Space Patrol 52-11-08 006 The City of the Sun

Summary

Space Patrol 52-11-08 006: The City of the Sun – Detailed Summary

Podcast Title: Harold's Old Time Radio
Host/Author: Harolds Old Time Radio
Episode Title: Space Patrol 52-11-08 006 The City of the Sun
Release Date: April 30, 2025

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Introduction to the Adventure

The episode opens with Buzz Corey enthusiastically introducing the thrilling universe of Space Patrol. We meet Commander Corey and his loyal Cadet, Happy, embarking on a daring mission on Mercury's scorching surface. Their objective: investigate a massive six-wheeled atomic digging machine that poses a threat to their mission and the stability of the planet's infrastructure.

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Mission Briefing and Initial Conflict

Time Stamp [00:03 – 02:54]

Commander Corey and Cadet Happy land on Mercury, navigating its intensely cracked terrain under a blistering 300-degree heat. Their mission is twofold: search for the missing Professor Mallison, whose spaceship vanished on Mercury's dark side, and address a new emergency threatening the planet's vital mining operations.

Key Discussion Points:

• Sabotage Investigation: Commander Corey speculates that the recent sabotage of the power plant is likely motivated by financial gains from disrupted mining operations.

  Commander Corey [02:55]: "Solaria has suddenly become very important because of the mineral deposits that have been found about 60 miles south of the city."

• Professor Mallison's Disappearance: The duo reflects on the sparse chances of locating Mallison alive after four days missing in Mercury's severe climate.

  Happy [03:34]: "Do you think the professor could still be alive, sir?"

• Technological Challenges: Discussion around the automatic signals sent by Mallison's spacecraft, which provide limited data due to possible damage during the landing.

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Encounter with the Atomic Driller

Time Stamp [04:54 – 12:15]

While investigating, Commander Corey and Happy stumble upon a geyser emitting steam, indicating a broken water conduit crucial for Solaria's water supply. As they analyze the situation, the atomic drilling machine's operators, Burdock and Groff, reveal malicious intent by sabotaging the infrastructure to halt mining operations.

Notable Interactions:

• Commander Corey’s Leadership: Demonstrates decisive action in coordinating with Lieutenant Oris from Space Control Solaria to manage the crisis.

  Commander Corey [04:35]: "We'll circle this vicinity to see if any further trouble develops. Report back when you get the information."

• Tense Confrontation: The atomic driller pursues Corey and Happy, leading to a perilous situation where Happy gets trapped.

  Happy [00:44]: "They're trying to run us down with the machine, Commander."

  Commander Corey [11:38]: "It's an atomic driller, Happy. The camouflage covers the drill part..."

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Sabotage and Pursuit

Time Stamp [12:24 – 20:39]

As the driller intensifies its pursuit, Burdock and Groff, the antagonists behind the sabotage, attempt to evade detection while ensuring Commander Corey and his team are thwarted. Their efforts include deploying a magnesium bomb to destroy evidence and manipulating the environment to their advantage.

Key Events:

• Saboteurs' Strategy: Groff and Burdock discuss eliminating evidence and preventing Space Patrol from uncovering their sabotage.

  Groff [15:23]: "It'll make sure that this drill is useless to anybody else."

• Commander Corey's Investigation: Undeterred, Corey traces the sabotage back to the atomic driller and uncovers deeper layers of conspiracy involving Professor Mallison's research.

  Commander Corey [16:16]: "A spaceship of Unknown type. Just blasted off from the vicinity of the broken water conduit..."

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Discovery of Underground Ice

Time Stamp [19:25 – 22:57]

The climax unfolds as Corey and Happy locate Professor Mallison in a concealed cave protected by vast underground ice deposits. Mallison reveals his groundbreaking discovery of ice beneath Mercury's surface, poised to revolutionize Solaria's water supply and mining efficiency.

Significant Revelations:

• Professor Mallison’s Survival: Despite harsh conditions, Mallison survives thanks to the insulating properties of underground ice.

  Professor Mallison [21:35]: "You have to look at this. It's a happy surprise to find you alive..."

• Impact of the Discovery: The presence of abundant underground ice could transform Solaria’s operations, making water more accessible and reducing dependency on fragile conduits.

  Professor Mallison [22:19]: "Think how easily it could be melted and piped to Solaria."

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Final Confrontation and Resolution

Time Stamp [23:03 – 24:47]

The saboteurs, Burdock and Groff, attempt to thwart Corey’s mission by destroying their evidence. However, their plans backfire when another atomic driller is set ablaze, dismantling their scheme and ensuring Space Patrol's success in uncovering the truth.

Climactic Moments:

• Saboteurs’ Downfall: Their attempt to eliminate Commander Corey results in their own machines being destroyed.

  Commander Corey [24:13]: "The heat from his rocket exhaust turned the ice into steam and it popped the ship out of the cave like a cork."

• Conclusion: With the sabotage exposed and Professor Mallison rescued, Mercury's mining operations are set to benefit from the newfound ice reserves, securing peace and prosperity for Solaria.

