The Incomplete Theft

An alien spy has infiltrated Earth’s space program just as engineers complete the Skyjumper, a revolutionary vessel capable of crossing the galaxy in a fraction of a microsecond. Disguised as an ordinary Earth engineer, Torlyn Khy has watched the project from within and now intends to steal both the ship and its secrets for Valdor, whose victory in the war may depend on this new technology.

Under searchlights and the watch of armed guards, Torlyn activates an invisibility belt and approaches the spacecraft with complete confidence. His plan seems flawless: slip through the airlock, start the engines, and vanish before Earth’s defenders can react. But the Skyjumper’s extraordinary principle may be easier to steal than to carry away—and the alien’s carefully calculated escape is about to face a problem no espionage manual could have anticipated.