Solar Express by L. E. Modesitt Jr. Page A

said Dominque Perez mildly.
    â€œJust be careful with the pressure cooker or the pressure kettle if you want tea.”
    â€œThere’s not an autochef?” asked Deveau.
    â€œThe center has been maintained, but not updated with anything that draws more power. We still operate off the original solar array. Individual panels and assemblies have been replaced, of course, and the Foundation has upgraded the power storage capabilities.”
    Alayna felt like an old-fashioned tour guide as she led the three from the suit locker room. “There aren’t any steps here, just ramps. The idea behind that was to be able to wheel anything anywhere, but the station is fairly well designed, and there’s never been much need to move much of any mass inside. Outside, yes. There are four unoccupied rooms here. Each has two bunks. My room is the end one, closest to the hatch up to the operational levels.”
    Hart offered a puzzled expression. “Space for ten people?”
    â€œA larger crew was required to build the facility, and it didn’t take that much more effort to factor in the extra quarters once all the power supplies were in place…” Alayna gestured. “The showers and facilities are across the hall…”
    Once she had them on the upper level, she quickly pointed out the laboratory, the technical support space—the workroom, really—and the hatch to the control center. With an apologetic smile, she said, “I’ll leave you to clean up, rest, or whatever. I need to unload the supplies.” She did not quite flee.
    She also made certain that she was linked to Marcel before she stepped out of the receiving lock.
    More than an hour and a half passed before Alayna finished unloading the supply train and stowing the various items, although she did take the fresh produce off first and lock it into the station. Then came space-polymer-wrapped containers of various sizes and shape. She did note that there were not any large packages, nothing resembling antenna film … and with only two lengths of replacement film left, more would certainly be needed. Although … it might not be required for years … or it could be tomorrow.
    She had sent a message to Foundation Operations about the possible shortage when she had discovered it after the repairs, not in time for replacements likely even to be found or ordered. Before she had sent it, she’d checked the message logs, and her predecessor had made a similar observation over a year ago. That bothered her. Was the Foundation that strapped for funds? Or wasn’t anyone making the antenna film anymore?
    When she finally unsuited and returned to the upper level of the station, the three were seated at one of the two tables in the room adjoining the galley.
    â€œDo you need something to eat?” Alayna really didn’t feel like fixing food for others, but she felt that was clearly expected.
    â€œAntoine managed to find some pasta and various other items. We’ve eaten,” said Geoffrey Hart.
    Alayna could have added what he hadn’t spoken, something to the effect of “if one can call that eating.”
    â€œWhat were you doing?” asked Dominque Perez.
    â€œUnloading and storing—roughly—what was on the supply train. It wasn’t quite a full load. Usually, the train arrives a few days before the night line. They didn’t want to send it twice. So they loaded it with what was ready.”
    â€œThe timing is designed so that the solar cells can power the train?” Perez’s words were not quite a question.
    â€œIt can run on stored power, but it’s more efficient with solar power, and it’s also to make sure that it doesn’t interfere with nighttime observations any more than necessary. Those are usually the most important.” The ones that bring the Foundation the most revenue. Dr. Braun had been most emphatic about that.
    Alayna definitely