  Happy [24:36]: "That’s all."

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Character Dynamics and Themes

• Commander Corey: Embodies the quintessential fearless leader, demonstrating bravery, intelligence, and unwavering commitment to justice.

  Commander Corey [03:00]: "But I've got a pretty Good idea. What? The motive."

• Cadet Happy: The loyal and resourceful sidekick, whose quick thinking and courage complement Commander's leadership.

  Happy [24:36]: "That’s all."

• Burdock and Groff: Antagonists driven by greed, their actions underscore themes of corporate sabotage and environmental manipulation.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

1. Commander Corey on Mission Urgency:

   "[02:55] 'Solaria has suddenly become very important because of the mineral deposits that have been found about 60 miles south of the city.'"

2. Happy on the Driller's Pursuit:

   "[00:44] 'They're trying to run us down with the machine, Commander.'"

3. Professor Mallison on Ice Discovery:

   "[22:19] 'Think how easily it could be melted and piped to Solaria.'"

4. Groff’s Saboteur Intent:

   "[15:23] 'It'll make sure that this drill is useless to anybody else.'"

5. Commander Corey’s Determination:

   "[24:16] 'No assertions, only facts and actions.'"

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Conclusion

"Space Patrol 52-11-08-006 The City of the Sun" delivers a captivating narrative of exploration, conflict, and discovery. Commander Corey and Cadet Happy navigate the treacherous landscapes of Mercury, confronting adversaries and uncovering life-saving secrets. The episode skillfully blends suspense with visionary science fiction, celebrating themes of heroism, loyalty, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge.

For listeners unfamiliar with the episode, this summary provides a comprehensive overview of the plot, character interactions, and pivotal moments that define this exciting installment of Space Patrol.

Transcript

[Buzz Corey]

Wheat checks, rice checks and good hot Ralston Present Space Patrol I Adventure in the wild vast reaches of space, Missions of daring in the name of interplanetary justice. Travel into the future with Buzz Corey, Commander in Chief of the Space Patrol. In today's transcribed adventure, Buzz and Happy are in their spaces investigating a gigantic six wheeled atomic digging machine on the planet Mercury. As they walk across the deeply cracked ground in 300 degree heat, the huge machine starts moving toward them with increasing speed.

[Happy]

They're trying to run us down with the machine, Commander.

[Commander Corey]

Get to the ship, Happy.

[Happy]

It's hard to run in these bulky suits. Maybe we can dodge the driller.

[Buzz Corey]

Don't try it.

[Commander Corey]

The driller's big, but it can turn like a cat.

[Happy]

It's gaining on us.

[Buzz Corey]

Don't look back. Run.

[Happy]

Hey.

[Commander Corey]

Quick, Happy, on your feet.

[Happy]

My foot's caught in the crevice.

[Commander Corey]

Give me your hand. No, you, sir.

[Happy]

I can't get loose.

[Buzz Corey]

I'm caught.

[Happy]

Commander, get away please, while you can.

[Buzz Corey]

The driller's almost on top of us. We'll be back in just a moment with today's Space Patrol story. The City of the Sun. Hey, gang, listen to this poor old rocket ship here at the Lunar Fleet Base. You know what the trouble is? That rocket's trying to run on ordinary fuel. Now here's that same rocket ship loaded with so super fuel. Now that's what I call a real blast off. And boys and girls, to get a bright and snappy start, you need super fuel too. Especially in the morning. So start your day with a breakfast that supercharges you. A nourishing breakfast with a checkerboard super cereal like rice checks triple crisp. Rice checks triple crisp because it's toasted three times. And oh boy is Rice Chex delicious. Makes breakfast sparkle. That's how good it is. Rice Chex. Golden shredded rice biscuits in that modern bite sized design for easy eating. So remember, gang, to start off bright and snappy in the morning, eat a nourishing breakfast with a checkerboard super cereal. And get supercharged today. Try your spoon out on Rice Chex. Commander Corey and Cadet Happy are on the planet Mercury organizing space patrol units into a search for Professor Mallison, whose spaceship vanished on the dark side of the planet. But now a second emergency on another part of Mercury sends Buzz and Happy racing to the hot side of the tiny planet. To Solaria, the City of the Sun.

[Happy]

Who's behind the sabotage, sir?

[Commander Corey]

I don't know, Happy. So we've got to find out. But I've got a pretty Good idea. What? The motive.

[Happy]

What's that, sir?

[Commander Corey]

Solaria has suddenly become very important because of the mineral deposits that have been found about 60 miles south of the city. South?

[Happy]

That means it's hotter than the Solaria area. How do they work it?

[Commander Corey]

With robot controlled mining equipment operated from Solaria and with spacesuits, a few technicians can work in two hour shifts on the mining site itself.

[Happy]

Oh, and whoever sabotaged the power plant doesn't want those mining operations to continue.

[Commander Corey]

Probably cuts into their own source of revenue.

[Happy]

I suppose this is more important, but I sure would have liked to locate Professor Mallison first.

