THE LEGION OF SPACE
1 A Fort on Mars
“I’m reporting, Major Stell, for orders.”
John Star, lean and trim in his new Legion uniform, stood at attention before the desk where the stern, white-haired officer sat toying with the silver model of a space cruiser.
He felt the major’s merciless eyes come up from the tiny ship to search out every detail of his small-boned, hard physique.
Taut and almost quivering, he endured that probing gaze, burningly anxious to know his first assignment.
“Are you ready, John Ulnar, to accept your first order in the Legion as it should be accepted, to put duty above everything else?”
“I hope so, sir.
I believe so.” What would it be?
“I hope so too, John Ulnar.”
John Star was then called John Ulnar; the
“Star” is a title of distinction given him later by the Green Hall.
John Star we shall call him, according to the Green Hall’s edict.
This day, one of the first in the thirtieth century, had been the supreme, the most thrilling day of his twenty-one years.
It marked the end of his five arduous years hi the Legion Academy, on Catalina Island.
Now the ceremonies were finished.
His life in the Legion was about to begin.
Where, he wondered eagerly, would his first tour of duty be?
On some cruiser of the Legion Patrol, in the cold wastes of space?
At some isolated outpost in the exotic, terrible jungles of Venus?
Or perhaps in the Guard of the Green Hall, itself?
He strove to conceal his consuming impatience.
“John Ulnar,” old Major Stell spoke at last, with maddening deliberation. “I hope you realize the meaning of duty.”
“I think I do, sir.”
“Because,” the officer continued, as slowly, “you are being assigned to a duty that is peculiarly important.”
“What is it, sir?”
He could not resist the desire to hasten the satisfaction of his anxious curiosity, but Major Stell refused to hurry.
His keen eyes still scanned John Star pitilessly, while his thin fingers continued to turn the silver toy on his desk.
“John Ulnar, you are being given a duty that has previously been entrusted only to seasoned, chosen veterans of the Legion.
It surprised me, I may say, that you were selected for it.
Your lack of experience will be a disadvantage to you.”
“Not too much of one, I hope, sir.”
Why didn’t he come to the point?
“The orders for your assignment, John Ulnar, came directly from Commander Ulnar himself.
Does it happen that you are related to the Commander of the Legion, and his nephew, Eric Ulnar, the explorer?”
“Yes, six.
Distantly.”
“That must explain your orders.
But if you fail hi this duty, John Ulnar, don’t expect any favor of the Commander to save you from the consequences.”
“No, sir.
Of course not!”
How long could he endure this anxiety?
“The service to which you are assigned, John Ulnar, is not well known.
It is in fact secret.
But it is the most important that can be entrusted to a soldier of the Legion.
Your responsibility will be to the Green Hall itself.
Any failure, I may warn you, even if due only to negligence, will mean disgrace and very severe punishment.”
“Yes, sir.”
What could it be?
“John Ulnar, did you ever hear of AKKA?”