Salvage-5 (First Contact)

by Brian K. Larson

  “Give it up, Tucker.”

  “Will you listen to this guy over here? You’d think he’d be having a coronary.”

  “Tuck!”

  “I already stowed it…nicely locked away already, Sarge.”

  “It is not.”

  “Is so too!”

  “Colonel, sometime before we dock?”

  “Alright, ya got me. I still have it,” Tucker launched the silver colored box over to Samuels. As it flew to him, the Sergeant caught it, making a loud bang, “You want to take it easy with this?”

  “What?”

  “You do realize that I don’t even know the code to remove it, once we seal it?

  “I thought as much.”

  “Then why all of a sudden the change of mind,” Samuels asked, holding the box.

  “Because I sure as hell don’t want Kurtis to get his hands on it now would I. It’s our little toy…and might I take this very opportunity to remind everyone that this tech is top secret. You tell no one about what you saw or what we have…do I make myself clear on this one?”

  Everyone agreed, most would never believe them anyway.

  “Five minutes out, reducing speed and pitch for final approach,” Sam reported.

  “Skids down, Captain.”

  “Well, sir…I have extended two out of three…you’ll have to go back and manually extend…after that slightly hard landing, the hydraulics are ruined.”

  “How ya gonna set us down again, Captain?”

  “I was hoping you’d go on back and crank it down for me.”

  “Do you realize how long that’ll take?”

  “Yep, that’s why you need to get on that like, now.”

  “Aye, aye, Captain…” Tucker said cocking his head back and forth.

  Samuels headed to his cabin where there was a special case that he intended to use to stow away any alien tech.

  He floated the case out, opened it and placed the alien box inside. Then he looked over at Tucker, closed the lid, sealing the case with a swoosh. Stowing the case in his locker, he simply smiled at Tucker.

  “Happy Sarge?”

  “Very.”

  Tucker floated to the rear of the cargo bay and accessed the manual crank, “It’s no use, Captain. The rod’s bent; it won’t extend beyond this point. I can roll it all the way up, but not out…sorry…really.”

  “Lock the skid in place, I’ll go low rider. We’ll have to drop the back door. Ship’ll be too close to the ground to lower the ramp.”

  Tucker locked the position and pushed off toward the pilot house.

  “Places everyone,” Sam instructed, “We’re coming up on the CSMO now…one minute.”

  The crew quickly took their seats and buckled in as quickly as they could.

  “See? I told you I’d give it to you before we landed.”

  “Uh huh…right…”

  “I did…” turning to Cass, “Didn’t I give it up before we landed?”

  “You did.”

  “See? Cass is on my side here.”

  “Slowing to 10 KPH…and full stop: we’re directly over the landing bay.”

  “What, they didn’t hear us knocking?”

  Sam held the Salvage-5 ship in position for several minutes, “Tuck…this is ridiculous…why haven’t they opened the bay doors? CSMO 253 Mathilde, come in…repeat, open your damn doors already.”

  “Sorry about that,” a rather shaky sounding voice said, “Be right with ya.”

  “And you are?” Sam asked.

  “Smithers.”

  “Sm…Smithers? Smithers, what?”

  “Don’t remember any longer, now it’s just Smithers.”

  “Well, Mr. Smithers…you do know how to code the landing bay door opening sequence, like, are you going to let us in anytime soon?”

  “Yeah, I know how…no one’s on duty right now, ‘cept me that is…I don’t move so fast anymore you know.”

  “How the hell did you pass a physical to get out here?”

  “Oh that, heh heh, well, I tell ya what, if you don’t tell, I’m sure the hell not going to.”

  “Tell what?”

  “Tellin’ that I can’t pass the physical anymore. No one’s asked me for, mmmmm, 10 years now.”

  “You’ve been in the civilian mining fleet for ten years?”

  “Yep, 10 years, 2 months, and 18 days.”

  “I’m surprised you didn’t know the hours and minutes…”

  “Four hours, five minutes, and thirty-seven seconds…had to think about it for a moment, but I’m pretty sure that’s it.”

  “Yeah, that sounds real to me too,” Sam said, rolling her eyes. She muted her mic, “What the hell? Are these people for real?”

