making sure you get to Port of Entry okay, sir,” one of the unrequested escorts explained. “There’s been a lot of new construction since you were here last, Mr. Saunder. Some of it’s kind of dangerous. You’re not properly suited up for those areas.”
Visions of the damaged torus sections flashed in Todd’s mind. Was that the construction they referred to? But here they were at the Hub, not out on the wheel, where the wrecked sections were. An escort didn’t make any sense here. An armed escort. Both men wore military side arms. One of them was a civilian. The other was part of Kevin McKelvey’s liaison detachment posted at Goddard from Lunar Base Copernicus. They worked expertly together. Playing escort efficiently and being ready to disable an invader. It was plain this sort of duty wasn’t new to either of them.
Did they think he was an invader?
Sobered, Todd made his way through the Hub from docking. The areas around Traffic Control seemed abnormally crowded. Perhaps the extra personnel were needed to handle the Defense Units’ comings and goings. Obviously they had been tracking that missile by the time Gib called them. Rescue must have already been on its way when the shuttle sent a Mayday. But in spite of the claims of Todd’s escort, he saw no new construction. He did see large numbers of sealed hatches marked “No Admittance Without Planning Group Authorization.” Another change since his last trip. Something very much out of the way was taking place here.
Defensive measures? The next step would be offensive. Was that what was going on in the sealed-off rooms? Installing cannons and counterstrike equipment? He recoiled from the idea and its implications.
There were more armed guards, more mingling of the military and civilians. Some of the civilians acted green, but the same combat-ready manner marked them all. The regular staff wouldn’t speak to Todd. He knew many of them, and they knew him. He had been a loyal supporter of Goddard Colony since its inception and was no stranger here. Not only did his attempted greetings bring no response, but occasionally he received a glare of naked hatred, shocking him.
At Suit Storage, the guards removed their helmets but kept on their pressure suits while the guest stripped to his jumper. Like Defense Unit Three, they waited to get him off their hands so they could return to regular chores. Todd was about to ask them what those regular chores were when the outer door opened and a group of Colonists drifted in, heading for the suit lockers. Mariette came in right behind them, scooting her anchoring tether hurriedly along the rail until she reached Todd. She flung her arms about him and together they bobbed about, held only by her safety line.
Todd grunted in the enthusiasm of her embrace, grinning. She pressed her close-cropped dark hair against his cheek and he felt her tremble. When they came up for air, he tweaked her chin. “Are you crying, Mari?”
She was sniffling. But she was also beaming, that smile, like Pat’s, which made sunlight dim. “Not any more. Not now that you’re here! Oh, it’s so good to see you!” She hugged him again as Todd yelped in sham protest and clung to the rail for balance.
Kevin McKelvey remained by the outer door, talking to a couple of soldiers and several civilians. He wore his commander’s uniform, but the Lunar Base patches had been removed. McKelvey’s strong face showed fresh worry lines. “Check the circuits and let me know. Don’t let them get that close again,” he said. The soldiers and civilians rushed away. No chatter. No joking. Very serious and intent. Todd was used to the special zeal of Goddard citizens, but usually that dedication was leavened with laughter. Now there was none. Those who had been suiting up were gone, too. The three of them were alone in the locker room.
Keeping one arm about his waist, Mariette steered Todd toward the outer hall. He didn’t bother hooking up his own
Visions of the damaged torus sections flashed in Todd’s mind. Was that the construction they referred to? But here they were at the Hub, not out on the wheel, where the wrecked sections were. An escort didn’t make any sense here. An armed escort. Both men wore military side arms. One of them was a civilian. The other was part of Kevin McKelvey’s liaison detachment posted at Goddard from Lunar Base Copernicus. They worked expertly together. Playing escort efficiently and being ready to disable an invader. It was plain this sort of duty wasn’t new to either of them.
Did they think he was an invader?
Sobered, Todd made his way through the Hub from docking. The areas around Traffic Control seemed abnormally crowded. Perhaps the extra personnel were needed to handle the Defense Units’ comings and goings. Obviously they had been tracking that missile by the time Gib called them. Rescue must have already been on its way when the shuttle sent a Mayday. But in spite of the claims of Todd’s escort, he saw no new construction. He did see large numbers of sealed hatches marked “No Admittance Without Planning Group Authorization.” Another change since his last trip. Something very much out of the way was taking place here.
Defensive measures? The next step would be offensive. Was that what was going on in the sealed-off rooms? Installing cannons and counterstrike equipment? He recoiled from the idea and its implications.
There were more armed guards, more mingling of the military and civilians. Some of the civilians acted green, but the same combat-ready manner marked them all. The regular staff wouldn’t speak to Todd. He knew many of them, and they knew him. He had been a loyal supporter of Goddard Colony since its inception and was no stranger here. Not only did his attempted greetings bring no response, but occasionally he received a glare of naked hatred, shocking him.
At Suit Storage, the guards removed their helmets but kept on their pressure suits while the guest stripped to his jumper. Like Defense Unit Three, they waited to get him off their hands so they could return to regular chores. Todd was about to ask them what those regular chores were when the outer door opened and a group of Colonists drifted in, heading for the suit lockers. Mariette came in right behind them, scooting her anchoring tether hurriedly along the rail until she reached Todd. She flung her arms about him and together they bobbed about, held only by her safety line.
Todd grunted in the enthusiasm of her embrace, grinning. She pressed her close-cropped dark hair against his cheek and he felt her tremble. When they came up for air, he tweaked her chin. “Are you crying, Mari?”
She was sniffling. But she was also beaming, that smile, like Pat’s, which made sunlight dim. “Not any more. Not now that you’re here! Oh, it’s so good to see you!” She hugged him again as Todd yelped in sham protest and clung to the rail for balance.
Kevin McKelvey remained by the outer door, talking to a couple of soldiers and several civilians. He wore his commander’s uniform, but the Lunar Base patches had been removed. McKelvey’s strong face showed fresh worry lines. “Check the circuits and let me know. Don’t let them get that close again,” he said. The soldiers and civilians rushed away. No chatter. No joking. Very serious and intent. Todd was used to the special zeal of Goddard citizens, but usually that dedication was leavened with laughter. Now there was none. Those who had been suiting up were gone, too. The three of them were alone in the locker room.
Keeping one arm about his waist, Mariette steered Todd toward the outer hall. He didn’t bother hooking up his own
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