 What would have happened if Click’s camera broke in the crash?
For Click and Irish were marooned on the pirate's asteroid—their only weapons a single gun and a news-reel camera. Hathaway only knew he was picked up and hurled against a lever-bank, and that Marnagan wasn't long in following, swearing loud words. "It's not proof we need now, Click. Oh, God, this would make great news-release stuff if we ever get back to Earth. Click's voice gasped it out, as Marnagan squeezed his two-hundred-fifty pounds beside him. Looks like accidental death instead of murder, if the Patrol happens to land and finds us.
 They would have continued to believe the monsters were real.
 Irish would have died on impact.  They would have returned immediately to Luna Base.  They would have caught Gunther faster.  They would have continued to believe the monsters were real.