[Commander Corey]

We've got the search units well organized, Happy. They'll comb the entire dark side of Mercury. Infrared viewscope scanners.

[Happy]

Do you think the professor could still be alive, sir?

[Commander Corey]

He's been missing over four days. That would be a long plan to hold out in sub zero temperature on the dark side of the planet.

[Happy]

Well, how about the Spaceophone signal picked up yesterday, though?

[Buzz Corey]

That.

[Happy]

That was from Mallison, wasn't it?

[Commander Corey]

It was his code all right, but it was an automatic signal. It could have been sent from one of the small rockets Mallison had aboard his ship. When released, it automatically sends back information on cosmic radiation, temperature and Mercury's own magnetic field.

[Happy]

Oh, that's what Mallison was studying.

[Commander Corey]

Yes. Even if you locate the rocket, it wouldn't mean it's anywhere near Mallinson's ship. A commercial spaceship picked the signal up briefly, just for a few seconds. All they got was Mallinson's identification code and the temperature, 122 degrees below zero.

[Happy]

Which could mean that Mallison released the rocket several days ago. And it landed on the dark side of the planet. Right, Commander. What's that? It looks like steam shooting out of the ground down there. Looks like a geyser.

[Commander Corey]

Geyser on the hot side of Mercury. Happy, check our exact position. I don't like the looks of this.

[Happy]

Yes, sir.

[Commander Corey]

I'll call Solaria Space Control. Corey and Terra 5 to Space Control Solaria. Cory and Terra 5 to Space Control Solaria.

[Lieutenant Oris]

Space Control, Solaria to Commander Corey. Lieutenant Oris here.

[Commander Corey]

Lieutenant, I'm flying low northeast of Solaria. My cadet and I have sighted something that looks like steam shooting out of the ground. Steam.

[Lieutenant Oris]

Commander.

[Buzz Corey]

Yes.

[Commander Corey]

I'll give you our position. Check it against the location of water conduits leading to the city.

[Lieutenant Oris]

Yes, sir.

[Commander Corey]

Happy, got the data?

[Happy]

Yes, sir. We're 10 degrees, 27 minutes, 48 seconds south by 112 degrees, 51 minutes, 08 seconds east.

[Commander Corey]

Got that, Lieutenant.

[Lieutenant Oris]

Yes, sir. I'll check it against the chart.

[Happy]

Commander, do you suppose it is a broken conduit?

[Commander Corey]

I don't know what else it could be, Happy. Possibly. A quake broke the pipe, Commander.

[Lieutenant Oris]

It looks like a broken conduit all right. Solaria's main water supply line runs right through that point from melting and Pumping Station Number three on the cold side of Mercury.

[Commander Corey]

Better check with Solaria Water Control. See if they've noticed a drop in pressure.

[Lieutenant Oris]

Yes, sir. Thanks for telling us. If that's a bad break, we'll be in a tough spot here.

[Commander Corey]

Is there a seismograph in Solarium?

[Lieutenant Oris]

I believe there is, sir.

[Commander Corey]

I suggest you check the City Engineering office. Have them contact other cities on the planet and see if there's been a quake in this area.

[Lieutenant Oris]

Yes, Commander.

[Commander Corey]

We'll circle this vicinity to see if any further trouble develops. Report back when you get the information. Cory out.

[Happy]

From the looks of that ground down there, sir, they must have a lot of quakes in this region.

[Commander Corey]

You mean those deep cracks? Those were formed millions of years ago, Happy, when Mercury first began to dry out under the terrific heat.

[Happy]

Yeah, but with one side of the planet covered with ice and the other side with blistering heat, wouldn't there be a lot of quakes?

[Commander Corey]

As far as I know, there hasn't been a serious one reported in recent years. We'll keep circling until we hear from Solarium.

[Burdock]

Can't we take it easy, Burdock. This is pretty rough ground.

[Groff]

Well, these atomic drillers weren't made for comfort growth. And I want to get plenty of distance between us and that broken water conduit.

[Burdock]

We're going 70 with this thing. If we hit one of those cracks at the speed will tip open.

[Groff]

Just quit worrying. We're riding on six wheels and each of them are 20ft in diameter. And every wheel has its own power drive. I think we're in more danger of being spotted by a space patrol ship than we are of upsetting this monster.

[Burdock]

What do we do with the driller when we get to our.

[Groff]

We just leave it. It's pretty well camouflaged to blend in with this cracked yellow ground here. We can find it again if we need it.

[Burdock]

You aren't planning to drill any more.

[Commander Corey]

Holes in the Solaria water supply, are you?

[Groff]

No, not right away, but this job will cause plenty of trouble.

[Burdock]

You think they'll be able to repair?

[Buzz Corey]

Probably.

[Groff]

But with things like this happening, trouble with power and water, the rival companies are going to think twice about using Solaria as a base of operations.

[Buzz Corey]

Hey, Burdock. Watch.

[Groff]

It nearly tipped us over. Just three leg drove. We're almost to the ship.

