Book 3, Chapters 23-27 Summary

On 12 October 2076 at 19:00, Davis is as rude to a delegation of irate farmers as Luna has been to Terra during two months of being utterly ignored. The early discipline of wearing one's p-suit or keeping it nearby breaks down, and Davis is caught without his when he hears the dreaded "Chuff!" sound of an explosive pressure drop. He races to the home lock warning everyone to don p-suits, get inside, and lock the airtight doors. He phones Mike to report the rupture, which Mike confirms and says six transport ships have landed at L-City, HKL, and Johnson City. Mike cannot see Novylen, Churchill, or Tycho Under, but assumes they are under attack. They skim in low over the peaks and land fast. Davis orders "Operation Hard Rock" put on automatic, using his voice. Gun crews are returned to ready...