"We just got our first good look at Tara. She's dead ahead. Major Connel's going to contact Space Academy, and I'm going to maneuver into our preliminary glide. Stand by for course changes."
"Make it an easy touchdown. I wanta get home, you know," replied Astro good-naturedly.
"O.K.," said Tom. "Better bring her down to one-quarter space speed."
"Hyper or regular?" asked Astro.
"Regular!" yelled Tom. "You give me a quarter on hyper and we'll go right through that planet!"
"One-quarter regular space speed," replied Astro.
Tom adjusted his controls for the speed reduction, while keeping his eyes on the teleceiver screen. He watched the planet grow larger before his eyes, and the terrain become more distinct. He could see two large oceans, the green-blue of the water reflecting the sunlight of Alpha Centauri brilliantly. Nearer and nearer the Polaris plummeted, and Tom could begin to distinguish the rough outline of mountain ranges along the horizon line. He switched to a larger view of the planet on the magnascope that revealed a splendor rivaling the beauty of his own cherished Earth.
"We'll be entering the atmosphere in a minute, Alfie," yelled Tom into the intercom. "Stand by to give range for touchdown."
"Radar deck, aye," reported Alfie. "Range at present five hundred miles."
"Power deck, check in!" yelled Tom.