"The outside is apparently safely pressurized," K'meh announce."The outside is apparently safely pressurized," K'meh announce. "At least, I hope it is... there are humans out there working in shirtsleeves. I'm going to open both doors on the airlock sequentially." The outside doors opened first, followed by the inside doors; there was just a slight >pop< as the pressure outside and in equalized. "After you, Kennet," said the Uncia medic who had come to Luna to give his presentation on xenophysiology and space medicine. I nodded and slowly stepped down the self-extending steps onto to vaguely ellipsoid landing platform. A stairway ramp was rolled up to the platform and a tall, aging caucais human with swept, black hair and grey eyes bounded up, followed by a small party, in the center of which I spied Victoria. He crossed the platform assuredly and held out his hand. "How do you do? I'm Martin Scheider, Commander of Moonbase Tycho. Welcome, and welcome to United States Territory." He held out his hand. I took it and shook comfortably. "Glad to be here," I said. He smiled in response, and I thought I would call his smile 'charming.' I wondered how much of that smile was honest, and how much of it he reserved for the politicians he had to deal with on a daily basis. Most of it felt honest, to me. "I understand that the three Pendrii behind you are here for the conferences on extra solar exploration, but I am also led to understand that you personally are here to visit Dr. Victoria Stoneman?" I coughed politely and said, "Yes; Dr. Stoneman and I have been corresponding for a number of years, and seeing as I was going to be in the neighborhood I requested clearance to land and visit." "I received the information five days ago." I wondered how the information had been worded. As a request, or orders? He continued. "I would like to introduce various members of my staff. This is Wilton Marchoff, my deputy director," I shook hands with her, "Elizabeth Knight, my chief medical officer, and I believe you already know my head of Physical Sciences, Victoria Stoneman." I shook hands with Dr. Knight before bowing deeply to Victoria. "Hello, Victoria. You're looking wonderful for eighty-two years. |