 Why were there no guards present in the ship?
The Spacemen's was a sanctuary, a rest club where in-coming pilots and crewmen could relax before leaving for another voyage. The rule that no females could pass its portals was strictly enforced. On the stage four Earthmen, two Martians, two Venusians, and one Mercurian sat on an upraised dais. Before each set stood an Earthman operator. I will only say that on this stage are nine visi sets, each tuned to one of the nine planets. Questions from Mars, from Earth, from Saturn flowed in the visi sets. Moments later an official hydrocar roared up and a dozen I.P. men rushed out and scattered the crowd. She took my arm and led me around a corner and through a doorway under a sign that read THE JET.
 The ship was self-operating to defend
 They had all been eliminated by the Green Flames  the metal envelope was the only guard  The ship was well hidden to not need guards  The ship was self-operating to defend