Home » The Archives » Chapter 5 » Learning to Live in Paradise
| Re: Learning to Live in Paradise [message #1348 is a reply to message #1345] |
Thu, 26 July 2012 19:59   |
artisticrainey
Messages: 1228
Registered: July 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
Karma:
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Field Commander
Switzerland |
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Tracy Island, April 12th 9.00a.m.
Kat sat at the controls of Thunderbird Two in a kind of daydream. Yesterday, Brains had told her that it was time that she learnt the maintenance work on the Thunderbirds themselves. That night she had dreamt about trying to fly Thunderbird Two and Scott shouting, "No, no! You are doing things completely wrong!" She had awoken with a start; the dream had been so realistic. Having washed but still in her nightwear, she made herself some breakfast and headed on to the balcony to enjoy the sunrise while she ate. Later, dressed in her overalls, she headed for Thunderbird Two. Finding no one around she climbed inside the huge vehicle and sat down at the controls. Mm, I certainly don't envy Elise trying to fly this craft.
"Want to have a go at flying?" Virgil's voice broke into her daydream.
Kat spun round, a guilty look on her face. She felt like a young kid who had been caught sitting at the wheel of her parents' car, imagining she was driving.
"Oh, no, that is, I don't think so. I think that would be better left to Elise and you."
Virgil leaned against the doorway and looked at her. "Seems we are both waiting for Brains."
"Yes, I am going to be shown the maintenance work on the Thunderbirds," Kat answered with a smile. "And what's more, I can't wait!"
"Well, while we are waiting, let me show you the inside and the controls." And for the next fifteen minutes, Virgil showed an interested Kat the cabin's environmental and life-support control console and the hover jets holding bay. He took her through the door from the pilot's cabin into the central corridor. He showed her the starboard storage bay, which held the rescue equipment, oxygen cylinders, cutting tools, lasers and thermic lances.
"The port side bay contains first aid and medical supplies." He grinned at Kat trying to take all this in. And not for the first time, Virgil noted how professional Kat was in her questions.
"You really get involved in your work don't you?" he said smiling at her.
"This is a dream come true, working on the Thunderbirds! I would never had imagined that working for Lady Penelope would have led to all this!" She said as she spread her hands out.
Just then Brains arrived. "Sorry I'm late."
"That's okay, Brains," Virgil remarked. "I was just showing Kat some of the interior workings. Now, where do we start?"
"Oh, are you coming along as well?" Kat asked.
Virgil nodded. "Yep, Brains thought that since Thunderbird Two is my baby that I should help as well."
The three climbed down and headed for the rear of the craft. Virgil handed Kat a large manual. She gasped. "Am I supposed to carry this around with me?"
"No, of course not," Brains answered. "That's for you to read to help you when working on Thunderbird Two. Every Thunderbird has its own manual. You can leave it here to refer to, or if you like, you can take it to your apartment if you want to read more about TB2."
"Now," Virgil began. "In the fin there are variable-cycle turbo-ram jets. Ram-jet turbine provides emergency electrical power." He pointed to the front of the fin. "Behind those grills are the tailplane air intakes."
Kat nodded.
"At each end is the ram jet thrust pipe," Virgil continued. "Here also is the nacelle, housing booster rockets used in emergencies and also in launching from Thunderbird Two's launch ramp."
"It looks so strange with no pod," Kat remarked.
Virgil smiled in agreement. They wandered through and stood looking at the rear. Virgil pointed out the atomic generator which supplies heat to jet exchanges and turbo electric generators, the magnetic bolts which secure the rear of the pod during flight, and the main body-based polarised electro-magnetic pod lifting system, used if Thunderbird Two needs to lower the pod to sea level without disengaging it.
Kat wiped her forehead. It was very hot in the hangar and her T-shirt was sticking to her back. She followed Brains and Virgil as they headed for the front of the craft. Suddenly she felt very faint. She came round lying on the ground, her head on a folded up shirt.
"Are you okay?" Virgil sounded concerned.
"What happened?" Kat felt foolish, lying alongside Thunderbird Two.
"You fainted," Brains replied.
Kat struggled to a sitting position.
"Sorry, it has been a long time since breakfast. I suffer from a low blood sugar condition, and need to eat regularly. I usually carry some glucose with me, but must have forgotten it."
"Should I call Mom?" Virgil asked.
"No, no I shall be okay. All I need is something sweet to eat or drink."
"Then I think that we shall call it a day. Now I am going to take you back to your apartment," Virgil said, ignoring Kat's protests that she would be okay on her own.
Once back in her apartment, Virgil poured her a glass of orange juice. "Are you quite sure you are okay?"
Kat smiled. "Quite sure. Thank you, Virgil."
"Is there anything else I can get you?" Virgil asked, still feeling slightly concerned.
"Honestly, I am okay. I shall have something to eat and have a rest."
Reassured that she was all right, Virgil headed back to the villa. All the same, he thought. I'll make sure to tell Mom about that little incident... Fainting on the job, not good!
Post by Tawnyangel22 on 19/05/2005
  
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