Survivors

by Alex Isaacs

  The next three days go quickly; everything gets set up. Thursday morning, I fly to meet Jason, George should be there by now with the train. I meet Jason; then, I call Scott; he tells me, Jake, along with the other drivers, will bring the containers straight from the shipyard. They are loading other trains in the train yard so that these containers will be free. I ask what they are, Scott says he thinks it is food going east, Jake will let us know. I ask Scott to send another burner phone; I gave mine to the train engineer. I now call George; he says he walked right in; they did not say anything. He picked up a fuel car for our trains, then got told to add more cars to transport the containers. George told Jake to take what they want, then bring all the bills in at once. George changed the numbers on a couple of bills; they will not even miss the containers of food, thinking they are going out. The billing will not change. I asked George how many cars he has now. George said eighteen.

  I meet Jake; he says they owe us some money, these are free. I tell Jake to keep the money, giving him some more, adding this is for the next shipment. Jake tells me this is not right; I say we do not worry about it if it helps to get the next loads, great. I get another burner phone, Jake telling me next week they will be shipping out electronics along with the household goods from the shipyard. I say great; Jake says if this works for you, this will also be free, as long as you have paperwork. I say goodbye, calling George to let him know what next week’s load will be. George says he has more paperwork, along with taking copies of the ones he can fix to use. He is now heading out to the drop. I call Simon to let him know. Simon tells me to bring Jason back; he does not need to sit there all week. Jason and I cash in two more bars before taking the motorhome to a trailer park. Jason has paid cash for the month. We take all the money, leaving the motorhome empty. We get a cab to the airport to catch Simon’s plane back to Florida. I find out that Simon has set up one of his men to unload the railway cars before George needs the train, having generators there to keep the shipping containers cooling systems going. Simon asks us how much more does the twelve extra containers cost. I tell Simon nothing. George got the paperwork switched, the people east of the yard will get their loads, but the paperwork showed that eighteen more containers are listed. Simon asks who will pay. I say I do not know; they will find out they are missing from the docks. No drivers will be responsible. We get everything set up for next week, Jason will go by himself this time. We finish our day off, then do our school work before our run and bed.

  I go up to the asteroid base, seeing the second section is enclosed. The technicians are working on the inside, which means soon we will be able to start loading the CSV with the supplies. We are bringing up supplies for the interior work on the CSV. I wonder how much supplies we will be able to carry on each vehicle. The PSV’s are running like a clock, back and forth to the asteroid belt. Simon tells me for now; all the countries are happy with the free ore and materials. The fourth PSV-15 is flying, now heading to the asteroid belt to collect more fuel. The FSV keeps producing everything, refueling the PSV’s there. We fly back to earth, do our training, have dinner, then do school work. I have two more weeks of classes before exams.

  Saturday morning, after my flight, I get a call to see the General. I find out that Maggie and I can have one week off, but we can leave on the Friday or Saturday before the week to give us a couple of more days. The general says he needs us to be flying. The other girls can have more time, working with their parents in the valley on the farms. I am to see the General before I leave. I thank the General, then head to do my training.

  The next week goes by quickly; the train is doing the same again. George is ready for them. Eighteen more cars of household goods are now in our possession. Jason tells me that the next load will include electronics, along with some household electronics. I talk with Simon, suggesting we split up the non-food loads into three piles, one for each vehicle. Simon tells me it will depend on where we can store the containers. I say why not at the warehouse for now; they do not need power. Simon nods his head, saying, that is a smart idea for now. The food can fill up the first vehicle; then, we can fill the others later. The third section frame is now going up on the CSV; I can not wait to see the interior. Soon we will transfer the first load of food to the CSV storage containers. Simon wants to know what we can do with the empty storage containers. I did not think about that. I tell Simon that I will ask Scott about reusing them.

