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escape velocity on the return.” Tavoian waited for another question. There wasn’t one. “Now, if you’d make sure all your gear is stowed in the rear bulkhead lockers, and that they’re sealed. Then strap yourselves in.”
    Once he was satisfied that everything was as it should be, Tavoian float-climbed up the ladder to the control deck, then sealed the hatch before settling into the pilot’s couch and releasing the standby lock.
    â€œInterrogative ship status,” he asked the AI.
    SHIP IS READY FOR RELEASE.
    Tavoian checked the displays, activated the restraint warning, then opened the commlink. “OpsCon, FusEx three, ready for release.”
    â€œFusEx three, wait one.”
    â€œThree, standing by.”
    Tavoian wondered how long the wait would be, since his screens showed no objects obviously in the path of the ship, but the screens—radiation combined sensor systems—didn’t show anything that might be approaching from beneath or around the station, then asked the AI, “Interrogative traffic?”
    OPS IS REPOSITIONING SUDAM LONGLINER.
    â€œInbound or outbound?”
    THAT INFORMATION IS NOT AVAILABLE.
    Tavoian wondered whether the rumors about Sudam developing a hidden asteroid habitat had any basis in fact, then shook his head. The energy signature of a burner, or even a high-gee lobbed cargo shell, was too difficult to conceal, especially if you didn’t want to take forever to get somewhere. And if Sudam had the capability of the mythical reactionless drive … they certainly wouldn’t be still partnering with Noram on the WestHem elevator … although they remained anything but pleased with the Noram monopoly and control over the Low Lunar Orbit Station and the lunar elevator and the Lagrange Point stations.
    â€œFusEx three, cleared for release. Release will occur in thirty seconds. Cleared to use thrusters. Do not activate drive until you are cleared for ignition.”
    â€œOpsCon, three green for release. Will await clearance for ignition.” Tavoian switched the ship from station power to the ship auxiliary power, then put the AI in maneuvering mode, necessary to ease the ship clear of the station and to align it for the optimal course and trajectory for the Lunar Low Orbit Station … or where it would be when FusEx three arrived.
    â€œThree, you’re disengaged. Clear to maneuver.”
    While the announcement of disengagement was superfluous and after the fact, since the ship’s systems knew as soon as the physical separation occurred, the clearance was not. “Commencing maneuvering this time.”
    Tavoian watched as the AI used the thrusters to ease the ship away from the upper ring where the various spacecraft using ONeill Station docked. He could have maneuvered the ship manually, but that was reserved for emergencies or unusual circumstances, since the AIs invariably used less thruster propellant. Even so, he was ready to override the AI at the slightest hint of something going awry. It didn’t, of course, and the AI reported, SEPARATION ACHIEVED.
    â€œCommencing orientation.” Tavoian switched to the AI. “Destination is Lunar Lower Orbit Station. Begin destination orientation.”
    After several moments, the AI replied, ORIENTATION COMPLETE. READY FOR IGNITION.
    â€œFusEx three, you’re cleared for ignition.”
    â€œOpsCon, understand cleared for ignition.” Tavoian gave the command to the AI, “Ignite drive.”
    DRIVE IGNITED.
    â€œFusEx three, you are cleared to activate drive and depart.”
    â€œActivate drive.”
    DRIVE ACTIVATED.
    Initially, there was the faintest sense of pressure, pushing Tavoian straight down in his couch. That faint pressure continued to build for the next several minutes until it reached one gee, leveling out at that point. During the buildup of acceleration, the AI switched ship functions from auxiliary power to the