Home » The Archives » Chapter 5 » Learning to Live in Paradise
| Re: Learning to Live in Paradise [message #1303 is a reply to message #1302] |
Thu, 26 July 2012 19:43   |
artisticrainey
Messages: 1228
Registered: July 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
Karma:
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Field Commander
Switzerland |
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Tracy Island, Monday April 9th, 9.00 a.m.
Kat left her apartment and headed for Thunderbird Two's hangar. Brains had explained that he wanted to work on all the auxiliary vehicles, showing her how each of them worked.
"After all, Kat," he had explained, "ultimately it will be your responsibility to do the maintenance work on them."
Kat hurried into the hangar, where Gordon was talking to Brains, as they studied some plans.
"Hi, Brains, hi, Gordon." She looked at Brains. "What have you got for me today? Please, no more hands on making sure everything works. I think you see me as a guinea pig."
"Certainly not," Brains said. "You know that you need to be up to speed on the vehicles as part of your job."
"Well, I seem to be learning the hard way sometimes," Kat said with a 'hmph'.
Gordon watched with interest the conversation between the two. "Well, actually, Kat, it's you and me today," he said.
Kat stared at the auburn haired young man. "I'm working with you today?"
"Yep, that's right." Gordon grinned back. "Today I'm going to show you the ins and outs of Thunderbird Four," he said as he handed her a diagram of Thunderbird Four."
Kat glanced at Brains. "Oh, I'm not going to be expected to pilot Thunderbird Four, am I?"
Gordon shook his head. "Of course not, Kat. Brandon will be learning how to pilot Thunderbird Four. He is the aquanaut. From your point of view, all I need to do is to show you how it works, so that you can carry out maintenance on it." He led Kat to the pod which housed Thunderbird Four.
Kat glanced sideways at Gordon. "It seems a long time since our first meeting, I don't suppose you remember Lady Penelope's New Year's Eve party?" Kat asked.
"Oh, yes, I remember that party very well. We had quite a few fast dances, as I recall."
Kat smiled. "Yes, we did. It seems such ages away, and yet it is only three months."
Gordon looked at Kat. "Yes, a lot has happened since then. And now you and the other recruits are really settling in and being an active part of International Rescue."
"I'm feeling more confident about everything. The last rescue I actually attended was fine, but of course I was only watching. I was really there to make sure that the DOMO was okay, as it hadn't been checked and Brains wanted to make absolutely sure it was in top working order."
Gordon nodded. "Yes, that may be your major role, making sure that everything is in good working order, although there may come a time, like in Russia, when a small person is needed."
Kat wrinkled her nose at him and he laughed. They finally arrived at the pod containing Thunderbird Four.
"Okay, right first some facts: length, 30 feet, width, 11 feet, weight, 16 tons, underwater speed, 160 knots, surface cruising speed, 40 knots, emerge....." Gordon saw at the look of disbelief on Kat's face and smiled to himself. "Sorry. Am I going too fast for you?" he asked innocently.
"Gordon!" Kat exploded. "How am I going to remember all that information?"
Gordon grinned. "You won't and I wouldn't expect you to. I was just playing a joke on you, you were looking so serious."
Kat smiled weakly. "Guess I fell for it, didn't I?" She looked at him, ~Mm, it may be fun getting to know him better, we both seem to have the same kind of humour, maybe we could play one or two tricks on the others.
"Ready, Kat? Okay, then, let's get down to the workings of Thunderbird Four. It would be impossible to teach you everything about Thunderbird Four in just one morning, so we will start with the front today and maybe work on the rear tomorrow, or whenever Brains can spare you." Kat nodded and followed Gordon to the front of the submarine.
"Okay, at the front we have the Parabolic reflector trough, housing the Halogen lighting bar. This is used under water to find submerged boats or anything else that has fallen overboard."
"That must give out quite a long beam."
"Yes, it does, and it picks out objects, no matter how cloudy the water is." Kat nodded, totally absorbed in what Gordon was telling her.
