First Steps (Founding of the Federation)

by Hechtl, Chris

  "We found her," Joyce reported.

  A few minutes later the Iron's entered the lab and looked around. Mrs. Waldecker was sitting on a stool looking defiant. Joyce and Tess were standing with their arms crossed. "You realize what you did?" Mario asked.

  "I was cold." She tilted her head up, chin and nose high.

  "Oh don't get all high and mighty with me missy," he snarled. Her eyes widened slightly.

  "You’re just a what is the term, monkey wrencher. I am Doctor," she said with a sniff.

  He snarled. "Lady, just because I am the guy who fixes things doesn't mean I am any less better than anyone else around here. Your ass would be toast without us to keep the equipment running. Which is hard to do when you’re doing your level best to kill us all!" He smacked the desktop sending samples clattering. She flinched.

  "See, get out! Get out of my lab!" She motioned to the door not looking at them. She was on her feet trying to pick up the samples.

  "Oh hell no lady, we're having this out right here, right now." He grabbed her by the arms and sat her back down. She looked up at him eyes wide and suddenly frightful. "I don't give a shit if you are cold, if you’re hypothermic. You're cold, wear a damn sweater!" He swung his arms about. "Still cold? Put a jacket on! Or a blanket! I don't give a shit. But if you so much as touch the thermostat again I will make you wish you've never been born is that clear?"

  She lifted her chin again, but her defiant look was wavering. "Look, it's not a big thing, no harm done...” Joyce tried to smooth it over.

  "Oh hell yes there is some harm done!" Mario turned on her. "Do you have any idea what this sort of temperature does to electronics? Or the temperature variance? They can't shed heat fast enough in this temperature and begin to fail! They will fry!" he snarled. She frowned.

  "Plus we have a temperature differential with the outside that puts enormous pressure on the seals and hull! Engineering one oh one, hot on one side, cold on another something has to give!" he sighed and ran his hand through his sweaty hair. "Third now we have to go through the entire base and check for damage. Electronics, seals, experiments, there is no telling what hidden problem will crop up." He turned on the errant scientist. "You've shortened the life of the electronics and hab seals by years with your damn stupid selfishness!" He glared at her.

  "Selfish? Just because I am cold?' she shrieked. Wanda and the other women winced. She started to scream in French.

  Mario grabbed her and sat her back down on the chair. "Yes selfishness. Did you even stop to consider that these kind of temperatures are uncomfortable to the rest of us? That we would be concerned about the damage it is doing?" he demanded when she wound down. She glared at him.

  "That you were endangering our lives?" he asked, eyes boring into hers. Her lips curled. She looked to the other women. Joyce was glaring, Tess and Wanda nodded. Her face fell. Tears started to fall.

  "I will not do it again," she said.

  Mario let her go and turned to leave. "Damn right you won’t. Tess get Toshi to work out a way to password protect the life support controls when he wakes. If you have to have Luigi or ground control figure something out. They should of pointed this out already damn it," Mario sighed. "I'll start in hab one, it's the oldest Hab. When you’re finished start in hab two." He brushed past the women and went to work swearing softly.

  ...*...*...*...*...

  Mario heard the sound of rapid footfalls behind him and turned. "Ihr arschloch!" Doctor Waldecker snarled. Waldecker's fist smashed into Mario's jaw. He rolled with the punch then came up ready for battle.

  "You got a problem with me Dick?" He ducked the German's roundhouse and shot a hard shot right into his stomach. The Doctor gasped and folded over his wounded abdomen. Joyce came running and pushed them apart.

  "What the hell has gotten into you two?" Mrs. Waldecker, Wanda and Tess came running. Joyce held Mario apart until Mr. Waldecker recovered and shot a punch past her guard and into Mario's shoulder. She whirled eyes glittering. "You want someone to play with?" she snarled dangerously, hands curling.

  "My fight is with him! He touched my wife!" the German spat. Mario snarled rubbing his shoulder.

  "Is this true?" Joyce asked him curtly.

  "It's true he manhandled me!"

  Joyce looked over to Mrs. Waldecker. "What did he do?" Wanda started to say something but Tess beat her to it first. "He shoved her into her seat when she tried to leave remember? Gave her a piece of ALL of our minds about the temperature."

