connecting passageways and administration centers
went forward quickly. Within a month the first pods were being settled
into position, and stripped of their engines; a sign to the colonists
that supplies for building their cities and getting out of the pods
would be slow in coming. They knew full well that they would have to
make do with what they had for a long time to come.
8 Most of the pods were ancient, the cabins were small, the food
production unit only basic ...but most of the Purists considered themselves fortunate. Pods could have been
lost in transport, or The Lord God could have chosen to reduce Haven's
population by mass sterilization.
9 At least they were alive, and they would have children. If they
worked hard, their colony would grow. There was not a Hashon or half
blood among them. They had control of all new arrivals. In a way they
were somewhat pleased.
10 In the midst of all this another problem arose. An out-of-the-way
station suddenly reported an outbreak of Colony 3 Fever. An Aide advised North of the situation.
11 "They've got to have vaccine," North snapped, "isn't there any
available?"
12 "Plenty," answered the Aide, "but there isn't one ship available to
carry it, everything we've got that can make the trip, except for one
scout ship waiting to be picked up by its vessel is out of system. We haven't even got a crew
for the scout, except for three new Officers sent out from Academy for
assignment! "
13 "Of course," moaned North, "they're unqualified, right?"
14 "The standard simulator training," the Aide explained, "but never
actually been out in a scout before."
15 North fed some commands into his computer, and