online, if you would.”
Without consulting the procedure, Mulligan reached to the overhead console and flipped two switches. From inside the SCEV’s belly, a groaning whine sounded. The rig’s auxiliary power unit came to life and, as soon as it began delivering the proper amount of current, the rig’s onboard computer shut off the external power supply. SCEV Four was now running on full internal power.
Andrews reached for the control column beside him and pressed the red radio button. “Five, this is Four. Are you guys ready to crank? Over.”
Jim Laird’s voice came back a moment later. “Roger that, Four. Ready whenever you are. Over.”
“Roger. Light ’em up.” Andrews motioned for Spencer, who was standing outside just off the SCEV’s nose, to pull the external power cable. Spencer reached forward, unlocked the cord’s head, then removed it and held it up for Andrews to see. Beside Spencer, SCEV Five’s crew chief did the same thing and showed the disconnected cable to Laird. Andrews shot Spencer a thumbs-up.
“Crew, prepare for engine start,” he said.
“Ready for start back here,” Leona reported.
Andrews flipped the switch to start the rig’s first turbine engine. Since the powerplants were equipped with a fully automatic digital engine control—FADEC—there was no need to worry about the potential of a hot start, when fuel would begin to burn prematurely, causing a fire. The FADEC system managed the entire startup sequence, keeping the starter motor blowing cool air throughout the engine’s turbine section until the appropriate pressure level was reached and the fuel/air mixture in the engine’s compression area could be safely ignited. Once that happened, the engine spooled up rapidly. The turbine’s whine was clearly audible, even through his headset’s ear cups.
“Clean start,” Mulligan reported. “T5 is good, exhaust temperature’s normal.” Mulligan made the same report after the second engine had been activated and spooled up.
“Thanks. You good to go on the post-start checklist?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Thank you, Sarmajor.” Andrews glanced over at Laird’s rig. “SCEV Five, this is Four. Ignition positive. Over.”
“Four, this is Five. We’re operational on this side. Over.”
“Roger that. Break. Bay Control, this is SCEV Four. We’re about ready for departure. Over.” As he spoke, Andrews saw the maintenance crews packing it up, pulling their rolling tool chests away from the two vehicles. Fuel and power lines had already been disconnected and were being reeled up onto their spools. The two SCEVs were technically free to maneuver. From the corner of his left eye, he saw SCEV Five’s outer airlock door cycle closed. A slight but noticeable change in air pressure tickled his eardrums as his own rig was buttoned up. Once the airlock doors were closed, the SCEV became “inflatable,” meaning it was slightly pressurized to keep its interior clear of any biological or radioactive contaminants it might encounter while roving about on the surface.
“SCEV Four, Bay Control. You’re clear for lift one at your discretion, though we would appreciate it if you could expedite your departure. Over.”
Expedite our departure? “Well, I guess they can’t wait for us to get gone,” Andrews muttered.
“They’re having to burn more energy for the ventilation system,” Mulligan said. “The rigs running are dumping a lot of poisonous exhaust into the bay, and running the fans and scrubbers for more than a few minutes is a bit of a luxury they really can’t afford.”
“Ah, right. Thanks for that, Sergeant Major.”
“It’s what I’m here for, sir. Post-start checklist complete. Want to grade my work?”
Andrews glared at the bigger man, but if he was at all affected by Andrews’s irritated expression, Mulligan didn’t show it. If anything, Andrews thought he detected a ghost of a smile threatening to form on the big NCO’s weathered, Hollywood-handsome
Without consulting the procedure, Mulligan reached to the overhead console and flipped two switches. From inside the SCEV’s belly, a groaning whine sounded. The rig’s auxiliary power unit came to life and, as soon as it began delivering the proper amount of current, the rig’s onboard computer shut off the external power supply. SCEV Four was now running on full internal power.
Andrews reached for the control column beside him and pressed the red radio button. “Five, this is Four. Are you guys ready to crank? Over.”
Jim Laird’s voice came back a moment later. “Roger that, Four. Ready whenever you are. Over.”
“Roger. Light ’em up.” Andrews motioned for Spencer, who was standing outside just off the SCEV’s nose, to pull the external power cable. Spencer reached forward, unlocked the cord’s head, then removed it and held it up for Andrews to see. Beside Spencer, SCEV Five’s crew chief did the same thing and showed the disconnected cable to Laird. Andrews shot Spencer a thumbs-up.
“Crew, prepare for engine start,” he said.
“Ready for start back here,” Leona reported.
Andrews flipped the switch to start the rig’s first turbine engine. Since the powerplants were equipped with a fully automatic digital engine control—FADEC—there was no need to worry about the potential of a hot start, when fuel would begin to burn prematurely, causing a fire. The FADEC system managed the entire startup sequence, keeping the starter motor blowing cool air throughout the engine’s turbine section until the appropriate pressure level was reached and the fuel/air mixture in the engine’s compression area could be safely ignited. Once that happened, the engine spooled up rapidly. The turbine’s whine was clearly audible, even through his headset’s ear cups.
“Clean start,” Mulligan reported. “T5 is good, exhaust temperature’s normal.” Mulligan made the same report after the second engine had been activated and spooled up.
“Thanks. You good to go on the post-start checklist?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Thank you, Sarmajor.” Andrews glanced over at Laird’s rig. “SCEV Five, this is Four. Ignition positive. Over.”
“Four, this is Five. We’re operational on this side. Over.”
“Roger that. Break. Bay Control, this is SCEV Four. We’re about ready for departure. Over.” As he spoke, Andrews saw the maintenance crews packing it up, pulling their rolling tool chests away from the two vehicles. Fuel and power lines had already been disconnected and were being reeled up onto their spools. The two SCEVs were technically free to maneuver. From the corner of his left eye, he saw SCEV Five’s outer airlock door cycle closed. A slight but noticeable change in air pressure tickled his eardrums as his own rig was buttoned up. Once the airlock doors were closed, the SCEV became “inflatable,” meaning it was slightly pressurized to keep its interior clear of any biological or radioactive contaminants it might encounter while roving about on the surface.
“SCEV Four, Bay Control. You’re clear for lift one at your discretion, though we would appreciate it if you could expedite your departure. Over.”
Expedite our departure? “Well, I guess they can’t wait for us to get gone,” Andrews muttered.
“They’re having to burn more energy for the ventilation system,” Mulligan said. “The rigs running are dumping a lot of poisonous exhaust into the bay, and running the fans and scrubbers for more than a few minutes is a bit of a luxury they really can’t afford.”
“Ah, right. Thanks for that, Sergeant Major.”
“It’s what I’m here for, sir. Post-start checklist complete. Want to grade my work?”
Andrews glared at the bigger man, but if he was at all affected by Andrews’s irritated expression, Mulligan didn’t show it. If anything, Andrews thought he detected a ghost of a smile threatening to form on the big NCO’s weathered, Hollywood-handsome
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