Salvage-5: The Next Mission (First Contact)

by Brian K. Larson

  “What if they understand Morse code?” Buster asked, with raised eyebrows.

  “They should. It used to be widely known until well after the cold war, but it’s not used anymore,” Samuels said, “And how do you know Morse code, anyway? That was way before your time!”

  “I studied antique communication methods in my spare time at the academy. I thought it was one of the more efficient multi-mode communication methods.”

  “They’re matching our course. They’ll be on us in fifteen minutes now,” Sam reported.

  “Cass, set up your spot light and signal through the computer that we are a UTS military Salvage mission.”

  “Tucker, they just locked weapons on us.”

  “I would have done that ten minutes ago. After all, we locked ours first,” Buster said, looking up from his console over the top of his glasses.

  “The kid’s got a point, Commander,” Samuels said. “We may be small, but if they have any damage they’re still repairing, they could be feeling a little desperate right about now.”

  “Well, what are you waiting for, Sarge? Terminate your weapons lock. Cass, tell them we need to talk.”

  “They haven’t responded to my first message.”

  “They might if you tell them we’re dialing it down a notch.”

  “They’ve terminated their lock,” Samuels began.

  “The Falcon is slowing. They’ve matched our speed,” Sam reported.

  “Maintain our fifteen degree turn... and hold our distance. Cass, tell them we’ll hold this course until we have clear voice communications.”

  “They’re answering us now...Buster, can you see the light?”

  Buster looked up toward the ship, “Yep, they want us to come to a full stop, and to prepare for them to come alongside. He wants to meet in person, Commander.”

  “Tucker, that’s a bad idea. They have about twenty crewmen. They’d overwhelm us easily if we dock up to a hard seal,” Samuels cautioned.

  “I think they need something from us,” Tucker said, “I think they need the jump ring to return to Earth...they’ve been out here for a really long time.”

  “And,” Samuels added, “I’ll bet they’re just about out of gas too.”

  “We have the parts, and the location of the nearest gas station,” Sam smiled.

  “Yep...we know where the CSMO is and they don’t.”

  “You mean, you know where you want them to believe the CSMO went.”

  “Exactly!” Tucker smiled, leaned back and removed a nice new cigar from his vest.

  “Awe, Tucker, really? Not now!” Cass moaned.

  “Sure, anyone else want one? We’ve got a couple of hours.”

  “Sure thing, Tuck...It’s been months since my last one,” Samuels smiled.

  Tucker launched the weightless cigar like a dart at Samuels, who caught it with his teeth.

  “Oh no, not you too!”

  “It’s okay, Cass. We have a ton of new scrubbers in back,” Tucker said, clipping the cap in just the right spot, and then pushed the guillotine cutter to Samuels.

  “Hey, guys...what about me? I’d like to try one?” Buster enthusiastically asked.

  “That would be... no. You’re not old enough, kid.”

  “I think I proved that I’m a man today.”

  “Ah...no.”

  “Ah, come on, Tucker, he should learn from the best, you know.”

  “Sarge, I didn’t know.”

  “Know what?”

  “That you thought of me as one of the best.”

  “Come on, Commander. Please?”

  “Tell ya what, kid, you can take a puff off of mine and see if you like it first.”

  “Oh wow...cool! I’m gonna learn how to smoke cigars today!” Buster said rubbing his hands together. “So, tell me what do I do?”

  “Well, kid,” Tucker said, examining his cutting job, “Perfect...anyway, you see this here?” Tucker held the cigar out and pointed at the end, “This here is the cap that I just cut.” He turned it over in his hand, “Now, this end is the foot.”

  “That’s the end you light, right?”

  “He’s a bright one, Tuck,” Samuels laughed, taking puffs as he attempted to see if his lit.

  “Yeah, anyway, you hold the flame up to it...like Samuels did just then.”

  Samuels held his cigar up to his lips and began puffing the pungent cigar, holding the smoke in to savor the flavor. Then blew out the cloud, slowly nodded with satisfaction, and then passed the lighter back to Tucker.

  The two puffed several times causing a large cloud to form in the cabin. Tucker reached over and switched on his air scrubber and sucked up the smoke as Cass rolled her eyes.