[Happy]

Well, sir, it looks like the conduit broke in just that one place.

[Commander Corey]

That's lucky. But even at that it'll take several hours to get many equipment out here to repair it.

[Lieutenant Oris]

Space Control Solaria calling Commander Cory aboard Terra 5.

[Commander Corey]

Cory here. Go ahead, Lieutenant.

[Lieutenant Oris]

A maintenance crew is getting ready to leave Solaria now, Commander. They know the location.

[Commander Corey]

Good. We'll head for Solarium. What about the seismograph reports?

[Lieutenant Oris]

No quakes have been detected anywhere on Mercury, sir. The chief engineer doesn't understand how that conduit could have broken.

[Commander Corey]

How's your water supply?

[Lieutenant Oris]

Pressure has dropped to less than a quarter of normal, sir. We're already on a strict water rationing. Nearly all industries have been ordered to shut down for 24 hours.

[Commander Corey]

Will it take that long to repair the damage?

[Lieutenant Oris]

At least. Oh, Commander, Colonel Henderson thought you might be interested in a report on Professor Mallison.

[Commander Corey]

Yes, I am. Have they found him?

[Lieutenant Oris]

No, sir. But another automatic signal was picked up by a cargo ship. Apparently from a grounded instrument rocket. It isn't much help.

[Commander Corey]

What do you mean?

[Lieutenant Oris]

It's sending inaccurate information. The cargo ship pilot got a rough fix before the signal stopped. It's on the hot side of Mercury, but the Temperature data was 122 degrees below zero.

[Commander Corey]

Same as the other report. The sending mechanism must have been damaged when the rocket landed.

[Lieutenant Oris]

Yes, sir.

[Commander Corey]

Thanks, Lieutenant. I'll contact you when we reach Solaria. Cory out. All right. Happy, get on vector for Solaria.

[Happy]

Yes, sir.

[Commander Corey]

Hey, wait a minute. Look down there on the ground.

[Happy]

What is it, Commander?

[Commander Corey]

See those gouges? A sort of crisscross pattern?

[Happy]

Yeah, two rows of them.

[Commander Corey]

They're tracks.

[Happy]

What would make tracks that far apart?

[Commander Corey]

Some heavy earth moving machinery probably.

[Happy]

Oh, from when the conduit was laid?

[Commander Corey]

I don't think so. Focus the viewscope toward the steam spout. There. See? It racks in right near the place where the break is.

[Groff]

Say.

[Happy]

That's right.

[Commander Corey]

Follow those tracks in the other direction. Happy.

[Happy]

Hey, they lead away from Solaria.

[Commander Corey]

Makes them interesting. Any surface equipment out here would be more likely to come from Solaria than anywhere else. We're going to find out where those tracks lead.

[Groff]

Just a few minutes more grow. Our ship's on the other side of the jagged butte.

[Burdock]

You'll be glad to get out of this villa.

[Groff]

You're mighty peculiar, aren't you? You don't like spaceships either.

[Burdock]

Who says I don't?

[Groff]

Well, didn't you get Space sick the other day. Or was it because I shut down the lab ship?

[Burdock]

You shouldn't have done that, Burdock. He wasn't bothering us. He was on some scientific mission.

[Groff]

Well, it's just too bad. He came snooping around just as we blasted off from our hideout.

[Burdock]

We didn't have a chance.

[Groff]

Don't be so squeamy. By acting quickly, we probably kept the space patrol from spotting us near a power relay stat. What's the matter? Reduce.

[Burdock]

It's a ship.

[Groff]

Yeah. It's flying low right toward us.

[Buzz Corey]

Think they see us?

[Groff]

I don't know.

[Burdock]

Why'd you stop the driller?

[Groff]

Because if we're moving, they might spot us. But with the sides and top of the drill camouflage, they might not notice.

[Burdock]

They went right over.

[Groff]

This is space patrol ship. They must have spotted the break in the water line.

[Burdock]

Yeah, but why were they going so slow?

[Groff]

How do I know? Well, just sit tight and see what they're up to.

[Commander Corey]

Happy, look down there. The tracks stop.

[Happy]

It's hard to tell that the ground must be packed. Almost as hard as concrete in some places.

[Commander Corey]

I'll circle back. Use the view scope scanner.

[Happy]

Yes. Oh. Hey, there is something down there. A hump of something. A small hill maybe.

[Commander Corey]

Now look closer. Did you ever see a hill on wheels?

[Happy]

Yeah, I can see it now. It's a big piece of machinery. And it's camouflaged.

[Commander Corey]

Happy, get our spacesuits out of the locker. I'm setting the ship down.

[Happy]

Yes, sir.

[Commander Corey]

Check the refrigeration units and the suits carefully. We're gonna be walking around in oven temperature down there.

[Burdock]

They must have seen us. Why would they land their ship clear out here?

[Groff]

Just take it easy, Grove. We're safe in the driller. Nobody could get in unless we open the door.

[Burdock]

Somebody's getting out of the ship. Two men.

