"Right," nodded Connel. "Stand by below, Barret."
"On my way," replied Barret, disappearing through the hatch.
"Well, Professor," said Connel, walking to the controls, "this is the big moment!"
"Yes," nodded Hemmingwell. "If these rocket projectiles prove workable now, there's nothing to stop us from carrying on with our test of the ground receivers on Mars immediately."
"Power deck to control deck, check in!" Barret's voice suddenly crackled over the intercom.
"Control deck, aye," replied Connel. "Ready to blast?"
"All set!"
"Give me a ten-second burst on the starboard steering rockets," ordered Connel, gripping the steering vane control tightly.
"Coming up!"
There was a sudden, jolting blast from the stern and Connel and Hemmingwell hung on grimly as the mighty ship turned in space. Watching the control panel instruments carefully, Connel slammed home the switch that opened the powerful nose braking rockets and brought the ship to a dead stop in space.