“In other words,” Sora said, cutting to the heart of the matter, “we can’t take off again.”
Tyla gasped, and Nezla said sardonically, “Not unless we can find us a spaceport drydock, a team of experienced ship repairers, and a crane. I don’t think it’s too drummin’ likely, and I’m preparin’ myself for a long stay.”
“But there are the lifeboats,” Tyla started to protest.
“The lifeboats can’t go into hyperspace,” Nezla explained, shaking her head sadly. “The Honey B was never designed to visit uninhabited systems. We could go to other planets in this system, but that’s it.”
“There are two other planets in this system,” Sora volunteered. “One closer in, the other further out. The inner one is an airless ball of molten slag, hotter even than Hellfire. The other one is a gas giant. We’re bet
