Space Cadet

SNAFU ON VENUS"I gather that you were sent here, in answer to my message?""Certainly," Matt said."Thank heaven for that-even if you guys were stupid enough to stumble right into it. Now tell me-how many are there in the expedition. This is going to be a tough nut to crack.""This is the expedition, right in front of you.""What? This is no time to joke. I sent for a regiment of marines, equipped for amphibious operations.""Maybe you did, but this is what you got. What's the situation?"Burke seemed dazed. "It's no use," he said. "It's utterly hopeless.""What's so hopeless? The natives seem friendly, on the whole. Tell us what the difficulty was, so we can work it out with them.""Friendly!" Burke gave a bitter laugh. "They killed all of my men. They're going to kill me. And they'll kill you too. ..."