When Madera saw the
extent of the plant, he smiled with deep appreciation, then encouraged
the men to get to work.
He assigned them to three groups. They were to spread throughout the
plant and search for evidence of any burnout or other damage. The men
went forth with lights, tools, and electronic equipment. Madera himself
set out to study one of the power stations and try to learn its secrets
by personal examination.
At one end of the asteroid was the huge landing facility that Troy
Putnam had taken over. About two-thirds of the length of the asteroid
away was the port through which the Starmen and miners had escaped.
Between was an enormous complex of habitable space. At the lowest level
was the power plant. Above the power plant was an immense compound,
secure from any chance encounter by Earthmen. Access could be given
only from inside, and no Earthman would be able to enter by force,
short of taking the entire asteroid apart. Indeed, no Earthman even
suspected it existed.
Inside this compound, several tall, slender, humanoid figures were
working frantically at a panel. Endless banks of dials, screens,
switches, and other electronic paraphernalia were set out in the huge
room where they worked. The room was dark. Several portable lights had
been set in a semi-circle around the panel where the figures were
working.
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