The Merchandise Guide
Annual 1976

There is no panic. These people of Moonbase have become used to their life. As castaways in space. They know that their base can keep them going--maybe for generations. Food supply has been worked out and regulated. The computer has evolved the means of keeping them from that terrible killer, boredom. But they want a new world. Somewhere they can settle, and live as normal human beings. Building the human race anew as (and they believe it) God intended. So they all do what they have to, under the terms of the command 'Operation Exodus', while Commander Koenig and his staff make plans to investigate this planet that has loomed up on their horizon.    Talma Manisch--we'd call her a housewife--pulls in washing from a line in the Main-Beta drying room. Her son Joam's basketball geat. Nappies that her latest-born, Melka, uses up at distressing speed. "We pack--again, we pack!" She shakes her head at her neighbour in Block 6, Tania Feld, wife of one of the Main Mission Computer assistants. "This time, do you think we'll go?"    Tania grins. "Who know? If I were you, I'd trust our commander. He's the boss. Who are we to worry about details?"    "Details! It's our lives! My dear, I remember running around in grass meadows, playing ball. I went fishing, maybe! Life was good! Our kids--okay, they	In the depths of the lower area, where constantly recycled nuclear material fuels the base's internal heating, Talma Manisch's husband Jeff cuts in the automatic circuits that will keep the temperatures right for a period of twenty four earth hours. His assistant, Keith Gadd, is already packing the maintenance tools into a cushioned bag for transportation aboard an Eagle's store-hold.    "You're a carpenter, Keith," says Jeff. "I've seen you work with wood. Maybe on this new planet there'll be trees. You can cut planks, yes? Make homes for us. Hah! It'll be like pioneers in the old West of America!"    "Yeah--and without the Indians, I hope!" Gadd grimaces. "Listen, do we know what's down there? Even if the atmosphere and gravity suit us, it may be there's a civilisation of people already in possession--and they may not want us!"    "Like before? Sure. It's happened. But somewhere in space, there has to be our Garden of Eden! What's with you? You ain't got no faith ?"    Meanwhile, from Main Mission, the word has gone out. To the all-important Launch Areas, where technicians push the buttons to fuel up Eagles and get them on the pads for blast-off. Chief pilot Alan Carter takes his own Eagle, backed up by Dave Johnson,
All eyes are on Koenig as news of a planet--a possible home for the space castasways--comes through!
live, and they grow up with good educations here, but what of it, if they're always to be stuck in a kind of prison!"    "Relax, Talma. Maybe now, Koenig has the answer! Does he often put us on such a red alert?"	Tabby Gertler, Yano Kinoshaki (everyone calls him 'Bill'). And together, the three exploratory craft make lift-off from the flat-tops of their home.    "Carter to Main Mission. We're going in!" The lead ship sets its nose for the far-off planet and head down

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