The Weapon From Eternity

Jarl Corvett selected the group—himself Ungo and five crewmen. They left their great ship on the far side of Vesta; came down with the night in a fast raider carrier. A hollow offered shelter. Like dust settling they landed. Abandoning the craft they pressed on towards their target. The hills fell behind. The final cordon was bypassed. Then at last bleakly they stared down at the sprawling building that had been Wassreck's workshop. But lights beat on the white walls. Guards paced the parapets. The commissioner's own carrier thrust up in the courtyard. Frowning Jarl Corvett crouched deep in the shadows. Tension crawled his spine like a leather-footed palau. His own black thoughts pressed relentlessly in upon him: Is this where it ends warrior? Is this the place here under the Federation's dazzling Forspark lights on a tiny astroidal speck that men call Vesta?