  “Okay, stand by…here we go now…” Smithers croaked.

  “Finally!” Sam exclaimed as the CSMO’s landing bay doors separated and extended up and out, exposing the facility below.

  “Z minus 10 meters at 10 KPH, and in 3…2…1, touch down...mag-locks engaged.”

  They waited another painful two minutes, “Alight, Smithers, you can close the damn door and bring environmental on line.”

  “Okay, okay…I’m punching in the sequence now.”

  “Gawd, if they had an emergency,” Sam muttered.

  “They do, remember? That’s why we’re here?”

  “Okay, mister,” Sam said, glancing at Tuck out the corner of her eye.

  “No, really, I’m worried about you Captain…maybe I should put you through a full psyche-eval…forgetting critical mission details like that?”

  “Okay,” Smithers said, from the control booth across the way, “Environmental sequence complete, you can open your door now.”

  “Wow, that’s so wonderful, Smithers…gosh I don’t know how to thank you enough for all your help today,” Sam said, head cocked.

  “Come on Hargrove, Samuels, let’s go see what the operations staff is all about, shall we?” Tuck said, noticing that there was some gravity, “Hmmm, do watch that first step, ladies and gentlemen, looks like we do have a partial gravitational field going on…and thank you for flying Salvage-5 airlines.”

  The crew, now accustomed to Tucker’s humor, gave him a courtesy chuckle.

  “Captain, pop the rear door…everyone else, stay put. We shall not be gone too long…I hope.”

  “We’ll send in reinforcements if we don’t see your pretty little faces in a couple of hours.”

  “Thanks, Cass…you’re all heart.”

  “I know. That’s what they say, anyway,” she smiled.

  The three exited the ship from the rear cargo door, making a new level ground ramp.

  “Samuels?” Tuck asked, “We’re good here, now, right?”

  “Good as gold, Commander. My mission was clear, secure the alien tech. Now that it is, I have no quibble with you.”

  They were met with two very dirty looking workers, “Hello, there. I’m Dillan. The Boss’s first hand,” the tall skinny man said. His jump suit was tattered and had been unwashed for what appeared to be weeks, for that matter, they didn’t smell real good either.

  “What a disgusting pit of an operation you’re running here,” Tuck exclaimed, grimacing at the stench.

  “Well, we’re still learning the water extraction process, so we have ta conserve what we can,” the other said.

  “And I guess you would be Smithers,” Tuck smiled.

  The man wiped his hand on his coveralls and offered it to Tucker.

  “No thanks,” Tucker said with raised hands, “I’m trying to cut back.”

  “Come on, let’s show ya what we need.”

  “Better yet, why don’t you take me to see your Foreman…Kurt is it?”

  “Oh, yeah, Boss.” Dillan said, brushing his long stringy hair from his face, “He’s busy, so he sent us to meet you.”

  “Hargrove, go with Dithers or Smithers, or whatever the hell he likes to be called. Make a list of your needs. Then enlist Savage to help you off-load to their bay…Sa
muels, you’re with me and Dillan here…I think Dillan will be more than happy to escort us to see Kurtis.”

  “Yes, Colonel,” Samuels said with folded arms, “I’m fairly certain that Dillan will indeed take us to see the very busy Foreman, won’t he?”

  Dillan shuddered with fear of what this man could do to him if he didn’t, “Right this way,”

  “Ahhhh, music to my ears.”

  Samuels looked over at Tucker as Dillan took them to see Kurtis, “You’re going to enjoy this aren’t you?”

  “Way more than you could ever know,” he answered, lighting a cigar and then gritting his teeth over it, “Way more indeed.”

  They continued to march Dillan down the corridor, “So tell me, Dillan. You seem to be a reasonable man, how’s about you tellin’ me and the Sergeant here what caused this little accident?”

  Dillan stopped dead in his tracks and faced them, his face turned pale, “How’d you know it was an accident?” he whispered.

  “I didn’t,” Tuck smiled, “But I do now.”

  “Oh, you’re a good one, ain’t ya,” Dillan smiled, “Look, I can’t stand Kurtis. He makes me run this place anyway…Smithers is a good ol’ boy…”

  “Older, yes,” Tuck interrupted, “what is he, a hundred and eight?”

