Metafire

Ferguson turned on the microphone. "You have a deal, Mr. Davis. Go ahead with the capsule docking, and move a hostage on board with one of your men. We must warn you. If you harm anybody on the Discovery when your people are off, we will retaliate immediately. Wait. Wait a minute." Ferguson was reading his display. A new message had just arrived from one of the analysts listening in. "We want both hostages off your craft. You can join with Metafire Two first. That will leave you with the hostage Jack."

"No. We will have to have at least two hostages." George was not mentioning Erisa on board Metafire Two. Perhaps John didn't know.

"Why?"

"To insure our capsule can escape the Discovery. Sorry, but it is necessary."

Ferguson didn't get it. But an analyst message came up on Ferguson's display saying, "Davis' statement is probably true." He still didn't get it, but he gave in. "OK. Proceed. We will not stop you."

Ferguson then typed instructions to Scooter and Jack. Scooter positioned his tug to ram Metafire or a capsule if there was a trick. But there were no tricks. The supply capsule was joined smoothly, if slowly, with Metafire One. Then slowly, but surely, the Metafire Two capsule approached and docked end-to-side with Metafire One.