Fuel Tank

[Orr, Michael J]

Jorgensen moves to each fuel tank support in turn, making the necessary welds to secure the supports to the tank and to the ship. Some are in worse shape that others, but after a little more than an hour all of them are repaired to more or less the same strength as before. A final check of the stability of the tank using the arms of the Kobold confirms that the fuel tank is now secure and ready for further repairs.

Reporting this to the main control room, Jorgensen then turns to his main task; bending the tank back into its proper position and salvaging what he can. This turns out to be easier that he anticipated, although the fourth compartment that he works on somehow was bent in an unusual way, requiring extra care to repair.

While working on this reluctant piece of metal, Jorgensen's mind wanders for a moment to Dr. Canada and his team, who are perhaps doing something in many ways similar to what he is currently doing with the fuel tank with the seriously injured Sgt. Emma Pope. Are they doing as well as he is?

Coordinating with the main control room, Jorgensen completes the repair of the front half of the fuel tank in about five hours. Confirming the completion of the repair, Jorgensen then turns the work bug toward the hangar bay.

While disengaging from the fuel tank, Jorgensen takes one last look at the now repaired tank and sees in his mind something similar to what the human race is now experiencing. Battered, bruised, yet still holding on to what is left.

And for a moment, he has confidence that whatever the obstacles that the crew and colonists face from now on, they will find a way to succeed.