[Groff]

Hey, that's Terra 5. Come into Corey ship.

[Burdock]

If we don't open up, Corey will go back to a ship and report us. They'll send a crew out here with cutting torches.

[Groff]

If Corey gets back to the ship.

[Burdock]

How could we stop him?

[Groff]

We'll stop him, all right. You just wait and see.

[Happy]

Wow. Now that we're on the ground, that machine looks enormous.

[Commander Corey]

It's an atomic driller, Happy. The camouflage covers the drill part, but it's built to cover the toughest kind of terrain and drill through solid rock.

[Happy]

Then that's what happened to the water conduit. Drilling into the main would be simple for that machine.

[Commander Corey]

That looks that way. Have your gun ready, Happy. Whoever's in there probably Won't be too eager to answer questions. Hey.

[Happy]

Commander is moving.

[Commander Corey]

We're making a getaway. Get back to the ship, Happy.

[Happy]

Yes, sir. Commander is coming towards us.

[Commander Corey]

Run, Happy. They're trying to run us down.

[Happy]

It's hard to run in these bulky spacesuits. Maybe we can dodge the driller.

[Commander Corey]

Don't try it unless you have to. That driller's big, but it can turn like a cat.

[Happy]

The ground's so full of cracks and ditches. Commander. Commander, it's gaining on us.

[Buzz Corey]

Don't look back. Run.

[Commander Corey]

Hey. On your feet.

[Burdock]

Quick.

[Happy]

My foot's caught in the crevice.

[Commander Corey]

Give me your hand.

[Lieutenant Oris]

On foot.

[Happy]

Commander, they can't get both of us. You've got to get away.

[Commander Corey]

No. Give me your hand.

[Buzz Corey]

Hap.

[Commander Corey]

No.

[Groff]

You.

[Happy]

Sir, I'm fought.

[Lieutenant Oris]

Commander, look out.

[Happy]

The driller's right on top of us.

[Groff]

You've got to leave me.

[Buzz Corey]

We'll be back with Space Patrol in just a moment.

[Happy]

Shh. Space Patroller Dick two feld Gang.

[Commander Corey]

I've got a secret for you. Wait till I close the door.

[Buzz Corey]

Okay, now here's a secret. Buzz Corey wants you to know about the secret of how space patrollers get a rip roaring start in the morning. Now here's what they do. They eat a breakfast that supercharges them A good breakfast with one of the three checkerboard super cereals. Rice Chex, Wheat Chex and Instant Roston Chex. They're the super cereals with that modern bite sized design. The cereals with a swell new taste you'll like right off the reel. And to warm up your motor, there's Instant Ralston. The hot super cereal has a heart of the wheat flavor that you'll really warm up to. So now you know how space patrollers get. Get that rip roaring morning start. Get a flying start yourself every morning, gang. Sit down to a nourishing breakfast with a checkerboard super cereal and get supercharged rice checks. Wheat checks good. Hot Ralston. The super cereals Flying low above the hot side of the planet Mercury. Buzz and Happy have sighted a gigantic atomic drilling machine. The driller is driven by Burdick and Groff, who have bored a hole in the water conduit leading to Solaria, a city in the sun. Baked Mercury desert. Buzz and Happy dons spacesuits to investigate a cleverly camouflaged drilling machine. Suddenly, the driller started up, rolling across the cracked and fissured earth on its six giant wheels. Happy caught his foot in a large crack in the ground. And now, as Buzz tries to pull Happy free. The enormous driller roars down upon them.

[Happy]

It's no use, sir. It's still right after it's gon precious fall flat. Dive into that crevice quickly. Yes.

[Commander Corey]

Happy, are you all right?

[Happy]

I guess so, sir. I'm half buried in the dirt.

[Commander Corey]

Don't move yet. Stay down in the crevice until the.

[Professor Mallison]

Driller'S out of sight.

[Commander Corey]

We don't want them coming back to finish the job.

[Happy]

I sure thought we were goners when that big thing thundered over us.

[Commander Corey]

We're lucky to find a crevice deep enough.

[Happy]

They're still going, I guess.

[Burdock]

Yeah.

[Commander Corey]

Fortunately, they didn't stop to wreck our ship. That means they're sure they crushed us under the wheels.

[Happy]

The driller's completely out of sight now, sir.

[Commander Corey]

All right, into the ship. Happy, we won't take time to get out of these suits till after we blast off and start our search for that drilling machine.

[Groff]

Well, here we are.

[Burdock]

Here's your spacesuit, Burdock. Get into it. Let's get to the ship.

[Groff]

I see you already.

[Burdock]

Yeah, all but the face piece.

[Groff]

You know, sometimes I get the impression you don't enjoy riding in a driller.

[Burdock]

But the funny stuff. Let's get out of here. How do we know Corey didn't send a space phone message before he got out of his ship?

[Groff]

You're right, Grove. But before we leave, I'm going to set a magnesium bomb and leave it in here.

[Burdock]

What for?

