by Jeff Sims
Crista asked, “How are they doing it in the simulation?”
Carank responded, “They are using 5 marines, but are apparently calling them something different. Instead of a fire team, they are being called a support team.”
Lorano had a sudden insight. He said, “Computer, check all players. Are there any support teams that are comprised of real marines?
…Scanning. Yes. There are multiple teams that meet the criteria. However, one team is based at Wright Patterson Air Force base in Ohio. The five members of the simulation team consist of 4 members from one fire team and a corporal…
Carank smiled and said, “Well, that’s settled. We have the pilots, the engineers, and the marines identified. Now all we need are crew members.”
Crista said, “What’s the problem. Let’s just choose the top 20 from the simulation like the other classifications.”
“It isn’t that easy,” both Lorano and Carank answered.
Carank waved at Lorano to let him continue talking. Lorano said, “The problem is that the crewmember role isn’t that exciting. Players rarely spend hours and hours practicing like the pilots or show great technical promise like the engineers.”
Carank said, “Further, most of the people playing crewmembers are older people, fathers or mothers in many cases. I was able to identify 10 players that are good at multiple roles, including engineer and pilot and fit the other criteria of being single and not an only child. However, that’s it. We are 10 crewmembers short.”
Lorano laughed and said, “We are 10 humans short on a planet of 7 billion. Let’s just grab 10 from the mall and be done with it.”
Victor said, “Hey, maybe we can do just that. I saw a commercial for Akron Technical Institute. It isn’t far from here. They train technicians. Let’s just hire 10 graduates – we can choose 5 electrical and 5 mechanical. It will be perfect.”
Carank said, “Are you sure that is a good idea?”
Victor said, “Well, the graduates should be young and mechanically inclined. What more do we need?”
No one had an answer to the question, so the decision was silently made to proceed as Victor had suggested.
Carank said, “We have one more thing to discuss. The humans are making multiple changes and updates to the standard design to make the ships run more efficiently.”
“What!” Lorano practically screamed. “The humans are redesigning my systems. What possible improvements could they be making?”
Lorano had intended the question to be rhetorical. However, Carank answered, “Well, for instance, if you hook up a battery to the secondary post router in sub-junction 122.22.A5 then you can passively scan the system while main power is down.”
Lorano responded, “Seriously, what possible use could anyone have to scan a system while their power is down. I would think that if the power generator was down, a more prudent course of action would be to repair the generator versus scanning the system.”
“So, what should we do?” Carank asked.
Lorano thought for a moment and finally relented. He said, “Just order two sets of everything the humans use to modify a cruiser and have them sent here. We may as well take the stuff with us.”
Victor nodded and said, “Okay.”
Lorano continued, “As an aside, forward all of the changes to my communication pad. I want to review them. Maybe there is a good idea amongst the rubbish of no power scanning.”
The next week flew by in flurry of activity. Lorano was given the difficult task of hacking into the military databases and creating false orders for the candidates in the military. Exactly 15 of the 50 candidates were in some branch of the US armed services.
Lorano had effortlessly hacked into the military database during their last trip. However, between visits the military had significantly improved their data security. Further, Lorano didn’t have a Model 345.22.14 diagnostic computer at his disposal.
However, Lorano prevailed after a few tense tries and issued orders to each of the military members. They were given16 days of leave and then required to be on the secret base for an extended assignment on June 4th at 09:00. Lorano left himself a back door into the database. He hoped that he would never have to return to Earth to use it again, but one never knew.
Carank identified and purchased an unused logistics building beside the Cleveland Airport. The location was perfect because it was a relatively big building. It was next to several parking lots for the airport and a Ford engine plant. It was large enough to store everyone’s vehicles inside, so no one would casually spot a car and try to trace it.
Victor contacted his lawyers and had them create a dummy corporation. He named the new entity VCLC and said that its charter was deuterium mining and processing. The new company’s headquarters was listed as the logistics building. He even created a website.
Crista was given the task of hiring the remaining civilians. She started with the engineers. She called the first name on the list and said, “Hello, is this Colin O’Neil?”
“Yes,” he replied.
Crista: “Hello, I am a recruiter for VCLC Corporation, and we have need of your special skillset. Are you interested in changing jobs?”
Colin: “Not really. Thank you.”
Crista: “You haven’t even heard the position yet. How can you turn it down?”
Colin: “You recruiters are all alike. You know nothing about me.”
Crista smiled. This was one thing she actually did know. Lorano had assembled a complete profile for the 5 engineers because he figured they would be the toughest to convince.
Crista: “Let’s see, your parents are named William and Martha. You have a sister named Lori who is two years older than you and a brother named William Jr. who is two years younger. You rent an apartment at 246 Shadyside for $790 a month. Your favorite color is blue, but only baby blue, you don’t like the darker colors of blue because they are too close to black. You drive a Nissan Sentra and take a daily pill to relieve stress. Correction, the pills are for your mother, but in your name…”
Colin: “Stop.”
