Midshipman Henry Gallant in Space

  * * *

  Mars was on the horizon, and rescue was in sight. Gallant’s plight would soon be over. He was finally able to get a rudimentary communication signal through to the Mars Fleet without tipping off the Titans. His message included the fact that there was a secret Titan base in the asteroid field and that he had key Titan equipment for analysis.

  The fleet sent a relief ship. The wisdom of his actions and the courage of his efforts would soon be determined. He said, "Kelsey, can you hear me? We’re almost there. Hold on a little longer."

  Gallant vectored his craft toward the UP destroyer coming to their aid. The destroyer met them, and rescuing hands gathered the pilot and his astrogator to safety. Gallant reached back into the cabin and grabbed the alien equipment along with the memory chips on which he had recorded information about the enemy’s base.

  Gallant immediately got Kelsey into the medical facility, and then he told the captain what he had learned about the Titans. The captain related this information to Mars as quickly as he could. Gallant gave a breakdown of the Titan force and their fortresses and support facilities. A lieutenant from the destroyer handed Gallant a message from the admiral. It included orders to report for debriefing as soon as he reached Mars. While on the destroyer, Gallant answered questions from the ship’s technicians about the equipment and data he’d collected. This information was forwarded to the Mars Fleet.

  When they reached Mars, Kelsey was moved to an emergency room under the care of a team of doctors and nurses. Gallant agreed to have his own wound attended to and he went to the minor surgery room. The doctors tended to Gallant's injuries and provided fresh medication for his arm. Skin stem cells were taken, and he was scheduled for skin graft surgery.

  After eight hours of extensive surgery, Kelsey returned to the care unit. The doctors told him that she was off the critical list but still had a lot of recovering to do. The medical staff was in and out of her critical-care area, providing her with around-the-clock monitoring and care.

  * * *

  The information about the Titan fleet caused a great stir in the Mars command. They had been on the brink of going to Jupiter's aide, but now this decision was stalled. Admiral Collingsworth wanted to hear directly from Gallant.