"Some work must be done on the missile launchers," Warburton said. "That's best carried out here, where extra facilities are available if we need them. Not that I expect we will." He paused. "I hope we won't interfere with your own operations."
"Far from it." Blades beamed at Ellen. "Or, more accurately, this kind of interference I don't mind in the least."
She blushed and her eyelids fluttered. Not that she was a fluffhead, he realized. But to avoid incidents, Navy regulations enforced an inhuman correctness between personnel of opposite sexes. After weeks in the black, meeting a man who could pay a compliment without risking court-martial must be like a shot of adrenalin. Better and better!
"Are you sure?" Warburton persisted. "For instance, won't we be in the way when the next ship comes from Jupiter?"
"She'll approach the opposite end of the asteroid," Blades said. "Won't stay long, either."
"How long?"
"One watch, so the crew can relax a bit among those of us who're off duty. It'd be a trifle longer if we didn't happen to have an empty bag at the moment. But never very long. Even running under thrust the whole distance, Jupe's a good ways off. They've no time to waste."
"When is the next ship due?"
"The Pallas Castle is expected in the second watch from now."
"Second watch. I see." Warburton stalked on with a brooding expression on his Puritan face.