WCGW Chpt 15

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==Chapter 15 - What Could Go Wrong==
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11 December 3040
Toten (Former Outworlds Alliance System)
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Four days travel from the Invader Jumpship, Ship Master Kellog floated down the port hallway towards the engineering section of the small ship they had found. Massing 6100 tons, it was the smallest Jumpship he had ever heard of. Not to mention that this one also had interplanetary drives like a Dropship made it especially special. When Major Lockton had made the call, Ship Master Kellog had quickly gathered his chief engineer and taken a shuttle to the damaged ship. Using a power cable from the Intruder Dropship docked with the small cargo bay door, the chief engineer had managed to restore power to the vessel. After running multiple diagnostic programs located in the engineering section, the chief engineer had learned that the vessel had a blown circuit board. Reading the previous ships engineer logs, they had learned that the circuit board was not on board. Locating the blown board, the chief engineer recognized it as a standard for all Jumpships. Knowing his own vessel's repair part stocks, in consultation with Ship Master Kellog, he carefully showed one of Major Lockton's people how to remove the board onboard the Invader Jumpship and replace it with the blown circuit board. Diagnostics had also identified that the Helium seal, though still holding its charge was severely compromised and needed repairs. He had also ordered the spare from the Invader Jumpship brought back too.
"Kellog, we have a problem." Major Lockton said when Kellog reached engineering.
Pulling himself to a halt, Ship Master Kellog replied, "What sort of problem?"
"This ship has no docking collar, nor can it carry all my people." Major Lockton said
"Then we leave them behind, they have ample supplies, we can always come back for them. The primary thing we need to do is get this ship safely out of here. Do you have any clue on what this thing is worth?", Ship Master Kellog replied
"Some of those people have been with me longer than I have known you, Kellog." Major Lockton pointed out
"So, you want to do what, go back and confront Mr Mitchell and his people? You said yourself that they had military written all over them. What makes you think your band can take them?" Ship Master Kellog asked
"Those folks might be military, but they do not know shit about EVA or Zero G fighting. I watched them, most were like children floating in Zero G." Major Lockton said
"When was the last time your people have even had to use their weapons? Hell, I know for a fact that the last 3 boardings were against simple freighters with no resistance." Ship Master Kellog pointed out a flaw in his idea.
"We can take them. The first time one of those folks fires a weapon they will crash themselves into the wall behind them. You saw the weapons just like I did, standard issue FedSuns rifles, damn sure not what you want in a Zero G fight." Major Lockton said
"They brought on a bunch of packing crates also. We know Mr Mitchell was packing a Needler pistol the second day instead of the standard pistol. Plus, even if you did manage to take the ship, we do not have a spare board to get the Invader jump capable again. Either way, we have to come back for your people." Ship Master Kellog replied
"At least they will have a grav deck to stay comfortable during the wait instead of burning fuel for gravity. Which your chief engineer has already siphoned a bunch off refilling the tanks on this ship. I will lead the attack but a few of my people will remain here with you. It is going to happen this way, whether you want it to or not. Is that clear Kellog?" Major Lockton stated
Knowing he had no way to "fight" Major Lockton, Ship Master Kellog shrugged "Okay, Kellog, when the Intruder returns, you go take the Invader Jumpship. We will complete repairs and meet you at the jump point. Is that fair?" 
"Fair enough. Then me and you will go fetch a new board and return to get my people." Major Lockton said
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16 December 3040
Toten (Former Outworlds Alliance System)
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"Here is the problem chief, blown circuit board." Corporal Davis said
"What the hell. No way that board just blew out without making a jump. It tested fine when we did our after jump checks." Asst Engineer Zuniga replied taking the board from Corporal Davis.
It had taken 3 days to convince Zuniga to allow Davis to help in the diagnosis but he still threw a wall eyed fit when Davis started opening up access panels on various computers. "When was the last time this panel was opened chief?" David asked
"I would have to check for an exact date but at least a year. We always silicon the inside panel so that the panel itself has to be pried off." Asst Engineer Zuniga replied
"But did you see me pry the panel off or did it come off easily?" Corporal Davis asked
"Easy, way too easy. Someone has been mucking with my baby and that pisses me off. It's dangerous enough out here without someone deliberately damaging stuff." Asst Engineer Zuniga said, clearly agitated
"We got a spare on board? Please tell me you have a spare." Corporal Davis asked
"We are about to tear engineering and the cargo bays apart looking for one. That is for sure. But these boards are known as being very robust. Usually, they get swapped out every 5 years or so during a major overhaul and this ship just went thru an overhaul 2 years ago. You're more likely to blow out a drive coil or helium seal, which is why we carry replacements for those at all times." Asst Engineer Zuniga replied
"Why do I have a very bad feeling about this?" Corporal Davis asked no one in particular.
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