 What would have likely happened if Thig had allowed the crew to return information to Ortha that Earth was habitable?
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from Planet Stories Fall 1942. Here he patiently sat down to wait for an Earthman or an Earthwoman to pass. His task now was to bring a native, intact if possible, back to the carefully buried space cruiser where his two fellows and himself would drain the creature's mentality of all its knowledge. In this way they could learn whether a planet was suited for colonization by later swarms of Orthans. Already they had charted over a hundred celestial bodies but of them all only three had proven worthy of consideration. This latest planet, however, 72-P-3 on the chart, appeared to be an ideal world in every respect. Sunlight, plenty of water and a dense atmospheric envelope made of 72-P-3 a paradise among planets. Feebly he had punched a key two days ago and a $ sign had appeared. "There it is," announced Thig, dropping the limp body of the captured Earthman to the metal deck-plates. "With a psychic relay we will transfer the Earthman's memories and meager store of knowledge to the brain of Thig! So it was that the bodies of the Earthman and the Orthan were strapped on two parallel tables of chill metal and the twin helmets, linked to one another by the intricacies of the psychic relay, put upon their heads. Twice, with subtle drugs they restored pseudo-life to his body and kept the electrical impulses throbbing from his tortured brain, but after the third suspension of life Thig removed his helmet.
 The people of Earth would have been wiped out and Ortha would take over.
 He would have had to forget all about Ellen and continue life on Ortha as before.  The Orthans would have made the voyage to Earth and lived in harmony with the people of Earth.  Earth would have been blown away by Orthans and no longer be habitable.  The people of Earth would have been wiped out and Ortha would take over.