  Joyce shook her head. “That?” She turned on the Waldeckers. Mrs. Waldecker was helping to pull them apart, clutching at her husband. Sergei came running. "Okay, this stops now. He didn't hurt her did he? I was there remember?" she asked the Doctor.

  "No. Just made her sit and stay until WE were finished," Wanda finished glaring at her husband's attackers. Her hand was on Mario.

  "He touched her! Assaulted her!" The German was starting to wind himself up. Tess snarled something in Russian.

  "Be glad it was him, if I had she would have been missing some teeth," Joyce replied with some teeth in her voice. The German glared.

  "You both agreed to ship's discipline during this mission. Mario is the Base commander in case you forgot." Joyce gave them both a look. Their eyes widened. "Yes that's right. I have the rank, but he has been here longer. He knows this place better than all of us. You better get used to it. When in the air, I'm in charge, but here it’s his..." She jerked her thumb to Mario who was rubbing his jaw. "Ballgame. Get used to it or go take a long walk and don't come back." She looked them both over. "Are you both done?"

  Mario nodded. "Yeah. I don't hold a grudge. Misunderstanding right?"

  He looked at the German who snarled something in German then nodded when Joyce locked eyes with him. "Okay is done," Tess replied. The Waldecker’s stormed off.

  Wanda hugged Mario as he continued to rub his jaw. ”I'll get an ice pack," Joyce said and nodded to Mario as she walked off.

  "You let him off pretty light there tiger," Wanda said softly.

  "I go check systems," Tess cleared her throat and left.

  "Well, I could see it from his point of view." He tightened his arms around Wanda. "I would have cleaned anyone's clock for touching you."

  She smiled, suddenly happy. "Protecting the honor of your mate is a male chauvinistic thing you know," she teased. Joyce handed her an ice pack.

  He chuckled. "You’re telling me you wouldn't want me too?" he asked.

  She smiled. "No, just saying it is a cave man attitude," she teased.

  He snorted. "Me uma thump any who toucha me girl," he mock growled. His eyebrows knit together and he pouted.

  She chuckled. "Oh you brute!” she murmured. That made him smile. “Besides, if anyone had touched me, I'd clean their clock myself." She arched her eyebrow up at him.

  "That's my girl," he chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her.

  · Chapter 14

  Accident:

  In the middle of the night an alarm klaxon started to bleat. "What is that?" Wanda asked sitting up.

  Mario's sleepy mind started to clear. “Crap! HULL!" He thrashed about, tossing the covers aside. "Move! We've gotta get to the suits!" He practically carried her to the lock.

  "Hull breach in hab one, hab two...”

  "SHIT!" Mario pounded on doors as he ran.

  Tess and Sergei came out looking sleepy. "What is going on?" Sergei looked confused. He should have known better, they'd had enough drills in training but couldn't quite get the cobwebs out for his brain to start functioning.

  "Hull leak. Get suited fast!" Mario snarled as he carried Wanda into the lock and set her down. He pulled out her suit and tossed it to her then pulled out his.

  "It’s bad, rupturing fast. I have hab three locked down guys," Joyce called. "The Waldecker’s are in hab two they are in the airlock." Mario grimaced. Wanda finished getting her bottom half on then started pulling and tugging at her top. Mario sat on the bench pulled his bottoms
up over his nakedness then wrestled with the top.

  "Hey!" Tess called from the door. He moved to the side letting them squeeze in.

  "We're in the airlock." he called, not even looking up.

  "Roger that. Looks like the connecting tunnel between habs one and two breached. Someone left the doors open too so it's bad."

  Mario grimaced. "Crap." He got his top on as Wanda finished zipping up hers and started pulling her gloves on. He stood quickly to allow Tess to slide in behind him and yanked the breather off the wall. He put it on his wife's back. She shouldered the harness straps on then finished her last glove seal.

  "Pressure in the hab is not breathable anymore," Joyce reported after a moment.

  "Any injuries?" he asked.

  "Twisted my ankle getting out of bed. Latisha managed to seal the hatch on our end. We're okay," she reported sounding a little disgusted. He sighed. Joyce had Toshi and Latisha with her. He placed Wanda's helmet on.

  "What about you?" she asked batting his hands away.

