The last tour stop was supposed to be simple. Pug would inspect a freight dock, accept a machined ball from the apprentices, and pose for one picture.
Tie Kuang found a problem before the shuttle landed.
A loading crane at Crimson Forge was feeding current back into the station bus. Every time its hook slowed, the lights in a nearby housing block flickered.
Austin reached for the radio. Tie was already calling the dock supervisor.
“Stop crane operations,” Tie said. “Keep life support on the local feeder. I want an independent power-quality check before anyone unloads another container.”
The supervisor looked at Austin on the video screen. Austin shook his head.
“Tie has the inspection lead. His stop stands.”
They landed. Tie divided the work among the dock crew, a local electrician, and Sera, who was visiting with the outer repair team. He asked Austin to hold the crane’s mechanical brake while they tested the electrical side.
