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<blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 1360174" data-attributes="member: 6294">&quot;Blast Off!&quot; - Part 24Back at the Pathfinder, the Venusians sit in a huge circle, diligently sewing the massive bag, while Doctor Gustav stands watching, and taking notes on their technique.&quot;My wife was an expert with ze needle.&quot; He confides to Archie.&quot;Indeed, Doctor.&quot; The robot answers by rote, while fastidiously picks through their rapidly dwindling pile of furs, &quot;Did she perhaps tech you a stitch that would allow us to save four point eight square feet of material?&quot;&quot;Nein., I was never very good at it, myself.&nbsp; I could never get ze thread into ze little hole.&quot;&quot;Oh dear.&quot; The robot sighs, then calls to Fury, &quot;Captain, we have a problem!&quot;&quot;So you've noticed as well?&quot; Fury asks in a low voice, as he draws near, &quot;She's been depressed ever since we got back.&nbsp; I made her a cup of tea - nothing cheers up a rainy day like a good cup - but it didn't seem to do any good -&quot; he trails off as he realises that the robot's blank expression is somehow more blank than usual.&nbsp; &quot;Ah, that is, what's the problem, old boy?&quot;&quot;We do not have enough material for the bag.&quot;&quot;What?&quot; Fury presses the heel of his hand to his forehead, &quot;Damnation.&quot;&nbsp; Taking a deep sigh, he straightens up and prepares to take the bad news,&nbsp; &quot;How much more do we need?&quot;Four point eight square feet.&quot;&quot;Excuse me?&quot;&quot;Four point eight square feet.&quot;&quot;Four point eight.&quot;&quot;Yes.&quot;&quot;Square feet.&quot;&quot;Yes.&quot;&quot;I think I can solve your dilemma, old boy.&quot; Fury deftly unbuttons his shirt - something at which he seems to have had a great deal of practice - and proffers it to the robot, &quot;Latest Space Force issue.&nbsp; Polyfibre weave that's guaranteed tear resistant.&quot; He grins, &quot;Much to the ladies' distress.&quot;&quot;... thank you, Captain ...&quot; Archie holds the garment at arm's length, then gingerly deposits it atop the furs, &quot;That should suffice.&quot;&quot;Ah, leibchen!&quot; Doctor Gustav calls to his foster-daughter, as she walks listlessly nearby, &quot;Good news!&nbsp; We have enough of ze material to finish ze bag!&quot;&quot;That's great, Doctor -&quot; S'Ondra replies, eyes downcast, with a sigh, she looks up to say something more, but the words are forgotten as her gaze falls on the shirtless Fury.&quot;Isn't that wonderful news, Princess?&quot; Fury flashes a smile and flexes his muscles, &quot;And a wonderful sight, as well.&nbsp; The bag I mean.&nbsp; It's nearly done.&quot; He gestures at the huge mat of black furs, somehow contriving to flex again as he does so.&quot;It's, uh, great news.&quot; S'Ondra suddenly seems to find her own feet extremely interesting, though her gaze keeps making unconscious darts in Fury's direction. &quot;So when are we leaving?&quot;&quot;The bag will be complete in approximately one hour and fifteen minutes.&quot; Archie responds, &quot;At that time, based on the projected suction of the Doctor's device -&quot;&quot;It vill suck a lot!&quot;&quot;- we will be able to gather all of the mould within two hours.&nbsp; Based on current growth rates, the bag will at that stage be filled to ninety-seven percent capacity, and we will need to be ready for immediate departure.&nbsp; Under the expected conditions it will only take ten minutes for the mould to multiply in sufficient quantities to burst the bag.&quot;&quot;Is that enough time?&quot;&quot;I'm a fast worker, Princess.&quot; Fury promises.&quot;No doubt.&quot;&quot;It will be sufficient.&quot; Archie continues his analysis, &quot;On an optimum course, clearing the atmosphere will require slightly less than eight minutes.&nbsp; In the frigid temperatures of space, the mould should not continue to multiply, and we will be able to safely make it to Earth.&quot;&quot;Provided zat ze bag does not burst from ze turbulence of ze ascent, of course.&quot;&quot;Yes, Doctor.&quot;&quot;But perhaps I can recalibrate ze gravitic shields to help protect ze bag.&quot; Gustav muses.&nbsp; He picks up a long stick and begins writing complex formulae in the dirt, &quot;Of course, zat would vastly reduce ze protection to ze crew -&quot;&quot;Doc, if the bag bursts, then it's all over for the home side.