  Dillan laughed, slapping his knee, “Oh wow…that was a good one, Colonel.”

  Samuels and Tucker rolled eyes at each other, “Why don’t you report that to the company and have him replaced?” Samuels asked.

  “Oh, we don’ want any trouble from the company…more likely we’d all be shipped outta here and replaced with more grunts for the exec’s nephew to bully.”

  “Why is it always the nephew?” Tucker shrugged.

  “So what happened to the oxy unit,” Tucker asked, smoking his cigar. He was attempting to fill the area with his smoke to disguise the putrid odor aboard the CSMO.

  “It was an accident, of sorts, but it was really caused by horseplay.”

  “Horseplay,” Tucker asked, placing his hands on his hips.

  “Yeah, some of the guys were foolin’ around, they put our Harry in the airlock and began draining the air…you know, just to give the guy hypoxia.”

  “Why on earth, would you do that to the man?” Samuels asked.

  “The mechanic, well, he’s always picked on by Kurtis…the others just play along.”

  “Uh huh…”

  “And there’s not much else to do around here but goof off…”

  “So you figured this, Harry…”

  “Harry Nelson…he’s in the infirmary being treated for radiation exposure. That’s why we need the extra mechanics to facilitate our repair.”

  “…this, Harry Nelson, would want to experience the euphoric state of hypoxia?”

  “We all do it…it helps pass the time, you know?”

  “From what I see, there’s plenty to do on this bucket…for starters, take out the damn trash once in a while.”

  “Well, Kurtis doesn’t make us clean it up…and I’m not going to do it by myself.”

  “What are you afraid of, if he’s not capable of performing his job, then call him out.”

  “Na, it’s not worth it…I like my work…I plan on rotating outta here in three months. I’ll find another CSMO to work.”

  “How’d he get radiation sickness in an airlock?”

  “Kurtis thought he’d scare him into working harder by giving him a dose of RADs.”

  “He did what? Why didn’t you stop that?”

  “You don’t know Kurtis.”

  “So, how did this lead to the broken module?”

  “When he was in the airlock in that section of the ship, he thought Kurt was going to kill him, so he took a spanner wrench and started pounding on the equipment, he wanted to break it to make him stop.”

  “Guess it worked…”

  “Yea, Kurt was furious that he had to call for assistance.”

  “I’ll bet he was.”

  “…none of our parts are right for the oxygen extractor units.”

  “Don’t you worry about a thing, Dillan,” Tucker nodded, and then noticed a strange black substance dripping down the wall, “We’ll have this tub in ship shape condition in no time…won’t ya Sarge.”

  “Indeed, we will.”

  “How ya gonna do that?”

  “You leave that to me,” Tucker smiled. He puffed his cigar as the three continued to Kurtis’ quarters.

  When they arrived, Dillan knocked but there was no answer. Then Tucker pounded on the door. His response returned the same.

  “Kurtis?” Tucker pounded again, “I know you’re in there, open up!”

  “No!” a muffled voice sounded through the door.

  “I’m only asking once more.”

  “No, I’m busy…” the muffled voice answered.

  “Hmm, having a bit of a temper tantrum, are we,” Tucker said, stepped back from the door, “Dillan, you folks have a medic, right?”

  “Oh, sure thing, Colonel. Why? Do you need one?”

  “Won’t be for me,” he muttered under his breath, then he pressed a button on his wireless headset and called the ship, “Cal, I need you to hook into the CSMO’s security system and unlock the foreman’s door.”

  “No problem, Tuck. Give me about thirty-seven seconds.”

  “That long? Cal, I think you’re losing your touch.”

  “It’s coming up on my screen now…there!” he said, “Twenty-two to be exact.”

  “Nice,” Tucker nodded as the door swooshed open.

  The three stepped into the room, which was very clean, and neat as a pin.

  “Well, I see you’ve not spared any expense on keeping your quarters in order.”

  Kurtis stood with a start, “I said I was busy, go away!”

  “Sorry, you know I’m not going anywhere.”

