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Chapter 17 - This is the Way the World Ends - Wolf Skinners (3024)[]
Outlying Landing Field Skinner
54km NE of WSDS Mondez's impact site
Astrokaszy
1204 Local Time
26th July, 3024
Warrant Bowman, Senior Chief Levy and EM2 Wirth trudged back up the stairs to the "control tower". It more resembled the bridge of a carrier DropShip, being that it lacked any windows. In their place, huge projection screens lined the walls and ceiling. All were sure it would be a fantastic representation of the surroundings if they could get the power back on. Emergency lighting was at least working, powered by the still functioning fusion plant buried deeper in the facility. The Warrant was about to explain the problem when Major Skinner looked up from the log book he'd been reading.
"Let me guess: they removed the ABTs from the main switch gear?" he asked, holding up the open log book.
"Yes, Sir! The good news is they're standard shipboard models that haven't changed in centuries. The bad news is we need three more than we have to get the main power, elevators and hangar door working."
Nodding, the Major said, "It seems they were just worried enough about the Canopians coming back and finding the place that they wanted to slow them down a bit. The slightly better news is they logged the stores they left behind: a Division's worth of toilet paper, a Brigade's cast off rations, and sufficient bedding and cleaning supplies to get the base up and running. There are also two hangar queens that were effectively written off, and most of the yellow gear. They took the recovery vehicle and cargo truck, so there will at least be some extra parking whenever we get that door open. I think our neighbors to the east might have a few spares we can have, if the price is right. Warrant, I'm going to leave you in charge here. Lieutenant Stevenson will take me back to base so I can start making arrangements for parts. Lieutenant Novak is in charge of security, and Bianchi's 'mech will remain on site as well."
Further away, Private Ben Scholes whispered to EM2 Penny Wirth, "What's an ABT?"
Smiling, Penny replied, "Automatic Bus Transfer... it's a kind of switch."
Outlying Landing Field Skinner
WSDS Mondez's impact site
1741 Local Time
26th July, 3024
"Renegades, this is the Wolf Skinners... my actual would like to talk to yours, over." Sergeant Novak said on the pre-arranged frequency.
<<"Roger, wait, out.">> came the reply. Five minutes later: <<"This is Renzi, go ahead.">>
<<"Good to hear your voice, Captain. I'm calling to let you know we have come into possession of a slightly damaged engine we can't use, but bet you can. We dinged it up taking it away from the pirate Hermes. As you know, we gained a few mouths to feed in the process, but think our list of wants for the engine are reasonable. I'm transmitting that on the data band now. Please look it over, and let us know what you can spare. Over.">> Major Skinner said in rehearsed tones.
The Wolf Skinners' ask was mostly designed to disguise the real ask for the switch gear:
-A Medium Laser
-A Heat Sink
-A ton of armor
-Two jerry cans of lubricants
-5 meters of chain
-50 meters of cable
-Four ABTs
-10 meters of power cable
-6 more farming tools
-Two reverse osmosis filters
-Half a ton of food
-A bag of seeds
-COFFEE
-Half a dozen standard power packs
-Two Solar Rechargers
-Two Preserving Sleeves
<<"That's quite a list, Major. Let me run it by my team, and we'll get back to you. I think we can have something together by tomorrow. Shall we call tentative rendezvous 1300 local? Over.">>
"Roger, 1300 it is. I expect our techs will be haggling a bit on the data band, so let's leave them to it. See you tomorrow, Captain! Skinner out."
Both commanders gave brief instructions to their senior techs, then returned to their own business. Warrant Cushman typed fast and furiously in response to his counterpart's questions and counteroffers for most of an hour.
2207 Local Time
"What'd you get us, Harry?" Major Skinner asked as Warrant Officer Cushman entered his "office".
"Not quite everything we wanted, but I think everything we need, Sir." the Warrant replied, offering his data pad.
Scrolling through the list, the Major's expression was mixed until he saw three ABTs. Nodding, he handed the data pad back and said, "All right, let's make sure we get everything packed up so we can make our 1300 appointment. I'm a little worried they measure clothes by the bale, though..."
"Me too sir, but I didn't want to push our luck. Meera was worried about the feminine products too, but I didn't want to push back too hard. We'll see what we get. I think it will work out. If we're lucky, "paper products" was more general back during the Star League."
-A Medium Laser -- YES
-A Heat Sink -- YES
-A ton of armor -- YES
-Two jerry cans of lubricants -- How about three?
-5 meters of chain -- None, sorry
-50 meters of cable -- How about 75 meters?
-Four ABTs -- We only have three, sorry
-10 meters of power cable -- YES
-6 more farming tools -- How about 12?
-Two reverse osmosis filters -- ONE
-Half a ton of food -- How about a quarter ton (we were pretty generous the first time)?
-A bag of seeds -- YES
-COFFEE -- ONE CAN (and we can get more next time we go to Rabigh)
-Half a dozen standard power packs -- YES
-Two Solar Rechargers -- We only have one to spare.
-Two Preserving Sleeves -- YES
-A Radar Sensor -- YES
-A Seismic Sensor -- We're out, sorry!
-A case of feminine hygiene products -- YES (probably not what you expect, though)
-Local epidemiology -- YES!
-Medical Supplies -- We'll scrape up what else we can spare
-Clothes -- We have half a bale from our last run to Rabigh; we'll give you half of that
-Detergent -- We can spare two boxes and will get more the next time we go to Rabigh