"I don't have to take that from you. One word outta me, and Vidac'll
bury you in the brig."

[Illustration]

Tom quickly stepped between Roger and the angry civilian spaceman to
prevent the impending fight. He stared at Winters and smiled. "What's
the matter, Winters? Need Vidac's help in everything you do?"

"Aw, go blast your jets, you space-brained jerks!" snorted Winters. He
turned back toward the hatch, but there was noticeably less swagger to
his walk.

The three cadets smiled at each other and followed him into the main
body of the ship.

While the _Polaris_ was the command ship of the fleet, the nerve center
of the entire operation, it was still hardly more than a prison ship for
the cadets. In direct contrast, the space liner was bright, gay, and
full of life. Everything imaginable for the convenience of the colonists
had been installed aboard the massive ship. As the three cadets walked
through the ship on their way to the control deck, they passed the
auditorium where stereos were shown in the evenings and indoctrination
lectures were given during the day. They passed a number of compartments
that served as a school for the children of the colonists. There were
workshops where the colonists could make objects for their future homes
in their spare time. And in the heart of the ship was one of the most
complete and extensive libraries in the Solar Alliance. Audioslides,
soundscribers, story spools, question-and-answer tapes, everything
designed to answer just about any question the human mind could ask.