Rip rechecked his space suit before putting on his helmet. The air seal
was intact and his heating and ventilating units worked. He slapped his
knee pouches to make sure the space knife was handy to his left hand and
the pistol to his right.
Koa was already fully dressed. He handed Rip the shoulder case that
contained the plotting board. Santos had taken charge of Rip’s astrogation
instruments.
A spaceman was waiting with Rip’s bubble. At a nod, the spaceman slipped
it on his head. Rip reached up and gave it a quarter turn. The locking
mechanism clamped into place. He turned his belt ventilator control on
full and the space suit puffed out. When it was fully inflated he watched
the pressure gauge. It was steady. No leaks in suit or helmet. He let the
pressure go down to normal.