"A weapon!" Kasthel said. "I've always wished we had several of those new Class IV atomic cannons. The Executive Council thought it would take too much time to make them."
Thettumir prompted, "But the specifications, Kasthel. Remember, you must know the exact specifications."
"I know them well, Commander." Kasthel closed his eyes, concentrating deeply.
Tense with eagerness, Thettumir watched. Suddenly, in a spot several feet to his right, a transparent angular outline appeared. It darkened, took on color and detail. And finally—there stood a Class IV atomic cannon. At the exclamations of Thettumir and Sthalor, Kasthel opened his eyes.
"It worked!" Thettumir exulted. "It worked!"
Kasthel's crest quivered with excitement. "Commander, if we can cause the materialization of objects like atomic cannon—"
Thettumir nodded quickly. "Then we can cause the materialization of objects like ships—the mightiest warships that ever blasted space!"
Thettumir got swiftly to work. He called a meeting of the various scientists and engineers of the fleet and explained his plans. After what had been experienced, none doubted that his idea was feasible. Designs and specifications were drawn up for an invincible battle cruiser, which, serving as a pattern, could be duplicated in countless numbers.
As the dreadnaughts began one by one to take form, a difficulty was encountered. It was realized that there wouldn't be enough men to run all the vessels. Thettumir overcame the difficulty with a solution which everyone else had overlooked—duplicate the men until the desired number of additions had been obtained.