Chapter 3 - Deflector Shields
Three hours after the solar panels were redeployed, Yokohama's onboard computer systems finally gave the 'all-clear' for Jaxom and I to remove our helmets.
"Hmm, air's a bit stale," I noted, double-checking the environmental controls. "Ah, no wonder."
"What is it?" Jaxom nervously asked, setting his helmet on an unused chair.
"Hold that thought," I said, keying in a different sequence to the computers.
With one final key stroke, I switched on the Yokohama's arti-grav system, adjusting it to Pern normal levels.
"How did they ever do that?" Jaxom marveled, bouncing up and down.
"Do what?" I wondered.
"Create artificial gravity!" he exclaimed. "It's incredible!"
"Atmospheric moisture content is near zero," I reported, touching a few more controls. "It's drier in here than the deserts of Pun Ch'lar! This should help."
"Ah!" Jaxom quietly spoke, checking the screens. "You've turned on the humidifiers. Makes sense. Too much exposure to that dry air could be taxing."
"Once we start getting visitors back up here, my friend," I said, clapping him on the shoulder, "the moisture they exhale will greatly aid the humidifiers. The ship's systems will then simply cycle on and off to maintain a comfortable level for everyone aboard."
"Now that that's settled," Jaxom said, grinning from ear to ear, "we better get to work!"
Travel back down to the docking bay was much quicker now that power had been restored. And, in short order, we had a sizeable crowd of dragons and riders milling about the vast docking bay, many plastered to the viewports as they enjoyed their first taste of space!
Jaxom had been worried about the future plans for the three colony ships, especially if that involved disassembling the precious equipment already in place in each of the vessel's medical bays. However, after consulting the inventory logs of each ship, we were delighted to learn that sufficient spare medical equipment components were still available in the supply holds to meet the needs of the teaching hospital without having to strip the ship's med bays for our needs.
While the Yokohama's docking bay was large enough for a dragon to take off and hover with a bit of wing room to spare, we opted to power down the arti-grav in the bay to make it easier for all concerned. Zero gravity made it easier to move the supplies to the waiting dragons, easier to fasten them into the special carry harnesses we had fabricated for this endeavor, and easier for the dragons to gain enough wing room with little effort before vanishing between with their cargo.
"What's all this flotsam?" B'gon wondered as I fastened the last bit of special equipment into Tarnaa's harness.
"Something I hope we never need," I sighed, tugging on the last strap to make sure it was secure.
"What is it?" Jaxom asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Deflectors," I replied. "While I'm certain Fandarel and Aramina have designed and built a structure capable of surviving the storms and earth tremors the South is known for, I want this as extra insurance. The wounded and infirm who come to Robinton Cove are counting on us to take care of them and to provide shelter while they recover. We might never need this, but I want to be absolutely certain we can protect those who are under our care. We owe that to Master Robinton."
In short order, the last of the equipment we needed for the teaching hospital was transported back down to Pern where the healer-riders who had been assiduously studying AIVAS' training videos on how to properly install the equipment got right to work. The Yokohama, being the largest of the three colony vessels, was easily able to surrender its materials without drastically depleting what was still on board. Back on Pern, with some assistance, I had my special equipment moved to an internal storeroom on the top floor of the hospital where I could work on it later.
Then, it was back up to the colony ships… first to the Yokohama, then across to the Bahrain where Jaxom and I went through the same procedures we'd used on the first colony ship to get the Bahrain's solar arrays extended. About halfway through the extension, though, the mechanism jammed.
"Shaffit!" Jaxom cursed under his breath, pounding his fist on the console.
"Remember, Jaxom," I calmly assured him. "AIVAS reported that the panels had been in storage since the Ancients made orbit. Over 2000 Turns have passed since then. There's bound to be some problems getting them extended."
"You're right," Jaxom muttered, giving me a wan smile. "Guess I was just getting my hopes up."
"Rest assured, my friend," I chuckled, giving his shoulder a companionable thump, "I have no wish or desire to disappoint our good Mastersmith Fandarel!"
Since I had more practical training and experience in extravehicular activities, I left Jaxom in the Bahrain's control bridge while I went EVA to free the stuck assembly. Given how long the assembly had been stored, I suspected surface oxidation and stellar debris encrustation had caused the mechanism to seize up… a suspicion my visual examinations ultimately confirmed. So, with an old-fashioned wire brush and a little graphite spray lubricant, the Bahrain's solar arrays finally reached their full extension. I stayed nearby as Jaxom repositioned the panels… just in case the positioning mechanisms proved as stubborn as the extenders. Thankfully, those still worked, and Jaxom set them on autotrack to keep the ship's power at its optimum level. Then, I rejoined him in the Bahrain's docking bay where he and I, our two dragons, and ever patient Goldie made the jump between to the Buenos Aires to repeat the extension procedure. By the time we returned to Robinton Cove where the sun was setting, Jaxom and I had successfully powered all three colony ships back up.
"Excellent work, both of you," AIVAS congratulated us as we conversed via the Yokohama's sat-link back to the facility at Landing. "Sensor readings of all three craft indicate power levels are rising steadily. You should be able to execute your planned orbital transfers by the end of the week."
"That's good to hear," Jaxom said, grinning.
"Though it might not sit so well with our good Masterfisherman Idarolan when we change his precious Dawn Sisters!" I chuckled.
"Master Idarolan strikes me as a practical individual," AIVAS said to us. "The repositioning of the Bahrain and the Buenos Aires will give him two new navigation points to aid his sailors."
"And it certainly won't hurt our efforts to get GPS up and running here on Pern," Jaxom added, "providing even better navigation capabilities to every soul on Pern."
"Where'd you learn about that?" I asked, brows furrowed.
"Lord Jaxom has been an assiduous student of the Ancients' teaching archives, Masterhealer," AIVAS responded. Was that a hint of approval in the machine's mechanical voice?
"Having that system up and running again will also aid our healer-riders," I remarked, "giving them more precise means to find locations all over Pern."
"And I'll be sure to drop by the Harper Hall on my way home," Jaxom added, "to keep Sebell and the others apprised of what's going on so that they, in turn, can keep the rest of Pern informed about our activities. We don't need any more Abominators rearing their ugly heads because of what we're doing."
"Tomorrow's a Restday," I said, walking the Ruathan Lord out to his waiting dragon. "Be sure to use it!"
"Have no fear on that score!" Jaxom laughed, climbing Ruth's proffered foreleg and swinging into position. "Sharra will make certain that I do!"
"Thanks for the help today, Jaxom," I said, reaching up to shake his hand. Then, patting his dragon on the neck, I added, "You, too, Ruth."
It was fun today, Ruth rumbled, his eyes a contented blue-green. Swiveling his head around to me, he added, Dragons can move around in space. Will we ever see those worlds you've been to one day, Dana?
His question was so unexpected that it brought me up short, eyes wide, a tiny gasp escaping me. Could a dragon go between to other worlds? Could the Dragonriders of Pern become spacefarers? It was an intriguing notion!