  “What?”

  “Men and your cigars! Yuk.”

  “Hey!”

  “Tucker, they’re insisting on an answer...”

  “Tell them that if they want the jump ring repaired, they meet on my terms.”

  “Okay...” Cass said, programming the spot to signal the Falcon.

  “So, once you have a good light, it’ll last you a good hour.”

  “Some are good for an hour and a half,” Samuels nodded with approval. “Tucker, these are good ones...where’d you get em’?”

  “I’m not at liberty to say,” Tucker smiled in return. After his cigar was lit, he carefully removed the band.

  “What’s that part?”

  “That, my young Padawan, is what’s called the band.”

  “That’s the thing that keeps it all together until you light it,” Samuels added.

  “Ahhh...when can I try?”

  “Trust me, Lieutenant, you don’t really want to try,” Cass warned.

  “Nonsense, Cassie,” Buster smiled.

  “Cassie? We’re Cassie now?”

  “Oh, um, sorry, Major. Sir. Um, Ma’am!”

  “The Falcon has agreed to wait two hours.”

  “Great!” Tucker nodded. He leaned back and puffed the cigar once more. “Okay, wiz-kid, here ya go...”

  Buster caught it after Tucker launched it over to him. He held it up to his lips and took a long drag, then abruptly hacked and coughed, spitting on his screen.

  “You don’t inhale it, man! Whattya you trying to do, kill yourself? Did you see me inhale? No!”

  “Oh,” Buster managed to say between gasps of air, “Sorry...” then wiped his screen with his sleeve.

  “Now, try again...but this time, you just hold the smoke in your mouth...you see, a fine cigar is all about experiencing the flavors.”

  Buster sucked on the end again. He tried not to breathe it in, but he did anyway and then abruptly coughed more, “Wow that’s pretty strong, Commander,” Buster choked, and then passed it back to Tucker.

  “I warned ya kid,” Cass winked.

  “Yeah, wow Commander, that’s harsh.”

  “Maybe you should’ve started him on something a little milder, Commander,” Samuels chuckled. “Sorry, kid, er, Lieutenant, I meant no disrespect...in fact, you just earned a little from me just actually trying one, good job.”

  “When we get back to Earth, I’ll get ya a really mild one to try out, Buster.”

  “Gee...thanks...but I might have to think about that one.”

  “There’re slowing,” Sam reported.

  “Speed?”

  “Matching our current speed of 25,000 KPH...I’m maintaining 6,200 kilometers in a 15 degree turn.”

  “Colonel, I’m picking up radiological signatures,” Samuels reported, looking over at Tucker, “They’ve got nukes.”

  “Charming.”

  “Charming? Really, Colonel?” Samuels complained, “What’s your plan, Tucker?

  “Are they hot?”

  “They are live, yes.”

  “Okay then. Guess our Russian captain wants to take the long way home.”

  “It would seem so,” Samuels nodded. “You do have a plan, Tuck?”

  “Buster?”

  “Yes, Commander?”

&nbs
p; “Would one of our MECH’s be detectable on their radar?”

  “I wouldn’t think so, it would appear to be a piece of debris...until the soup clears, they won’t even see it...in fact, it’s a real feat that our scanners picked up the frigate as it is.”

  “I’m sure the captain didn’t intend to be made so quickly.”

  “The plan, Colonel?”

  “Oh, that...right. I was just getting around to that.”

  “Oh man,” Samuels protested, “I know that look...I’ve seen it before...oh no...na, not a good plan, Tucker.”

  “What? They’d never see ya comin’. You could sneak right up to them and disable their ship while we make our way to the CSMO.”

  “Technically, Sergeant Samuels, I think the Commander’s plan is solid. A few sticks of C4 strategically placed on one of their engines would keep them from pursuing us.”

  “Stow it, kid...you’re not helping over here...”

  “Oh, Sergeant, I think I am helping...aren’t I helping Commander?”

  “I think he is actually helping, Sergeant, keep up the good work, kid,” Tucker winked in his direction.

  Buster beamed a wide smile, “Thank you sir.”