[Groff]

It'll make sure that this drill is useless to anybody else. And it'll leave this cabin such a mess that the Space Patrol can't find any fingerprint.

[Burdock]

All right, all right. But let's get at it.

[Happy]

There's something up ahead, sir. Looks like smoke.

[Commander Corey]

You're right, Happy. It's the drilling machine that's on fire.

[Happy]

It's not moving. You suppose whoever was in it got out?

[Commander Corey]

Let's hope so. Wait a minute. By the color of the smoke, that must be magnesium. It must have been deliberately started to wreck the control mechanism.

[Happy]

But where's the driver?

[Commander Corey]

Take a look at that scorched area on the ground a few yards from the drill. I A blast off Scar, our driller operator had a spaceship hidden here. Turn on the view scope, Happy. Maybe you can pick up a trace of him now. Contact Space Control Solaria. Commander Corey aboard Terra 5 calling Space Control Solaria. Commander Corey calling Space Control Solaria.

[Lieutenant Oris]

This is Space Control Solaria, Commander. Lieutenant R. Speaking.

[Commander Corey]

Lieutenant, relay this bulletin to all Mercury Space Patrol units.

[Lieutenant Oris]

Yes, sir.

[Commander Corey]

A spaceship of Unknown type. Just blasted off from the vicinity of the broken water conduit. Interrogate all spaceborne private craft. Ground all suspicious ships and hold the occupants.

[Lieutenant Oris]

I'll relay that message, Commander. Can you give any sort of description of the ship? No.

[Commander Corey]

We merely saw the blast off Scar. Looked like it was from a small space cruiser. That water main break was deliberately sabotaged. An atomic driller did the job.

[Lieutenant Oris]

Atomic driller?

[Commander Corey]

Yes, we found it abandoned near the break. Tell Colonel Henderson I want investigators sent out to examine it. They'll need firefighting equipment.

[Lieutenant Oris]

Yes, sir.

[Commander Corey]

Make an immediate check of all known atomic drilling machines on Mercury, where they are and who has them.

[Lieutenant Oris]

Yes, Commander.

[Commander Corey]

How's the water situation in Solarium?

[Lieutenant Oris]

It's even more serious than we thought, sir. We're setting up cargo ships to bring some in from other cities. Oh, Commander. A Venus bomb passenger ship reported seeing a wrecked lab ship south of Solaria. The pilot thought it might be Professor Mallison's ship.

[Commander Corey]

South of Solaria?

[Buzz Corey]

How far south?

[Lieutenant Oris]

15 du, sir.

[Commander Corey]

That's the hottest part of the planet. Even if the ship wasn't badly damaged by the crash, it looks bad for Mallison.

[Lieutenant Oris]

The same passenger ship also picked up Mallison's automatic coat, sir. And another temperature report. 122 degrees below zero.

[Commander Corey]

Below zero? That seems impossible. Have you sent any units to investigate?

[Lieutenant Oris]

Not yet, sir. Colonel Anderson.

[Commander Corey]

Yes, I know you've got problems of your own, Lieutenant. Give me the location of that crashed ship. I'll investigate it myself.

[Lieutenant Oris]

And? 87 degrees, 16 minutes, 43 seconds west.

[Burdock]

But I suppose that's a ship you shot down up in us.

[Groff]

I got their frequencies photos.

[Commander Corey]

Got it, Lieutenant.

[Lieutenant Oris]

One more thing, Commander. The passenger ship pilot isn't sure, but he thought he saw something moving near the crashed ship. It doesn't seem likely.

[Commander Corey]

No, it doesn't. But I'll get there as quickly as I can. Cory out. Cory.

[Buzz Corey]

Hello?

[Groff]

Yeah. It was somebody else we ran over with the driller. Cut it off.

[Burdock]

That is the first ship you shot down. And there's someone still alive.

[Groff]

There couldn't be. There was four days ago. And even in the best space suit made, nobody could live four days in that heat.

[Burdock]

What are we gonna do?

[Groff]

I'm going to make sure. Maybe we can get there before Corey does. And if not, we'll cut Corey's investigation short.

[Burdock]

Burdock, maybe we didn't kill those men with a driller. Maybe it was Corey and somebody else and they escaped somehow.

[Groff]

Well, if he did, he wouldn't escape this time. You marked down those coordinates, didn't you?

[Burdock]

Yeah, yeah, they're right here.

[Groff]

All right, I'll take the controls. You get on the view scope. We don't want to get close to another ship, especially Corey's.

[Happy]

We're nearly to the location, sir.

[Commander Corey]

Drop her down a few thousand feet. Half.

[Happy]

Yes, sir. This part of Mercury looks even worse than where we were before. Rougher terrain.

[Commander Corey]

Yes, and it's even hotter. Close to 500 degrees. Listen, get that down. Ha.

[Happy]

Yes, sir. MLS 28.

[Commander Corey]

Mercury lab ship 28. That's Malison's identification code.

[Happy]

Temperature minus 122 degrees.

[Commander Corey]

Hey, it cut out. Minus 122 degrees. I got a fix in that signal, Happy. It's almost directly below us. Look.

