Chapter 29

Back at GmGH, the Flock relearnt their fabrication skills as they hand jigged, used the portable seamer, ran control cables, connected power cables to the impellers without the main engine fitted, looked at catalogues and selected nav com equipment and argued about the best yacht racing 'puter.

The main engine was finally fitted and the serious work of testing was begun. The electronics arrived and Denny and Slow had their 'drooling' time. Using the yard's resources, the racing yacht quickly took shape. Yard entry limits were relaxed as McCock thought a stream of kibitzers would spread the word about the yard and lead in to the story of design of bigger things to come which would for commercial reasons limit the access to the yard, particularly the holds.

There was a steady stream of repair and minor fabrication work passing through GmBH, distracting the Flock from their main purpose in life, namely building racing space yachts.

McCock kept a firm control over the rest periods and the Flock in turn managed his. Mostly they spent the off duty time at "The Green Man" where McCock was invariably joined by Erin Nancarrow.

On several occasions, GmBH held a party, by invitation only, in the "Trader's" passengers' dining room. They arranged caterers who used the dining room kitchens – the Flock had been using the Canteen's. Being distrustful of their fellows in general, the Flock secured the crockery, cutlery and decorations in the Purser's office. (The items never were returned and it was many decades later, that the Flock retrieved them for their sentimental value.) A band was hired and McCock sealed off all areas other than the Portside Passenger Access hatch, detailed No5, which came past the Canteen to turn left to the dining cum dance floor. A temporary bulkhead was put in place to physically prevent access to the lower passenger deck. The access to officer country and bridge and to the first class suites was already secured. Just before the caterers and band arrived No 4 hatch was sealed. The access from first class to the vestibule was completely disabled. McCock suspected one or two of the suites might have an additional occupant or two and didn't want anyone taking a wrong turning.

Denny was the duty officer and kept a sober eye on things until the last guest departed; the band and caterers had by then been lone gone, it being almost fore noon watch. Slow's friend was over on his routine visit from Settlement – that was probably why these dates had been selected. Erin came as McCock's guest and explored the wonders of a Captain's Cabin

The second party was held to celebrate the completion of the yacht. In the meantime, the Armoralloy was stored in A tween and the internal equipment was stored in B tween. The projects main engine was stored in a rented warehouse and the impellers and inertial compensators were held in B hold covered by the pieces from the yacht kit. The black computers were re located to the Petty Officers mess in the crew accommodations on the same deck as the suites.

Polack drew the duty for the second party at which the vids of the kit in construction were shown with 'cheese' stills of the Flock during the construction. The finished yacht was still in B hold and because there was no gravity for safety and insurance reasons public access had to be denied.

After recovering from the second party, the Flock moved the yacht on to the dock which was empty at the time and quickly ran the vessel through its static runs. It took two days to complete. The maiden voyage was undertaken in the late forenoon watch and several runs at low speed were made up and back to the junkyard. The yacht was put into the "Trader's" boat bay. Denny, Polack and McCock performed another detailed inspection. Slow and Denny were docking a power barge whose owner needed it repaired quickly. The damage had occurred in a collision and there was apprehension that the power plant mountings had been damaged. McCock and Polack moved into the hull as it was being secured to the dock and they closely inspected the mounts and passed the main mounts but discovered an auxiliary plant hanging by its spindle. These mounts were smashed; the owner was not pleased to learn his barge would be out of service for a while longer. The power barge required the attention of all the Flock to get her out in three days. In their off duty time, they studied the recommended space testing of the yacht which has been named "Trader's Offspring".