WCGW Chpt 30

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==Chapter 30 - What Could Go Wrong==
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27 May 3041
Inner End (Federated Commonwealth)
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Sergeant Nathan Davis had been assisted by Chief Vincent Zuniga and several of his engineers in modifying one of the large platoon bays to hold all the recovered computers and setup the holo display. The loss of the berthing for an entire platoon had been deemed worth it, for if this worked out, it would be in near constant use. Days had been spent running power cables to supply the needed power to the converted platoon bay. Sergeant Davis had already tested the smaller computers and now they could safely and reliably cross reference information on Drive one and two. But today was the Holy Grail test of the Holo Display. He had everything hooked up and with only Chief Zuniga and Captain Ronaldo in the room he powered the system up for its first test. 
As everything booted up, Sergeant Davis watched a computer monitor carefully slowly flipping screens until he saw a message appeared on the screen. "Select drive to be displayed?" He selected the slot where he had placed Drive three and the room got brighter as a vast Star Map was displayed. There were thousands of systems being shown. "Holy shit, look at that?" Captain Gweneth Rolando whispered; eyes fixed on the hovering dots with tiny names by them "How the hell is this possible? I have never seen anything like it."
On his monitor, Sergeant Davis selected the option "2765 Deployments, 18th Army." Suddenly the massive Holo image zoomed in on the Outworlds Alliance, the floating systems were displayed much larger and under the system name was another tab with the name of the SLDF unit stationed there. So, this was not a Star Map that we thought but a map used to show deployments and such, Sergeant Davis thought. For several minutes he played with the options on his monitor until he found one to display another drive, one recovered from the wrecked SLDF dropship.
The floating display vanished and with a flicker, another map materialized hanging in the center of the room. Out of curiosity, he slipped on a pair of gloves that had small wires running from them to the main computer. He had snagged them and a few others while salvaging the wrecked dropship. He moved to the massive map and touched a hanging dot. A drop-down menu appeared, instead of selecting anything he swiped it closed. It took him a few minutes to located Toten on the map. He selected that system, selected expand and the massive map swirled and zoomed in. He selected another menu and selected tactical. Another massive swirl and mini ship images began appearing. At the center was SLS Tacoma Narrows, Titan Class Fighter Carrier Dropship. Really close was another image that said hostile Pinto Class Corvette. This is showing us the sensor images right before their destruction, he thought.
Stepping away from the Holo image, he returned to the monitor and powered down the Holo display. "Well, it works. It is going to take me a few days of playing with the different commands and such so that I can rapidly find the information and such when we need it. Captain Rolando, I suggest we post 2 guards on the door to this bay until Captain Mitchell says otherwise." Sergeant Davis said
"Damn right there will be guards posted. That stuff was really from 2765?" Captain Rolando replied
"Yes, ma'am, it was. I think the drive we recovered that started all this is more of a Headquarters level display, not an actual usable Star Map. I am not even sure the last drive displayed is a usable Star Map, since a Dropship is carried by a Jumpship. But I need to play around a bunch to see what all I actually can do with this information." Sergeant Davis said
"Then we better arrange a fuel delivery, maybe even install a spare fuel tank. That is one power hungry machine you fired off. That damned thing used 23% of the reactors idle power output. Me and the others are going to have to recheck every power cable we ran up here for damage. Not sure they were rated for that much, at least not for sustained usage. Short duration yes, but prolonged, we could see some issues develop. Might even need to purchase the type of primary power cables that usually connect the reactor the ships power transformers and run them all the way up here." Chief Zuniga said
"I will not play with it until you say we are good Chief. This information and the computers are too valuable to risk any damage to them." Sergeant Davis said
"It would be better on the ground, but no way do I want to take that risk. We do all the work up here, at least until Captain Mitchell gets us all legal to carry weapons to guard this ship." Chief Zuniga replied, Sergeant Major Pullman had informed all those he deemed in the Command Group of what Agent Hammel had told him and her warning about off planet communications. That meant Comstar without actually saying Comstar.
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Kennard (Federated Commonwealth)
The customs agent made his rounds among the passengers checking ID's against the ships manifest. He cross checked them with his portable computer for known warrants, criminals or any other person not allowed in the Federated Commonwealth. When he swiped David Mitchell's identification card into his computer, it immediately flagged him as wanted for questioning by MIIO. "Sir, I will need you to come with me."
"Is there a problem?" Captain David Mitchell asked
The customs officer waved to several of his people "Sir, please unbuckle from your seat and come with us."
Unbuckling his seat belts that held him in place, he glanced at Sharon Campbell. Seeing this, the customs officer asked "Traveling together? Ma'am, your ID please?" Inserting her ID card into the computer came up clean, with no advisories at all on her. Handing the card back, he said "Thank you, Ma'am."
Four hours later, led by the customs officers onto the massive station located at the Zenith Jump Point, once an Olympus Recharge Station, but now it could not recharge any ships, it's batteries and charging equipment long ago stripped out to be used at more important systems. Reaching an office, the lead customs officer opened the door and said, "Seems we found someone you folks have been looking for." He handed over Captain Mitchell's ID.
The MIIO agent slipped the ID card into his terminal and read the displayed information. "David Mitchell? You're not under arrest sir, but your wanted for questioning on Inner End. I am supposed to expedite your arrival there and deliver you to Agent Jessica Hammel."
