Episode 4

'Sharon, you know I have to be the one to go out there.  I know the cargo units like the back of my hand.  If there's somethin-'

'Have you ever actually been in a suit?  In a vacuum?  In zero g?'

Ted thought for a few moments.

'Yes.  Yes.  And... yes.'

'At the same time???'

'Well, not as such.'

Sharon sighed.

'But I know-'

'I know, every square inch of those hulls.'

Sharon sighed.  This wasn't going to be a win.

'Ok.  Right.  You, and I want a couple grunts to go with you too.'

'No problemo.  Can always use someone to carry the tools.'

A voice from the back of the group spoke up.  'I still don't understand why we can't send one of the bots.'

Sharon looked at Karen, seeking out the best education tool.  'Botanists...' she thought.

'Simply put, if there's something out there that needs handling, we'd be wasting time if we sent a robot and it couldn't handle it.  Ted can.. theoretically... recognize most possible issues and relay clear information for things he can't recognize.  Captain's decision is final.  Ted goes, with two grunts.  Craig, pick two of your zero-g, suit rated men for the job please.'

'Aye-aye.  I just sent the order, they'll be suited up and ready to go down to the hallway in 15 minutes.'

Sharon nodded.  'Right.  Everyone clear out, meet back here in... 30 minutes.  They should be about ready to head out at that time and search the cargo.   Ted, you get going down there, Craig, go help him with his suit.  May as well go down the hallway with him too.  Michael, I need to talk to you for a minute.'

The assembled division heads filed out slowly, When the room was clear, Sharon looked at Michael.

'So we have 1 billion behind that cargo unit.'

'Correct.'

'And no way to reroute the power around it.'

'Peter's a better choice to as-'

'Rhetorical.  I'm not going to be the only Captain who loses cargo on this trip.'  Sharon paused.  'Where's the unit from?'

'DC.'

'Figures.  Fucking Americans.  What about the other three in that section?'

'Rio.  Tokyo.  Capetown.'

'Ok.'

'What are you thinking?'

'The worst.  It's what I'm paid to do.'