[Happy]

It's a cracked up ship, all right. A lab job, too.

[Commander Corey]

Get your spacesuit on, Happy.

[Happy]

Yes, sir.

[Commander Corey]

Whatever we do, we've got to do it fast.

[Happy]

Hey, Commander, down there by that cliff. It's a man in a spacesuit.

[Commander Corey]

That's incredible. He's waving to us. Stand by for repeat.

[Burdock]

That's a lab ship, all right.

[Buzz Corey]

Even in the USCOPE you can see.

[Burdock]

It'S pretty badly smashed up.

[Groff]

Yeah, but we're too late, Cory. Ship is landing right near it.

[Burdock]

What do we do?

[Groff]

He'll probably go in to find what's left of Melison. When he does, we'll swoop down and bless the wreckage. And then shoot up terrified.

[Burdock]

Better not get so low, Burdock. They may see us.

[Groff]

There is not much they can do about it anyway. I'm keeping between them and the sun. Nobody's going to look up at the sun. Especially here on Mercury.

[Burdock]

Wait a minute. They're running right past the ship.

[Buzz Corey]

Where are they going?

[Groff]

Oh, maybe seeing something close to the cliff.

[Burdock]

But it's a man, and he's alive.

[Groff]

After four days in the blessed furnace down there, it's impossible.

[Buzz Corey]

See for yourself.

[Groff]

Must be Millicent. We've got to make sure that none of them get out of here. Get your spacesuit on, Grove.

[Burdock]

We aren't going to land?

[Groff]

Not unless we have to. But I'm going to make sure that all three of them are finished before we leave.

[Commander Corey]

Here. Check your suit. Spacer phone, Happy.

[Happy]

It's working okay, sir. And so is the temperature control.

[Commander Corey]

And we'll need it. All right. Open the outer hatch.

[Happy]

Mallison's acting pretty strange, sir. He just stands over there and motions to us instead of coming toward us.

[Commander Corey]

It's hardly a normal way to greet rescuers. Let's see if the spacesuit transmitter is working. Professor Mallison, this Is Commander Corey. Can you read me?

[Happy]

He's just waving. More excited than ever.

[Commander Corey]

Professor, if you hear me, hold both hands over your head.

[Happy]

He's doing it.

[Commander Corey]

Apparently he can hear us, but his transmitter is out.

[Happy]

I thought I heard something in the earphones. Just for a second. In another voice.

[Commander Corey]

Professor, is there some reason why you want us to come over there? If there is, hold your hand straight out at your side.

[Happy]

Yeah, that's what he wants us to do.

[Commander Corey]

We better do as he asks. How did he manage to survive in this heat?

[Happy]

Commander, it's a cave.

[Commander Corey]

Yeah, I see.

[Professor Mallison]

Commander, can you hear me now?

[Commander Corey]

Yes, Professor.

[Professor Mallison]

My spaceophone wasn't working, so I couldn't answer you. Commander, you've got to look at this.

[Commander Corey]

It's a happy surprise to find you alive, Professor. That spacesuit must be remarkably resistant to heat.

[Professor Mallison]

It isn't the suit that's responsible. Just look in here where the beam for my Atomo light is shining.

[Happy]

It just looks like an ordinary cave.

[Professor Mallison]

Further back, look at the walls.

[Commander Corey]

Mean that shiny blue black mineral.

[Professor Mallison]

Commander, that's ice.

[Buzz Corey]

Ice?

[Commander Corey]

In this part of Mercury. Right.

[Professor Mallison]

Thousands of tons of it. Perhaps millions.

[Commander Corey]

That's how you manage to stay alive. It's cool in the cave.

[Professor Mallison]

Yes, with 570 degrees outside. Inside, it's a constant 122 below zero.

[Commander Corey]

And your automatic rocket transmitter was right.

[Professor Mallison]

Commander, do you realize what this underground ice means to Mercury? To the people of Solaria in particular?

[Commander Corey]

You mentioned millions of tons.

[Professor Mallison]

Conservative estimates. Think how easily it could be melted and piped to Solaria. Only a matter of a few miles in comparison with the present haul of more than a thousand.

[Commander Corey]

It certainly is a timely discovery. Dozens of conduits can be built from here to Solaria at a fraction of the cost of the one line that was broken.

[Happy]

A spaceship? Yeah, it must be a space patrol craft.

[Commander Corey]

Let's get to our ship. Professor, believe me, this news will be welcome.

[Happy]

Well, what I don't understand is how all this ice could be underground. In the hot part of Mercury, the.

[Professor Mallison]

Rock above insulates it. This is not a new phenomenon by any means. Why, on the planet Earth, more than a thousand years ago, Indians in the Arizona desert used to get ice from a natural cavern such as this.

[Commander Corey]

Wait a minute. It's not a space patrol ship. It's a private cruiser.

[Happy]

You're right, sir. It's taxiing around on Repeller Ray.

[Professor Mallison]

I've seen that ship before. Wait. It's the one that shot my lab ship down.

