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."