They were all looking at him intently.
“I know you have a thousand questions, just like I did when I saw them for the first time. Listen to me. You must stay focused on the task at hand of bringing down the guards. If you don’t, you could get us all killed. They have seen what’s in those rooms hundreds of times so they won’t be distracted. We can talk about what you saw afterward. Got it?” Raymond said.
They all looked at each other and they nodded that they understood but Raymond knew they weren’t really prepared for what they were about to discover.
“Let’s do it then. We don’t have much longer before the sun starts to come up,” Number One said.
The team arranged themselves in the back corner of the elevator, except for the shooter. As soon as the door opened he would zero in on the two men in the booth and take them out. It was the most critical element of this stage. Eller swiped the confiscated card and the elevator headed for Level-1
CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO
The general was sitting in a desk chair watching the monitors. Doctor Gimbel was hovering over a control panel, monitoring various gauges and dials.
“We have achieved deployment orbit.”
“Outstanding,” the general said.
He could see the two astronauts going through various procedures and checking different instruments.
“We will open the cargo doors as soon as the airlock is pressurized and we are in our suits. We will initiate EVA on the forth orbit.”
“Good. Make sure you triple check everything. This is the first extra vehicular activity using the Su-12. I don’t want anything to happen to you while you are making this spacewalk,” the general said.
“You can count on it,” the pilot said.
The general could see him taking off his harness so he could float to the back of the shuttle and start putting on the suit.
“Remind them how important the solar panels are,” Gimbel said.
“Don’t worry doctor. When they get suited up and have the MMUs, I’ll remind them,” He said.
“Yes, well this is the first time the manned maneuverable units have had the Rovkis III robotic arm attached.”
“They have practiced using the MMUs a hundred times. I think they will be able to handle it, but if it will keep you quiet, I’ll remind them,” the general said.
He watched as the two astronauts helped each other place the various layers of the protective suit on and attach the EKG pads, communications pack and all the other equipment to keep them safe from the sun’s intense radiation.
The general passed the time by humming ‘she’ll be commin’ around the mountain when she comes’ which was getting on Gimbel’s nerves with each orbit. On the forth orbit they were ready
“Thor, we are ready to initiate EVA.”
“Gentlemen, good luck. Watch the Rovkis. It might be a bit tricky to use with such a tight fit. If you don’t like the way it’s going you can always change to the MMUs without it. Take all the time you need. Those solar panels are critical,” the general said.
Gimbel was just shaking his head ‘yes’.
“Understand Thor. Initiating EVA,” he said and pressed the release button and watched as the gauge went to zero and a green light flashed on. He pushed the hydraulic release clamp start button and the door began to swing open. They both pulled down the gold shields that would protect their eyes. They quickly went over each other’s equipment and stepped through the opening.
After floating over to the MMUs and getting them on they opened the cargo bay doors. Sunlight flooded the compartment and the general could see a clear view of the earth.
They were drifting one hundred and ninety miles above the earth and the general could see the eastern seaboard and Atlantic Ocean. The two astronauts looked at the sight for a few moments and then set about the task of detaching the BlackStar from its docking station and getting it clear of the cargo bay.
The general watched as the two men maneuvered around the weapon often within inches of touching it. Gimbel was holding his breath at times as he watched, and at other times, looked away and closed his eyes.
It took three orbits before all of the tethers, straps, and retaining bolts were removed and safely stored. Using the robotic arms, they slowly started inching the BlackStar from its docking station. It was a slow and arduous process as the two astronauts performed their intricate ballet almost two hundred miles above General Devin and Doctor Gimbel. They listened as the two men went about the task.
“First panel clear.”
The general didn’t respond. He didn’t want to interfere with their concentration. One orbit later they reported the second panel was clear and they were bringing out the rest of the payload. Once the two panels were out of the bay, the rest would be relatively simple.
“Thor, the package is clear. Current position is three meters from the bay.”
“Stupendous. Standby for uplink to move it ten meters from the shuttle.”
“Standing by.”
Gimbel flipped two switches quickly on and off. They watched as a short burst of nitrogen exhausted from nozzles at the base of the BlackStar. It slowly started to drift away from the Fastmover shuttle.
“Extending panels,” Gimbel said.
“Roger. Standing by.”
Gimbel pushed a button on the console and they watched as the arms slowly unfolded and started to extend from the sides of the weapon. The first one extended all the way and immediately turned toward the sun. The second one extended only part way and stopped. Gimbel pushed the button again and it moved a few inches before stopping once more.
“What’s wrong?” the general asked.
“I don’t know. Everything seems right but it simply won’t extend.”
“Try it again.”
“I did.”
“Do it again,” the general said through clenched teeth.
Gimbel pressed the button but the panel refused to budge.
“Thor, Fastmover. You want me to maneuver over and see if I can figure out the problem?”
“Yes. That seems like the only option at this point. It has to be fully extended to function properly,” the general said.
“Roger.”
Devin and Gimbel watched as he used the MMU to position himself just a foot from the panel.
“One of the extension cables is off the track. It is caught behind the pulley wheel. I can’t get my hand in the opening. I will need to rig something to pry up on the cable,” he reported.
Gimbel was pacing frantically back and forth.
“If they break that cable the arm will just hang and won’t rotate toward the sun,” Gimbel muttered.
“Well doctor, if they do nothing it won’t work properly either, will it?” the general responded.
“Thor. Do you want me to try?” the astronaut asked.
“Yes. Do what you can. If the cable breaks it will cause the panel to drop down and be useless. Do the best you can. It isn’t going to do us much good like it is,” the general said.
“Roger. I think it will take both of us to get this done. I will need some help with leverage.”
“Do whatever it takes. Good luck,” the general said.
It was out of his hands. Now everything hung on the ability of the two astronauts to find a way to rectify the situation. The general didn’t believe in religion but he was tempted to ask for help this one time, instead he chewed on his thumbnail.
Gimbel paced the floor and mumbled at such a rate it was making the general nauseous. Finally he told him to sit down and shut up.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE