Tie Kuang ran the lift.
He checked the crane cable, cleared the floor, and made Austin stand on the star-jade plate bolted to the station’s keel. Dara held the emergency stop. Xuan Ming recorded the readings.
“Seventh and eighth damper chambers mounted,” Tie said. “Lines bled. Pressure steady.”
Austin wiped sweat from his chin. “Cross-torque the bolts to ninety-five foot-pounds. Not by feel.”
“Already done. You can check them after I finish the lift.”
Austin kept his hands at his sides.
The crane lowered the last two fifty-pound lead slugs. Tie guided them into the brackets and locked the pins. Only then did Austin switch on the eight-chamber dampers.
The core reached the Level 95 Capstone.
