Pegasus In Space

Who's after our hides for saving the Station three days ago?

Johnny rolled his eyes and, thanking the attentive steward with a wave, blew on the surface of the hot beverage.

Space Authority is alarmed by the rate at which we acquit our duties.

They're the ones coming up? Why? Monday was no fault of the Station's.

Johnny leaned back, crooking one arm over the back of the chair. In an odd way, it is. We're too damned quick and efficient. There are also too many 'dangerously' full cargo nets, what they hold not yet delivered to their ultimate destination. Also the Mercantile Union demands a full investigation of ex-captain Maggert's unfortunate encounter with the net. Johnny planted one thumb on his chest and reversed it toward Peter. And/or us.

Was someone on the CeeCeeD hurt after all?

Bruises. They should have been strapped in anyhow since they were technically still in flight.

But it was Maggert's fault. The log proves it.

Of course it does, Johnny said with a snort. The Union's just posturing because the freight captains want a raise in fees. Union claims that Padrugoi does not employ enough of their members because the surface-to-station run is unavailable.

It hasn't been available for five years.

True, and the Union was more than happy to stop having to deal with Barchenka. Admiral Coetzer is a different kettle offish. On the other hand, Space Authority says the Station is not making an expeditious use of available shipping to supply First Base and its construction timetable.

But SA is the one complaining about fuel costs. The turnover would be faster if the freighters could use longer burns. Peter stopped because they both knew the answer to that. Longer burns took more fuel.

Johnny nodded, his eyes twinkling. "You got it, Pete. We're caught either side of that barrel. Unless, of course…"

You want us to heave stuff to First Base.

Now did I say that? Johnny demanded, sipping his coffee and raising his curved eyebrows up his forehead.

No, but it's the only way to clear that much of a backlog and you know it. Peter tried not to sound either alarmed, which he was, or angry, which was another way of being alarmed. He should have known where all this was leading. He should have known not to fall into Johnny's little trap in Adelaide with the chips Lance "had so urgently needed." He'd wondered when Johnny was going to bring the Bollard Bag special delivery 'port out in the open.

The Union will be seriously annoyed, Peter said with a sigh.

There will still be plenty of things for SpaceShifters; junk I sure as hell don't want to bust my gut sending, with or without your help. We gotta lay some rules, you know, Johnny said.

"You ever tell anyone about Adelaide?" he asked softly aloud. Not even Dirk Coetzer?

"No, kid, I haven't. Wasn't the right time."

"It is now."

Johnny had the grace to nod, grimacing at the necessity.

Well, Dirk may suspect something. Our pet admiral has ambitions. We're both essential to them. Then Johnny leaned forward across the table, speaking softly, although there was no one else in the mess, bar the steward who was working in the serving alcove. "Anyway, it's much too soon after those fractures for you to be shoving stuff, Pete, but if we could just get one light unit to First Base, it would solve a lot of problems."

"I like the 'we.' "

"Now, kid, at Adelaide, I wanted most to prove your range to you," he said, cocking his finger at Peter.

Peter caught the note in the general's voice. "And now to them. Right?"

"You got it in one."

While Peter doubted himself, it irked him immensely that the Space Authority, which already owed a great deal to his and Johnny's telekinetic abilities, had hesitations.

"Have they asked if I-we-could?"

"That's one of the reasons they're here today, unless I miss my guess." He paused. "But I know that crowd. What with fuel prices going sky-high," and he made a face at using that phrase, "the SA is not at all pleased at the hike in expenses. You and I are their best bet for completing the additions at First Base. And quite likely the Mars project."

"The Moon today and Mars tomorrow?" Peter gawked. "They don't want much, do they?"

"You might get a reprieve on Mars until after First Base is fully operational."

Peter stared at Johnny because the general's tone suggested that this was within the realm of possibility.

"You're not kidding, are you?"

Johnny shook his head solemnly and then started to grin. "Pete, I have every confidence in you."

"What if…"

"What if be damned, Reidinger. You'll never know until you reach the limits of your envelope," Johnny said in a flat and serious tone. "They once said that we'd never break the sound barrier, that we'd never land on the Moon, that we'd never find other habitable worlds in this galaxy. For that matter, the abilities we have were discredited and scorned until Henry Darrow presented 'scientific proof.' "