“He’s not coming...” Tucker grunted, feeling claustrophobic, “My you’re strong, Cass...I thought you had a hangover?”
“Had.”
“I see...you’re not going to let me up until I say he can come, are you?”
“That’s right,” Cass said, pressing him harder to the ground.
“Alright! Alright! Buster can join our little party, but he’s got to pull his own weight,” Tucker finally relented.
She quickly kissed him and got up, releasing Tucker from her grip.
“Sheesh...” Tucker gasped as he got off the floor, “and I mean it! He pulls his OWN weight!”
“Right, Tucker, you got it,” Cass smiled.
“Don’t worry, Commander,” Buster added, “I can pull my own weight, you’ll see.”
“Great. I can hardly wait to see him in action.”
“Let’s get the rest of the ship prepped for takeoff...02:00 comes awfully early.”
“Another 02:00 departure? Why do they do that?” Tucker frowned.
“If I may, Sir?” Buster offered, coming back down the causeway.
“If you really insist...” Tucker relented, and finally taking a bite out of his sandwich. “Mmm, Sam, this is one tasty pastrami you brought, thank you.”
“Enjoy it, that’s the last real meal you’ll get for the next couple of months.”
“Sir?” the nervous Lieutenant asked.
Tucker turned to the pock-marked boy, “Yes, yes, what is it?”
“May I continue to offer you an explanation as to why it is necessary to launch at the 02:00 time?”
“Oh, by all means,” Tucker smiled, turning to Cass, “This ought to be interesting...go ahead...by all means...please...go on...”
Buster looked from Tucker to Cass and back again, “You see, the Earth’s planetary rotation in relation to the asteroid field at its current position on our solar system preclude a later launch time...”
“Uh uh. I see...” Tucker nodded, eating more of his sandwich.
“So, the 02:00 liftoff time is necessary to facilitate a quicker flight time to the Asteroid 253 Mathilde. A later flight time would add almost a full day of travel,” Buster removed a calculator from his shirt pocket and pressed a few buttons, “In fact, if we delay our departure until 06:00, we will be adding an additional twenty-two hours and thirty three minutes.”
“Is that an exact figure, young man?”
“...and fifteen seconds. That is an accurate figure, Commander.”
“Wow, really...four hour flight delay adds twenty-two hours...huh, I’ll be damned.”
“Yes, sir; twenty-two hours and thirty three minutes and fifteen seconds...give or take one or two seconds, anyway due to unknown factors...” Buster said, pushing his glasses up his nose.
“I thought you said it was an accurate number, geez, what’s the world coming to? I can’t have a one or two second miscalculation as a part of my crew...”
“Tucker!” Cass sneered.
“And what might be the cause of this one or two second discrepancy?” Tucker smiled at the kid Lieutenant.
“Pilot error...mostly.”
“Pilot error!” Sam protested.
“See, Cass? Even Sam here doesn’t think...”
“Tucker, maybe you should ask Buster for a more...”
“Excuse me!” the Lieutenant shouted.
“Oh! The kid has a pair,” Tucker smirked, looking over at Sam, “So, please do tell. What ‘pilot error’ could cause your calculations to be off that very, very wide margin of one or two seconds, anyway.”
“Mainly, pilot error in response to launch, due to a delay in orders from the commanding officer...” Buster gulped, “or it could be equipment failure...”
“Nice come back, kid.”
“Lieutenant.”
“Sorry, Buster, Lieutenant...so since we’re all getting to know one another, can I just call you Bu?”
“Bu, Sir?”
“Yeah, short for Buster, short for Lieutenant Clark...even shorter than Lieutenant Buster Clark, or even Lieutenant Bu Clark...”
“Bu’s not my name, though,” Buster said, pushing his glasses up his nose.
Tucker burst out loud, slapping his hand on his knee, “I can see we’re gonna have a lot of fun on this mission.”
“Okay, okay, you can call me Buster...but I do prefer to be called Lieutenant.”
Tucker shook his head and finished his sandwich, “Kid, you gotta lot of growing up to do.”
“...and I think he’ll have plenty of opportunity to do some of that growing up,” Sam said, swatting at Buster’s arm...
