"Best I can do." Major Winship stepped back. The sheet began slowly to slide downward, then it fell away completely and lay limply on the floor.
"Come on in," he said dryly.
With the four of them inside, it was somewhat cramped. Most of the five hundred square feet was filled with equipment. Electrical cables trailed loosely along the walls and were festooned from the ceiling, radiating from the connections to the outside solar cells. The living space was more restricted than in a submarine, with the bunks jutting out from the walls about six feet from the floor.
Lt. Chandler mounted one of the bunks to give them more room. "Well," he said wryly, "it doesn't smell as bad now."
"Oops," said Major Winship. "Just a second. They're coming in." He switched over to the emergency channel. It was General Finogenov.
"Major Winship! Hello! Hello, hello, hello. You A Okay?"
"This is Major Winship."
"Oh! Excellent, very good. Any damage, Major?"
"Little leak. You?"