[SFAP] Chapter 1:9

 This is the ninth section of the first chapter of Sonnets from a Proton. The novel starts here.
The next section is here

“Hey Jo”
“Yes?” he said looking up from his terminal
“Ready to go?”
“Near as damn it.” He closed the terminal down “Few more hours for last checks then we can launch the first ship”
“Second ship” corrected James
Jo interrupted “Ready to go yes. We’ve had that one ready for the last three weeks, come on James you know this.”
“I know, but it’s my job to worry” said James, “Alice spoken to you yet?”
“Only to say you’d chickened out of speaking to everyone”
“Would you want to hear me ramble on? Would it really help?”
“You’re not helping now I’ll put it that way”
“Fine I’ll behave like a good captain, head to my cabin and stay out of everyone’s way.”
“Best place to be, you’re not going to cause trouble and we know where to find you when we need to blame someone, now be off with you”. He paused briefly before adding “Sir.”