Nomad

"Nomad" by George O. (George Oliver) Smith is a science fiction story set in a future where humans and Martians clash amidst space exploration and advanced technology. It centers on Guy Maynard, an aide in the Terran Space Patrol, who is captured by Martians seeking intelligence about a spaceship called the "Orionad". After leaving the Bureau of Exploration Building at Sahara Base, Guy is immediately confronted by a Martian with a weapon, subsequently being taken aboard their ship. Maynard is tortured by the Martians for information while adhering to his code of silence. The story then introduces Ben Williamson, who embarks on a dangerous rescue mission, highlighting the devotion and resources of the Terran Space Patrol, and the narrative introduces tension, moral problems, and difficult relationships between species across a hostile universe.