"But, sir," objected Tom, "we can't get a monorail until morning!"
"This is an official order, Corbett. So you have priority over all civilian transportation." The Solar Guard captain smiled. "I've tied up a whole bank of teleceivers in Atom City searching for you. Get back to Space Academy fast—commandeer an air car if you must, but be here by six hundred hours!" The captain waved a cheery good-bye and the screen went dark.
"Space maneuvers," breathed Astro. "The real thing."
"Yeah," agreed Tom. "Here we go!"
"Our first hop into deep space!" said Roger. "Let's get out of here!"
CHAPTER 12
"The following ships in Squadron A will blast off immediately," roared Commander Walters over the teleceiver. He looked up alertly from a chart before him in the Academy spaceport control tower. He began to name the ships. "Capella, orbital tangent—09834, Arcturus, orbital tangent—09835, Centauri, orbital tangent—09836, Polaris, orbital tangent—09837!"