WCGW Chpt 225

----
<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
==Chapter 225- What Could Go Wrong==
----
Maripa (Former Outworlds System)
16th May, 3046
----
The SaRI Fleet materialized at the Nadir Jump Point, launched a CAP but sat silently just listening for 6 hours for any sign of life. Finally, Major General David Mitchell gave the order to commence a search of the system. "Launch the Dropships. You can commence recharge when ready. Habitable planet and closest asteroid belt. The other asteroid belt looks to be too far for an easy investigation. We have 30 days max here so let's sweep what we can really good."
----
26 May 3046
The SaRI Wavelength, Titan Class Fighter Carrier Dropship, was conducting the search of this sector of the asteroid belt. The AeroSpace Fighters from the 202nd Aero Group sweeping the asteroid belt with active radar on a broad front. The first Tally Ho perked everyone's ears up.
"Tally Ho, Bravo Two One. Mining station. Beat all to hell."
"Copy Tally Ho. Position marked. Proceed with search pattern." Captain Tobias Halsey radioed back. Two hours later another Tally Ho was sounded, followed quickly by a third one.
"Alpha One One, Tally Ho. Another mining station or once was. Blown all to hell."
"Copy Alpha One One. Position marked. Proceed with search pattern." Captain Halsey transmitted.
"Tally Ho, Charlie Three One. Mining station, it got beat on, but looks fairly intact."
"Position marked Charlie Three One. Watch your fuel state." Captain Halsey radioed.
----
28th May, 3046
The search had turned up a total of nine mining stations, with two being identified as possibly salvageable and the other seven probably total losses. Chief Engineer Vincent Zuniga was aboard the Pentagon Tug DropShip leading the survey teams. With him was Reginald Traveline, who was fidgeting in his seat, excited by being on an actual treasure hunt. A soft bump announced the tug adaptor securing the mining station.
"We have a good capture. Let's go take a good look at her. Just like we briefed, we sweep by teams. Reginald, you sure you want the EVA action?" Chief Engineer Zuniga said
"Spent most of my career doing EVA operations. It is second nature to me and my people. We got this." Reginald Traveline replied as he fastened his helmet securely and checked his suits monitors before heading for the airlock with his team right behind him.
After a four-hour survey of the exterior and interior of the mining station, Chief Engineer Zuniga recalled everyone to the Pentagon Tug for a debrief. "Reginald, what does the exterior look like up close?"
"Quite a few penetrations of the hull. I could see some frame damage thru a couple holes. Nothing we cannot patch up in a week or two of work." Reginald Traveline replied
"Interior is much the same. Some penetrating explosive damage and obvious small arms damage. They got boarded. Some remains on board also. So we mark this one as worth a collar?" Chief Engineer Zuniga said
"I agree. She is salvageable. Still has her KF-Boom attached." Reginald Traveline replied
"Then let's get her back to SaRI Express and get her docked. Then we go take a look at the other one." Chief Engineer Zuniga said
----
7th June, 3046
Once again, a soft bump told everyone that they had docked with the second mining station. The teams once again conducted their survey of the station in orderly sweeps of the interior and exterior. Four hours later, everyone was again gathered aboard the Pentagon Tug for the debrief.
"Not as bad as the first one. Probably not even a week to patch the holes in the hull to restore pressure. KF-Boom is snapped clean off though." Reginald Traveline said
"Interior shows more small arms damage than the first. This crew fought harder. Several breaches of bulkhead doors. The command center is a shambles though." Chief Engineer Zuniga said
"Anything can be fixed. Unless we remove a KF-Boom from one of the identified hulks, we are not taking this one with us anyway." Reginald Traveline replied
"Then we have the fighters go take a look at the various hulks and see which one we want to go loot." Chief Engineer Zuniga replied
-----
9th June, 3046
Both Chief Engineer Zuniga and Reginald Traveline studied the KF-Boom on the wreckage of the mining station. "A day to remove it and a day to remount it. How long for all the inside stuff you think?" Reginald Traveline asked over the radio.
"Couple hours for that. Only the KF-Boom was gone from the second one, the interior stuff was intact, or looked it. I will use the extra time you need to tear apart the stations command center to replace what is destroyed on the second station." Chief Engineer Zuniga replied
"Then we need another Dropship over here. This Pentagon is not going to handle that KF-Boom intact." Reginald Traveline said
"I will make the call. You get to work getting her off." Chief Engineer Zuniga replied
----
13th June, 3046
"The KF-Boom is attached and tests out good." Reginald Traveline said once he had his helmet off inside the Pentagon Tug DropShip.
"Captain, you may dock this station on SaRI Express." Chief Engineer Zuniga said and watched as Captain Felicia Mahoney slowly applied power to move the station for docking aboard SaRI Express.
-----
15th June, 3046
"Given a few more days, we could recover a lot more equipment off them wrecks." Chief Engineer Zuniga said
"We are already behind schedule. We will return to collect the rest later. It is time to hit La Ligua." Major General Mitchell replied
----
*Wiki Note: This entree marks the 2nd part of story.
----
<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
225