  "Don't argue with me, get it on!" He grabbed his gloves, fumbled one and it tumbled to the floor. He grimaced.

  She finished her neck seal and bent to pick it up. "Reading five by five, my seals are good." She reported. He sighed in relief. He felt her place his pack on his back. He stood up and zipped his front, then finished the seals. "Get your gloves on,” Wanda ordered as she set the helmet on his head and worked on the neck seal and connections.

  "Yeah." He got his left one on, using the fingers of his right hand to press the openings between fingers to get it to fit. "One." He put the other on. She grabbed his left wrist and finished the seal.

  "Two." He sealed it. "Five by five." He reported after a moment. They turned to Tess and Sergei. Tess had her skin suit on, but Sergei was nude. Mario looked around. "Crap. His breather and helmet are here, but the suit was missing.”

  Sergei didn't look up. "Is in bedroom," he said subdued.

  He helped Tess get her pack on. "Um fella, you’re a bit um, under dressed,” Mario replied.

  "Da," Tess said softly sounding scared and very worried.

  "I'll say he's undressed," Wanda murmured. He looked to his wife. She was blushing. Sergei finished with Tess and pulled his breather and helmet on.

  "Best we can do. You're dead if you get exposed you know that right? The bends are not a nice way to go bud," Mario grimaced. He looked over to Tess.

  "We're going to need his suit." He looked up to the ceiling. "Joyce can you get to his suit?" he asked.

  There was a long pause. "No. Toshi, Latisha and I came in through hab two, our suits were left there," Joyce reported after a minute. Mario grimaced. Even if they had their suits Toshi couldn't put one on. That was out.

  "Great. What about the Waldecker’s?" Wanda asked.

  "Mr. Waldecker's suit is in their quarters," Joyce reported.

  "You have got to be kidding me!" Mario sighed. "Could we have planned this any worse?" he sighed, hand to his helmet.

  "Calm down, we'll think of something," Wanda said soothingly as she rested her hand on his arm.

  "We'd better," Mario grimaced.

  Tess sighed. "We go through tunnel to vault is safe enough, no leaks. Leave Sergei there, then come back."

  There was a long thoughtful moment as each digested that idea. Mario didn't see any other option and he was fairly certain the others didn't either. Mario looked over to her. "We didn't fully test it; it may leak," Mario finally replied.

  Tess shrugged. "Is perfect time." She waved to the door then Sergei who nodded.

  "Yeah," he sighed reaching for the controls.

  "Wait, what are you doing?" Wanda asked.

  "Checking the tunnel. I am going to fill it with air and if it holds pressure we're going to send Sergei to the vault," Mario replied. He looked over to Sergei. "You’re going to freeze your nuts off, but you should be okay even if there is a leak as long as you move fast."

  Sergei smiled. "Is like balmy day in Siberia," he replied, hands under his armpits, head down. He stomped in place to get the circulation going.

  Mario chuckled. "Okay, pressure is rising...” He tapped the controls then looked down. Better put your boots on bub, if you don't your skin will shred on the cold bricks," he told the Russian.

  Sergei grimaced. "Is in bedroom with suit.”

  It was Mario's turn to grimace. "Here." He wiggled over to the bench and sat down, then pulled his boots off. "Put these on." Wanda started to protest. He looked up at her. "I still have my suit dear, he doesn't. I can stay in the lock while you two go get his suit," he said. Reluctantly she nodded as his logic penetrated.

  "Not me, I go shut door," Tess said.

  Mario nodded. "Good idea, then we can see about getting this hab fixed.”

  “Mission control to Mars base, we're reading your emergency beacon, it looks like you've got a serious problem. Wait and we will check for a solution," a voice came over the box.

  "You are a bit late there fellas," Mario chuckled. “Time lag is a bitch,” he muttered. He checked the tunnel.

  "Leaking like a sieve but we expected that. It is about eighty percent and is holding there." He turned to Sergei who was standing. "Better get a move on," he said gruffly. Mario opened the outer door.

  "Is cold!" Sergei said, immediately his skin started to turn blue. His breath clouded around him.

  "Go on, get moving." Mario waved. Parts of Sergei's anatomy were starting to stand at attention. The Russian ducked through the lock door and sprinted down the plastic coated corridor and to the first door.

