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One time the Captain
goes to run out of an eddy-shelter, but the Launch comes head on into a flume
of gas rushing off of an asteroidal surface. The stern of the Launch gets
caught up in the ambient current and the Launch is sent out spinning.
The Young Lady muffles a cry for help.
Captain Apollo thrusts against the spin in an attempt to regain
control.
There is a puff of smoke as a fuse blows. Boomer reaches
over to recircuit.
Finally the Launch ends up sluicing back and forth, but on its
intended heading.
Now the intensity of the partcle surge begins to lessen. The
frequency of the rocks, asteroids, and ice-rubble starts to thin.
The only catch is, the debris remaining all add up to form the
sides of a funnel. A funnel with a crooked spout.
Apollo checks his veiws and scan-reads, and then the Viper-pilot
in him takes over.
"Hang on," he says loudly and turns up the throttle.
"Oh Frak," Starbuck remarks as he scopes ahead.
The others are unaware of what the two Warriors mean, but dig in
anyways.
As the Launch approaches the crooked funnel, Apollo narrates,
"I can handle the funnel part well enough, but the exit-part," he's
checking his scan-paintings, "Shows a sequence of rocks having
protrusions projecting out into the spout, it's a hazardous
developement."
"Problematical," Starbuck agrees, "Far enough
apart that you'll only have one obstacle at a time, but the top structure
will never clear."
The Captain smiles, "That has given me an idea, it's all a
matter of synchronization."
"Beg Pardon?" the young lady requests.
"It's all in the timing," Apollo explains, and opens
the throttle-tiller further.
Starbuck gets a brief idea of what is about to occur, Doesn't
bother with a wiseism, clenches down on the spare fumarillo, and gets a good
handhold.
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