in a method and apparatus for controlling the deployment of a towline connecting a mooring craft to an ejected object comprising the steps of monitoring velocity to determine when a point for optimum braking has been achieved and then engaging a brake system to retard deployment of the towline , a dc motor augments and controls the brake system . the dc motor further controls the retrieval of the object . a cutter mechanism uses a first blade to grip the towing cable to maintain tension thereon as a second blade cuts the cable . a spring biased boom in combination with spring biased fins on the ejected object rapidly deploys the object from its storage housing . a locking mechanism secures the deployment mechanism in a stable locked position upon the object reaching its fully extended position .