Every Last Mother's Child
Page 82
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“Good evening,” the news caster said, she was an AI that had been carefully crafted to be the anchor woman of the Trenaport Express News nightly program. “We have a couple of new items on the evacuation.
“For those of you who want to be part of pioneer parties, the Crown, is accepting applications of anyone who wishes to be a member of the pioneer parties. The only restriction is that all family members must agree to be part of the colonization effort. However adult children who are single and unattached may sign up to be part of a party or if they choose not to go with their family they may not be counted as part of the family. To apply contact the Evacuation Command Headquarters at the Address shown.
“For those of you who don’t wish to be part of a pioneer party, the crown has contracted with a couple of carriers that will take you to planets in the empire, the realm, and other independent star nations. These carriers are set up office in the Convention Center, and will accept your applications. All applications must be approved by the Crown.” She paused for a second said “now on to other news. There is still no concrete word as to who was responsible…”
“Okay if we turn it off Captain?” the cook asked.
“Sure why not,” the captain of the Deliverance replied, she was sitting at the ward room table with her crew sharing their evening meal. A tradition on the small rescue cutter when they were not hell bent for leather on some rescue run or mission.
“That colonizing bit sounds interesting,” the chief of the boat commented, “I wonder who they won’t take for that.”
“Thinking you’re getting too old chief,” their young rescue man asked.
“A little bit,” the chief remarked, “But I am wondering what type of EMS services and patrol services they’ll need.”
“What are you thinking chief,” the captain asked.
“Well you saw the traffic the other day asking if anyone from the boat crews would be interested in being part of a colonization team for that world the Marshal sent the Roustabout to?” the chief asked, “I hadn’t mentioned it to any one because no one said what their plans were after our last cruise. What do you think guys? Want to stay on as a crew?”
There was silence around the ward room table. All of them had been wondering what they would do when they left the Deliverance. They had all come to the conclusion that they would go their separate ways and never see each other again. They were a tight crew, maybe not the best in the Royal Maritime Rescue Service, but good enough to keep their commodore happy. Every one save the cook and her husband, the helmsman, were single and had no children. For the most part their life centered on the Deliverance. The chief had been planning to retire, he had been on the boats for nearly thirty five years. The captain hadn’t made up her mind what she would do. The helmsman and the cook had been talking about going to Haven and see if they could find work there on their boats. The others knew they could find work as a rescue man, medic, fire fighter, and police officer almost anywhere. They didn’t want to split the crew; but they knew it would be nearly impossible for them to be hired as a team somewhere else.
“If they’ll take us I’ll go,” the apprentice said.
“Me too, Count me in, what else would I do,” the rest of the crew chimed in. When they finished Captain McNally said simply, “Normally I wouldn’t put this to a vote, it’s too damn important not to. By a show of hands how many of you want to emigrate together as a boat team to where ever the crown is going to set up shop?”
The entire crew raised their hands.
“Chief, fill out the paper work,” the captain said, “I’ll talk to command. You guys know this won’t be a picnic. We’ve had it easy the last few years with a good maintenance team, and a good cutter. Where ever we go we might not be able to take the boat, and we might not get one as good. You know…”
“Skipper,” the cook spoke up, “when you’re done let us know. So we can start packing.”
“All right,” She said and went to her small cabin, and let command know they were volunteering to go to the planet that the crown was exploring.