Deep Space - Outside the X-4 - Date : Unknown Time : Unknown
Deep Space - Outside the X-4 - Date : Unknown Time : Unknown
The airlock door hinged open and three space-suited figures floated out.
“We are clear of the airlock.” Jackson radioed. “Heading to the antenna now.”
“I’m heading to the engines. See you guys on the other side!” Edwards said as he pushed off down towards the main engines trailing a long length of thick cable.
Together Jackson and Collins pushed, pulled and manhandled the ungainly structure of the new antenna. “Careful of those cross beams, Jack” Collins warned Jackson as they moved to prop the antenna up next to the original antenna.
Collins fished around in his tool belt and found a pair of pliers. “Now let me get the line feed disconnected from the original antenna and then we can strap the new one in place.” He set to work on the connection and before long the original wires and structure of the antenna were broken down and tied to a handhold.
Moving the new antenna into place proved almost as difficult as the entire journey from airlock to port. The antenna had to be forced into the same attach point and the alignment turned just so.
While they worked to get the connector secured, neither crewman noticed that the original antenna bundle had worked loose and was floating free.
Jackson pulled back to check that the top of the antenna was oriented. He turned and was caught by the jagged end of the antenna base.
He cried out in pain and surprise as he was thrown off the ship and loose into space.