Note: Colin is an American, but it is okay you want to read him with an Irish accent. For instance, he could have said, “Now, hold on there lassie.”
Crista: “But you said…”
Colin: “I stand corrected. Apparently you do know something about me.”
Alternate Colin: “Aye, Go way outta that. It appears I have been banjaxed.”
Crista was now on a roll. She continued, “Ouch, it says here you were left at the altar by your then fiancée Mary White. That must have been embarrassing.”
Colin, “Okay, you have my undivided attention. You seem to know way, way more about me than a typical recruiter. Who are you?”
Crista: “As I said, I am a recruiter for VCLC Corporation.”
Colin interrupted, “I’ve never heard of them. What do they do?”
Crista was getting flustered and felt her blood begin to boil. She yelled at him, “I am trying to tell you if you would just let me speak for one minute!”
Colin remained silent this time.
Crista continued, “We are trying to mine and process deuterium in order to create a power generator capable of powering a space ship through trans-solar flight.”
Colin: “You mean from the video game. There is a reason the details of the hyperspace drive and power generator are blacked out in the game. They don’t exist; the technology isn’t real.”
Crista: “Yes it does.” She was angry now and wanted to reach through the phone and slap him. She briefly wondered if Carank could invent such a device. They could call it The Slapper.
Colin replied, “Wait, you said it does. I thought you said that you were trying to invent it. Which is it, are you trying to invent it or do you already have it?”
Crista was becoming flummoxed. She felt that she was losing the argument to the human. So, she fell back on what normally worked. She threatened, “Sign up now or I am coming over there, shooting you wit
h a stun gun, and dragging you here.”
Colin replied, “Um, I think this conversation is over.”
Carank was standing nearby. He gently eased Crista’s communication pad out of her hands and said, “Hello, it appears that we have started off with the wrong appendage. After work, log onto the system and play simulation number 12345. It will answer all of your questions. We will call you again tomorrow.”
After Carank broke connection, Crista asked, “What is he going to find in that simulation?”
Carank responded, “I don’t know yet. I will make something up to keep him entertained though.”
Crista asked, “How will that help.”
Carank replied, “He lives in Sandusky, Ohio. According to websphere directions, that city is only a 2 hour drive from here in the ground car. The file says that he lives alone. Therefore, once he enters the simulation you can break into his house, stun him, and drag him here.”
Crista thought that was an excellent idea.
Chapter 9
Today was June 4th, the day that all of the military members were to report to the secret base and the humans were to start their new jobs. Victor referred to it as go-day. Unfortunately, the name hadn’t caught on with anyone else despite the many times that he had used it.
Fortunately, Crista had been able to use standard recruiting tactics to convince the other four engineers to join the new company. They each had accepted the job offer without hesitation after hearing the pay and the job description. Colin O’Neal had been the only difficult one.
The job fair had also been a stunning success. Victor and Crista traveled to Akron Technical Institute one evening when the campus was nearly empty and posted flyers in key locations. They hired the first 10 applicants that called to apply, thereby filling out the final spots of Sunflower’s crew.
Carank and Lorano elevated down to the lower section of the bridge where Colin O’Neal and Clowy were patiently waiting to be reanimated. Carank pressed the release button on the cryostasis chamber and Colin started to thaw.
Carank checked Colin’s vitals on the monitor beside the chamber and said to Lorano, “You were right, the Solarian setting was able to keep him alive.”
Lorano answered, “Well, looks can’t be deceiving.”
They eased Colin out of the tube and laid him flat on the floor. Carank grabbed under his left arm and Lorano under his right. They dragged him across the floor to the electro lift. The lift took them up one level to the main level of the bridge.
Victor and Crista were waiting for them there. They also grabbed an arm and the foursome dragged Colin out of the bridge, down the caribou corridor, and to the infirmary.
Crista said, “This human is really heavy, can we just dump him on the floor?”
Lorano responded, “I don’t see why not.”
Victor said, “Yeah, the human will wake up and think he fell onto the floor.”
They all looked pleadingly at Carank. Carank shook his head and sighed. He said, “No, we will have to put him on the bed. We can’t hook the monitoring system to him if he is lying on the floor.”
They all lifted and heaved Colin’s trunk onto a medical bed. His head was face-down on the bed. Then they grabbed his legs and swung them onto the bed. They swung him a little too far and Colin wound up banging into the wall. Carank rolled him back onto the bed and adjusted him as much as possible into what he hoped was a normal sleeping position.
Lorano asked, “How long until he fully regains consciousness?”
Carank said, “Well, he has been frozen for 16 days. The Solarian settings kept him alive, but certainly weren’t ideal. His body is still in shock and needs time to recover. He should be fully functional again in an hour or two; three at the most. As an aside, with the data collected from the process, I can create a new profile for a human that will be much better.”
Lorano gave Carank a strange look and said, “He lived. Besides, humans are never going to use the stasis pods. However, if you want to waste your time then be my guest.”
