Tom Swift on the Phantom Satellite by Victor Appleton II

Author:Victor Appleton II
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-03-18T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

FACTS ON THE GROUND

TOM’S CREW pressed close as their skipper read the message aloud over his suit transiphone:

TO THE AMERICAN INTRUDERS:

YOU HAVE NO LEGITIMATE CLAIM TO THIS SATELLITE SINCE WE, THE BRUNGARIAN SPACE FORCE, ARRIVED FIRST. UNLESS YOU DEPART WITHIN THREE HOURS, WE WILL BE FORCED TO CONSIDER YOU HOSTILE INVADERS AND WILL TAKE ACTION TO DEFEND OUR RIGHTS AND PROPERTY.

STREFFAN MIROV, COMMANDER

The ultimatum brought an angry outburst from Tom’s crew. Their transiphone channels crackled with indignation.

Jason Graves fumed, "That Brungarian bandit! Telling us to get off this planet! We’re Americans—they can’t shove us around that way!"

"Now you’re talkin’, pardner!" Chow chimed in, shaking his gnarled fist. "Reckon none of us hankers to knuckle under to them space rustlers! They ain’t yet fenced-in the sky, not by a long shot!"

Blistering comments came from Gabe Knorff and Kent Rockland, and the crewmen buzzed like a nestful of angry hornets. Bud, however, kept his own temper in check, waiting to hear what Tom had to say.

The young inventor let the team members express themselves, then called for silence. "No sense losing our heads," he told them. "If possible, we must avoid trouble."

"What!" Graves exploded. "You mean we’re going to take this insult to our country lying down?"

"I didn’t say that," Tom replied evenly.

"Then what do you propose to do?" Graves challenged.

Tom turned to Teodor Kutan. "Do you have a comment, Dr. Kutan? You’re our resident diplomat, and you know these people."

Kutan nodded and cleared his throat. He had obviously been waiting for someone to solicit his learned opinion. "I do know these people, and I speak their language. As a matter of fact, I am acquainted with Streffan Mirov, though we have lost touch over the years."

"That’s surely a stroke of good fortune," remarked Dr. Jatczak softly. "What sort of man is he?"

"He had a nickname in Volkonis—Za Turouj, ‘The Bull’," replied Kutan. "He had a reputation for stubbornness, and is known to be a proud man. Yet I found him reasonable, and he has a scientific background, which is why he was selected for the expedition, I would think."

"Can we get this ol’ buddy of yours to see things our way?" asked Col. Northrup. "I’m military, but I didn’t plan on fightin’ a war up here."

"We may not have a choice!" snapped Graves.

"Hey, everybody—Jason here just volunteered to lead the charge!" jibed Rafael Franzenberg.

Kutan waited for quiet. "To answer your question, Colonel, I believe the prospects for fruitful negotiation are quite good. The first step is to arrange a meeting of the leaders—a summit conference, as they say."

"But what about that ultimatum?" asked Violet Wohl.

"Think of it as an opening bid," counseled the diplomat.

The expeditioners seemed split, with some clearly jostling for a more forceful response. But Bud spoke up loudly and said:

"Tom, you’re our commander—we’re going to do whatever you think is best." He looked around at the others. "And that goes for all of us—right?"

One by one, with varying degrees of enthusiasm, everyone nodded.

"Thanks," Tom responded simply. "My decision is to go to the Brungarian camp with Dr.

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