WCGW Chpt 12

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==Chapter 12 - What Could Go Wrong==
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24 November 3040
Toten (Former Outworlds Alliance System)
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They arrived at the Nadir Jump Point in a system with no habitable planet but a single Gas Giant, but it had a dense asteroid belt in it. While the Intruder Dropship, 2 Lightning Aerospace Fighters and both Mark VII shuttles launched to begin a detailed search of the near space, Ms. Campbell used the Invader Jumpships powerful telescope to look for any man-made objects worth a more detailed inspection. Onboard the Intruder Assault Dropship, Lieutenant Sanders had only 2 squads with him, Captain Mitchell had kept 1 squad on the Invader Jumpship with Corporal Davis and split the other squad between the 2 shuttles where he and Master Sergeant Caldwell each took half a squad.
Splitting his limited forces had been an agonizing decision, that left Lieutenant Sanders heavily outnumbered on the Intruder by the mercs onboard. Out here in a shuttle, he was even more worried about the 2 Lightning Aerospace fighters the mercs had. There was just something about that Major Lockton that rubbed Captain Mitchell wrong, though they had barely spoken to each other. The copilot of the shuttle he was on turned "Mister Mitchell, Captain wants us to return to the Jumpship, says they might have something."
Captain Mitchell nodded and checked his watch; they had only been looking for 3 hours.
thumb|Mark VII Landing Craft
Back onboard the Invader Jumpship, Captain Mitchell reached the bridge to find Corporal Davis, Ship Master Kellog and Ms. Campbell hovering over a screen looking at something being displayed. Finally reaching them, he finally could see the image on the screen. Clearly man made, it was some sort of station, but it looked shot up. "What is that exactly?" He asked to no one person.
"I have seen a Snowden Mining Station in the Taurian Concordant and this looks like one, but also different at the same time. Either way, I think it's worth checking out in more detail. Looking at the range, figure a 3-day trip to it. Shall I have Major Lockton check it out or can you perform EVA operations?" Ships Master Kellog replied
"Let's bring Major Lockton back here. I would like to board that station and have a look myself. I have never done EVA though." Captain Mitchell said
"Well then, this will quite an adventure for you. While Major Lockton heads back, I will have my chief engineer give you a class on going EVA and maybe take you outside to check you out before we throw you way out there. I was told to look after you after all." Ships Master Kellog replied
Captain David Mitchell handled the EVA suit inside the Invader well, but when the chief engineer opened the airlock door for a short EVA, he discovered that he could not bring himself to make the step outside. His feet refused to move and his refused to release the handhold he had. Even tethered as he was, knew he was, he just could not move out the door, not even lean out to look around. "It's okay sir, I have been doing this well on for 20 years. Not many can take the step outside into the void. But let's get you back inside and out of that suit."
Once the airlock door closed, Captain Mitchell felt like his normal self and moved freely into the interior of the Invader. It was Corporal Davis who stepped forward next. "I'll give it a go, Sir."
Captain Mitchell paused "Davis, your vital to this operation."
"Someone has to go over there. I can take Sergeant Chambers with me. He will look after me." Corporal Davis replied
Captain Mitchell looked at Sergeant Chambers "You up for this, Chambers?"
"Not in particular, Sir, but I have never turned down any assignment, not about to start now. Besides, if this plays out like we want, I better get used to this sort of thing. Better now than later." Sergeant Chambers replied
"Okay. Chief, can you assist these two in learning the ropes in an EVA suit like you did me. Then maybe they will actually get outside where I failed." Captain Mitchell said
"Sure thing, sir. Nothing funnier than watching ground side folks go EVA the first time. They do some of the craziest things." The chief engineer replied
It took 2 hours to get them both suited up and some training in the cargo bay before the chief engineer once again opened the airlock and exited the Invader Jumpship. Corporal Davis was the first to exit the ship. Floating for the first time in the dark void of space, he felt exhilarated by the sensations. "Oh, hell yeah, this is awesome!!"
"Shut up Davis. This is not that great. Way different than anything else, but remember that string your attached to, could break at any time. Then what." Sergeant Chambers tossed back at him, now outside the ship but moving very slowly, whereas Davis was moving rapidly down the side of the ship unclipping one tether at the same time as he clipped the next.
