Synopsis: From the back cover: At first, the group of the world's most eminent scientists had just a few vague hints why they had been gathered in this vast secret underground complex. Even their leader, the great maverick astronomer Eric Mann, and the woman he loved, beautiful and brilliant atomic specialist Paula Micklewhite, had been kept in the dark. All they knew was that they were virtual prisoners of the political and financial rulers of earth. All they knew was that they had been pressed into service to complete a rush project of unimaginable importance. And only gradually did they realize the golden opportunity that would be theirs if they dared seize the reins of power from their self-appointed masters and take control of mankind's mind-boggling leap into space...