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[color=00ff66][b][h3]Christina[/h3][/b][/color]
Zeppelin #27, Gondola
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"[i]Cease what you are doing and inflate the ballonets,[/i]" ordered the tinny voice coming out of the speaker tube.  "[i]We've taken on ballast.  Keep us down till we can safely disconnect the cables and get the crew aboard.[/i]"

Christina's head reared back as she frowned. Did they finally pick a captain?

"[i]Then, we deflate the ballonets and dump the ballast and we should be able to ascend reasonably quickly.[/i]"

"Bravo," the mechanic said into the horn, already making adjustments on the main panel. Studying the manuals had helped. "SÌ, I inflate ballonets. Capitano, use more hands here when more crew."