“Ow!”
“...pilot error, huh...I’ll show you pilot error.”
Cass stepped between the two, “Now, now...Sam, he’s just a boy.”
“Excuse me! I’ve been through basic training and OTS. I’m a duly and fully commissioned officer in the military space force! I am NOT just a boy,” Buster frowned and pushed up on his glasses.
Sam and Cass looked at each other and then at Buster, “Okay, you’re an adolescent boy,” Sam said before Cassie could.
Buster smiled up at Sam, “Has anyone ever told you that you’re kind of hot when you’re mad, Captain?”
“Oh, GAWD! He’s got a crush on me, too!” Commander...”
“Not Commander, mission hasn’t started just yet, just Tucker for now...remember?” Tucker said, waving his finger at her.
“Tucker, no...He really shouldn’t go, not this time,” Sam nervously smiled back at Buster.
“Oh, contraire, Captain Rothschild,” Tucker smirked over at Cass, “Orders are orders now.”
“Tucker! I had no idea he had a crush on me! You can’t send us together in space...alone...”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Captain. Cassie and I won’t bother you two at all.”
Buster grinned and trotted off to his cabin.
“Oh my,” Tucker said, placing his hands on his hips, “I do think this is going to be quite an enjoyable mission.”
Sam swatted the Colonel’s arm and stomped down the ramp, “Last time you get any hot pastrami sandwiches from me!”
“What? Ah, come on, Captain... Sam... Samantha, don’t be angry... don’t forget to be back two hours before launch... right?”
“Don’t worry tucker, I follow orders...”
“What? I follow orders...” turning to Cass, “I follow orders...tell her I follow orders... ...Cass?”
“Sorry, Tucker. You’re on your own on this one.”
Tucker shrugged his shoulders and held his hands out, “What?”
* * *
Chapter 5
Whidbey Island Naval Base & Space Port
Oak Harbor, WA
Salvage-5 Command Deck
Earth Date: 04/01/2065 01:45
Mission Objectives:
DELIVER PARTS & SUPPLIES
FACILITATE REPAIR
CORRECT ASTEROID 253 MATHILDE
TEST JUMP-GATE
“Good morning, sunshine,” Tucker said from the right middle seat.
“Yeah, 02:00. Just...yeah,” Captain Rothschild sleepily nodded.
“You still mad?”
“Who me? No...not at all, Commander,” Sam said with a sneer.
“Ok people,” Tucker announced over his wireless ear piece, “Let’s get her sealed up and go over the flight checks...Buster, your station is far left next to our pilot here. Cass, you’re far right next to me.”
“We have received final communique from CSMO 253 Mathilde. They’re expecting us in twelve days.”
“We’ll be in radio silence until we are just coming out of reverse burn,” Lieutenant Clark added.
“Thank you for your commentary, Buster. We’ve done this once or twice without you. Now let’s get on with procedure, shall we?
“Sorry, Sir.”
“Geez man, how did they manage to find you a space suit small enough?”
Cass jabbed Tucker in the ribs, “Hey, watch it.”
>
“They custom fit me earlier today, Sir.”
“Captain? Begin pre-flight check. Cass, seal the load bay.”
“Aye, Commander,” Cass answered, pressing commands at her console. The hydraulics retracting the loading bay ramp vibrated until a clunk signaled that the bay was sealed. Then a swooshing sound confirmed what the indicator lights told Cass, “Cabin is sealed and locked.”
“Has everyone remember their toothpaste and done their potty business?”
“Tucker...” Cass said, waving her finger.
“Well? Thought I’d lighten things up just a tad...don’t want a repeat of our last mission, now do we?”
“Nope, not gonna do that again,” Sam smiled, “this should be a fairly routine mission.”
“That reminds me,” Tucker unbuckled his harness and reached behind Sam, feeling the back of Buster’s neck.
Buster flinched back and stared over the top of his black framed glasses, “Hey, what gives?”
“Sorry Buster, just making sure.”
“Of what?”
“I think the Commander wanted to make sure you weren’t chipped,” Sam said, scrunching forward.