  “Ok, Samuels, here’s the plan. Take one of the MECHs and sneak it over to their ship. Set the explosives and rig a remote detonator. Then sneak your way back. By the time you get back, our wireless should be clear. We’ll dock with them and if they give us any trouble...”

  “We throw the switch,” Samuels smiled, “That sounds like a great plan, except for one thing.”

  “And that would be?”

  “I’m in it!”

  “Come on, Sarge...it’ll be fun...you know, you’ve been cooped up on the mag-ring for three days. Just think of this as getting out there and stretching your legs.”

  “I’m not smiling, Colonel.”

  “Just think of the look on their surprised faces when one of their engines is blown up.”

  “Yeah, it would be a real Fourth of July type of fireworks, that’s for sure.”

  “Wait a minute guys,” Cass interrupted, “You can’t just strand these people out here.”

  “Who said anything about stranding them? We’ll be back...eventually...’sides, I think everyone here is missing the real concern.”

  “And the real concern doesn’t have anything to do with me going on this little exploration, does it?”

  “No, not at all.”

  “Great. Gee, thanks...”

  “Not to worry, Sarge, you’ll do fine.”

  “...so, what’s the real concern then?”

  “How long did we estimate the repairs to the jump ring would take?”

  “Maybe a week?” Cass added.

  “We could get it done much faster if we enlist the help of these guys,” Buster added.

  “Shhh, you’re not experienced enough to possibly understand military strategy,” Samuels answered.

  “No, I think he’s right. We both have a common goal. We greet this Russian Captain, we get his men to assist in the repair, we offer them to go through first to find the CSMO...we go in after them, but reset our jump coordinates at the last minute. We get to the CSMO before they do and take it back from the pipsqueak.

  “How can we be sure that they just won’t take it from us at gun point after we’re done with repairs?”

  “That’s why you need to get a move on over there and plant our insurance.”

  “They’re still moving awfully fast, Tucker. If my grappling of their hull’s off just a little...well, if I miss, I’ll never catch ‘em...”

  “...and you won’t be able to tell us if you made it until you’re back. Hold out on our hull until we’re close. They’ll be at a relative full stop to us then. I’ll have Sam bring her in real soft and easy for ya. Then just retract back inside your MECH housing...simple...”

  “Just like that...simple...”

  “Yep, Just don’t miss, okay?”

  “Believe me, I won’t miss. It’ll take me about fifteen minutes to get there. Then another twenty or thirty to plant it and rig it up.”

  “We’ve got an hour and a half.”

  “Alright then, I’ll see ya on the other side,” Samuels said, snuffing his cigar.

  “Just maintain radio silence.”

  “Yeah, turning on my IFF beacon wouldn’t be a good thing, now would it.”

  “Be careful, Sarge,” Cass smiled.

  Samuels unbuckled and floated to the rear compartment to gather the explosives he needed.

  * * *

  Chapter 8

  Salvage-5

  Location:

  Kuiper Belt - Asteroid 253 Mathilde

  Earth Date: 04/13/2065 09:30

  New Mission Objectives:

  ENLIST RUSSIANS TO ASSIST W/REPAIR

  FACILITATE REPAIR

  NEUTRALIZE RUSSIAN THREAT

  FIND CSMO & REFUEL

  Secondary Mission Objectives:

  DELIVER PARTS & SUPPLIES

  CORRECT ASTEROID 253 MATHILDE

  TEST JUMP-GATE

  “I still don’t like this, Tucker,” Samuels said harnessed inside the MECH housing.

  Tucker held his helmet with the lid to the MECH in the open position, “Don’t be a baby, Sarge. Come on, be positive here.”

  “I am...I’m positive I don’t like this...and might I add that this is, by far, the craziest thing I’ve ever let you talk me into doing.”

  “What?”

  “Never mind, I don’t have time to remind you of them all. Now just get my helmet on so I can get this over with.”

  Tucker meticulously inspected Samuel’s space suit connection, and then lowered the helmet into place. Twisting it clockwise, Tucker sealed Samuels inside the suit. Then Tucker tapped his wireless, “Do you read me, Sarge?”

