Randall Garrett

“ The Vegans he was with were silent men, dark-faced and taciturn, and he was thankful for that. There was none of the genial camaraderie that might have been present between a bunch of Earthmen in a similar position. He followed them into the building, and discovered that it was a tool dispensary of some kind. Each man was marching up to a closet and taking forth something that looked like a large, heavy brush.
Jim dropped back toward the end of the line and chewed at his lip. No doubt the tools would be apportioned one for each man in the squad, which meant they would be short one. ”

“ He focussed a mind-static generator on her and drove her insane. Naturally, he wanted the secret, so he came here to Earth to get it, as soon as he decided it was safe. By that time we, too, had found Earth, and followed."
"Only Meero had already grabbed the girl," Lawrence said.
"Exactly. We were too late. And now you understand the situation."
"Ah—yes," Lawrence said uneasily. "All but one thing. Why did you drag me into this?"
The alien paused for a moment and said, "We found you unconscious and decided to take you into protective custody."
"But why? The Vegans have no use for me." ”

“ The subordinate inclined his head once again and backed away. Illon turned to Jim Lawrence.
"We are within striking range of the Vegan home base now. Here's where you come in."
"What do you mean?" Lawrence asked.
The alien rose. "It is impossible, of course, for any of us to enter the Vegan base, since no disguise will conceal our fundamental physical appearance. But you—you are of the same general somatic type as the Vegans. ”

“ Lawrence blinked. "How?"
"His race is telepathic to a certain extent. They can read the minds of most other races, although they cannot read each other's minds."
"These are the Vegans?" Lawrence asked, trying to keep the story assembled into a coherent pattern.
"Yes. They are the Vegans—a warlike people who are now trying to overthrow the galactic government. Three years ago, Meero contacted the mind of a brilliant young Earth girl who had discovered a weapon of great significance—a death ray, to be precise."
"You mean Bette Bauer?" ”

“ The alien said: "You are aboard our spaceship, Dr. Lawrence. We are following the Vegan ship."
In spite of the alien's terrifying appearance, Jim sensed a curious friendliness in its voice. "I'm—I'm afraid I don't understand. Those men—"
The lizard-like being with the insect eyes sat down on a chair near the bunk. "Dr. Lawrence, I am Nestiv Illon. I am the captain of this ship, which is a war vessel in the Stellar Navy of Viagon.
"We are following the ship of Andsu Meero, the being who has kidnapped your Dr. Bette Bauer. We—"
Jim sat up in the bunk. "Just a minute," he said, holding up a hand. ”

“ He crossed the plain at a quick trot and slipped into a group of silent Vegans who were coming out of one of the above-surface buildings and heading toward a shaft that apparently led downward into the base. They were clad in overalls, and looked like workers. ”

“ Five minutes later, he was back in the airshaft, wielding his broom energetically. He forged on to the front of the group, heading further and further along in the airshaft, until finally he came to the place he was looking for—the tube that led to the heart of the air supply. ”