h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yes, that will be fine. In the therapy room, yes.
*Nods and holds the door open again while leaning out of the way.*

*Together, Jeb and Hank carry the couch in - it's not that heavy, really - and place it in its spot by the wall*

*Quirinus produces an epad and stylus*

Can you just give us your signature, sir? To make it official that you ordered it, for your work?

Well, I suppose so. Sure, why not.
*Ace sets his glasses partway down on his nose like Franklin reading half-rims and writes his name on the e-pad with its stylus then hands that back to Quirinus.

Er, can I get the lot of you gentlemen anything? Tea, water, some juice? I think there may be a soda or some beer kicking around in here somewhere, but I'll have to double check.

*He looks through the tiny fridge again.*

It looks like a fridge, and yet in this age people call things like this a stasis box?

*Lens shakes his head a little bit, slowly and then tries not to laugh*

*Quirinus answers for all of them, while Jeb and Hank make sure they've not damaged or dirtied anything*

No, thank you, sir - we need to get back to the workshop. Good Watch, sir.

*He and the apprentices leave, taking the blankets and trolley with them*

Ah yes, good watch.

*He reclines back in a chair and swigs at an iced tea he had decanted from a pitcher in the kitchen*

*Tanna presses the announcer at the office at construction*

Good afternoon, Sergeant. Here is Celva Tanna.

*William answers the announcer cheerfully*

Come in, please, doctor, the door's open!

*Quirinus and the apprentices are down in the workshop, but Sylvana is also in the office, helping him set up*

*Tanna enters and smiles*

Thank you. Oh, and good afternoon to you, too.

*she means Sylvana with the last sentence*

*Sylvana smiles, setting a plate of cookies on the table - leftover shamrocks, what else for this project?*

Good Watch, doctor.

*William nods to her*

Sit down on this side of the table, please, I'm using that wall to project the drawings we've made so far...

*The wall at the far end of the room is clear and painted white, just for this purpose*

*Tanna nods and sits down, then turns to Sylvana*

Good that I meet you here. I wanted to ask you whether you would like to go to the planet with me, but maybe we should talk about that later.

*While William finds the right presentation and adjusts the focus, Sylvana replies to Dr Tanna*

Yes, I think that would be very interesting.

*William interrupts gently*

But can we discuss your greenhouse first?

*Tanna smiles at Sylvana, then turns to William again*

Of course, Sergeant. Sorry.

*Santos waits impatiently for the Maintenance crew to leave, then fetches his own mop and bucket and cleans the shuttle *properly*, with careful attention to the corners*

*Where are his passengers getting all this *dirt* from? Don't they wipe their feet on DOS after they return from the planet?*

*William sits down behind the nearest console - Jeb's - to show the presentation*

We've thought about your problem, Slyvana and I together, and we've come to the conclusion that a "real" greenhouse - a large glass box - is essentially useless on a starship.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c7/Greenhouse.jpeg/250px-Greenhouse.jpeg

That would be a space designed for the *people* on board. We already have one of those, the Arboretum.

*He looks at Dr Tanna seriously*

Instead, I propose the following - a series of small spaces, each individually accessible and with its own microclimate.

*He flicks to the next picture*

http://www.tonnenhaus.de/shop/ovd4.jpg

That way, each of your experiments can have optimum growing conditions, and we save a lot of materials and energy. No free solar power for us, you see.

*Tanna nods thoughtfully*

How big would these boxes be?

*William feels that her not protesting immediately is a good sign, at least*

As big as they need to be, ma'am. All different sizes, we wouldn't want to restrict your plants' growth...

You can add or subract boxes as needed, or simply disable them.

*Tanna nods slowly*

Would I be able to open the boxes on all sides? It looks like it's only possible to open one.

*William looks at Tanna, puzzled*

Do you need to be able to open them from all sides? I'm sure it can be done, but would use up more space...

*He scribbles a hasty note on his epad*

*Tanna nods*

Well, if I want to take photos or so it would be difficult if the box is closed on all but one side if I don't want to climb into the box to get the plant from the right angle. It would make things easier. I should be able to open at least two sides.