WCGW Chpt 75

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==Chapter 75 - What Could Go Wrong==
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26 December 3041
Joshua (Former Outworld Alliance System)
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After a small break to celebrate Christmas and to remember their fallen comrades, the day after Christmas was a full speed ahead day of work. After several semi heated arguments about the exact details on how they were going to recover the Lion Class Dropship, the basic plan was put into action. That basic plan called for the sacrifice of all 24 bridge sections and four of the Prometheus Support Tanks themselves. Test holes had been dug on the 24th revealing that bedrock was at 27 meters. To allow continuous loading operations, all twelve Prometheus, six of the Wayland Mobile Bases, along with all of the units engineering equipment and troops were moving overland to the crash site instead of being lifted over by Dropship like they did their Engineering Vehicle previously.
Shuttles had brought over the work parties themselves. Under supervision of Chief Zuniga, Chief Wise, these work parties assisted other Dropship crew in taking apart and removing the Lion's Battlemech bays, vehicle bays and every weapon on the Dropship itself. They calculated that this could lighten the Lion Dropship by 2200 tons or so. It was hoped that this would allow the already powerful engines enough additional power to keep the Lion airborne until such time as they could adjust its trajectory into a more traditional launch into orbit and docking with a waiting Jumpship.
It would take a full day after the engineering equipment arrived to excavate the massive hole. Once down to bedrock, two Prometheus would be driven to the bottom and parked nose to tail. A single steel bridge section would be welded to the side of each Prometheus in a vertical stance. The other two steel bridge sections would then be mounted across the top of the vertical sections and slid/driven under the Lion Dropship itself. Additional bridge sections would be welded to the remaining Prometheus, also sitting on bedrock until they had created a steel ramp, firmly planted on bedrock at an exact 33-degree angle. This should create a "ramp" for the Lion Dropship to "follow" that was 240 meters long. Maximum height of the ramp should be 120 meters tall. 
Standing back from the work activity, Lieutenant Joyce Brockins felt sick to her stomach. In a moment of stupidity, or arrogance, or temporary insanity, she had volunteered to pilot the Lion on the launch when Leftenant Colonel Mitchell had asked for any volunteers. It would be a two-person crew, herself and Chief Wise, who had volunteered right after she did, saying "My stupid idea, so it should be me along for the ride."
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Inner End (Federated Commonwealth)
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Sergeant Major Chester Pullman was not in a good mood after being summoned to the front gate at 520am local time. A touch of hangover added to everyone elses misery that came into contact with him. The front gate guards just pointed to a single young woman when he reached the gate.
"I don't know you. What do you want?" Sergeant Major Pullman grouched
"May I see some ID, sir?" The young woman replied
"ID? WHO are you to ask for my ID?" Sergeant Major Pullman said in a loud voice followed by a wince.
"My orders are to deliver the message I have to Sergeant Major Pullman and only to him. You do not know me, and I do not know you. Personally, I would prefer to be in bed myself instead of playing mailman, but when this person says go, you go. Now, are you going to show me your ID or are we going to stand here all day?" The young woman barked back
Grumbling under his breathe, Sergeant Major Pullman dug out his ID and presented it to the young woman "Happy now?"
A quick study of the ID and the young woman handed over the sealed envelope "Yes sir. My task is complete. Tell Jessica that Tiff said hi when she gets back." She turned and walked away, disappearing into the darkness of the Space Port.
Jessica, who the hell is Jessica, Jessica Hammel? Only Jessica I know. Sergeant Major Pullman thought to himself. Damned spooks and their games. 
He shoved the envelope into his pocket and made the trip back to his apartment. Once inside he pulled the envelope out and tore it open, extracting the single page inside he read:
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Sergeant Major Pullman,
Prepare for influx of personnel. Your boss might have underestimated the dangers of your operations area. I have taken liberty to correct some of that oversight. First group arrives in a week. Just over 400. Additional personnel will arrive in smaller batches or as singles in next month or two. I adjusted your request to a certain person to account for the dangers.
Q.A.
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Four hundred people? In a week? Gee, thanks for the heads up. He thought to himself. No way he could get any sort of good quarters up for that many people in such short time. I hope they like living in a converted warehouse for a while. Sergeant Major Pullman thought to himself. But how many more and how the hell am I going to know who is who. Security just went to shit, and I thought spooks knew what they were doing.
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*;Note from the Author : SaRi Fighter AssignmentsTwo Hellcats are with the contracted Merchant JumpShip at the Nadir Jump Point.Two Hellcats are escorting the Behemoth Large Cargo Dropship.Two Samurai AeroSpace Fighters are close to the captured Merchant JumpshipSix Rapier are based on the Union CV located near the Star Lord Class Jumpship.
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