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Chapter 23 - This is the Way the World Ends - Wolf Skinners (3024)[]
Outlying Landing Field Skinner
Astrokaszy
7th August, 3024
1016 Local Time
"Commander, boy am I glad to see you!" Lieutenant Senior Grade Adam Jackson said when Marion Fury strode into his room.
"You're looking much better, Adam! The Wolf Skinners weren't kidding when they said this facility would help you recover faster!" Fury replied with a genuine smile. She was wearing her shipboard coveralls over her other clothes. Skinner hadn't been kidding about the air conditioning!
"I FEEL much better, boss. Breathing doesn't feel like broken glass in my chest anymore. The Doc says they can probably release me on Monday. How are things back at the camp? The Medics can't tell me anything, and get real uncomfortable when I ask," Jackson said.
"Well, Skinner tells me the giant hole we're digging is for a hangar queen from this place that will give us an air-conditioned place to sleep at night. At the rate we're going, we should finish next week," Fury replied.
"But why would we need that, boss? This place seems comfortable enough..."
"Skinner tells me there's no way to grow food here, only around their impact crater. Unless, of course, you're ready to eat those Star League omelets 'til you die."
"Oh..." Jackson said, suddenly downcast. "I suppose that means more farm work for me, doesn't it?"
"Yes, but you'll be supervising it more than doing it. You're the only one with any experience at it within a few hundred kilometers, and I daresay you'll have some motivated students."
"Well, I suppose it could be worse..."
"The better news is that Skinner tells me he'll work to get us off world as soon as his lot is stable. The locals on the other side of Mazrea apparently get DropShips every now and then. They're more likely to be able to take three passengers off world than Skinner's whole crew. All he asks is that we not talk about this place or his crew."
"What? Is he crazy? The Government would go nuts about this find!"
"That's exactly his worry. It seems his lot were on the wrong side of the civil war, and none of them are anxious to face a treason trial."
"But that was ten years ago! Surely..."
"Adam, these people have been on the run that entire time. Nothing we can say will assure them otherwise. Our other option is to stick with them. Their hope is to find a ship that will take them all to the Magistracy. I'm not much liking that idea, but it's a hell of a lot better than slavery in Mazrea."
Jackson was silent for a bit, turning over what he had just heard. Were the Wolf Skinners really THAT desperate? The Doc and the Medics seemed easygoing enough, but... The Boss would never lie to him.
Forcing a smile, Fury said, "Cheer up Adam. It's not like we have to decide today. I'm willing to help these people for as long as we stay, and it's not like we have anywhere else to go. We expect to finish the dig this coming week, and that should mean air conditioning for everyone. Skinner was talking about a rotation of some kind to this place for 'R&R', such as it is. Whatever our circumstances are now, they're better than they were with the bandits."
"Whatever you say, Boss! I'll do my best to smooth feathers and teach these guys what I can. I thought for a moment this place would be our salvation..."
"So did Skinner, Adam. So did Skinner. He won't let me see the whole place yet, but I believe him."
"Andy! You're awake!" Athena Fury said, bouncing into his room.
"You bet, 'Thena! You're looking tanned! Been out in the sun much?" Sergeant Andrew Ludak replied with a smile from his traction rig.
"Yeah, Mom's been making me dig with everybody else. It's not much fun."
"Well at least you're doing it above ground, or so I'm told. Moving the derelict landing craft from here to there should provide more shelter than tents made from parachutes."
"Yeah, it's above ground, right at the edge of the crater. They say we're going to fill the ramp down to it back in and put other rocks and dirt over the roof. I'm still trying to figure out how that's going to work."
"Very carefully, I hope!" Andy replied.
"So how much longer do you have to be here?"
"Well, the Doc says the machines are speeding things up, but it's still going to be a while. The cave-in crushed some bones, and those take a while to knit. I have to say the pain regulator is awesome. It keeps things below a dull ache, but I'm not so loopy I can't talk."
Athena leveled her gaze at the immobile Sergeant. "So... how long?"
"Less than a month, I hope. The Doc is less sure..."
"Oh... that's... a really long time." Athea said, her voice sinking.
"It's better than it could be!" Andy tried to keep her spirits up.
"Yeah, but a MONTH! That's like... FOREVER!" The disappointment was written on her face.
"Tell you what, I'll see what I can talk the Doc into letting me have in here. Maybe we can work on the exoskeleton?"
"Maybe..." the girl said, wiping her eyes fiercely.
"Come here." Andy said, extending a hand.
She took it in both of hers and squeezed tight.
"We'll get through the next month, and then when we get the exoskeleton working again, I'll show you how to drive it, okay?"
"Okay..."
"Ok, so next time you visit, you have to bring the technical manual for the exoskeleton, all right? I'll tell the Doc to pass the word back to the S6."
"Okay..." Athena replied, finally starting to brighten again.
"We got this! We'll figure it out! It'll be all right, eventually."
"Okay!" she said drawing his hand to her face to hide the tears.
1954 Local Time
Major Skinner was waiting when the APC returned from the OLF. "How was your trip, Commander?" he asked Fury as she debarked.
"Well worth the time, Major. Thank you," she replied.
"I hope this will go some way toward beginning to build a little trust between us."
She gave him an appraising look. "It's a start, Major, but don't get ahead of yourself."
Grinning, he replied, "I wouldn't dream of it. I'd offer you dinner, but the rations are self-heating, so..."
Chuckling, she said, "We'll take care of that ourselves, thank you. Have a good night, Major."
"You too."
Turning to walk with Shaan back to his "office", Skinner asked, "Any trouble, Sergeant Major?"
"No, sir! That little lady actually stayed put for once. The Commander was no trouble either. And I think Master Truck has about got it solved."
"Glad to hear it! I don't want to tempt Murphy, but things seem to be coming together."
Smiling, Shaan replied, "You know I can't agree with you, sir... I just wish I had some wood to knock on..."