In front of a near-by panel a Martian soldier stood, armed with automatic rifle, pistol and bomb-thrower. Yaxa explained their errand and showed a stamped bit of metal as badge of authority. The fellow saluted and opened the door.
Inside, Sukune and Bull Mike rose from the pallets on which they sat. They were courteous, even cheerful, in their greeting to the newcomers.
"We've been getting ourselves an eyeful of the show that's coming," said the Japanese, pointing to the television screen that was part of the chamber's furnishings. Sure enough, he had dialed in a viewpoint in space from which the artificial asteroid appeared as a sphere about two feet in diameter, while in the distance the "curtain front" of the Terrestrial ships' advance could be seen like a puff of luminous dust.
"There's a lot of friends of ours in that mob," added Bull Mike. "They'll take this little pill of yours without so much as a swallow of water. Then we'll be free, speaking a good word for you, Yaxa."
"That's kind of you," smiled the Martian. "However, I don't think that there will be that much of a reverse."
"We'll soon know," said Neil. "Look, the Terrestrials are about ready to close in."
The attacking fleet had indeed drawn near its objective. They could see the face of the "curtain" changing, the edges coming forward and the center receding. This was the first move toward the gradual formation of a great net or basket in which to snare the apparently lifeless ball. That accomplished, the open face of the net would close and the ships of Earth would settle like a cloud around their quarry. An hour more, at least, and the thing would be done.
But, as the Terrestrials drew near, a hundred hidden panels flew wide all over the asteroid, exposing dark recesses. From each of these, shot ship after ship, like angry hornets disturbed in their nests, hurtling silently and fiercely to battle.
What followed might seem but a small engagement compared to the later and final conflict between Earth and Mars, wherein full two million ships took part. Yet, for display of grim courage, desperate endeavor and in proportion to the casualties, the fight that ensued around and within the asteroid has no parallel in the history of either planet.