“Chipped?”
“Never mind, son. You’re good. You passed the physical test,” Tucker smiled and buckled his harness down.
“Captain, what’s our clock?”
“T minus 5 minutes and counting.”
“Prep all systems...”
“All systems green. Ion turbines and thrusters online. Avionics green,” Sam reported.
“NAV Check...”
“Navigational gyros engaged, prepped for orbital sequence. Course set and verified,” Cass answered.
“Pilot, you are green for lift off at 02:00-Mark... Ascend to 1500 meters and hold
“Roger...take off in two minutes. Ascend to 1500 meters and hold.”
“Salvage-5, Tower Control...you are clear for lift off at your discretion.”
“Tower Control, Salvage-5,” Tucker announced, “We will takeoff in one minute.”
“Salvage-5, Tower Control...affirmative...one minute.”
“Uhm, do we have sick sacks on board?” Buster nervously asked.
“Left cubby, by your knee...” Sam answered, smirking, and then she changed to a more solemn look, “You don’t get sick on fair rides do you?”
“Sometimes...”
“Great, get a sack ready....’cause if you get sick without one...”
“That zero gravity experience would be no good for anyone, now would it,” Tucker smiled at the young man. “This will make or break ya...depending on how you do, this could turn out to make you a man today.”
“Really, Sir?”
“Yes, really...just get the VAC ready...you know, just in case.”
“In 3...2...1...skids up!”
The sleek ship lifted off the landing pad. Sam raised and locked the landing skids, and then flew the Salvage-5 to the holding position 1500 meters above the base.
Buster looked out his port window at the ground, “Oh dear...that’s a really long ways up, isn’t it?”
“Yep, nearly 5,000 feet,” Sam nodded, “Holding at 1500 meters, Commander.”
“Proceed to engage our first target coordinates and maintain standard planetary orbit.”
“Oh yeah baby!”
Tucker reached over and placed his hand over the Captain’s on the throttle, “Just take it easy on the boy, K?”
“Oh, right...I’ll be easy,” Sam smirked as Tucker removed his hand.
“Just kidding! Whoo Hooo!” she exclaimed with glee. Then she punched the thruster control to nearly three-quarters.
The Salvage-5 ship jumped forward and flew straight out. Then she pulled the control stick, raising the nose nearly vertical, slamming the crew into their leather padded seats.
“Now that’s what I’m talking about!” Sam yelled, looking over at the green-gilled looking boy.
The ship rose into orbit in record time. Then through the weightlessness, globs of a strange substance floated out of Tucker’s mouth before he could seal his lips, “Sorry,” he said, causing more vomit to exit and float in front of him.
He quickly grabbed a zero gravity vacuum and began cleaning up his weightless mess.
“What’s the matter, Commander?” Sam mused, “Was that a little too quick for ya?”
“No...no, not at all...you know...must have been left over from the hangover yesterday.”
“Wait a minute,” Cass smiled, “I thought you didn’t have a hangover?”
“Yeah, well...you know me...I’m such a liar.”
“Well our adolescent Lieutenant here just became a man today,” Sam pointed with her thumb, “He didn’t get sick.”
“No, that’s really the first time for me too!”
“You mean you always get sick on those rides?”
“Yeah...pretty much,” he reached to push his glasses up on his nose, “Hey, this is great.”
“But you said sometimes,” Sam frowned.
“Well, I kind of fibbed too...I always get sick on the big rides...but not today! Thanks Captain Rothschild...I think I love you for that,” Buster smiled, “and on top of that, I’m able to keep my glasses on in space...they don’t slip on my nose up here either.”
“Fine, fine...you’re a man today,” Tucker said, finishing the cleanup of his floating stomach contents. “Radio base control, request to proceed to secondary coordinates...”
A few moments went by as Cass contacted the departure tower, “Confirmed, Sir; cleared to secondary target. They wish us a safe flight.”
“Navigation: engage secondary target...Speed 25,000 KPH.”
Cass pressed more commands at her station, “Target locked. Mag-Ring is in run up.”
“Ten minutes to Jump Ring, Speed is 25,000 KPH,” Sam reported.
