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eBook Category: Science Fiction
eBook Description: Dag Fletcher's first trip back with European Space was not going well. His six year military stint with I.G.O. had taught him that there were no simple missions. This just confirmed it. It was supposed to have been a straight-forward freight run--to get him back into the swing of things. And he wasn't even in the command slot for this one. So here they were, stranded on Pelorus, without enough power to get them off. It soon became clear that getting off the planet was the least of their problems. Dag Fletcher's solution was more risky and far-fetched as any he had ever tried.

eBook Publisher: Golden Apple, Wallasey, Published: UK, 1966
Fictionwise Release Date: April 2004

This eBook is part of the following series:

• John Rankine's Dag Fletcher Galactic Series

31 Reader Ratings: Great Good OK Poor

Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [583 KB], eReader (PDB) [194 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [186 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [163 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [280 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [211 KB], hiebook (KML) [441 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [239 KB], iSilo (PDB) [153 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [190 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [236 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [246 KB]
Words: 56046
Reading time: 160-224 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

"Well, that's it."--Peter Anders lifted his head from the litter of calculations on the chart table and looked round the circle of faces--"We're here to stay then."

There was no immediate answer as each one digested the unwelcome facts that had come out as the end product of two days careful processing of data. Anders waited with his hands relaxed on the table in front of him. After many years in the Space Service and many successful missions, it had come to him at last. It was almost a relief. Greying hair, deeply lined face set square and uncompromising in the habit of command; he would endure to the limit, and had done so in the past, where there was reasonable hope. But this was beyond argument. They did not have enough power to lift Interstellar Two-Five off the planet. This was the end of the line.

He could feel sorry for the other members of the executive conference. Four men and Karen Evander. He looked first at her; which was, visually, the most rewarding thing to do. She was taking it very well. Medium height, with a rather full oval face. Auburn hair, held back in a broad headband to show a high clear forehead. Good figure, shown off to advantage in a close fitting lemon yellow shirt. Slim fingers and delicate wrists. Blue-grey eyes looking steadily ahead.

On his right, the co-pilot and second in Command, Dag Fletcher. Unlucky for him to get on a trip like this first time out after his return to the company. Six years regulation stint with the Inter Galactic Security Organisation and then to end up on a simple freight run. In home waters you might say. A tall lanky young man. Rather too casual; but very able, obviously being groomed for higher command. Just now the lean, hard face was non-committal and grey eyes were hooded as Fletcher looked intently at the summary sheet.

Chad Fergusson said, "Let's get this right, Captain. On my report of the power reserve, you calculate that we could not mount an escape velocity from Pelorus. The best we can do is to go into an orbit in this gravisphere with a faint chance of a moon landing? I can tell you now that there will only be one take off from this beat-up power pack. It's one shot or nothing and from what you say, it's nothing." The senior engineer pushed back from the table as if he had finished with the whole business. Round faced, looking much younger than his thirty-five years and having a constant struggle to keep within the generous weight limit for space crew, he was a man who could settle happily anywhere. Probably he would be the least bothered of the whole crew by an indefinite stay on Pelorus.