Chapter 22

The men wisely decided to agree with Slow, and, to get a bit back, also decided to let Slow organize. McCock had checked with MFH for funding and was told that the residue in the capital building fund would cover it and there was enough to fully equip another yard in "A" lower plus some change. McCock had to wonder just how much Sir Laurence and Silas had turned loose. The men also didn't want to get between Slow and her personal fresher.

Slow spent the next day on the com.

The barge's air lock arrived via power barge. The No 2 air lock was evacuated into the yard with popping ears. The power barge unloaded into the air lock using the lock's robot crane arm. The atmosphere was cycled back into the resealed air lock. McCock and Denny, in their skin suits, used a robo-lifter to transfer the barge's air lock to the dock assembly holder. There was a slight panic deciding which side was forward and which was aft. After a frantic search through the plans by Polack who was in the control cabin readying the molecular seamer, the lock was set in the assembly and then moved into its position. Slow had got a good finish on the bow plates and the fit was within tolerances. Cowboy was dragging the power leads for the portable seamer; "Clear all" and when acknowledged, he tacked the parts. The three men then rechecked the alignments and asked Polack to bring up the large seamer. The machine moved ponderously into place and aligned itself. McCork sighed, as they checked the alignment,

"You know, the newer models have laser fine adjustment."

Polack, in the cabin laughed.

"Makes things too easy; "eyes!""

When each of the men acknowledged their filters were in place, he activated the seamer. McCock asked,

"Who's watch?"

Cowboy said over his shoulder,

"Yours here, Polack in the cabin, Slow relieves you and I relieve Polack."

Denny protested,

"Let not interfere with Slow, I'll cover. Let her get on with our new accommodation. There are four suites on her agenda. Aggy you'll just have to take the Captain's Cabin."

"Thank you boys and girls," McCock replied as he settled at the seamer's local controls.

The foundry brought the No1 gates. No one had notified GmBH of their pending arrival. The next two watches were somewhat frantic. Denny and Cowboy told the other two to double shift while they checked the gates' movement through full range and then seal integrity. Polack developed cross eyes as he watched the seamer's digital readouts and the No 1 air lock's pressures in responses to Cowboy's calls. When all clear in the No1 air lock with pressure in and outer gates giving no concern, Cowboy and Denny with McCock's permission stayed skin suited and retained safety lines. The coffer dam was breached initially and then disassembled. The bonding was left in situ as a small ridge around the inside perimeter of the outer gates. An appropriate burner would have to be obtained. 'Another item we didn't think about, thought McCock. 'We'll have to use that goo sometime in the future to make a seal somewhere sometime.'