course and speed. "Boats, the next pick-up's coming up fast."
"Understood, sir. I'm tracking it."
The second catch went smoothly as well, followed by another maneuver to head for an intercept with the third pod. Despite having his body jerked around by the firing of the thrusters and drive, Paul couldn't help admiring the way the Michaelson moved smoothly along each trajectory before altering course to the next. I wonder why making the Michaelson dance feels so good? And these clean pick-ups feel good, too. At least these Greenspacers gave us an excuse for some fun .
Chapter Two
On the third pick-up, as the Michaelson swung in less than two minutes from intercept, the escape pod suddenly fired its own thrusters, jinking off at an angle. "What the hell is that moron doing?" Carl seethed.
Captain Gonzalez made an angry face as well. "Being a pain in the butt. I guess they're trying to complicate our pick-ups just to screw up things a little longer."
Carl tapped his panel. "Boats, can you still get that pod?"
"Negative, sir. It's heading off too fast, now. Even if I managed to get latched on, the line'd part for sure under the strain."
"Understood. Captain, recommend launching the gig to recover this pod and continuing on ourselves to the fourth."
Gonzalez nodded. "Very well. Get the gig going. And work up a message to broadcast to the pods that if they keep playing games, we might not be able to get them all recovered before their life support gives out."
"Aye, aye, sir. Ensign Diego, launch the gig and recover the pod designated Contact Alpha Charlie Three."
Ensign Diego sounded startled when he replied. "Yes, sir."
Paul breathed a silent prayer that Diego had been smart enough to follow Carl's advice and remain aware of what was happening. If he's been buried in his training records, Diego might be dangerously disoriented until he gets himself up to speed. I hope there's a good helm driving that gig . "Do you want me to draft the warning to the pods, Carl?"
"No, I'll do that. Tell the ship to head to intercept the fourth pod."
"Head for the fourth pod, aye." Paul ordered the maneuver, wincing as the latest thruster firing pushed his straps against a bruise caused by an earlier firing. Okay, that particular part of sailing around nabbing these guys isn't fun .
The thrusters fired again briefly to counteract the launch of the ship's gig. A moment later, Carl pointed to his display. "What d'you think, Paul? Give me a sanity check on this statement before I run it by the Captain."
"Sure." Paul read quickly. To all escape pods. Be advised that you have limited life support. We are attempting to recover your pods, but if you maneuver away from us when we attempt recovery we may not be able to bring in all the pods before some suffer from life-support failure. I repeat, any measures you take to avoid or complicate recovery may result in the deaths of some individuals on some of the pods . "Can I suggest adding something?"
"That's why I asked you to read it."
"Sorry. Okay, I'd add something along the lines of 'Anyone who complicates and delays the recovery of their and other pods will be held criminally liable for any deaths which occur as a result.'"
Carl looked surprised. "We can do that?"
"We won't. Civilian law enforcement types can, though. And I'm betting the captain will want to threaten these people with more than guilty consciences."
"Okay. Thanks." Carl rapidly added the sentence, then transmitted the message to the captain's display. "Captain, I've got a draft warning for your approval."
"Thank you." Gonzalez read intently, then nodded. "Looks good. Go with it."
"Yes, ma'am. Sending message to the pods now." Carl keyed an emergency broadcast circuit reserved for search and rescue functions, one which he knew the escape pods would automatically monitor, and repeated the statement slowly, then set the communications system to retransmit the warning at ten minute intervals.
The fourth and fifth pods
"Understood, sir. I'm tracking it."
The second catch went smoothly as well, followed by another maneuver to head for an intercept with the third pod. Despite having his body jerked around by the firing of the thrusters and drive, Paul couldn't help admiring the way the Michaelson moved smoothly along each trajectory before altering course to the next. I wonder why making the Michaelson dance feels so good? And these clean pick-ups feel good, too. At least these Greenspacers gave us an excuse for some fun .
Chapter Two
On the third pick-up, as the Michaelson swung in less than two minutes from intercept, the escape pod suddenly fired its own thrusters, jinking off at an angle. "What the hell is that moron doing?" Carl seethed.
Captain Gonzalez made an angry face as well. "Being a pain in the butt. I guess they're trying to complicate our pick-ups just to screw up things a little longer."
Carl tapped his panel. "Boats, can you still get that pod?"
"Negative, sir. It's heading off too fast, now. Even if I managed to get latched on, the line'd part for sure under the strain."
"Understood. Captain, recommend launching the gig to recover this pod and continuing on ourselves to the fourth."
Gonzalez nodded. "Very well. Get the gig going. And work up a message to broadcast to the pods that if they keep playing games, we might not be able to get them all recovered before their life support gives out."
"Aye, aye, sir. Ensign Diego, launch the gig and recover the pod designated Contact Alpha Charlie Three."
Ensign Diego sounded startled when he replied. "Yes, sir."
Paul breathed a silent prayer that Diego had been smart enough to follow Carl's advice and remain aware of what was happening. If he's been buried in his training records, Diego might be dangerously disoriented until he gets himself up to speed. I hope there's a good helm driving that gig . "Do you want me to draft the warning to the pods, Carl?"
"No, I'll do that. Tell the ship to head to intercept the fourth pod."
"Head for the fourth pod, aye." Paul ordered the maneuver, wincing as the latest thruster firing pushed his straps against a bruise caused by an earlier firing. Okay, that particular part of sailing around nabbing these guys isn't fun .
The thrusters fired again briefly to counteract the launch of the ship's gig. A moment later, Carl pointed to his display. "What d'you think, Paul? Give me a sanity check on this statement before I run it by the Captain."
"Sure." Paul read quickly. To all escape pods. Be advised that you have limited life support. We are attempting to recover your pods, but if you maneuver away from us when we attempt recovery we may not be able to bring in all the pods before some suffer from life-support failure. I repeat, any measures you take to avoid or complicate recovery may result in the deaths of some individuals on some of the pods . "Can I suggest adding something?"
"That's why I asked you to read it."
"Sorry. Okay, I'd add something along the lines of 'Anyone who complicates and delays the recovery of their and other pods will be held criminally liable for any deaths which occur as a result.'"
Carl looked surprised. "We can do that?"
"We won't. Civilian law enforcement types can, though. And I'm betting the captain will want to threaten these people with more than guilty consciences."
"Okay. Thanks." Carl rapidly added the sentence, then transmitted the message to the captain's display. "Captain, I've got a draft warning for your approval."
"Thank you." Gonzalez read intently, then nodded. "Looks good. Go with it."
"Yes, ma'am. Sending message to the pods now." Carl keyed an emergency broadcast circuit reserved for search and rescue functions, one which he knew the escape pods would automatically monitor, and repeated the statement slowly, then set the communications system to retransmit the warning at ten minute intervals.
The fourth and fifth pods
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