Freefall 3531 - 3540 (H)
Freefall 3531
Focus back to Sam
[!0.987]2020-12-23
Hello, ship! We're back! What's your status?
I am operational on shore power. Port reactor is in standby. Polywell reactor is shut down with cooling in preparation for transfer.
With no humans on board, I'm the captain again. I bet that makes you happy.
I lack the hormones and neurological receptors for such emotion.
However, if I were to describe my feelings in biological terms, it would be akin to the discovery that one was not quite successful in ridding oneself of a tapeworm.
Color by George Peterson
Freefall 3532
Focus back to Sam
[!0.987]2020-12-25
Schedule for tomorrow. Drain and disconnect the Polywell reactor at 6 A.M. Leave the station at 8 A.M. Polywell transfer at 9 A.M.
10 A.M. Travel to ship boneyard. Remove the fusion chamber from the damaged ship. Replace the starboard fusion chamber with the salvaged chamber. Return to station.
No worries. That sqid among sqids, the noble captain Sam Starfall, shall be on board to supervise.
A captain does what is best for the ship and crew. A true test of your captaincy would be for you to return to the station before 8 A.M.
Color by George Peterson
Freefall 3533
Focus back to Sam
[!0.987]2020-12-28
Okay, ship. How about a compromise? I'll sleep in tomorrow.
That way I'm here if needed and out of the way if not.
Acceptable.
The best compromises are those that allow me to share in the credit without having to do any work.
Color by George Peterson
Freefall 3534
Wake up with Niomi
[!0.987]2020-12-30
Ah, morning. Not that morning means much in a place where all the lights are artificial.
At least I can have a proper cup of coffee. I even offset my cup to compensate for the spin gravity of the station.
And my next step after cleanup is to remember which way the station is spinning. I need to put down an arrow or something.
Color by George Peterson
Freefall 3535
Freefall 3536
Wake up with Niomi
[!0.987]2021-01-04
Niomi, this is Winston's father, Gregor Thurmad.
Good morning.
Charmed.
We're off to the boneyard to get the reactor for the ship.
First day of work for me. Lots of orientation videos and paperwork.
You could come with us. Hard labor in a vacuum with the risk of decompression.
That would be more fun and less pain,
but I really need to get this over with.
but I really need to get this over with.
Color by George Peterson
Freefall 3537
Wake up with Niomi
[!0.987]2021-01-06
Where
are you working?
are you working?
Maintenance shop. Third floor. A bit tricky to get there because you have to walk around a lot of offices and storage units.
Get off on the fourth floor. Go down the stairs to your left. It takes you to the back door of the maintenance shop.
Thanks. Can I borrow him until
I learn my way around?
I learn my way around?
No way. This is my native guide.
Color by George Peterson
Freefall 3538
Wake up with Niomi
[!0.987]2021-01-08
Good morning.
Hi. All set for
a thrilling day
of web-based training?
a thrilling day
of web-based training?
Oh, of course.
Great. This will be your workbench. The coffee
pot is over there. Help
yourself. You'll need it
for the most difficult
part of the test.
pot is over there. Help
yourself. You'll need it
for the most difficult
part of the test.
Staying awake through
the whole thing?
the whole thing?
That answers
the question of whether or not
you have previous experience.
the question of whether or not
you have previous experience.
Color by George Peterson
Freefall 3539
Flo and Gregor at the ship
[!0.987]2021-01-11
That was an unexpected interaction between you and your friend.
What did you think would happen?
A comment. A sign. Some sort of recognition that you are a wolf.
She knows me. I'm not a wolf to her. I'm just Florence.
A flaw has been exposed in my thinking.
Of all the futures I had envisioned between her and my son, I never pictured one that might be considered normal.
Of all the futures I had envisioned between her and my son, I never pictured one that might be considered normal.
Color by George Peterson
Freefall 3540
Flo and Gregor at the ship
[!0.987]2021-01-13
Good morning, ship. This is Gregor Thurmad. He will be coming with us.
Good morning, Captain Thurmad. I am operational onshore power. Port reactor is on standby, ready to start. The Polywell reactor is ready to be drained and disconnected.
Captain Thurmad?
It's an old ship. It recognizes the highest-ranking human as the ship's captain.
As the only human on board, that's you.
Then it is good that you are not hiring me for your crew. Starting off as captain leaves very little room for promotion.
Color by George Peterson