take him and his crew home."
74 "Good!" the droid responded. "We have waited a long, long time. We
even considered attempting return journey ourselves, but our last
orders were to maintain vessel so we did not violate our programming.
Did we do well?"
75 "You did VERY well!" North assured.
76 "If you want to use shields to blow away the sand," the droid
continued, "be advised it is safe to do so. The elements have been
covered, and passages kept clear, by the hull droids."
77 "Excellent!" North praised. "Excellent! As soon as we have power, we
will throw a quarter charge into the shield up top. When they're
stable, we'll hit a full charge. That should blow the sand clear.
Engineer, while we're powering up, explain our problems to the droid.
He may have some information important to us."
78 "Affirmative, sir," the Engineer agreed. A few minutes later, Helm
announced he had full power to the shields. "Main screen to outside
view," North ordered. "Power them up, mister!"
79 A few moments later Firing Control told North that the shields had
compacted the sand around the top of the ship. "All right," ordered
North, "we do it. Either we blow the sand away, or we blow up. Full
power!"
80 The ship rocked as the full effect of her shields blew the sand
away. "We're free and clear!" shouted Helm. "Activating bottom shields.
We are clear of ground. All instruments read power for lift. Planetary
drive functioning in both engines. Request permission to begin ascent."
81 "Ascend with full power!" North ordered. For the first time in over
five-thousand years the old space ship climbed skyward and reached for
her home in the stars. She performed flawlessly like a joyous child
suddenly released from a sickbed!
82 Suddenly the command chair's communicator buzzed