Astrokaszy
Outlying Landing Field Skinner
1016 Local Time
07 August, 3024
"Commander, boy am I glad to see you!" Lieutenant Senior Grade Adam Jackson said when Marion Fury strode into his room.
"You're looking much better Adam! The Wolf Skinners weren't kidding when they said this facility would help you recover faster!" Fury replied with a genuine smile. She was wearing her shipboard coveralls over her other clothes. Skinner hadn't been kidding about the air conditioning!
"I FEEL much better, boss. Breathing doesn't feel like broken glass in my chest anymore. The Doc says they can probably release me on Monday. How are things back at the camp? The Medics can't tell me anything, and get real uncomfortable when I ask," Jackson said.
"Well, Skinner tells me the giant hole we're digging is for a hangar queen from this place that will give us an air-conditioned place to sleep at night. At the rate we're going, we should finish next week," Fury replied.
"But why would we need that, boss? This place seems comfortable enough..."
"Skinner tells me there's no way to grow food here, only around their impact crater. Unless, of course, you're ready to eat those Star League omelets 'til you die."
"Oh..." Jackson said, suddenly downcast. "I suppose that means more farm work for me, doesn't it?"
"Yes, but you'll be supervising it more than doing it. You're the only one with any experience at it within a few hundred kilometers, and I daresay you'll have some motivated students."
"Well, I suppose it could be worse..."
"The better news is that Skinner tells me he'll work to get us off world as soon as his lot is stable. The locals on the other side of Mazrea apparently get DropShips every now and then. They're more likely to be able to take three passengers off world than Skinner's whole crew. All he asks is that we not talk about this place or his crew."
"What? Is he crazy? The Government would go nuts about this find!"
"That's exactly his worry. It seems his lot were on the wrong side of the civil war, and none of them are anxious to face a treason trial."
"But that was ten years ago! Surely..."
"Adam, these people have been on the run that entire time. Nothing we can say will assure them otherwise. Our other option is to stick with them. Their hope is to find a ship that will take them all to the Magistracy. I'm not much liking that idea, but it's a hell of a lot better than slavery in Mazrea."
Jackson was silent for a bit, turning over what he had just heard. Were the Wolf Skinners really THAT desperate? The Doc and the Medics seemed easygoing enough, but... The Boss would never lie to him.
Forcing a smile, Fury said, "Cheer up Adam. It's not like we have to decide today. I'm willing to help these people for as long as we stay, and it's not like we have anywhere else to go. We expect to finish the dig this coming week, and that should mean air conditioning for everyone. Skinner was talking about a rotation of some kind to this place for 'R&R', such as it is. Whatever our circumstances are now, they're better than they were with the bandits."
"Whatever you say, boss! I'll do my best to smooth feathers and teach these guys what I can. I thought for a moment this place would be our salvation..."
"So did Skinner, Adam. So did Skinner. He won't let me see the whole place yet, but I believe him."