Ralph was still talking to Janet through the door.

"So, do you understand, Janet?" He had explained the necessity for the descent to her, not for the first time. But he had not mentioned his request to transfer command from Pete. "Honestly, do you think that Pete will ever initiate the descent?"

"I don't know," she answered. "But you can resolve this with Pete. You are brothers, after all."

That was what she always said, trying to smooth matters between them.

Fat chance.

"Chief Engineer Ralph Marker?" Sophia's voice interrupted their conversation.

He turned towards the terminal. "Yes?"

"I have confirmed that Captain Pete Marker is unwilling to issue a binding order for descent. Therefore, ship command authority is available for temporary transfer. You are the only person qualified to receive such authority. Do you accept it?"

"Yes... I accept."

This was the final break, the rift that would separate him from his brother. He was surprised how much that thought was hurting.

"Acknowledged, Commander Ralph Marker."

"What's the matter, Ralph?" Janet asked from behind the door. "Is there anyone in there with you?"

"Just a second, Janet!" Ralph was trying to collect his thoughts. He looked down at the notes that he had left in front of the terminal.

"Sophia, initiate emergency landing procedure now."

"Acknowledged. Initiating landing procedure. Landing will take place in 482 minutes."

That's about six hours, Ralph thought. The emergency landing procedure was a quick procedure, and it would be hard on the ship and her passengers. But the much longer, regular landing procedure would give his brother too much time for countermeasures.

The process was fully automated. The builders of Hope had designed it that way because they doubted that the passengers, after all these generations of travel, would still possess the skills and knowledge to prepare the ship for landing and to execute the necessary steps themselves.

He only had to wait now and follow Sophia's orders.

And he had to escape the wrath of his brother.