What was their work? How much defense and rescue did they have to do? And whom were they defending Goddard from?
The shuttle coasted slowly inside the docking bay. Relative forward motion ceased. The ship’s OMS thrusters shut down, and the station’s low-field magnetic grapnels reached for them. The craft shivered at the contact. By centimeters, they were pulled into berth. Connecting tunnels and umbilicals locked in place. All the external sounds Todd had left at Geosynch HQ were back. The shuttle was on Goddard Colony’s life-support systems.
While pressure came up, Todd put a final entry in the trip log and cut off the internal systems. Owens peered at him through slitted eyelids and groaned. He didn’t seem interested when Todd told him they were docked. Interior screens scanned the shuttle’s air lock as it opened. A med team floated through the connecting tunnel and into the ship. Other station personnel followed. Cargo supervisors? They didn’t look the type, even though a couple of them started running inventory as soon as they arrived inside the craft. Two of them took up positions by the air lock. Guards? That had never happened on any of Todd’s previous trips to Goddard.
The cockpit hatch opened, and medics rushed in. Despite the pressurization, they remained fully suited. Todd was reassured by that. Whatever was going on at the Colony, they weren’t letting safety standards slide. A couple of medics began checking out Owens while another scanned Todd. He okayed him re residual radiation or obvious injuries, then started unshipping his heavier equipment.
“That’s not necessary. I’m not hurt,” Todd said quickly. No argument. Not even a suggestion he go to Sickbay for a thorough look-see. Instead, the medic nodded and shoved the heavy examining gear across the cockpit to his co-workers.
“Is Gib . . .”
“Too early to tell, sir.” The tone told Todd to mind his own business.
The space was becoming crowded. The medics wouldn’t let Todd help, and he was in their way. They angled a stretcher awkwardly over his head and the consoles and positioned it to carry the pilot. Todd didn’t need any stronger hint. He pushed off and left.
At the air lock, other Goddard personnel were still checking inventory, or pretending to. Normally Todd took no interest in unloading, beyond signing the forms when Goddard’s accounting department asked him to. This time he eyed the people thoughtfully and asked several questions. He got no more satisfaction than he had from the medics. Disgusted, he reached for his personal luggage on the rack by the air lock. A guard came between him and the bag. “That’ll be taken care of, sir. You’ll be staying in your sister’s housing unit? Then we’ll deliver it there.”
Todd tried to edge around the human barricade. Another guard joined the first. They politely but firmly fended off Todd’s efforts. “What is this? Are you confiscating my luggage?”
“No, sir. Regulations, sir. Your luggage is quite safe. If you need anything from it immediately, you can requisition it from Security . . .”
“I will! I’ll just talk to Kevin McKelvey. He’s in charge of Security, in case you’ve forgotten, and he just happens to be living with my sister.” Todd hadn’t used a name for clout in a long time. Previously, the magic name “Saunder” had been enough to get results. Here it seemed as if McKelvey’s should do it. The only result was a peculiar, patronizing attitude, as if the guards knew something Todd didn’t, something funny. “You’re going to keep the luggage? You want to see my ID, too?”
“No, sir. We know who you are.”
“Really? I was beginning to wonder.” Todd dived out the air lock, leaving his luggage behind. Two more guards were waiting beyond the exit tunnel. They swam up alongside him, hemming Todd in, although they didn’t touch or restrain him in any way. “And what are you?” Todd asked acidly. “My honor guard?”
“Just
The shuttle coasted slowly inside the docking bay. Relative forward motion ceased. The ship’s OMS thrusters shut down, and the station’s low-field magnetic grapnels reached for them. The craft shivered at the contact. By centimeters, they were pulled into berth. Connecting tunnels and umbilicals locked in place. All the external sounds Todd had left at Geosynch HQ were back. The shuttle was on Goddard Colony’s life-support systems.
While pressure came up, Todd put a final entry in the trip log and cut off the internal systems. Owens peered at him through slitted eyelids and groaned. He didn’t seem interested when Todd told him they were docked. Interior screens scanned the shuttle’s air lock as it opened. A med team floated through the connecting tunnel and into the ship. Other station personnel followed. Cargo supervisors? They didn’t look the type, even though a couple of them started running inventory as soon as they arrived inside the craft. Two of them took up positions by the air lock. Guards? That had never happened on any of Todd’s previous trips to Goddard.
The cockpit hatch opened, and medics rushed in. Despite the pressurization, they remained fully suited. Todd was reassured by that. Whatever was going on at the Colony, they weren’t letting safety standards slide. A couple of medics began checking out Owens while another scanned Todd. He okayed him re residual radiation or obvious injuries, then started unshipping his heavier equipment.
“That’s not necessary. I’m not hurt,” Todd said quickly. No argument. Not even a suggestion he go to Sickbay for a thorough look-see. Instead, the medic nodded and shoved the heavy examining gear across the cockpit to his co-workers.
“Is Gib . . .”
“Too early to tell, sir.” The tone told Todd to mind his own business.
The space was becoming crowded. The medics wouldn’t let Todd help, and he was in their way. They angled a stretcher awkwardly over his head and the consoles and positioned it to carry the pilot. Todd didn’t need any stronger hint. He pushed off and left.
At the air lock, other Goddard personnel were still checking inventory, or pretending to. Normally Todd took no interest in unloading, beyond signing the forms when Goddard’s accounting department asked him to. This time he eyed the people thoughtfully and asked several questions. He got no more satisfaction than he had from the medics. Disgusted, he reached for his personal luggage on the rack by the air lock. A guard came between him and the bag. “That’ll be taken care of, sir. You’ll be staying in your sister’s housing unit? Then we’ll deliver it there.”
Todd tried to edge around the human barricade. Another guard joined the first. They politely but firmly fended off Todd’s efforts. “What is this? Are you confiscating my luggage?”
“No, sir. Regulations, sir. Your luggage is quite safe. If you need anything from it immediately, you can requisition it from Security . . .”
“I will! I’ll just talk to Kevin McKelvey. He’s in charge of Security, in case you’ve forgotten, and he just happens to be living with my sister.” Todd hadn’t used a name for clout in a long time. Previously, the magic name “Saunder” had been enough to get results. Here it seemed as if McKelvey’s should do it. The only result was a peculiar, patronizing attitude, as if the guards knew something Todd didn’t, something funny. “You’re going to keep the luggage? You want to see my ID, too?”
“No, sir. We know who you are.”
“Really? I was beginning to wonder.” Todd dived out the air lock, leaving his luggage behind. Two more guards were waiting beyond the exit tunnel. They swam up alongside him, hemming Todd in, although they didn’t touch or restrain him in any way. “And what are you?” Todd asked acidly. “My honor guard?”
“Just
Similar Books
