"Show an exhaust, Corporal. High vack is waiting!"
CHAPTER SIX
Rip's Planet
Rip rechecked his space suit before putting on his helmet. The air seal
was intact, and his heating and ventilating units worked. He slapped his
knee pouches to make sure the space knife was handy to his left hand, the
pistol to his right.
Koa was already fully dressed. He handed Rip the shoulder case that
contained the plotting board. Santos had taken charge of Rip's
astrogation instruments.
A spaceman was waiting with Rip's bubble. At a nod, the spaceman slipped
it on his head. Rip reached up and gave it a quarter turn. The locking
mechanism clamped into place. He turned his belt ventilator control on
full, and the space suit puffed out. When it was fully inflated, he
watched the pressure gauge. It was steady. No leaks in suit or helmet.
He let the pressure go down to normal.
Koa's voice buzzed in his ears. "Hear me, sir?"
Rip adjusted the volume of his communicator and replied, "I hear you. Am
I clear?"
"Yessir. All men dressed and ready."
Rip made a final check. He counted his men, then personally inspected
their suits. The boats were next. They were typical landing craft,
shaped like rectangular boxes.
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