"I do not understand. Questioning for what? I have broken no laws. Who the hell is Agent Jessica Hammel and what does she want me for?" Captain David Mitchell replied
"No idea, sir, but these orders come from New Avalon, so get ready for a very speedy trip. Expedite usually means a command circuit but that is not going to happen, but you will be doing a bunch of transfers." The MIIO agent said
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3 June 3041
Inner End (Federated Commonwealth)
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It took 2 days to make all the arrangements, and after 14 jumps transferring between AFFS and civilian ships. they had arrived. Even as experienced as Captain David Mitchell was overall, having done quite a few jumps in his life, he had a slight headache from so many rapid transits thru hyperspace. A shuttle was waiting for them and departed immediately for the planet's surface just over 2 days away.
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5 June 3041
Inner End (Federated Commonwealth)
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Agent Jessica Hammel met them at the Space Port. After signing the escorts paperwork, she directed him to a hotel where he could rest for a few days before heading back to his duty station. Without a word, she pointed Captain David Mitchell towards the waiting ground car. As he reached the car, the rear door opened. "Get in sir." The voice of Sergeant Major Pullman said.
Without a word, Captain David Mitchell got in the rear seat beside Sergeant Major Pullman. "Sergeant Major, I did not expect to find you in this car. Someone mind telling me what the hell is going on?"
Agent Jessica Hammel spoke first "I put that BOLO out after the attack on the 11th. I just never pulled it. I actually have a pretty good idea of everything from Sergeant Major Pullman."
"Attack? What attack? Sergeant Major, what the hell is going on?" Captain Mitchell asked
"The warehouse got attacked on 11 May. We lost 14 people killed and 15 wounded. One is still critical, one is serious but stable, the others have been released. We just got fully sprung on the 1st, having been detained by the locals and Agent Hammel here." Sergeant Major Pullman filled in some gaps.
"Who attacked us? Jesus, 14 dead. Who?" Captain Mitchell asked, stunned by the news.
"Classified, Sergeant Major Pullman can fill you in when you get to your quarters. I just had to be here to sign for you, picked him up on the way to the Space Port. But there are some things you need to do, and quickly. Get registered as a merc unit. It is a violation of the law in the Federated Commonwealth for civilians to possess military grade weapons. Unless formerly a part of that planet's militia. With the number of people you have, it will be way quicker than applying for each of them from the Federated Commonwealth government. Plus, then MIIO gets to do an in-depth background check on every person. That is going to irritate quite a few of my co-workers and myself, since you are all currently here on Inner End. And get a damned contract with the FedCom to further cover your asses. Got it?" Agent Jessica Hammel said as they pulled into the parking lot of the small warehouse.
"Okay, that makes sense, I guess." Captain Mitchell replied
"Good. We are here. So, both of you get out and try to stay out of trouble. My investigation is over, so I am not really supposed to be here, this was just a special case. Sergeant Major Pullman will fill you in on everything else." Agent Jessica Hammel said
An elbow nudged Captain Mitchell, "Let's go, Sir, she is a busy woman. Plus, the people will be happy to see you back. Davis has some interesting news for you."
After a bunch of back slapping and welcome homes, Captain David Mitchell stood and called for everyone to quiet down. "Quiet down people. First, I am very sorry to have not been here for the attack nor the departure of our losses. As of now, if any member is killed or lost, their family will receive a payout of 1 Million C-Bills. That will include those we just lost. In addition, on the way back, I had time to think. We never spoke about how the money will be divided up that we make. So, in addition to a monthly paycheck, we will use the AFFS or now AFFC pay scale for that, 30% of everything we make from the sale of salvage or recovered material will be divided equally between every member. So, by my math, after checking the bank account on my arrival, each member is getting a 100,000 C-Bill bonus check. The families of our recent losses will get their cut plus the larger payout. The remaining 70% will go into the company fund for our expenses and such. Does that seem fair to everyone?" 
While the "Hell Yeah" and whoops and yells carried on, behind him Master Sergeant Harry Caldwell was doing the math and whistled "Holy shit, that is a hair over 34 Million C-Bills being paid out."
After it quieted down, Captain Mitchell continued "Now for more news. My last trip to Sevon was a success. For the next 20 years we will be getting a payment of 25 Million C-Bills each year from Alliance Industries Diversified for finding the Toten system. In addition, for the mining stations we also found Alliance Industries Diversified is purchasing us a Star Lord Jumpship, two Monarch Dropships, Mule Dropship and a Union CV. Free and clear. We also have complete and total ownership of ALL salvage we locate in the Toten system. If it is not a fixed part of the stations, we own it. We just need the ships to get here."
"Captain, we own the Invader Jumpship and Intruder Assault Dropship. Not sure if you had heard. Chief Zuniga reports both are ready to go, except our new people I arranged have not made it here yet but are due to arrive real soon." Sergeant Major Pullman said
"Okay, that is even better news for all of us. So, we have some time. Now we need a damned name, seems we have to get registered as mercs for our own safety." Captain Mitchell said
"The paperwork is already on the way to Outreach sir. We took the liberty of getting the process started with a little help from Agent Hammel." Sergeant Major Pullman replied
"Okay, then what the hell are we called then?" Captain Mitchell asked
"Well, everyone submitted a name or voted on them. We are now being registered as Search and Recovery Inc." Sergeant Major Pullman replied
"That is a little bland isn't it?" Captain Mitchell asked
"Well sir, when you shorten it down, SaRI is pronounced like "sorry". It got the most votes and most chuckles from everyone." Sergeant Major Pullman said
"SaRI. Okay, then we will run with that then." Captain Mitchell replied
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