  The short pudgy man wore an open red colored bathrobe and white striped boxer shorts. His balding head gave him an uneven hairline, “Drop off the equipment and your workers to affect repairs, and I’ll let you use my jump ring.”

  “Well now, baldy…”

  “Hey, watch it!”

  “…the way I see it, your CSMO is in violation of several safety and operational standards…guess we’ll have to shut you down…how do you think your uncle will like that?”

  “I know I saw at least a dozen infractions on the way down here, Colonel,” Samuels smiled, following Tucker’s lead.

  “You don’t scare me, Colonel…my uncle’s a very powerful man,” Kurt said, pointing a finger in Tucker’s face, “I’ll see to it you never command again!”

  “Oh, please do that will ya? I’d love to go back to retirement.”

  “Trust me,” Samuels added, “He’d rather be back in retirement. I would do what he asks.”

  “You better be nice to me, or I won’t even give you any fuel…you’ll need that since I have decided to take my mag-ring down for maintenance.”

  “How about you turn over this little operation to Dillan and I spare you your life?”

  “Are you threatening me? I have rights, you know.”

  Turning to Samuels, “I don’t think he’s feeling well enough to run this place, what do you think, Sarge?”

  “I don’t know, whatever it is, Colonel, I think he should stay off his feet for at least a few weeks.”

  “I think you’re right, Sergeant.”

  “Hey, I know what you’re trying to do…it won’t work, I’m in perfect health!”

  Tucker drew his side arm and shot a round into the man’s knee cap, sending him to the floor screaming, “Ahhhhhh! You shot me!” Kurtis yelled in agony, “You can’t do that…I’ll kill you for this!”

  “Sure you will…Dillan, you’re in charge as foremen. Appoint anyone as your first and second. Lieutenant Hargrove and Sergeant Samuels will be in charge of clean up detail.”

  “Owe, my leg…my leg,” Kurtis groaned, “…I’ll get you for this mister!”

 
; “Oh, and take this man to the infirmary, he’s in need of medical attention, he’s bleeding all over your nice clean carpet.”

  “My carpet?” Dillan asked.

  “Yes, Dillan…your carpet, this is the foreman’s quarters, isn’t it?”

  “Well, yes…”

  “I make my case…just so you understand; you won’t be needing to find other work.”

  Tucker motioned to the sergeant to follow, “Come on, let’s meet up with Hargrove so we can get the hell out of here, my boy’s life depends on us getting back to Earth.”

  * * *

  Chapter 16

  Salvage-5

  Mission: RETURN TECH TO EARTH

  Location: Kuiper belt - CSMO 253 Mathilde

  Earth Date: Sept. 8th, 2064 1830hrs

  “Alright, Commander,” Hargrove said, wiping his hands with a grease cloth, “We’ve got everything we need.”

  “How long will it take to replace the units?”

  “Another twelve hours, but we brought some portable scrubbers that’ll keep us going for twenty days.”

  “You both sure about staying?”

  “No, but orders are orders,” Samuels said.

  “Don’t worry about us, Commander,” Hargrove nodded, “We’ll be fine.”

  “Okay, the next transport arrives in eleven weeks. See you guys soon…and thanks for all your work on our last mission.”

  “Tuck, you take care now,” Samuels said, shaking his hand with a firm grip.

  “Geez, Sarge, take it easy already.”

  “What’s the matter, Tuck? Getting soft?”

  “No, no…not soft…tender maybe.”

  “Well, when we meet back on Earth, I’ll be sure to include you in my 0500 calisthenics program.”

  “Oh, thanks…but I can do this on my own…”

  “…just because the mission is over, you don’t have to get soft…I insist, Colonel.”

  “Tucker,” Cass yelled from inside the ship, “We’re ready for departure. Enough with the mawkish goodbyes already.”

  “Mawkish? Really Cass? What century are you from again?

  “Hey, I know what that means,” Dillan exclaimed, “She’s tired of listening to your gushy mushy goodbyes…” he snickered.

  “I knew that,” Tuck said, raising his eyebrow at Dillan, “You take notes from my guys and you’ll be well on your way to running a terrific CSMO…you make money sending in the resources, right?”