Lieut checked his electronic clipboard. They were behind schedule, but by working round the clock with rotating shifts there was a chance of catching up. Scanning for explosive devices had wreaked havoc with his time line and once they'd actually been able to get to work, he'd pushed the screws hard. They hadn't really complained. They knew as well as he did that the extra bonuses they'd receive for getting the job done on time would more than make up for their aching muscles and exhaustion.

And so far the schedule had kept everyone on the straight and narrow. He'd partnered Jewel with Snake so she could keep an eye on him. The screw hadn't given him any more trouble. Had in fact, seemed to go out of his way to be respectful and contrite. Lieut wasn't fooled. He could feel the man's eyes on him when his back was turned and hadn't missed the quiet conversation he kept with Ling whenever he had a chance.

An incoming message on his com intruded on his thoughts and he opened the link to see Gorjan's smiling face.

"We're about ready!"

"I'll be right there." Lieut closed the link, then deactived the signal, cutting off their raucous music so they would know he was on his way down to the observation deck. He was relieved that he wouldn't need to pass out any more stims today. They'd worked through two shifts and once this stage was complete they could head back to the Barge and sleep for six hours straight. After that they'd spend some time planetside. He hadn't told anyone yet that he'd sent a message to Rachel about retrieving some of the Caspian's pilfered pieces. It was still work, yes, but the screws deserved a change of pace. Not to mention some real food. Nutricubes were adequate in keeping them alive and the freeze dried MRE's provided some dietary variety, but unfortunately were only remotely palatable.

Gorjan and Sophie had the job of disconnecting and securing all of the electrical and ventilation componets between the two decks, while Horse and Ling cut through the inside layers to the hull. From there the lazer lizards would be attached to the exterior hull to complete the work of separating the deck, which would then be maneuvered back to the waiting Barge. Aside from the bridge, the observation deck was the smallest of the five decks and could be detatched in one piece. The rest would have to be quartered and sealed.

He exited the lift and proceeded to the maintenance tube. Peering down the ladder he could see light and shadow and hear Sophie's distinctively lyrical voice resonating in the hollow chamber. He had no doubt she could charm snakes with it if she tried. They heard the echo of his movements and met him at the bottom of the tube.

"Soon as they're done down there we can shut life support," Gorjan said.

Lieut nodded then let himself through the hole in the ceiling so he could begin the final inspection. In spite of the portable heaters and the bright mobile lights, a thick layer of frost covered the observation windows. Lieut's breath puffed out in a cloud in front of his face as he called to let them know he was there. Jewel climbed out from one section of wall when she heard his voice, the tools on her belt clanking loudly as she rapelled to the floor.

A moment later Snake dropped down beside her. Ling and Horse followed, the bigger man turning sideways to fit through an opening the others had cleared easily. He pushed back his visor revealing a huge grin, and gave Lieut a boost up.

Lieut crossed each strut between the thick interior and exterior walls, making his way around the circumfrence of the deck. His head lamp illuminated the dark marks along the crumpled edge of the continuous line of cut metal. It had taken weeks, but they were ready for the first separation.

The screws were already packing up their gear when he returned to the floor. Most of them were smiling but all looked physically drained. After a few feeble back thumping displays of congratulations they quickly sealed the interior wall and began pulling the equipment up the ladder to the maintence area between the ceiling and next deck.

Horse, being the strongest, brought up the rear, hauling the heavy cutting equipment up behind him. Positioning himself at the top of the ladder, below the hole, he leaned back, his huge biceps bulging as he slowly maneuvered the awkward power tool until it was up even with his chest. His pale face turned red with exhertion as he used one arm and a shoulder to get it up to the hole. Lieut moved back to give Snake and Ling room to get a hold of it and didn't see what happened.

Ling swore, Snake tried to hold on, but then suddenly the opening was clear. Lieut rushed forward, knocking both men out of the way. Horse was clinging to the rope with one hand. The plug end of the heavy cord from the cutter was caught in a groove at the ceiling. The rest of it was wrapped around his chest and slowly inching its way up to his neck. His other hand was frantically trying to keep it from rolling but it was clear that the weight of the machine on the other end would win the battle and either break his neck when the loop closed or cut into his juggler.

Lieut yanked his knife from his belt and began sawing at the cord. Horse's eyes were bulging, his fingers trying to dig deeper than the cord. And then the blade cut through, Horse's fingers slipped from rope ladder and he crashed to the floor below. Lieut heard the snap, hoped it wasn't the big man's neck, and quickly climbed to the floor beside him.

Horse blinked up at him, tried to sit up and gasped in pain. "My leg, Lieut. My leg!"

"It's broken." Lieut said. "It'll be all right, just don't look at it." From beside him Jewel swore.

"Great!" Snake grumbled. "This will set us back weeks!"

"Shut up!" Gorjan shouted, helping Lieut get Horse into a sitting position.

Tears were streaming down Horse's face. "I'm sorry, Lieut," he kept repeating.

Jewel knelt beside him, brushing his long blond bangs out of his eyes. "Just hang in there, big guy. We're going to get you --" She paused. "Where we gonna bring him, Lieut?"

"Planetside," Lieut answered.

"I can't feel my foot!" Horse cried. "I can't stand up." His eyes rolled.

He looked like he was about to faint. "Stay with us," Lieut said. He patted his pockets, found the stim packs and pulled them out.

"What are you doing?" Gorjan asked.

Liuet ignored him, tearing open the stims with his teeth. He stabbed the big man's neck with two of them. He hesitated then gave him a third. They took effect immediately; Horse's blue eyes opened wide and he could barely sit still long enough for them to twist his leg back into its proper position and spray it with some fast acting hole filler to keep it rigid. Lieut just hoped theyd be able to get it off later.

Half way up the ladder with Lieut pushing from behind and Snake and Ling pulling from above, Horse asked them for a song.

"My momma always sang to me when I got a boo boo," he said.

"I ain't your momma!" Snake retorted.

"I'm tone deaf," Ling added.

Horse started to cry again. Jewel held his hand and distracted him with a song she used to sing to get her little sister back to sleep after a nightmare. Somehow they managed to get to the lighter.