Starquake.pdf

05:15 CREW TIME WEDNESDAY 22 JUNE 2050
(00:10 GMT SUNDAY 25 DECEMBER 2050)
The four tanks were met at the top of their trajectory by a flitter from St. George that took them in tow.
While one spacesuited figure secured the tow line, another came over and peered in Pierre's porthole. It
was Commander Carole
Swenson. He saw a big grin on her face as she put her helmet against the outer wall of the tank and
hollered a greeting.
"That's the last time I let you have a spaceship to drive," she said. "Did you get the license number of the
truck?"
She knew Pierre couldn't talk underwater except through his throat mike, so she shouted one more
message and pushed back to the flitter for the ride in.
"I've got a surprise for you," she said. "See you in the air lock."
Pierre couldn't understand why Carole was so happy. Perhaps it was because at least four of the crew
of Dragon Slayer made it back. All Pierre could think of, however, was that two of them didn't. They had
been his responsibility, and now they were dead. He dreaded what he had to do next. He would have to
let their families know. How do you tell someone that their loved ones had been torn to atoms?
05:50 CREW TIME WEDNESDAY 22 JUNE 2050
(00:45 GMT SUNDAY 25 DECEMBER 2050)
The four tanks were crowded into the cargo air lock on St. George, and soon the lock was full of balls
of water and sloppy, wet, sobbing people.
"I'm sorry about Amalita and Abdul, Carole," Pierre said as he took off his mask. "If only there was
something I could...."
"Hush...." Carole was smiling happily. "Come! I want you to meet a couple of friends of ours." She
grabbed his hand and pulled him down the corridor to the communications room. The room was empty
except for the communications operator. Pierre was completely baffled.
"Hello, Pierre." It was Amalita's voice.
"Did you have a nice ride up from Egg?" Abdul's voice asked.
Pierre whirled around to face a communications screen at one end of the room. He saw video images of