“This is going to be sooo coool,” Buster grinned.
“What? You like getting your body compressed and then stretched out over the space-time continuum?” Tucker asked.
“Commander...” Buster chuckled at Tucker’s attempt at physics, “It doesn’t really work that way, Sir.”
“Well, that’s how it feels, let me tell ya!”
“If you’d like, I can tell you how these mag-rings function and what effects they have on our bodies, you know...to pass the time?”
“No thank you...I really don’t want to know how this works to be honest.”
“Right...because if you knew what it really was doing to us, I don’t think you’d want to go through many more than a couple hundred times.”
“Oh? And why would this be...oh wow...what am I doing? Forget it, kid. I don’t want to know.”
“No, Buster, er, Lieutenant, what will it do to our bodies after say a couple hundred jumps?” Sam asked.
“You’re blood will begin to lose its ability to coagulate. The stresses on our vital organs, not to mention our brains, are tremendous. Best guess is rapid organ failure...starting with kidneys, liver, and spleen...if we survived that, we’d all eventually bleed to death. But only after too many jumps.”
“Fun kid to have at a party, huh, Cass?”
“Yeah, but you do know you’re a third of the way there already,” Cass snickered.
“What?”
“Your liver is already most likely dead.”
“No, really...do we really know what these magnetic forces are doing to us...”
“Like I said...”
“Stop already!” Tucker grimaced, “Sam, er, Captain, time to Jump?”
“Two minutes out, Sir.”
“I can hardly wait,” Tucker said under his breath, “Cass, confirm Jump Ring run up sequence is complete, and course is set and locked.”
“Mag-Ring fully charged and ready, Commander,” Cass answered. “Course is set for Asteroid 253 Mathilde. ETA: Twelve days...”
“Twelve days, six hours and fourteen minutes,” Buster confirmed.
“Thank you Buster...” Tucker said with a roll
of his eyes.
“Anytime, Sir...you know, I’m just trying to pull my own weight.”
“That test is yet to come...”
“Coming up on the jump-ring now, Sir.”
Tucker closed his eyes tight and grabbed the arms of his chair, “I really don’t like this part...not at all.”
“Here we go!” Samantha exclaimed.
The Salvage-5 ship elongated as it neared the entrance of the massive jump ring. The crew could see the shimmering magnetics as they advanced.
“Crossing mag-ring perimeter now... in 3...2...1, prepare for spatial distortion! MARK!”
The ship and its crew were catapulted to its one tenth light speed in a flash, “We’re at cruising speed, Commander.”
Tucker shuddered, and then he slowly opened his eyes. His first glance was over to Buster, making sure his eyes were nowhere near a green color, and then let out a sigh.
“Commander?” Buster asked, noticing Tucker’s relief. “What’s the thing with being chipped anyway? You have lots of time to explain it now.”
“Fine...fine...I’ll tell you the whole tale,” Tucker smiled taking out one of his prize cigars, he lit it in the cabin. Then he reached over and fired up his extra scrubber that had been installed on their first mission.
Cass rolled her eyes, “Yep, it’s gonna be a long twelve days.”
“...and 12 hours...”
“We got that Buster, thanks!” Cass snapped.
“Cass? You want to share?”
“No, not really.”
“What? Oh, the cigar thing? Well, you know...I can give Buster here the best story possible, while chewing on one of these mighty fine jewels.”
“I’m looking forward to hearing them all too, Commander,” Buster smiled with glee.
* * *
Jump Ring 253 Mathilde
Location
Kuiper Belt
5,000 Kilometers from Asteroid 253 Mathilde
Earth Date: 04/10/2065 14:00
Samuels and Hargrove were just finishing the disassembly of one of the mag-ring’s fractured bolts when Hargrove’s wireless pinged him, “Hargrove, go ahead.”
“Dillan here, we’ve had a perimeter alarm go off. Looks like we have company.”
Hargrove stopped what he was doing and floated loose in the open arm assembly of the damaged station, “Have you been able to get a positive ID?”
Salvage-5: The Next Mission (First Contact) Page 5