[Commander Corey]

Are you sure?

[Professor Mallison]

I'm positive.

[Happy]

Hey, what's A crazy fool doing. He's backing the ship right toward the cave.

[Professor Mallison]

Better get out of here or he'll run over us.

[Commander Corey]

Got something worse than that in mind. He's seen us and doesn't want us to get out.

[Happy]

Well, maybe he's just backing up to get room to blast off between here and the opposite wall of the canyon.

[Commander Corey]

Up in your life. Quickly. Get out of the cave. He's gonna put his stern in here and turn on his rocket blast. It's lucky we saw him in time to get out of the cave. Now get behind this rock. Maybe he won't see us from the ship.

[Happy]

Hey, you're right, Commander. He's pushing the tail of his ship back in the cave with blasts from his forward rocket.

[Commander Corey]

Really intends to see that we don't get away from here. Then keep close to the rock. I think we'll be safe here.

[Happy]

Hey. He's keeping his forward rockets on to hold the ship in the cave.

[Commander Corey]

Something tells me he's going to regret this.

[Happy]

Wow.

[Commander Corey]

The ship's wrecked.

[Professor Mallison]

He shot right across the canyon into the opposite wall.

[Happy]

His hand must have slipped off the controls.

[Commander Corey]

No Happy. The heat from his rocket exhaust turned the ice into steam and it popped the ship out of the cave like a cork.

[Professor Mallison]

We'd better get over there, Commander. They may be badly hurt.

[Commander Corey]

If they haven't got spacesuits on, they haven't a chance.

[Happy]

Commander, I see somebody getting out. Yeah, there are two of them.

[Professor Mallison]

And they do have spacesuits on.

[Commander Corey]

Let's get them by their attitude, I don't think we'll have any trouble.

[Happy]

No, sir. You know, during the last few minutes, sir, I've really realized what a wonderful thing water is.

[Commander Corey]

That's all.

[Happy]

Yes, sir. In the form of ice. It saved Professor Mallison's life. And when those two fellas turned it into steam, it simply cooked their goose.

[Buzz Corey]

An exciting preview of next week's new Space Patrol adventure. After this important question. Have you sent for your Space Patrol Spaceophone yet? You better hurry. Yes, sir. This sensational offer is soon going to end. And you don't want to be left without one of these thrilling new spaceophone sets, do you? No, siree. So hurry. More fun. You can talk back and forth on the Spaceophone to someone a straight 50ft away. Just like talking on the telephone. Complete with two spaceophones, 50ft of communication cord and secret briefing sheet. Now remember, these are official spaceophones made especially for you on Earth. Real beauties, too. Gleaming blue and yellow plastic. Look exactly like the Spaceophones Buzz, Corey and the gang use. So don't wait a single day. Hurry. Yes, sir. You have to hurry, because this offer soon comes to an end. To get the complete Space Patrol spaceophone set, do this. Buy a box of Instant Ralston. Then with your name and address send 25 cents in coin and an instant Ralston box top to Space Patrol, Box 686-St. Louis, Missouri. This offer good only in continental US and may be withdrawn at any time. That's space patrol, box 686-St. Louis, Missouri. And now for a preview of next week's exciting Space Patrol story. Buzz and Happy have just entered a spaceship in Neptune City spaceport in search of a traitor against the United Planet. They pause on the open hatch a moment.

[Commander Corey]

He may be up forward tampering with the controls.

[Burdock]

Wrong guess, gentlemen.

[Happy]

Commander, look out.

[Groff]

Here we are, Cadet.

[Commander Corey]

I've got a ray gun.

[Happy]

Yeah, well, I've got a.

[Commander Corey]

Carter, put down that gun. Don't try to get to your feet, Commander. What are you doing in this ship? Preparing it for its last voyage. There's an explosive hidden aboard.

[Happy]

Time to go off.

[Commander Corey]

Two hours after blast off. And you, my friend, will be aboard.

[Buzz Corey]

Be sure to be with us next Saturday for the exciting story the Queen of Space.

[Commander Corey]

Boys and girls, this is your commander. Do you know how life giving oxygen is carried to the cells of the body by the bloodstream? So when a person loses a great deal of blood in an accident or in sickness, there's not enough blood left to do that job. Result, the person dies. So will you help me save lives by joining the Space Patrol blood boosters? It's fun. It's patriotic. So join the Space Patrol blood boosters today.

[Buzz Corey]

Space Patrol, an original Mike Moser production. Starring Ed Kemmer as Commander Corey and Lynn Osborne as Cadet Happy, was written by Lou Houston and directed by Larry Robertson. Other players were Ken Mayer and Norman Jolly. Dick Tufeld speaking. Now, don't forget to tune in next Saturday. And every Saturday when wheat checks, rice checks and good hot Ralston again present the new, exciting Space Patrol. And be sure to see another exciting Space Patrol story on your local ABC television station. Consult your local paper for time and channel. Space Patrol comes to you Transcribed from Hollywood this is ABC Radio Network.