The grand council acted promptly.  Alda and I were summoned before the Minister of Defense.

"We're organizing a Planet Invasion Defense," he snapped.  "You two will command the first details of male and female soldiers.  You will fly at once."

We were on our way immediately.

As we approached our goal, Alda and I separated. I advanced from the West, as one my scouts reported:  "Enemy aircraft, senhor, maneuvering over Corps Area Y-752---in force!"

Meanwhile, far to the east, one of Alda's scouts saw an endless number of enemy spaceships speeding swiftly toward the Asternoids' base.

"Everybody down to earth!" thundered Alda.  "Miss Chagas, bring down the nebula guns.  We'll fan them with potential, as they pass over us."

The Asternoid ships, ignorant of the danger, passed overhead.  They did not feel the mighty electric charge the passed into them.  But later, as they approached the clouds, lightning struck!

In a moment, many of them crashed and crumpled.  The rest of them landed safely at the Asternoid base.

Meanwhile, I scouted through the forest.

Suddenly, as I rounded a clump of jungle trees, I came face to face with one of the Asternoids!

We fired simultaneously.  He got me first, but he was so close to his own blue fire that he got it too.  It was hours later when, still, dizzy, we lifted our heads.

I grabbed him by the leg and threw the gun from him.  Attracted by our shouts, more Asternoids were running.  I gathered the little fellow in my arms quickly and got under way.

But I forgot about the trees. I crashed headlong against a mighty trunk and all went black.