Star Trek: Corp of Engineers - 046 - Spin by J. Steven York;Christina F. York

Author:J. Steven York;Christina F. York
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science Fiction, General, Space Opera, Adventure, Fiction
ISBN: 9780743496872
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 2004-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter

5

Gomez grunted as Pattie cinched the environmental suit tighter. “We’re putting the da Vinci where?”

“Hold still,” said Pattie, tugging at the closure on the rigid torso section until she was satisfied.

A few feet away, Transporter Chief Poynter and Stevens—who was already suited up—watched with amusement.

“As for the da Vinci, I think the human phrase is ‘threading the needle.’ We’re going to take up station inside the ring. It minimizes the transporter range, and the hull is thinnest on the inside of the ring. It will simplify transporter lock and make our sensors more effective as well.”

Gomez sighed. “I’m trusting you on this one, Pattie.”

“Unless you’d rather we beamed you onto the hull inside the ring and let you try to phaser your way in, it seems to be the only way. The only hatches we’ve been able to identify are on the outside of the ring, don’t seem to have airlocks, and open inward, which is just an insane way to design such a ship.”

“Unless,” said Gomez, “you never intended to be outside it, except in a gravity well. Most ancient spinning designs include a hub, with an airlock or docking point, at the center. These builders didn’t want to experience null gravity. Pass that idea on to Elizabeth, would you?”

“Certainly,” said Pattie. She made one last inspection of Fabian’s suit.

The suits were an awkward-looking affair, cobbled together using a type-4M extravehicular work garment already designed for heavy gravity missions, though nothing like what they were expecting today. The type-4M incorporated linear motors that enhanced and supported the joints, normally allowing work in up to two standard gravities. To this, hung externally to the backpack, had been added a fusion power source, a polarized gravity source, and a miniature IDF generator. Tubular field-wave guides snaked across the exterior of the suit and down the arms and legs like veins. They were in constant communication with Pattie, as their controller.

Gomez raised the control panel on her left forearm to the visor of her suit, and activated the IDF system. Her head swam as the field engulfed her, but the feeling quickly passed. “Okay, how do we test these?”

“Tev didn’t have time to come up with a formal diagnostic,” said Pattie. “I suggest you throw yourself against a wall.”

Gomez stared at her.

“I’m serious,” said Pattie. “Throw your shoulder against a bulkhead, the harder the better. And be careful, your sense of balance will be thrown off by rapid movements.”

Gomez took a few quick steps and staggered, tripping over her own boots. After the first step her inner ear told her she wasn’t moving. Her impact with the bulkhead was accidental, and completely unavoidable. Her arm hit the wall, cushioned by the thick suit, but there was no sense of deceleration. The sensation made her stomach turn over.

Pattie looked at her. “You did take your motion sickness pills, didn’t you? Human regurgitation is unpleasant enough under the best of circumstances, but in a pressure suit—”

“We took our pills,” said Gomez. And we’re going to need them.

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