Captain Comet Calhoun of the Space Guard is sent to examine an unprecedented small, wandering world entering the solar system in the year 2488. The planet is designated the Drifting World, located at “Zone 18, Quadrant 45 degrees”. Taking Space Guard Patrol Ship 77 to check out the planet, Captain Calhoun notes it is not in danger of hitting any other planets. Calhoun lands on the surface, disembarking with crewman Henty. The pair watches as another ship crashes. They investigate, finding the female occupant of the ship laying on the ice-covered surface. After Henty ransacks her ship to retrieve a “breathing helmet” for her, the woman thanks her rescuers and introduces herself as Diana Colby. Diana is a writer of space articles. She says she gets a bad feeling about the planet, which Comet dismisses as “nonsense”. Immediately, a monster approaches the group. The monster snaps at Diana, but Comet fires at it with his ray gun and it flees. He’s skeptical that the frozen, barren planet could support life. Another monster approaches. While Henty and Diana shoot their ray guns at it, Captain Calhoun throws a rock. The rock passes through it, revealing an illusion meant to scare them away. They examine further and find a ventilation shaft. Comet and Diana descend, where they discover a huge pumping station. An armed, alien guard shoots at them. Out of ammo, Comet uses his fists to knock out the alien. They come across a communication screen displaying an alien armada in the center of the hollowed-out planet. More aliens approach and they attempt to flee. They are captured, however, and one of the aliens explains that they are from Aldebaran, who plan an invasion of Earth. All the rest of the crew, including Henty, are captured. They are all informed that the Aldebarans are within striking distance of the Earth, and the “gravity motors” will be shut off to strike the Earth. Turning off the gravity motors causes a quake, breaking the walls of the prison and freeing the captives. Outside, they find the Patrol Ship 77 destroyed by the Aldebarans as a precaution. At the suggestion of Diana, a telepath, the crew concentrate, sending a telepathic message to the Space Guard. Once the prisoners are rescued by a Space Guard ship, the wandering planet is blown up with an A-bomb.
Description Captain Comet Calhoun of the Space Guard is sent to examine an unprecedented small, wandering world entering the solar system in the year 2488. The planet is designated the Drifting World, located at “Zone 18, Quadrant 45 degrees”. Taking Space Guard Patrol Ship 77 to check out the planet, Captain Calhoun notes it is not in danger of hitting any other planets. Calhoun lands on the surface, disembarking with crewman Henty. The pair watches as another ship crashes. They investigate, finding the female occupant of the ship laying on the ice-covered surface. After Henty ransacks her ship to retrieve a “breathing helmet” for her, the woman thanks her rescuers and introduces herself as Diana Colby. Diana is a writer of space articles. She says she gets a bad feeling about the planet, which Comet dismisses as “nonsense”. Immediately, a monster approaches the group. The monster snaps at Diana, but Comet fires at it with his ray gun and it flees. He’s skeptical that the frozen, barren planet could support life. Another monster approaches. While Henty and Diana shoot their ray guns at it, Captain Calhoun throws a rock. The rock passes through it, revealing an illusion meant to scare them away. They examine further and find a ventilation shaft. Comet and Diana descend, where they discover a huge pumping station. An armed, alien guard shoots at them. Out of ammo, Comet uses his fists to knock out the alien. They come across a communication screen displaying an alien armada in the center of the hollowed-out planet. More aliens approach and they attempt to flee. They are captured, however, and one of the aliens explains that they are from Aldebaran, who plan an invasion of Earth. All the rest of the crew, including Henty, are captured. They are all informed that the Aldebarans are within striking distance of the Earth, and the “gravity motors” will be shut off to strike the Earth. Turning off the gravity motors causes a quake, breaking the walls of the prison and freeing the captives. Outside, they find the Patrol Ship 77 destroyed by the Aldebarans as a precaution. At the suggestion of Diana, a telepath, the crew concentrate, sending a telepathic message to the Space Guard. Once the prisoners are rescued by a Space Guard ship, the wandering planet is blown up with an A-bomb.
