Chapter 25

Asteroid Belt, March 10, 2162
Big Berserker 4

“Ok folks, we’ve all been through this, work the problem,” said Mission Controller Charlie Bassett.

While transiting through the Asteroid Belt Engine #41 was struck by a softball size rock and put out of commission. They were clear of the worst part and the chief field engineer Carl White ordered his spacemen to replace the engine. They could make it to Mars and set Saturn CXLII down with 49 engines, but why risk it? They had three spare N-52 engines, they might well use one of them.

“I hate working in the Asteroid Belt,” said Mission Specialist Alfonso Franco. He reset the ropes that held him tight to the surface of Big Berserker 4 and pried off the cover of the junction box on engine #41.

“You ain’t alone, said the spaceman next to Alfonso. Alfonso looked over and sure enough the man helping to loosen the retention bolts on engine #41 was Carl White. Carl was a hands on man and he worked his ass off for Alan Scarlett.

“Hey Alfonso, if you get those cables disconnected before I get this side of the engine loosened up, I’ll make it worth your while,” called Klara Hellström from the other side of the engine.

“What would that be?” asked Alfonso.

“Remember last December? Vegas? The Montclair Grand?”

“Vaguely,” said Alfonso. It was a great weekend.

“Just like that but with my twin sister too.”

The junction panel lid fluttered away into space and luckily the damage that the junction box suffered was superficial. Alfonso reached in with his quick-release tool and said, “You better tell your sister to start warming up,” and he began disconnecting the electrical connections.

As the six technicians strained at the engine, a heavy duty scooter settled down on top of the motor and two spacemen began strapping the engine to the scooter. Finally, Carl called out, “Last check!”

“Left side free.”

“Right side free.”

“Cables disconnected and out of the way.”

“Take her up!” and with Carl’s order, the scooter lifted the engine off of its mount and headed toward the SS Peake. Another scooter lowered a replacement engine onto the engine mount, just like he did over 20 times in the past, and the scooter pilot spotted it right where it needed to go. The engine crew went back to work, tightening the engine mounting bolts, connecting the mass absorption probes for fuel, and connecting the engine to the power network.

They had the engine bolted down and connected in record time. “Let’s clean up so we can fire her up,” said Carl. They collected their toolboxes and loosened up safety straps so they could hop on a scooter back to the Peake. Just as they gave the engine one last inspection, Carl White shouted, “OW!”

Suddenly alarms screeched in everyone’s communicators. The dreaded “TEAM MEMBER SUIT INTEGRITY” alarm started flashing in everyone’s data stream. It said team member 6 had a sudden suit leak. “Carl, you ok?” asked Alfonso and then he saw the gash on the back of Carl’s helmet. He was hit by a micro-meteoroid. Those damn things were the bane of working in the asteroid belt, and they should have been far enough out of the belt to avoid those damn things. “I got ya, Carl,” said Alfonso as he took an aerosol can of sealant foam and sealed the crack in his helmet.

It was a terrible gash, and Carl had a sudden depressurization. Carl’s suit began to re-pressurize, but he was outside a long time and his replenishment tanks were low. Without a question, Alfonso connected the emergency line from his suit and helped re-pressurize Carl. Now both spacemen had only 10 minutes left. They needed to get on board a ship fast.

A scooter swooped in and collected Carl and Alfonso, then dashed back to the SS Peake while another scooter came in and collected tools and workers. The crew was back aboard the Garriott as the replacement motor fired up perfectly, but the entire crew was shaken. They believed that this never would have happened if their good luck charm, Alan Scarlett, had showed up for the launch.

As for Alfonso, he was over on the SS Peake in “officers country,” this is where the entire mission was plotted out and controlled, and damn, did they have some excellent coffee! He was there when a video call from Mars came through. “Carl! Are you ok?” It was Alan Scarlett.