"Come on Chambers, these suits have little jet packs to help get you back safely." Davis announced as he untethered, aimed his body at the hatch area and launched himself back. His aim was off, and his glove missed the handhold. "Ah shit, I done fooked up."
"I got you." The chiefs voice said as he felt a something grip his tether and he came to an abrupt halt. "Like I said inside, ground folks do the craziest things out here. But you got the hang of it pretty fast, let's go inside now."
Back inside, Captain Mitchell thought about ripping Davis a new one for his risky behavior, but then he thought better of the idea. No need shaking the boy's confidence. "Davis, try to take it easy out there. You're a vital asset I cannot afford anything to happen to. Okay?"
"Sorry sir, I got carried away. Will not happen again." Corporal Davis replied
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27 November 3040
"You ready, Chambers?" Corporal Davis asked at the door of the Intruder Dropship which was exactly 30 meters from the dark station's open shuttle bay door. One of Major Lockton's people had literally shot across the gap and attached a tether between the two.
"About as ready as I am going to get. Let's do this." Sergeant Chambers replied, following Davis across the gap.
After 2 hours on the dark lifeless station, complete with some bodies, the search team reboarded the Intruder Dropship. Corporal Davis took the offered handset "Sir, we have recovered several ore samples that I think are Germanium. There are 12 old ass Mechs of some sort inside, 2 are floating in the huge bay. The other ten are locked in their service bays. No power, so I could not boot anything up."
"Roger Davis. Excellent work. You folks come back home. We found what we came for." Captain Mitchell replied
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30 November 3040
"While you boys were moving to the station and then back here. Ms. Campbell has located 3 more objects. One is the wreck of a Dropship we have roughly identified as a Titan Fighter Carrier. Another the Aero jocks checked, it's another station like that one you guys looked at. We have no clue what the 3rd object is, we can only see part of it, the rest is blocked by some big ass rocks. Major Lockton will be checking that out. Davis, you and Chambers up for a trip to the Dropship wreck?" Captain Mitchell explained
"Damn straight. If that is what we think it is and who it belonged to, I want some tools and a power pack or power cable of some sort." Davis replied excitedly
"The chief engineer says he can help with that. You guys will be going over on the Mule. The chief engineer is working with the Mules chief to rig something up." Captain Mitchell said
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3 December 3040
Once again Corporal Davis and Sergeant Chambers crossed the gap between their Mule Cargo Dropship and the wreck of a Dropship. Only this destination was not stable in any sense of the word but spinning in 3 axis slowly. Before exiting, the Mule chief engineer said "Once you're across we have to unhook the tether until it is time for your return. My two folks will stay over and assist you any way they can. Before I unhook, I will send across this crate, it contains several power packs. My people can help get some power restored, but it will not last long, 2 hours tops."
"Well then let's quit wasting time over here." Davis said as he pushed off along the tether.
"Damn eager beaver." Chambers said as he followed, but at a slower pace
Once on board the wrecked Dropship one of the Mule crew said "The entire engineering section along with the reactors is just gone. Huge damned hole."
"Then we head to the bridge." Davis replied.
On the way, they checked several rooms with partially opened hatches but seeing bodies, they quit doing so deliberately. It took 30 minutes for them to work their way to the bridge, having to force one hatch open. On the bridge, Sergeant Chambers noticed the 3 bodies still strapped to their chairs. Davis forced back a foul taste as he unstrapped one body to gain access to the console better. He looked around, around a center area of the bridge, he noticed a circle of emitters along the ceiling and floor. Almost like the holo projectors that show the Solaris fights at fancy clubs, he thought. 
Moving to them, he traced the wires back to a large black box. Opening a service panel, he smiled, at least the power hook ups look familiar. Pointing he said, "Can you guys hook up a power feed to this station while I look around a little more?" Davis said to the Mule engineers
Moving away, Davis had traced with his eyes a large bundle of wires leading to an obvious terminal. Opening another panel, he found several drives just like the ones he found. He opened his small carry case and pulled drive 3. Plugging it in he said, "I also need a power feed to this terminal."
Within 20 minutes, several lights had blinked on the long dormant systems. Then the bridge lit up, everyone stared at the massive holo image being displayed. Clearly a star map, Davis thought silently before it suddenly vanished.
"Holy shit, whatever that was drained both power packs like they were nothing." One of the Mule engineers exclaimed
"We have enough. Let's get to the Mule. I need way more tools than what I have with me." Davis said
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