Tom whirled around and faced Roger and Astro. "I guess we don't need any
more proof now," he said coldly. "Jeff Marshall is thrown into the brig
for looking into a logbook; we're relieved of our jobs here on the
_Polaris_; my monthly report to Captain Strong isn't sent to Space
Academy, and now this. One of two things is happening. Either Governor
Hardy is in on this with Vidac, or Vidac is taking over without Hardy
knowing anything about it."

"All right--all right," growled Astro, "but what are we going to do
about it?"

"We've got to get word to Space Academy or Captain Strong someway,
somehow. We've got to let them know what's going on."

"There's only one way to do that," said Roger. "But with the
communications controlled by Vidac's men, we don't have the chance of a
snowball on the sunny side of Mercury!"

"Then," announced Tom firmly, "we'll have to build our own
communications unit."

"But how?" asked Logan.

"Roger here can make a communicator out of spit and bailing wire," said
Astro. "All he needs is the essential parts."

"Look," said Tom tensely, "Jeff Marshall will be getting out of the brig
when we do. He'll be working with Professor Sykes, along with us. Why
can't we build one on the sly in the observatory?"