Crash-landed on Antichthon. Page 2
“We have two problems,” Jeremy said when we all, including the androids, gathered in the wardroom. The robots could not vote on important decisions but had an advisory voice, as did the artificial intelligence that controlled the ship, often called Antique.
“When passing through a meteorite shower, the spaceship was damaged. As a result of a hole in one of the fuel tanks, we lost some of the fuel,” the flight engineer continued.
“So, we now have two options,” the ship’s commander, Yakuro Kurosaki, took the floor, “To go back or continue the flight to Antichthon, reduce the research program, and return to Earth with the remaining fuel.” According to preliminary calculations presented by the ship’s AI, the flight will last three to four times longer since we cannot accelerate to the required speed.
“Can anything be done?” cosmologist Nancy asked quietly, “We have equipment to extract fuel on the planet.”
“The equipment was not damaged,” said the ship’s commander, “While we are researching the planet, R-Alpha will be engaged in fuel extraction.”
“Finally there will be real work,” said the android, “I’ve been sitting in this tin can, which everyone calls a spaceship.”
“I thought R-Alpha would help me,” Nancy said with sadness, “Well, okay, you can’t fly back without fuel.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll have time to help you too.”
“By the way, about the second problem,” Jeremy said, “Our main planetary engine is damaged.”
“Alex,” the commander turned to the co-pilot and planetary research specialist, “what do you say?”
“I landed on Mars on one engine, and now we have two of them, but there may be limitations with maneuvers, after all, the planet is not familiar, and the gravity and atmosphere are different.” answered Kruglov, “However, on the Antichthon simulator we practiced non-standard situations, including landings.” Paired with R-Gamma, we will land on half of one engine.
“But then we won’t take off,” the android smiled.
“Half?” Nancy was surprised.
“There were different situations,” Alex said dreamily, “Both on the simulators and on Mars, but don’t worry, we have two whole engines, I’m already fully aware of the whole situation, so we’ll land and take off.”
“I’m not worried,” the girl blushed for some reason, “I spent so much time preparing to explore a new planet, and now I have to return because of some minor problems.”
“I wouldn’t say significant,” Jeremy noted, “However, on the planet, it will be a little easier to try to repair the main planetary engine, and the capacity in the remaining tanks is quite enough to pump fuel into them. The main thing is to get it. If we don’t get it,” he added, hesitating for a second, “Then the return flight will increase by another twenty years or, most likely, we will live on the planet and wait for the next expedition because something else will happen.”
“Of course, I don’t have the right to vote,” said R-Beta, “But I would continue the flight and would be happy to help everyone, study the planet, explore, discover, I even agree to be sent alone in an escape capsule.”
“And he fussed,” R-Delta noted phlegmatically.