This was a strange mission thought Rex Stamford. First, he had been contacted surreptitiously through an acquaintance. Next, he was to take the “bus” from Bradbury to Capri settlement, almost eight-hundred kilometers distant. There he was to meet a man, Mr. Roscians, unknown to Rex to discuss a job opportunity.
Rex boarded the bus at the Bradbury terminal. The bus was a large scale version of a Mars crawler that had room for up to fifty travelers. The seats were none to plush for what would amount to a forty-hour journey. The only “luxuries” were an on-board toilet and a snack bar provided by the bus line's attendant.
Rex was seated next to a woman who was traveling to Capri settlement to see her son. Her son was a pilot for the mining company in Capri. He flew the miners up to the sulfate mines northeast of the settlement.
“Really,” said Rex. “I understand they are just getting the magnesium processing up and running. A lot of good uses for those sulfates.”
“Yes,” said the woman. “My son says they have the processor up and going, it shouldn't be long until they can start selling some refined products. Bath salts would be nice to have again.
“And you Mr. Stamford, do you have business in Capri?”
“I'm going to Capri for a job interview. I'm afraid I can't say much about it yet. I really don't know much about it. Like your son I'm a rocket jockey really, although I've worked many different jobs since I've been on Mars.”
“Haven't we all,” said the woman. “I've done everything from babysitting to accounting. Accounting, that was my profession before I came to Mars.”
“I suppose on Mars a profession is just a suggestion as far as employment goes.”
They both laughed. Eventually their banter died down and Rex found himself looking out the window.
The crawler was making its way along the side of the Valles Marineris canyon complex within a few hundred meters of the rim. Rex knew the builders tried to maintain as level a road as possible but eventually they would have to climb a little as they tunneled through the Ganges Chaos to reach the rim of the Capri Chasma and Capri. But the Ganges Chaos was still more than a day away.
By the time they emerged into the Capri Chasma area Rex and the woman had just about had all the traveling they could stand. Though the seats reclined somewhat they were uncomfortable as a bed even in the lighter gravity on Mars. They were both bleary-eyed and cranky.
“I don't think I want to ever make this trip again, not until they have the tube finished,” said Rex to no one particular.
The woman next to him said, “I don't blame you Mr. Stamford. I'm only staying with my son a month and I hope it's long enough for me to recover.”
“I know what you mean.”
It was late afternoon when they arrived in Capri. Rex said goodbye to his seat mate and headed for his room at the Capri Interplanetary Hotel. It was a fancy sounding name for what would pass as a small motel on Earth. It was all underground but at least the room promised a hot shower.
It was the following day when Rex met with Mr. Roscians.
“Now as I understand it Mr. Stamford you are well qualified to fly a Mars style hopper rocket?”
“Yes, that's correct Mr. Roscians.”
“And you also have experience with orbital rendezvous?”
What rendezvous would be contemplated using a hopper, Rex wondered?
To Roscians he replied, “Yes.”
“And you even have EVA experience I believe.”
“Yes.”
“Good, good. Now Mr. Stamford what my client needs you to do is to establish a communications relay station on Phobos.”
“With a hopper rocket!”
“A modified hopper rocket,” said Roscians. “I assure you it has the capability to do the job otherwise we wouldn't be using it. The establishment of this station is crucial for my client's research.”
“Okay. But I will have to review the modifications before I commit myself to such an endeavor.”
“Of course, Mr. Stamford. Actually, we were hoping you would supervise the modifications. You know better than anyone what is required for such an expedition. Just rest assured that whatever you need to complete the conversion will be made available to you. Also, two years pay, as reckoned for a interplanetary pilot, will be transferred to your bank account immediately upon commencement of the mission. Until then all your expenses will be paid. But there is one thing Mr. Stamford, for you to collect your pay you must complete the mission within a Martian month, and my employer would like it be kept quiet if possible.”
“If you provide the funds you say you will Mr. Roscians, I will meet your deadline.”
No comments:
Post a Comment