"Ho, we'll show the cursed tyrant how the Companions of Space fight!” boomed Brun Abo.
Kinnel King's eyes were burning.
"It will be good to strike a blow for old Earth,” he muttered, as he hurried off.
The jungle-surrounded field became a scene of intense, shouting activity as the hundred ships of the Companions were hastily prepared. Lana had ordered a new audio hastily installed in the Venture to replace its damaged one. She and the Planeteers listened to the storm of messages vibrating through the system, carrying word of the League's continued pursuit of the Alliance fleet,
"There's so little time!” Thorn murmured hoarsely. “And, even if we can recapture the moon, if Blaine's invention fails—"
Stilicho burst into the control-room. “All ships ready to start, lass!” he cried.
"Take over, Stilicho,” she ordered, and then spoke ringingly into the audio.
"Our course is straight sunward out of the Zone, then directly toward Earth's moon at top speed. Blast off!"
With a roar of tubes, the Venture leaped up from the field. And as it cometed up through the atmosphere of Turkoon, the five-score pirate cruisers were rising like a flock of falcons behind it, following its lead.
"Keep down our speed to the top speed of the others!” Lana told the old pirate.