Tau Ceti (an Ell Donsaii story #6) Read Online Free

crusher to make it small enough to port back here to D5R. It won’t fall in and can’t be blown or sucked in. If you try to move it too violently it bounces away in the microgravity. Those magnetic belts pick it up , but then won’t let it go. The crusher jams all the time. They’re making a n electromagnetic belt system now. The idea being that then they can pick up rocks with magnet s on one belt , then transfer it to another by just switching the power from one set of magnets to the other. While they’re waiting for the new system they keep working with what they have out there , try ing to get a feel for the problems that are going to crop up next .”
    Norris watched in fascination for a short while, then he and Bridget moved on down to the end of the room. Two young women and two men were clustered around a screen chattering excitedly. His eyes initially focused on the tall young man who appeared to be the oldest of the group. Suddenly he realized that one of the two young women was Donsaii. My God, she’s just a kid! Even y ounger looking than she appears to be in photos and vids … and wow… so pretty !
    Bridget said, “Ms. Donsaii, this is Dr. Norris… The professor that my friend Belle Donovan was hoping you would meet with?”
    Ell rose and shook his hand. “Hi Dr. Norris. This is Emma Kenner, Roger Emmerit and Manuel Garcia. We pretty much make up the Quantum Research part of D5R. Wilson Daster here works with us part time and we consult with a lot of other experts. Some from the University , like yourself.”
    A frisson of excitement went through Norris at the thought that they might have some reason that they would like to work with him. Maybe he could piggyback some of his own research on to their rockets as they sent them around the solar system?
    Donsaii turned to the others, “You guys keep working on that while I talk to Dr. Norris, OK?”
    They all nodded and turned back to the screen as Ell led Norris over to one side and sat down at the corner of one of the big tables, motioning him to the other side of the corner.
    Norris sat down across the corner from Donsaii noting with surprise that she wasn’t wearing any makeup. Bridget had disappeared he realized. He’d only expected to get to shake Donsaii’s hand and express his appreciation, not actually sit down and talk! It was hard to take his eyes off of Donsaii though. “Ms. Donsaii,” he began, “I’m here, for the most part , because I mentioned in my class , the one that Ms. Donovan attends , just how much I wanted to personally express my gratitude for the role you and D5R played in stopping the comet. I’m sure that I , and countless others , owe you our lives .”
    She grinned at him. “Well thanks. I feel a little guilty accepting your gratitude for doing something so self-interested as saving the planet I live up on though.”
    Norri s chuckled, “I see your point. S till, that doesn’t mean that I’m not grateful that you saved my life along with your own. You may know that Ms. Donovan attends my Planetary Science class?”
    Donsaii grinned again, “Yep.”
    “That’s my area of research too. So you may understand that I’m hoping that I might piggyback some of my own research ideas onto some of your missions around the solar system? For instance, just a few samples of that asteroid you’re mining would be a huge boon to my studies!”
    “Well , now you’re relieving some of my guilt.”
    Norris tilted his head questioningly.
    “You see we desperately need some solar system expertise , and I actually had Belle out looking for someone who would be an expert. She suggested you.”
    “Oh.” Norris’ spirits lifted at the thought that they wanted the very help he wanted to give.
    “But I think we have something a lot more interesting to offer you than some asteroid fragments, though we could give you some of those today.”
    “You do?!”
    “Yes, but we’d want you to sign a confidentiality agreement