"The power units are built and the fuses
installed. All it needs is to be set. Tom's worked out the ratios and
the amount of reactant fuel needed in each unit for escape tangent. The
escape time, combining orbital speeds of Tara and Junior, are completed,
and we have six hours and fifty-five minutes before blast-off!" He
turned and rumpled Alfie's hair. "Alfie and I have completed the
communications unit and have tested it. Junior is ready to get his big
kick in the pants!"
Connel stood up. He was speechless. It was almost too much to believe.
"_Get below_," he roared, "and go to sleep! If I catch one of you awake
in five minutes, I'll log you fifty demerits!"
The tired workers grinned back at their commander.
"I'll get everything set," said Connel, "and wake you up an hour before
we have to get things ready. Now _hit the sack!_"
Their grins spreading even wider on their haggard faces, they turned
away. Connel stepped to the desk on the control deck and wrote across
the face of the logbook page.
"... October 2nd, 2353. Space Cadets Corbett, Manning, Astro, and
Higgins and ex-enlisted spaceman Nicholas Shinny completed this day all
preparation for operation Junior's Pitch.
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