Stevan Jester met Theobald at the airlock. Without a word both men headed away from the main hub. "Have your men moved off the ship?" Theobald asked Stevan. "Yes," the chief engineer replied, "the ship's clear for the Junkers. They can work unhindered. The whole ship is unlocked, not that the electronical locks would help at all, since the core's all down." Stevan chuckled. "Good," the captain said and sighed, "relax for now, we can't do anything at the moment. Stay clear of the ship and let the Junkers work in peace. I don't want to know what they do exactly, and you don't want to know either. I think it is better that way. Sleep, get rest, that's an order, Stev." And he smiled.
Stevan nodded, yawned and headed off to the rented quarters. That he didn't argue at all was the solely sign how tired and beaten down he was.
Theobald couldn't stop a yawn himself. It has been a hard day and the whiskey helped to feel like lead. He walked slowly away to his lodgings. As soon as he entered he tossed away his shoes, unknit his tie and sat down heavily on the couch. He just wanted to sleep, but he knew he had to finish a few things. He wiped out his datapad and quickly wrote the message to the Renzu Corporation. He then leaned back. The feeling that the engines will change everything with the ship has increased. Was he doing the right thing to let the Junkers have this free hand with his ship? Cait probably would say yes and agree with Ian. He sighed. Theobald just had enough time and energy left to change his clothes before he fell in a dead sleep.
The beep on his datapad ripped him out of his deathlike sleep only a few hours after his eyes had dropped. He couldn't belief how fast an answer he has got from Renzu. He read it twice and knew what he had to do. Since he was already awake now, he sent a communication to Johnathan Seabourne, before he leaned back in bed.
How he fell asleep again, he didn't know. But the morning alarm announced the start of the day-cycle on the station. It took him only moments to freshen himself up and leaving the room. On his way to the main docking hub he grabbed something to eat and a coffee.
As Ian Howler has said, Theobald turned the aisle down to the Reverie. It's airlock doors were wide open and a constant army of sounds was washing out into the hub. It sounded as if the ship was being dismantled and dozens of people were working hard on it. A few of the people looked at Theobald but said nothing, just continued with his work. Theobald on the other hand interrupted one of the workers and asked for Ian. The woman pointed him to the CCH, the Central Computer Hub.
While walking through the corridors which were not shut off because of the missing life support, Theobald willed himself to ignore the state everything was in. He passed the Hubs main door and just as the Junker woman has said he looked at Ians back, bent over the main Console, which was disassembled like everything else.
"Good Morning, Ian!" Theobald shouted from the door as soon as he entered, "thought you might want to know as soon as possible: Renzu Corp is as expensive as expected. They would charge 300 Millions, way too much of course. Director Seabourne thinks similar and so we have a go for you and your people. I add this task to your list, as we have discussed. Build me engines, worthy of this ship, but within reasonable costs, please."
He inhaled deeply after having spoken quickly. Crossing over to the busy Commandant, he looked at him and shook slightly. Theobald had not been able to disguise being excited to bring this news to him.
