So Far, So Good

"We're in luck," Astra said.

"It seems pretty small," Stacy said, as they walked across the bay towards it.

"It's probably a shuttle used to go to and from the planet below. I don't suppose it has the range to go anywhere else, so that's where we'll have to go too. At least it looks like it should be fast."

Stacy didn't see how Astra could tell that just by looking at the ship, but she decided there was no point in arguing about it. There was an illuminated button on the hull beside the entry hatch. Astra pressed it and the hatch slid open. She and Stacy climbed aboard and sat side by side in the two seats facing out of the cockpit window.

"How do we open the bay doors," Stacy asked. "Wouldn't they normally be operated from somewhere in the station?"

"I'm hoping they'll open automatically when we take off and head towards them. If not, then we'll just have to hope that they won't be as strong as this ship. Now how do I close the entry hatch?"

1. A computer-synthesised voice says, "Do you wish me to close the hatch and then open the bay doors?" The ship has an AI controlling it that responds to spoken commands, which is very fortunate. Even better, it can open the bay doors.
2. Astra manages to close the hatch and start up the engine.
3. A squad of Solidarity Space Marines enters the bay. Unless Astra and Stacy can launch the ship immediately, then it looks like they've had it.

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