  "Is opening..." he chattered. Tess reached for the door but Mario waved. "I'm in, will leave door open in case other stuck on end." Sergei rushed on. "Door stuck... I got it," he called and then grunted. "AM in. Mmuch wwwarmer hhhere," he stuttered. They heard a clang.

  Mario sighed in relief. "Good work." He closed the outer door. Wanda was staring at him. "You ladies ready?" He turned to them. Tess gave him a thumbs up. "Okay, pressure check." He checked his seals then checked Tess's while Wanda checked his. Tess looked up from checking Wanda and gave a thumbs up. "Okay. You’re good." He patted Tess on the arm.

  Wanda fiddled with his right ankle then looked up. "It was loose. You’re good now," she said.

  He nodded. "Okay equalizing pressure and atmosphere now." He tapped the controls. They didn't have the time to prebreath even if they hadn't left the equipment out in the mud room.

  "All right base, this is mission control. We've looked the situation over and it seems one of you will need to get suited up and close the doors and check for leaks," Mission control said over the intercom. Mario grimaced as he rolled his eyes. The audio feed had come to his helmet directly; obviously they hadn't noticed some of them were already suited. "Go on, move." He opened the door and stepped aside for the girls to pass.

  A few minutes later Wanda returned with the missing suit and boots, Tess right behind her. "I closed the doors on both ends of the tunnel, but our side has a leak around edge. Will blow out if we try to pump up."

  Mario sighed. “Great. Looks like we're all going to have to go to the vault." He waved to the outer door.

  "Isn't there a better way?" Wanda asked looking at the door. She was anxious now.

  Mario shook his head. "No there isn't." He made sure the inner door was closed then re-pressurized the lock. "Joyce?" He looked up.

  "I heard. You’re on vox you know that?" Joyce replied dryly.

  Mario grimaced. "Can't sweat the small details, besides you may need to hear something. We're going to do this in a moment. Can you get into the life support of Hab two and check it? Do a small test and see if it holds?"

  Joyce paused for a moment. "If there is a seal breech like on your end it could blow the door."

  He grimaced. "Okay, let's see if we can take a look first." He looked over to the girls.

  "You ladies ready?" he asked. Wanda shook her head. "Just get the suit to Sergei before he freezes solid, and then bring me my boo
ts back so I can join you."

  She grimaced. "Are you sure we can't stay here?" Wanda asked timidly.

  He sighed. "Hon, argue later." He opened the outer door. "Move your pretty ass!" He pointed his thumb out the door. She eased passed him and down the plastic coated corridor to the first door. Tess followed. "They’re on their way. We may have to wait until first light to get a look if it is a through and through breach. That area is covered in sand bags," he sighed. "What the hell time is it anyway?" he demanded and then grimaced.

  He looked at the watch on his wrist. "Oh dark thirty," Joyce responded.

  He chuckled. "Okay, next time emergencies should be arranged in advance with notices to be filed in triplicate." He looked down the corridor.

  "You’re still in the lock?" Joyce asked.

  "Yeah, I don't want to chance cutting or burning a hole in my stockings," he said.

  "Yeah good point," she replied.

  "We're inside. Sergei is using a tarp to stay warm. He is in his suit. It's kind of dark and cold, but the air is good," Tess reported.

  Mario sighed. "Good to know." Mario took off his helmet. "Yeah, cold." His breath froze. "Well, some of the water vapor should be finding those leaks and filling them with ice," he said, looking for a silver lining in this mess.

  "Da," Tess responded, sounding amused.

  Wanda came in holding his boots. "Here they are oh master."

  He frowned at her sarcasm. "Thank you dear," He took them and put them on.

  "Why do you have your helmet off?" she asked wary.

  "It's okay." He led her down the corridor through the locks and into the vault. "Sergei you okay bud?" he called. He looked over to Sergei and Tess huddled together beside a heater.

  "DDDA izzzs vvvvery ccccold tttthough."

  Mario nodded. Both had their helmets off. He turned and pulled a reluctant Wanda in then shut the door. He pulled his helmet up to his face. "Joyce? We're in the vault. We're going to regroup here and let Sergei recover so we can plan our next move." He waited a moment.