Heirs of the New Earth by David Lee Summers Page A

damage to the command deck itself, things were unusually quiet there.
    The command deck was the nerve center of the Nicholas Sanson . At the front was a sophisticated holographic tank capable of showing different views of space in three dimensions. It served as a chart room for the mapping vessel as well as a means by which one could see space around the vessel. In front of the holographic tank were two unmanned consoles that met in a V-shape. One console was the navigation station, which oversaw both ship navigation and the recording of pathways through fourth dimensional space. The other was communications, which oversaw communications within the ship and with other ships as well as the dissemination of information to the galactic networks. Each was capable of presenting a holographic control panel that could be customized to suit the user's needs. Some users preferred black pads with colorful buttons. More eccentric users might choose levers and knobs set in a simulated wooden panel. Behind the control stations were the command chairs—captain's to the left; mate's to the right. Each of the command chairs had a holographic station similar to those at the front of the bridge, only somewhat smaller. The holographic controls allowed for different jobs to be performed at different locations. On Sanson, the first mate generally acted as helmsman—steering the ship—while the captain oversaw all ship functions, including engine performance during flight. Behind the command chairs were the offices of the corporate officer and the captain.
    An image of the Sanson itself filled much of the holographic tank. When Ellis had approached the Sanson earlier in the day aboard the launch, it had appeared that the repair crew was a large swarm. Now, it seemed that there were so many people working on the ship that Ellis feared they might get in each other's way. Below the hologram of the Sanson, Ellis could discern a pair of booted feet.
    "Mr. Yermakov?” asked Ellis, tentatively.
    Yermakov looked around from behind the image of the ship. His features were set in a grim scowl, but there was a certain gleam in his eye that had been missing during Ellis’ earlier conversation with the mate. “Yes, Skipper,” called Yermakov.
    "How go the repairs?” Ellis stepped toward the holographic tank, inspecting the image of the ship.
    "Very well,” said Yermakov, coming out from behind the image. “The burned out Erdon-Quinn Engine is mostly repaired. New conduits are being installed.” Yermakov shook his head. “I've never seen this many people come together to get a ship in operational condition. I'd never guessed it could be done this quickly."
    Ellis nodded slowly. “They're all concerned about what's going on back at Earth. All humans came from there, after all. They want to do their part for the mother world."
    Simon Yermakov's eyes rolled skyward. “Don't push your luck, Captain. I've already decided to go back to Earth with you. But, if you start in on speeches about why I should do my part for king and country, forget it."
    Ellis inclined his head. “Do you mind me asking why you're going?"
    Simon looked at the holographic representation of the ship, then back to Ellis. “Some of it is the number of people helping us to get going. Some of it is a conversation I had with Mahuk while you were in your quarters. Most of it is probably selfishness. I don't want the Cluster to take over my mind. If I'm not willing to do the work to make sure that doesn't happen, I can't ask anyone else to do it for me."
    "Fair enough,” said Ellis, simply. “How long before we'll be ready to depart for Earth?"
    Yermakov looked at numbers scrawled in the air of the holographic tank. “I'd say we'll be ready to leave orbit in about 36 hours."
    "I need to make an announcement to the crew—letting them know what we are about to do and asking them to decide whether they want to come along or not,” said Ellis.
    "I think that's another reason I decided