  I contact Scott; he says to bring them back, he will get his guys to take the containers to load up the goods that he does not get from the shipyard. Scott says he hopes we have them back in a week; they will be getting the medical supplies around that time. Scott then tells me more food is coming in the following week after the electronics.

  This week sees another two PSV’s flying, with more pilots passing to fly them. The FSV is returning with a full load of fuel, with the four PSV-15’s full of fuel. The crew will change; the people in the hibernation units will come out to see how they did. The third section of the CSV is now enclosed. The resources coming back from the asteroid belt makes life easier for the builders. They do not have to stop to wait for materials. Next week our exams start, then we will be off for a couple of weeks before our online classes resume. I get a call to head to the Colorado base to pick up the first food shipment. The storage is ready to take the food in the CSV, but we can also load up the FSV storage areas.

  This week we juggle our exams with flights to the two vehicles. The food is on both vehicles, not even putting a dent in the storage areas. We also got the household goods into the CSV along with electronics in both. Friday, I do my exam before going up to the asteroid base with another load. I feel good about my exams; I have only the astronomy exam to do when I finish the course in a week. More food is in Colorado for us to bring up to the two vehicles. The FSV will now head back to the asteroid belt to fill up again. The fourth section on the CSV is now beginning. I get up to the base, going into the CSV with the girls. The levels are complete, each higher than the other sections. The holographic projectors are in; they are testing them out. They use the valley on the screens. It is like I am there in the valley right now. They will start to bring up soil for the crops to grow, then put up the houses, barns, and other buildings on each level. My parent's farm will be on the next CSV.

  We head back to earth, to pack; then, catch the plane to the valley. I go to see General Horten as he asked. He gets me to close the door leaving the two of us alone. He tells me to sit; then, he asks me to make sure that Jody, now a Captain, is set up in her new house. He hands me an envelope; it is full of cash. General Horten tells me if I need more to ask him privately. I ask him why he is doing this for Maggie’s mother. The General tells me the two knew each other years ago; then Jody had Maggie. The General looks out for the two, even though Jody does not want him to do it. I tell the General my mother will make sure they will be okay, having no problems. The General says he thought my mother might help out, but this is for other things they might need. I say okay, I might get my dad to help out when I am not around, asking him to keep it a secret. I stand up saluting; the General puts his hand out for me to shake, saying thank you.

  I leave catching up to the others. The six of us go to the plane; Joe will come up later. We get into the airport, Simon, saying he will stay for a couple of days to check out the electric machines. My mom has dinner for all of us, welcoming Jody and Maggie to the valley. I see that everything is running smoothly in the valley. Simon tells my dad that trains will be coming with shipping containers to load to take to the base. Simon tells me he found another use for the food containers. Simon then sees George, asking him if he can get some fuel tankers with his train. George says yes, the one at the warehouse is almost empty. Simon says great; he will bring it to the base. I find out that Simon will be bringing the PSV-15 down to unload fuel to place in strategic places.

  Saturday, I get up to help with the chores, then see that Jenny is back in the valley. Jenny gets me aside sayi
ng she is here to see Marie, but she is here to see about a girl in Peter’s house. I take her to Peter’s, introducing her to Marie, the girl staying with Peter. I get Peter to explain everything to Jenny. Then tell him we are now going to have to let the parents know about her. I can see the scared look in Peter’s face. Peter tells me he would like to marry Marie, looking at her, adding if you want me to be your husband. We take the two back to my parents, letting them know the whole story. My mom takes Marie into her arms, saying she is welcome to stay here in her house. She then begins in on Peter, telling him he should have said something earlier. Peter now tells my mom he wants to marry Marie. My dad grabs my mom before she falls. When my mother can speak, she asks when they want to get married. Marie looks at Peter, waiting for an answer. Peter asks her, then Marie says soon. Luckily my mother is still sitting down. I tell my mom we will move her into the house for now.

