Chapter 5: At the Spaceport
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Start1The Mounties had kept the main highways to the port closed over night. Not even freight traffic was being allowed out of the freight terminal. A long line of freight haulers stretched out from either side of the main gates. The anticipated rush to get off world had not materialized. Everyone was speculating why. Some thought it was the suspension of banking operations. No transaction greater than 100 crowns had been allowed at the banks. That there was only one passenger liner docked at Main Station which could have had something to do with it. Or maybe it was the request for people to stay at home by the Crown. The port police and the militia were not concerned about the why, as long as it continued.
John Adams, the port captain, and Steve Porsche, the port police commander were both standing stood near the main gates observing the opening of the port. They had decided that out going traffic had to would resume. This was all freight that had delivery destinations all over the North Continent. Some of the out bound freight included things like engine parts, electronic spares, luxury goods, in one case a shipment of fertilized horse ovum. This was a typical day’s import from the people who did business with Trena. The port officials crossed their fingers as the first freightliners began to leave the port. Both men had not really understood the tonnage that left port. Some two hundred freight haulers had been lined up nose to tail. Approximately 20,000 tons began moving through the main freight gate.
It surprised them both that it took less than an hour to move all the rigs through the gate. Then the hard part began. They had to start letting traffic into the port. They had established a strict protocol. Only bills of lading made up before the previous night were allowed into the port. Only drivers who were known to the port freight offices were allowed beyond the gates, and only one person per vehicle. As the freight was containerized there was no need for helpers or assistants. They had also cleared out a couple long term parking lots to drop containers. They had moved a couple of the big container movers to the lot. The militia had parked two Armored Personnel Carriers, and a tank a little ways past the long term lots. That got the message across, no one was going anywhere on the port unless the militia wanted them to. Surprisingly, no one attempted to run the blockade. On the other side of the spaceport at the passenger terminal another story was taking place.
Reluctantly they had to open the terminal. During the night the Vagabond Traveler had docked at Main Station. They had to allow the ship to unload her passengers, and had to allow families to pick up their love ones. They also had to allow booked passengers into the terminal for uplift to the passenger ship. All shifts of the port police were being held on. The militia was in full riot gear inside the terminal literally shoulder to shoulder. The drill at the main gate went like this.
A car would approach the turn off for the port. It would be directed into a queue, as the car moved up the queue the cops would ask the occupants what their business was on the port. If they were an employee, which many were, they were asked to show their ID. Then the ID was scanned. When the computer agreed that they were indeed a port employee, and was due to work they were passed through. If a spouse was driving his or her mate to work, which was frequent, the employee was directed to a waiting shuttle bus and the spouse sent on their way. If the car contained a passenger for the ship they had to show proof of booking. No space available tickets were honored or booking made after 2000 hours the night before. If they were picking up passengers they were directed to a rental vehicle lot and told their loved one or business partner would be dropped there. Those that didn’t fit any of those categories and had legitimate business at the port had their business was confirmed they were then escorted to the person they were to see. People seeking tickets were told to see a booking agent in town. Those that didn’t fit any of that were turned away. Most went away a little irked; but most didn’t make any noise. Those that insisted on entering the port and had no business were quickly and in some cases noisily thrown in a bus that had been filled at least three times and taken to the city lock up. The flash point they had expected at the port didn’t occur. Why no one was sure, only that it hadn’t occurred.
Every Last Mother's Child Page 16
