Vultures (Deep Space Mining Series Book 2) by Mike Coville

Author:Mike Coville [Coville, Mike]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2019-03-12T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

The command pod drifted out toward the surface of the asteroid. Even as she got closer, Sandra couldn't believe what she was seeing. The non reflective black surface made her feel like she was falling into a bottomless pit.

She gave her instruments an additional check. Probably the fifth time since she got in. Everything was still green and ready for work. The graphene tanks were online and ready for deployment.

"This is the control pod, I'm ready to lasso that asteroid." Sandra informed the bridge crew.

"Copy, everything is green on the bridge. Keep an eye on the clock. You are go for lasso." Esteban confirmed. "Be careful out there, Sandra."

Without saying it, Esteban was reminding her their contract was down to eighteen minutes. If they did not secure the asteroid, the Chinese could contest their claim and all this would be for nothing. Between a time-crunch and an unusual rock surface, Sandra was feeling the pressure.

“Sandra, there’s plenty of time,” Greg said over the comm “We just need to have control. If we can control a rock with a mech anchor, this one won’t be a problem.”

There was tension among the crew and she had been feeling all of it. She appreciated Greg trying to take the ticking clock out of the situation for her benefit. She was still nervous this new team wasn't ready, but the job had to get done. Giving one final look at the cage dimensions to confirm it was set for the rock, she flipped the switch that would get the graphene cage started, and she silently asked Dom to watch over her team on this one.

"Graphene cage has deployed." Esteban confirmed over the comm.

A ring of graphene nanobots emerged from the ship's cage ring, extending out over the command pod and asteroid. The graphene’s normally bright silvery surface was dulled from the matte finish of the dark asteroid surface.

Under normal conditions this asteroid would only need three rings to cage it. Because of some fluctuating density numbers, Esteban had told her to use a fourth ring and to only extend each ring 75%. This would mean more work for her team when confirming the anchors, but she appreciated the caution being shown.

"Increasing nanobot velocity by 20%." Sandra called to the comm.

The ring moved visibly faster and when it reached the checkpoint distance for the first ring, Sandra pressed the anchor deployment controls. Four graphene tubes extended toward the surface like arrows shot from a bow. A new ring continued its journey along the asteroid's length.

Each anchor contacted the asteroid's surface and pushed itself deep into the core of the rock. Nothing in the known universe could stop a graphene nanobot. Sandra waited until her control board told her the anchors were in place and had stopped moving before finalizing the process.

"Ring one is locked and anchored." Sandra notified the bridge.

"Copy that. Ring one is confirmed," Esteban said.

Check point two was reached before Esteban finished. Being a multitasker helped during this lasso. Sandra sent the commands for the anchors and the ring continued to check point three.

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