"Here is the laser cutter build in to the starboard ram. This has proved helpful in the past, to enter submerged vehicles. This," he indicated inside the engine, "is the automatic missile reload system, and this," he pointed to an arm like structure, "is the servo mechanism in each arm, which controls the position of the lighting trough."
Kat looked at the plan in her hand, trying to match the diagrams with the actual mechanics. She was amazed, and a little worried. "Gordon, would I be supposed to work on this at the moment?"
Gordon shook his head. "No, you will need more training sessions with me before you will be asked to work on the sub."
They walked round to the other side. Gordon pointed out the missile tube, the hydraulic rams, the oxygen tanks and the life support unit wing with zyolithic crystals to eliminate the build-up of carbon dioxide in the cabin. He noticed that Kat was frowning.
"Let's go inside and take a look at the console operating the sub." She followed him in through the telescopic airlock. It was very small inside, with only room for one pilot. "Because it is so tiny with only room for one, the control console is ergonomically simplified. Behind you is the life-support and engine systems diagnostic computer."
Kat looked at it with interest. "What are those?" She pointed to some more instruments.
"Those are the airlock control systems and air regulator."
Kat was trying hard to appear as if she was taking everything in. Gordon glanced at her "Hey, I think that, that is enough information for one session. Let's leave the rest for another day."
Kat sighed with relief. It was such a lot to take on board. "Thank you Gordon, it's been really great, can I keep this diagram, so that I can try and remember what I have seen?"
"Sure, of course you can. Now what have you planned for the rest of the day?"
"Oh, er, well, I must go and report back to Brains, and check if he wants me to do anything else."
"And if he doesn't?"
"Probably go and collapse on the balcony of my apartment, and have a long cold drink."
"Why not join me at the pool? You can collapse and have a long cold drink there as well." Gordon grinned.
Kat smiled. "Okay, why not,"
"Great," Gordon mused. "I really want to get my own back on Tyler."
"Oh, no, Gordon, don't include me in your practical jokes."
Gordon rolled his eyes. "As if I would."
On finding that Brains had nothing further for Kat that day, she accompanied Gordon back to the house. They walked together in companionable silence until Kat suddenly asked Gordon how often Thunderbird Four had been used on rescues.
"Well, actually, there was one time, although it was not strictly a rescue," Gordon replied. "It was one time when we finally persuaded Dad to visit Lady Penelope on her sheep farm in Australia to have a short holiday. He had been rather reluctant to leave us with Scott in charge. Whilst being tested a missile malfunctioned and crashed into the sea bed, causing the seabed to erupt and flames leapt above the sea."
"Golly," Kat said.
Gordon continued, "Thunderbird Four had to go on to the seabed and seal the off the flames. Yes, that one exciting time."
Kat looked at Gordon in admiration.
"Of course, there was the time when I had to carry out a rescue all on my own." He glanced at Kat and could see that he had her complete attention. "Virgil and Scott had been returning from a rescue, Thunderbird Two was shot at by the Navy, and only just managed to get home, on fire, and crash-landed. Brains told Dad that it would be at least two weeks before Thunderbird Two was operational again.
"Was Virgil hurt?" Kat queried.
"Oh, he was okay. But, you see, they had been moving the Empire State Building which had toppled off its carrying trailer, and two men were trapped underground with water rising all the time."
"You didn't pilot Thunderbird Four all the way to New York, did you?"
Gordon shook his head. "I did offer to, but Dad said it would have taken too long. Instead I hitched a ride on the ship that had fired on Thunderbird Two. But it was me alone who rescued those guys." By this time they had reached the pool.
"You look pleased with yourself," Scott remarked to his brother as Gordon arrived with Kat in tow.
"Ooh, Scott. Gordon has just telling me about some of the rescues he has undertaken in Thunderbird Four. He is so daring."
Scott raised his eyebrows, "He has, has he? He is, is he?"
"Well, Kat asked and I just told her how it was," Gordon replied, handing a glass of orange juice to her.
Post by Tawnyangel22 on 23/03/2005
  
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