"You must have moved the satellite out of position while assembling its components."
"So my work here comes to nothing because the satellite's power beam can't reach the settlement's receivers."
"Not ... not unless you use the ship ... to tow the satellite into the proper orbital position," Jason stammered.
You actually went through with it, Tom thought. Aloud, he said, "But if I use the ship's engine to tow the satellite, I won't have enough fuel left to get back to Earth, will I?" Not to mention oxygen.
A longer pause. "No."
"I have two questions, Jason. I think I know the answers to them both but I'll ask you anyway. One. You knew this would happen, didn't you?"
"What do you mean?"
"You've calculated this insane business down to the last drop of sweat," Tom growled. "You knew that I'd knock the satellite out of position while I was working on it, and the only way to get it back in the right orbit would be for me to tow it back and strand myself up here. This is a suicide mission, isn't it, Jason?"
"That's not true...."