Watts picked up the flashing comms device once more.

"Watts, we are stationed beneath your ship and ready to board."

Watts braced himself and headed down to the lower hull. He could deal with Lindberg. But the idea that they still had to do the mission at all was terrifying.

There was a click as the ship locked on. The lower airlock began to hiss. The connection was forging. Only a matter of moments. Watts rested against the wall as he awaited what would soon come.

Finally the airlock swung open. Lindberg climbed through the hatch and glanced around the room.

"You've gone too far this time Watts." He said sternly.

Watts actually nodded, to Lindberg's surprise.

"I agree. I think we should call the whole thing off."

Lindberg looked awkward.

"Well I don't have the authority for that."

This would normally cause Watts to sneer, but right now it just made him sad.

"How many are aboard your crew?" Asked Watts curiously.

"Eighteen persons active, plus myself, plus an Elias Baines who has taken himself off to the stasis pods. We are unsure why, but he is currently sleeping."

Watts rubbed his head. "So you're all boarding?"

"We are locked in now for the duration. The X4 doesn't possess enough fuel for the return flight. We had to over-use to make it to you in time."

Watts sighed. So much for jumping on the X4 and fleeing the hell out of here.

"How many on your...crew..."

Watts could taste the disapproval as Lindberg said crew.

"Me and nineteen other capable persons."

The sound of a baby's cry echoed through the chamber as Lindberg craned his head up to see.

"Well.." Watts began as he shuffled his feet. "I suppose you could call it twenty."

Watts had fallen asleep at the control again and missed all of the hubbub. He opened his eyes to see a green flashing light on his control deck. He rubbed his eyes and let out a yawn before turning to the well acquainted crew. Some were in the smoking room, so he picked up the intercom and called it through.

"Captain speaking." He said without much enthusiasm. "We're around 2 hours from the last know location of the Dalia apparently. Systems are picking up a lot of electromagnetic interference. It's kinda..."

He looked down nervously.

"I don't think I've actually seen this much interference on a mission to date."

This seemed to silence the crew.

"But yeah...I'm sure it will be fine...probably." He said weakly.

A red signal was flashing. Mission Control were trying to get in touch. Watts picked up the comms device expectantly.

"Yeah this is Watts? What's the problem."

"Mission Control to Shuttle serial 436164 7563657573. Do you copy shuttle?"

"Shuttle....in". Watts was damned if he was reading that number out.

"Mission Control to Shuttle serial 436164 7563657573. Do you copy shuttle?"

Watts was puzzled.

"This is Watts, reporting back in...."

"Mission Control to Shuttle serial 436164 7563657573. Do you copy shuttle?"

He glanced over at the screens and sighed. Percy came over curiously.

"You've got no outbound signal! The interference is jamming it."

Just what they needed. About to dock and they couldn't report back in. This would go down very well.