ships moved alongside until all six hadtheir needle-like noses pointed toward the pale satellite of the Moon."I'd like to know what your plans are, Tom," said Strong, when the longhaul toward the Moon had settled down to a routine."Just idle curiosity,nothing more.You don't have to tell me if you don't want to.""Golly, yes," said Tom, "I'd be very grateful for your opinion.""Well, let's have it," said the captain."But as for my opinion-I'll listen, but Iwon't say anything."Tom grinned sheepishly."Well," he began, "if I were in command of the invading fleet, I wouldstrike in force-I'd have to, to do damage with only eight ships.There are threepossible approaches to Luna City.One is from the Earth side, using theeclipse corridor of darkness as protection.To meet that, I've stationed twoships at different levels and distances in that corridor so that it would beimpossible for an invasion to pass unnoticed.""You mean, you'd be willing to give up two ships to the invader to havehim betray his position.Is that right?""Yes, sir.But I've also sent Squadrons B and C to sectors eight and nineon chart seven.So I have a roving squadron to go to their aid, should theinvader strike there.And on the other hand, should he manage to get throughmy outer defense, I have Squadrons D and E over Luna City itself as an innerdefense.As for Squadron A, we'll try to engage the enemy first and maybeweaken him; at least reduce the full force of his attack.And then haveSquadrons B, C, D, and E finish him off, by attack from three different points."Strong nodded silently.The young cadet was shaping up a defensivestrategy with great skill.If he could only follow through on his plans, theinvaders of Luna City wouldn't have much chance of success-even if willing totake heavy losses.Roger's voice came on."Got a report for you, Tom.From command ship,Squadron B.They've sighted the invaders and are advancing to meet them."Tom checked his charts and turned to the intercom."Send them this message, Roger," he said."From Starlight, to commandship, Squadrons B and C-approach enemy ships from position of chartnineteen, sections one through ten.""Right!" said Roger.Strong smiled.Tom was driving his heaviest force between the invadingfleet and its objective-forcing the aggressors into a trap.Tom gave more crisp orders to his squadrons.He asked Roger for anestimated range, and then, rechecking his position, turned again to theintercom."Astro, how much could you get out of this baby by opening the by-passbetween the cooling pumps and the reactant chamber? That'd mean feeding the stuff into the motors only half cooled."Strong turned, started to speak, then clamped his lips together."Another quarter space speed, roughly," replied Astro, "about fifteenhundred miles more an hour.Do you want me to do that?""No, not now," replied Tom."Just wanted to know what I could depend on,if I get stuck.""O.K.," said Astro."Let me know!""Why use emergency speed, Corbett?" asked Strong."You seem to haveyour enemy right where you want him now.""Yes, sir," replied Tom."And the enemy knows I have him.He can'tpossibly attack Luna City now.But he can still run away.He can make hisescape by this one route."Tom walked to the chart and ran his finger on a line away from theinvader's position into the asteroid belt."I don't want him to get away," Tom explained."And with the extra speed,we can cut him off, force him to turn into a position where the remainder of myfleet would finish him off.""You'll do this with just the Polaris?""Oh, no, sir," said Tom."I'd use the Arcturus, Capella, and the Centauri,as well.""Are you sure those other ships can equal your speed?""They've got exactly the same type engines as we have here on thePolaris, sir.I'm sure they could-and with perfect safety."Strong hesitated a moment, started to ask a question, then stopped andwalked to the chart screen.He checked the figures.He checked them fourtimes, then turned to Tom with a grin and an outstretched hand."I've got to offer my congratulations, Tom.This maneuver would wipethem out
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