#17 Rocky Jones, Space Ranger - Silver Needle in the Sky: Chapter I

Rocky is slated to pilot the Orbit Jet to Space Station X-07 carrying Dr. Hillary Tyson and a group of ambassadors to the Interplanetary Peace Conference. Vena Ray pleads with Secretary Drake to let her go. But it was unnecessary as Rocky had already selected her as his navigator. He is also bringing Bobby to help keep the ship's log during the mission. The conference is being held in a neutral zone near the planetoid Paratain in the Jupiter equilateral. Cleolantha has heard about the conference and is resentful that she has not been invited. Her first angry reaction is to have her Space Ranger mole Duveen blow up the Orbit Jet as it launches. Luckily, the electronic detectors at the launch field pick up on the detonator he is trying to set. He is quickly nabbed and carried away in custody. So then Cleolanta sends Atlasande to take control of the X-07 space station after Rocky and his crew head for some R&R on Paratain. Shortly after the Orbit Jet has left the station, Atlasande sends a message to its communications officer that he has a barrage of missiles aimed at them. Unless his ship is immediately brought safely in, he will launch them. The radio officer complies.

Richard Crane - Rocky Jones,
Scotty Beckett – Winky,
Sally Mansfield - Vena Ray,
Robert Lyden – Bobby,
Charles Meredith - Secretary of Space Drake,
Harry Lauter – Atlasande,
Patsy Parsons - Queen Cleolanta,
Dayton Lummis - Dr. Hillary Tyson,
Rand Brooks - Ranger Andrews,
Rudolph Anders - Dr. Loran,
Mickey Simpson – Magni,
Lane Bradford – Duveen,
Dean Cromer – Darganto,
Cliff Ferre – Marshall,
Kenneth MacDonald – Ortho,
Leonard Penn – Griff,