  I find the house my parents have for Jody and Maggie, it is across from the main farm, not that far away. My parents have already put furnishing in the house for Jody. There is not much else to do around the valley; my dad has all the crops planted. More chickens are hatching as per Simon’s instructions. There are calves all around the fields; the pig numbers are also increasing. The building near the entrance has a small fish farm inside. I think about that, then add it to the list of things to try and get out west. I decided to call Scott, giving him the new items. He says he appreciates letting them have the money from the first loads of containers. I said if he can get most of the containers from the shipyard, do it, please. I will still pay you money to help you out. He asks when I will come down again. I tell him I am at my parent's right now; I will call when I get a chance.

  During the week off, I help to load the powdered food to send down to the base to go up to the space vehicles. I see a couple of friends helping drive for the construction at the old farm. Plus, they bring loads into the valley for us. I see Kevin again later in the week, my dad and one of the engineers are looking at one of the electric tractor’s. Kevin stops, coming over to see what is wrong. Kevin is smart around any engines; he even helps my dad get it running properly. He talks with the engineer, then gives him a few suggestions. Kevin then asks my dad and me if any of the farms in the valley are up for sale. My dad says maybe, Kevin says he wants to get a place for him and his girlfriend. He will even help out in the valley. After he leaves, the engineer says Kevin is brilliant; he has a knack with things, we should see about getting him into the valley working with us. My dad says yes, we will try. I head out to catch up to Kevin, telling him we will fix up the first house just inside the valley for the two of them. I tell my dad, he gets in touch with the other people to rebuild the first house, it is one of the last ones to be rebuilt.

  On Sunday, Maggie and I fly back to work. Monday, we see the CSV is completely enclosed, the engines are in and ready to test. They have begun work on the second CSV, having it beside the first one. Some of our trips are bringing up soil for the farm levels. We go to look inside one of the farmhouses. There is no basement, but the rest of the house looks like it came right from the valley. I think of another item for Scott to try to get us. The hydroponics equipment will save on using soil for everything. When we get back down to the base, I call Scott again, giving him my new list. I tell Scott I will try to see him this week or next week. I can fly out and back with Jason. Jason tells me he is getting along great with Jake and the other drivers. Jake telling Jason to ask for anything, he will try to get it for him. I find out we got a third load of food this week.

  Tuesday, we make a trip to the Colorado base to take up some of the goods to the CSV. I take out a few of the laptops; they are the new top brands. I grab a couple of more things for Joe and Simon to see. We get back for our training; then, I help Kelly with the astronomy course with the others. I let them know that I will take everyone to the lab on Saturday. I ask Simon about going with Jason this Thursday; he says yes, telling me to take more gold bars to cash in for him and Scott.

  Wednesday morning, we can land in the CSV now, they are just finishing off for testing. We will not test the CSV until the FSV is back to fuel it up. This landing on-board will save us time moving everything in. One of the farm levels is ready to test the animals out. I look in to see they have a couple of fields going to grow crops. We go back down following the same routine before heading to bed.

  I get up early, meeting Simon, taking the backpack with some cash along with a few more bars of gold to cash in for the supplies. We meet with Scott; Jake is running the containers to the train from the docks. This week we are getting more household goods. Scott says they will get on the items on the updated list for the two weeks. I tell Scott to make sure he is getting his items, not just ours. Scott says the mine site is full of containers, they are planning to expand the walls to accommodate everything. We say goodbye; I tell Scott I will try to get back in a few weeks.

  The rest of this week and next week sees us taking animals up to the CSV, most of the levels are ready to use. The first fish farm is ready, fully stocked. The second CSV is coming along; the first section is enclosed; the second section is going up quickly. The PSV’s are making regular trips from the asteroid belt. Two more PSV-14’s are ready for testing. Then they will go into the CSV-1 to park. With hydroponics coming this week, the top farm level will be for growing food with them. The animals are adapting well to the new environment; it looks so real to even them.

