Чужой

           SodidtheNostromo,aslandingstrutscontactedunyieldingrock.Massiveabsorberscushionedthecontact.

           ’We’redown.’

           Somethingsnapped.Aminorcircuit,probably,orperhapsanoverloadnotproperlycompensatedfor,nothandledfastenough.Aterrificshockranthroughtheship.Themetalofthehullvibrated,producinganeerie,metallicmoanthroughouttheship.

           ’Lostit,lostit!’Kanewasshoutingasthelightsonthebridgewentout.GaugesscreamedforattentionasthefailuresnowballedbackthroughtheinterdependentmetalnerveendsoftheNostromo.

           Whentheshockstruckengineering,ParkerandBrettwerepreparingtocrackanothersetofbeers.Alineofrankedpipessetintothemouldedceilingpromptlyexploded.Threepanelsinthecontrolcubicleburstintoflame,whileanearbypressurevalveswelled,thenburst.

           ThelightswentoutandtheyfumbledforhandbeamswhileParkertriedtofindthebuttoncontrollingthebackupgenerator,whichprovidedpowerintheabsenceofdirectservicefromtheoperatingengines.

           Controlledconfusionreignedonthebridge.Whentheyellsandquestionshaddieddown,itwasLambertwhovoicedthemostcommonthought.

           ’Secondarygeneratorshouldhavekickedoverbynow.’Shetookastep,bumpedakneehardagainstaconsole.

           ’Wonderwhat’skeepingit?’Kanemovedtothewall,feltalongit.Backuplandingcontrols..here.Heranhisfingersoverseveralfamiliarknobs.Aftlockstud..there.Nearbyoughttobe..hishandfastenedonanemergencylightbar,switchediton.