Lorano activated the force field over the door to the infirmary and the walked back to the bridge. Two hours was an approximation; they really didn’t want the human waking up prematurely and wandering around the ship before the others arrived.
Victor and Crista’s baggage was neatly packed and sitting in a pile in the middle of the bridge. Victor made a final check that all of their baggage was present. He didn’t want to leave anything as they may not see the Sunflower for some time.
Even though they had discussed it last night, Carank felt the need to review it again. He said, “Victor, are you sure you want to stay on Earth?”
Victor replied, “Yes. As we discussed, I am technically the owner of Victory Games. Everyone thinks that I came back from vacation to be present for the official launch of the self-contained heater and air conditioner. It would be extremely suspicious if I leave again just before the launch.”
Lorano asked, “Why do you care?”
Victor said, “If Crista and I leave again at the exact same time 70 humans disappear, the other humans will certainly notice and will find us complicit in their disappearance. It will be virtually impossible to collect a third batch if required.”
Lorano waved his hand dismissively. He said, “I actually thought this time was easier than the last. Besides, we still have Crista’s idea. What was it?”
Lorano paused for a moment to think and said, “Oh, I recall now. We simply tell the recruits that they won a free cruise. Get them on board, drive to the middle of the Caribbean, sink the cruise ship, and transfer them to the Sunflower. Easy. We probably should have done that this time.”
Carank couldn’t help himself; perhaps he had been around Lorano too long. Carank said, “Depending upon the type of ship, you paddle it, row it, sail it, steer it, or pilot it. You don’t drive it.”
Victor sighed. They had already had this argument and now Carank was emulating Lorano. He said, “Yes. But then we would have to fake their deaths. There would be several legal ramifications for those humans when they returned.”
Lorano said, “The humans could just say that they were stranded on a tropical island somewhere.” He started humming a show tune from a human television show he had watched about the very same subject.
Victor was tiring of the conversation. He changed subjects by saying, “The Vista is hidden on the back side of the moon. As soon as you reach Earth’s outer orbit, send a signal to have it engage autopilot and follow your trajectory back to Earth.”
Carank said, “Well, then I guess this is goodbye for now.”
Victor loaded their bags on a spare hovercart and he and Crista left the ship. They walked across the hangar and entered the secret corridor. Just inside the doorway Victor deactivated the hovercart. He then closed the entrance to the hangar, thus sealing the corridor from the upcoming blast of Sunflower’s sub-light engines. Finally, they headed down the secret corridor back to his office.
………………….
Lorano activated his communication device and called Jim Donovan. The moment the connection was established, he said, “What’s the status?”
Jim replied, “I am at the VCLC headquarters. People have been arriving for the last 40 minutes. I just took a headcount and we have 69 people – the original 20 pilots plus 49 new members. It appears we are still waiting for one more.”
Lorano said, “No delays. Proceed without him. Also, have Ace report to the bridge before anyone else boards.”
Jim replied “Understood” and tucked his communication pad into his pocket. He found Ace and told him about the bridge duty.
Jim then stood on a table. He waved his hands and said, “Can I have everyone’s attention.”
As they were collecting around him, someone said, “Is this a joke? This is an empty building.”
Jim responded, “No. This is not a joke. Everything is real.” Jim waved for his pilots to come close to him. When they were standing next to him, Jim continued,
“I am Jim Donovan, your new commander / boss. I also happen to be the commander of the Lost Squadron. Standing next to me are the other 19 members of the squadron. We have been working at the secret facility for the past 8 months.”
“Where,” someone in the back shouted.
Jim said, “Clearly this is not the secret base. It is just a rally point. The location of the secret base is a secret. When we hired you additional people, we took great care not to broadcast the location of our actual base. Don’t worry though, it isn’t far from here.
The same person shouted, “What have you been doing at the base?”
Jim answered, “The first phase of testing has gone extremely well. In fact, the first phase has gone so well that we now need additional resources to expand the program into a full test.”
Jim paused and let the double speak sink in with the crowd. There were no immediate questions, so Jim continued, “Please pull your vehicles into the building and gather all of your equipment. There are three busses waiting outside.”
Jim continued, “One more thing. Before we go to our secret location, we are going to perform a team-building session. We have contacted Victory Games in nearby Akron, Ohio. They have just completed building a new full-scale simulator of a cruiser. They have given us permission to be the first group to use it.”
Everyone scattered to fulfill Jim’s order. The Lost squadron members did a final facility check to ensure that all people were on busses, all gear was stowed, and all vehicles were parked in the building.
Jim boarded the first bus and sat next to Billy Blaze, his wing mate. He saw that Blaze was strumming an acoustic guitar. Jim waved to the bus driver to leave and said to Blaze, “I didn’t know you played.”
Blaze played a few chords for Jim’s benefit and responded, “I just like to horse around with it. I was a little upset that I didn’t bring it with me on the last tour.”
About 40 minutes later the group exited the buses and entered the hangar. Most of the new members ran their hands along the hull. One said, “Wow, they finally built one with the correct material specification.”