  We are now halfway through June, we have started our online classes once again. The first CSV is ready to go; the FSV has fueled it up, then returning to the asteroid belt after getting supplies loaded onto it. The third section is now going up on the CSV-2; it will contain the main farm from the valley. Scott came through with the fish farming equipment and fish food. I let him know that we need to get more fish food. At the Colorado base, they found a tracking device in with the equipment. I call Scott right away, letting him know about it, this is the first load that we pick up from his contact. The engineers here look at it, making up a jammer and a scanner to find them. I get a second set to give to Scott.

  In the next two weeks, we see the third section enclosed, with the fourth section now going up on the CSV-2. Simon tells me that the countries are complaining again about the resources. Most of the resources are now going to them; we do not need that much more to finish off the CSV-2. Simon has enough materials to produce six more PSV-14’s to round out the fleet. They could be put together in a week or two. Scott has come through with the first load of medical supplies, which have the tracking devices in them. Scott now wonders how many are in their supplies at the mine site. Scott says he will find out after getting the scanners from us to use. The second load of fish farming equipment with fish food is now going to the CSV-2. Simon has us cashing in more gold bars so we can buy fish to stock the fish farms. The girls know what Jason and I have been up to these last few weeks, they help to bring these supplies to the space vehicles. These two weeks of deliveries got us some more food. The train yard asked if George had room to take any more containers. George quickly made up some dummy papers to take the loads. We got a few containers full of bottled water. This water will go right into the fish farm system.

  The next two weeks have the CSV-2 fully enclosed. The engines are now coming up to it. Soon we will have to take the two vehicles out to test them out. We are halfway through July, Simon is happy we are on schedule. More crews are in training. Scott has helped us with more hydroponics and food. I find out that Kevin and Tanya, his girlfriend are engaged, living on their new farm. Kevin is working with the engineers helping to work out the bugs on the electric equipment. Part of Peter’s bee farm is now on CSV-1, along with a chicken farm. All the farms are working on CSV-1, with water flowing down to each level into a small pond or lake. The animals are enjoying the freshwater. The FSV is back again with a full load of fuel, getting ready to transfer it to CSV-2.

  In the last two weeks of July, along with the first couple of days of Augu
st, both CSV’s are ready to go for testing. The last of the PSV-14’s are also ready for testing. The FSV is sitting beside the two main vehicles, after fueling them up. Simon is getting the essential people together for the test flights. I am waiting along with the others to see who gets to test fly the new vehicles. We keep bringing supplies and soil up to fill the second vehicle. Soon it will be ready to take on the animals from the valley. My parent’s farm is the same; it is waiting for the furnishings in the farmhouse. The barns are ready to begin milking operations. Simon is going to bring some of the cattle up in small loads to get the farms producing on the vehicle.

  On Friday, Simon has everyone together for the big meeting. Simon, Joe, and the General are up on the stage. The General says he has the people’s names for test flying the CSV’s. All the pilots are standing waiting to hear who is going to fly them. The General says the first crew to fly the CSV-1 will be Major Jones and Captain Peabody. Simon calls them up on the stage; the General names the rest of the flight crew.

  As the General calls everyone to order, he says the second crew to fly the CSV-2 will be? Before he can name the people, his phone and Simons’ phone both start ringing. The two look at each other, answering their phones. Joe says for us to hold on, these are essential calls that can not wait. We stand there, watching the two talking on their phones. I look at the girls; this looks serious. As they hang up their phones, they apologize for the delay. Some critical issues have come up. The group now goes silent. The General looks rattled as he is about to say the names. We wait as he looks through his papers, finding where he has left off.

  Chapter 11: Trouble

  The General finally finds where he left off. He calls my name along with Maggie's name. Maggie turns, hugging me right in front of everyone. I see the General stare at the two of us; I get Maggie to head up the stage. He calls Ann, who is part of our crew. The General tells Jenny to assign herself and Mandy to each ship to see how everyone is affected by the new vehicles. Mandy gets to come with us; Jenny wants to go on the main ship.