&quot; Fury pats the older man on the shoulder, &quot;Make the changes as soon as the Pathfinder is free of the mould.&nbsp; We'll take our chances without the shields.&quot;</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Capellan, post: 1360174, member: 6294"] [b]"Blast Off!" - Part 24[/b] Back at the [I]Pathfinder[/I], the Venusians sit in a huge circle, diligently sewing the massive bag, while Doctor Gustav stands watching, and taking notes on their technique. "My wife was an expert with ze needle." He confides to Archie. "Indeed, Doctor." The robot answers by rote, while fastidiously picks through their rapidly dwindling pile of furs, "Did she perhaps tech you a stitch that would allow us to save four point eight square feet of material?" "[I]Nein.[/I], I was never very good at it, myself. I could never get ze thread into ze little hole." "Oh dear." The robot sighs, then calls to Fury, "Captain, we have a problem!" "So you've noticed as well?" Fury asks in a low voice, as he draws near, "She's been depressed ever since we got back. I made her a cup of tea - nothing cheers up a rainy day like a good cup - but it didn't seem to do any good -" he trails off as he realises that the robot's blank expression is somehow more blank than usual. "Ah, that is, what's the problem, old boy?" "We do not have enough material for the bag." "What?" Fury presses the heel of his hand to his forehead, "Damnation." Taking a deep sigh, he straightens up and prepares to take the bad news, "How much more do we need? "Four point eight square feet." "Excuse me?" "Four point eight square feet." "Four point eight." "Yes." "Square feet." "Yes." "I think I can solve your dilemma, old boy." Fury deftly unbuttons his shirt - something at which he seems to have had a great deal of practice - and proffers it to the robot, "Latest Space Force issue. Polyfibre weave that's guaranteed tear resistant." He grins, "Much to the ladies' distress." "... thank you, Captain ..." Archie holds the garment at arm's length, then gingerly deposits it atop the furs, "That should suffice." "Ah, leibchen!" Doctor Gustav calls to his foster-daughter, as she walks listlessly nearby, "Good news! We have enough of ze material to finish ze bag!" "That's great, Doctor -" S'Ondra replies, eyes downcast, with a sigh, she looks up to say something more, but the words are forgotten as her gaze falls on the shirtless Fury. "Isn't that wonderful news, Princess?" Fury flashes a smile and flexes his muscles, "And a wonderful sight, as well. The bag I mean. It's nearly done." He gestures at the huge mat of black furs, somehow contriving to flex again as he does so. "It's, uh, great news." S'Ondra suddenly seems to find her own feet extremely interesting, though her gaze keeps making unconscious darts in Fury's direction. "So when are we leaving?" "The bag will be complete in approximately one hour and fifteen minutes." Archie responds, "At that time, based on the projected suction of the Doctor's device -" "It vill suck a lot!" "- we will be able to gather all of the mould within two hours. Based on current growth rates, the bag will at that stage be filled to ninety-seven percent capacity, and we will need to be ready for immediate departure. Under the expected conditions it will only take ten minutes for the mould to multiply in sufficient quantities to burst the bag." "Is that enough time?" "I'm a fast worker, Princess." Fury promises. "No doubt." "It will be sufficient." Archie continues his analysis, "On an optimum course, clearing the atmosphere will require slightly less than eight minutes. In the frigid temperatures of space, the mould should not continue to multiply, and we will be able to safely make it to Earth." "Provided zat ze bag does not burst from ze turbulence of ze ascent, of course." "Yes, Doctor." "But perhaps I can recalibrate ze gravitic shields to help protect ze bag." Gustav muses. He picks up a long stick and begins writing complex formulae in the dirt, "Of course, zat would vastly reduce ze protection to ze crew -" "Doc, if the bag bursts, then it's all over for the home side." Fury pats the older man on the shoulder, "Make the changes as soon as the [I]Pathfinder[/I] is free of the mould. We'll take our chances without the shields." [/QUOTE]

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