DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Science Fiction Collector, v. 3, issue 5, September-October 1937

Transcribe
Translate

Science Fiction Collector, v. 3, issue 5, September-October 1937

Page 16

THE NX-7 AFFAIR
Case Number 5391 of the EEF Records

by David A. Kyle

.      Unique in the annals of the Earth Expeditionary Forces was the affair of the transport NX-7, a huge rocket-motored army air freighter. Never before had the EEF been forced to take over the responsibility of solving an epidemic of robberies and murders that crlppled the occupying army of earth on the planet Mars, On that alien world, however, there was only
a miitary organisation; the efficient Radio-Rocket Police were not available.
     The first blow to the EEF divisions, who were locked in
struggle with the fierce Man-Apes of Mars, came as a complete surprise and almost demoralized the vanguard of Syrtis Major Post 85. A large rocket transport was ordered to relieve that post with supplies, ammunition, and
fresh soldiers. Flying over the red sand of one of the deserts on its way, the ship, the LL-46, broke off its contact with its base and was never heard
again. Instead, over the LL-46's wave-length came a shocking message - that
the entire lot of sixty-eight persons aboard would be killed unless the fabulous gold bullion taken from the Martians was offered as ransom. Naturally the EEF commander, MARS-LORD Henry J. Dard, refused.
      Three days later all but three men of the regular one hundred and fifty of Post 85 at Syrtis Major were left to tell the story of the death-dive of the LL-46 into the center of their fortifications. Nothing remained for identification or for clues to the explanation.
    MARS-LORD Dard ordered a Death Detail o Usually Death Details are formed for suicide attempts, special maneuvers, or some exceptional army 
service. In this case, it was exceptional service, but hardly pertaining to [sic]
     The Death Detail set about immediately to study the apparent factors that might unravel the mystery.
     Another disappearance and demand took place, Another, and still another. But nothing could be done or anything foreseen.
     In every case, the rocket would disappear, only to later crash into some out-lying post when the ransom demands were issued. When the ship
was escorted by patrol-boats,   it would not be molested. The EEF could not jeopardize their campaign in order not to risk losing their transports. The 
situation became hazardous, The Martian war might be lost unless...
     The Death Detail was not idle. Under the able leadership of Captain Tate they laid a trap.
     Rockets could not hover and they made a trail that was easily seen and traced. The Detail constructed two helicopters and placed them high in the sky with a crew of three men apiece. The freighter NX-7 was allowed to go alone over a wild part of the country on a trip,
      When they could view the surface for hundreds of miles, they watched the slow course of the NX-7. Suddenly, they saw a flash of light. The freighter had been hit wlth a bolt of electricity. Understanding came to those six men! The crew had been  killed and the rocket motor stopped by the automatic anti-electric-storm switch! Deucedly simple! The bandits could then enter the ship while it glided towards earth controlled by its gyroscope, broadcast their message. and steal the ship.
     But why was it that the trail that the big ship must leave was always non-existent?   How could the rocket go   anyplace without leaving a trail, and how could the pirates attack it without leaving a rocket trail from their own craft?
     The helicopters descended.    Again the six EEF men were struck with the truth. The bandits struck by aeroplanes! They used a mode of
transportation that had long been discarded for safer and speedier rockets. No
(Continued on Page 18)

Saving...

THE NX-7 AFFAIR Case Number 5391 of the EEF Records by David A. Kyle . Unique in the annals of the Earth Expeditionary Forces was the affair of the transport NX-7, a huge rocket-motored army air freighter. Never before had the EEF been forced to take over the responsibility of solving an epidemic of robberies and murders that crlppled the occupying army of earth on the planet Mars, On that alien world, however, there was only a miitary organisation; the efficient Radio-Rocket Police were not available. The first blow to the EEF divisions, who were locked in struggle with the fierce Man-Apes of Mars, came as a complete surprise and almost demoralized the vanguard of Syrtis Major Post 85. A large rocket transport was ordered to relieve that post with supplies, ammunition, and fresh soldiers. Flying over the red sand of one of the deserts on its way, the ship, the LL-46, broke off its contact with its base and was never heard again. Instead, over the LL-46's wave-length came a shocking message - that the entire lot of sixty-eight persons aboard would be killed unless the fabulous gold bullion taken from the Martians was offered as ransom. Naturally the EEF commander, MARS-LORD Henry J. Dard, refused. Three days later all but three men of the regular one hundred and fifty of Post 85 at Syrtis Major were left to tell the story of the death-dive of the LL-46 into the center of their fortifications. Nothing remained for identification or for clues to the explanation. MARS-LORD Dard ordered a Death Detail o Usually Death Details are formed for suicide attempts, special maneuvers, or some exceptional army service. In this case, it was exceptional service, but hardly pertaining to [sic] The Death Detail set about immediately to study the apparent factors that might unravel the mystery. Another disappearance and demand took place, Another, and still another. But nothing could be done or anything foreseen. In every case, the rocket would disappear, only to later crash into some out-lying post when the ransom demands were issued. When the ship was escorted by patrol-boats, it would not be molested. The EEF could not jeopardize their campaign in order not to risk losing their transports. The situation became hazardous, The Martian war might be lost unless... The Death Detail was not idle. Under the able leadership of Captain Tate they laid a trap. Rockets could not hover and they made a trail that was easily seen and traced. The Detail constructed two helicopters and placed them high in the sky with a crew of three men apiece. The freighter NX-7 was allowed to go alone over a wild part of the country on a trip, When they could view the surface for hundreds of miles, they watched the slow course of the NX-7. Suddenly, they saw a flash of light. The freighter had been hit wlth a bolt of electricity. Understanding came to those six men! The crew had been killed and the rocket motor stopped by the automatic anti-electric-storm switch! Deucedly simple! The bandits could then enter the ship while it glided towards earth controlled by its gyroscope, broadcast their message. and steal the ship. But why was it that the trail that the big ship must leave was always non-existent? How could the rocket go anyplace without leaving a trail, and how could the pirates attack it without leaving a rocket trail from their own craft? The helicopters descended. Again the six EEF men were struck with the truth. The bandits struck by aeroplanes! They used a mode of transportation that had long been discarded for safer and speedier rockets. No (Continued on Page 18)