title: Shiphandling With Tugs
author:  Jeff Slesinger 
description: Captain Jeffery Slesinger, a licensed master since 1977, has been operating Z-drive and conventionally propelled tugas for over 20 years in harbor, coastal, and offshore operations. He lives in Seattle, Washington.
zlib_text: [Back](0671319612___2.htm) | [Next](0671319612___4.htm)  
  [Contents](0671319612_toc.htm)
  
  # CHAPTER THREE
  
  Merchant ships always used tugs for undocking, but Goonar didn't trust the
  Benignity commander; he'd signalled his crew and powered up the ship the
  instant the Benignity commander appeared on screen. When he realized that the
  only real threat could be the Station's own defenses, he knew that his
  insystem drive was the only viable counterthreat. Yes, the Station could blow
  his ship . . . but with the insystem drive up, it was suicide for the Station
  and every other ship docked there. Now he ordered his pilot to pull away from
  the Station, as slowly as _Fortune_ 's attitude thrusters permitted.
  
  As soon as possibleit seemed longer than the chronometer indicatedhe
  increased power and set his outbound course toward the jump point. When it
  appeared that the Station was not, after all, going to spend any of its meagre
  store of missiles on him, he turned to glare at Basil.
  
  "Come on, B