The claw won’t win any awards for stylish design, it looks more like a child has been given free reign over a life-sized mechano set. There are struts welded onto other struts at awkward angles, bent sheet metal protecting reinforced hydraulics and sharp edges that could slice off an arm if caught at the wrong point. What more can we ask for from four hours work?

‘Will it hold?’ I ask.

‘It’ll hold that orbiter, but not much else. And not for long either,’ says Siku, rubbing her eyes free of ash as she frees herself from the welding mask.

‘Is there anything more that could be done to strengthen it?’

‘Not with the materials we have on board. We’re not set up for this kind of work.’

‘Okay. Let’s get st...

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