  “Yes, loud and clear. Why don’t you float back a bit and I’ll close the lid to the MECH.”

  Tucker pushed back from the top of the MECH housing and Samuels lowered the bubble top to the MECH.

  “Sergeant,” Buster said though Samuels’s headset, “I’ve programmed your course to the frigate. I also took the liberty to browse the ship’s database on foreign ship designs and discovered the best location to plant the explosives...those graphics have all been uploaded to your onboard computer.”

  “How’d you get into that section of the computer?” Samuels asked, “Everything that you just sent me is all classified material.”

  “I’m a child prodigy, remember?”

  “In other words,” Tucker smiled, “He hacked us.”

  “I wouldn’t say hacked.”

  “So, what would you call it?”

  “I simply used my skills and training in creative ways to obtain the information required to facilitate a successful outcome to our mission.”

  “Yep, he hacked us.”

  “Commander...”

  “Zip it!” Samuels spat, “...Sir...get on with this briefing so I can get going.”

  “Ah, sorry Sarge.”

  Cassie broke in through the wireless, “Sarge, you’ll be able to communicate up to the 2,000 kilometer range. Beyond that, you won’t hear us, nor we you...however, they could hear you if you are within that 2k threshold at their end.”

  “Understood...once I’m in grappling range, you say the computer will fire automatically? I don’t have to do anything, right?”

  “That’s right, Sergeant Samuels...”

  “Kid...just call me Sarge, okay already?”

  “Right...Sarge...so, anyway, I’ve programmed the hook to fire at the appropriate time. The magnetic hooks will grab onto their hull on their radiation shielding, so they shouldn’t notice the impact. Just be prepared for the massive jerk at your end of the rope. I’ve minimized the shock to your body by programming your MECH and firing all its thrusters just as the grappling fires.”

  “That’s a comforting thought.”

  “...the cable will pull you to their hull, where the MECH’s magnetic feet a
nd arms will hold you.”

  “That’s when I open the lid and crawl out to the spot I need to plant the plastics at. Then I set the remote detonator and skedaddle back.”

  “Correct, Sergeant Samuels, er, Sarge.”

  “We’ll give you 25 minutes to get there and start work,” Tucker warned, “Then we’ll let them know that we’ll start closing our circular pattern to them. We should have all communications restored in less than two hours. So, now once we get close enough, you’ll release and float back to us as we’re docking.”

  “...and supposedly, they’ll not be any wiser.”

  “...and we’ll have our insurance policy in place...”

  “...in theory, all should go without a hitch.”

  “As long as our wiz-kid here has programmed everything correctly, that is.”

  Samuels rolled his eyes, “Great, another comforting thought.”

  “Don’t worry, Sarge. I can assure you I have programmed your course correctly...trust me.”

  “Trust you? Let me just tell you that if you pull this off, you will have earned my trust.”

  “Thank you, Sarge.”

  “Okay then kids,” Tucker smiled, closing the MECH containment housing. “Time to get a move on.”

  “Just know that when we get back to Earth, Tuck, you owe me another one of those fine cigars.”

  “Heh, if you pull this off, I’ll buy you an entire box of your own.”

  “Better start gettin’ ahold of whoever you get them from and get my order placed then.”

  Tucker chuckled, “Don’t worry, Sarge...you’ll do fine.”

  “You better hope so...or I’ll have to kick your ass!”

  “Cassie,” Tucker ordered, “Launch MECH-1.”

  “Releasing MECH-1 from housing.”

  Samuels’s eyes widened as he was ejected from the Salvage-5 MECH cargo holding bay. The MECH came to life upon exiting , firing its thrusters along the pre-programmed course.

  “Salvage-5, MECH-1, do you copy?”

  “We read you Sarge,” Samuels heard Cass report through his wireless.

  “The MECH computer has engaged. Just confirmed that I’m on course to the Falcon. ETA: 15 minutes...initiating radio silence...Samuels out.”

  “Good luck, Sarge...see you soon, Salvage-5 out.”

  “Okay, Samuels,” he said to himself, “Get a hold of yourself...you can do this...just keep it together now...wow, how do I let Tucker keep talking me into these things?”