Free Stories 2020 by Jenny Cunningham

Author:Jenny Cunningham
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Baen Books
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Station One

More words resolved into coherence now that Station One’s phased-arrays had a focus on their source. No reason to re-transmit the conversation just yet, Gustavo figured, not until he had an idea of what the fight was about. Help on the way; that sounded good.

"Ha, ha, no. I'm kidding. You're going to die," a male voice said.

"Bastard!" Gustavo shouted as McDougal slid into the chair beside him. "Not you, boss."

McDougal nodded, his weathered face devoid of emotion.

"There’s two vessels out there." Gustavo listened to the reconstructed feed. "One shot the other to pieces."

"One of ours?" McDougal muttered a command to the computer to replay what had happened so far.

"No. Something mentioned about the Objectivity Project." Gustavo tapped his keyboard, querying for information. Specs on the Objectivity Project appeared. Earth-based and modestly funded. Why did an information campaign need an asteroid?

"Objectivity Project won't mount a rescue," McDougal said, peering at Gustavo's screen. "It’s a pissant little company, no resources and not responding."

Gustavo checked for vessels who might answer a Mayday near L4. None with registered trajectories. Indie prospectors had picked over L4 long ago. Gustavo requested stats for a shuttle from Station One, L3, to 2295, L4, minimum transit time. The answer was three days out, four days back. "Yeah, L4 is in the wrong direction for a fast Moonbase orbit and nobody is closer than we are. No response to the Mayday. No one has heard this but us."

Gustavo pushed off the desk and got to his feet.

"Going somewhere?" McDougal asked.

Gustavo pointed at the screen. "Someone’s alive on that asteroid."

"Itching to get out there?" McDougal gestured for Gustavo to sit.

"Yes, sir." Gustavo sat.

"What are the odds the pilot is still alive? Hulled vessel? You’ll arrive in . . . ?"

"Three days," Gustavo said.

"Three days. Possibly into hostile territory. A bunch of folks don’t like us, remember? That's why we keep a constant lookout. That’s why someone sits here around the clock." McDougal waved at the screens in front of him. "They see us as stealing money, materials, and seed stock that could be used right now on Earth and will go to extremes to get it back."

"There’s been no activity on that asteroid since that first exchange," Gustavo said. "They aren’t shooting anymore because they can’t."

McDougal nodded, his eyes absorbing the streams of data on the displays. "And you figure there’s something interesting there?"

"Otherwise no one would be blowing it up." Gustavo pushed his chair back.

"You’re thinking Earth would love one of our shuttles going on a rescue mission. You’re thinking the PR from the drama might draw positive attention. Maybe we could sell more lottery tickets for a chance at a life on Station One, because we’re good guys."

"No, you’re thinking that," Gustavo said. "But it sounds right to me."

McDougal frowned. "We’re scheduled to kickstart the fusion torch in four days. This is a critical time for Station One. It’s a lousy time for a rescue mission."

"There’s never a convenient time for a rescue mission."

"It'd be different if she were one of ours," McDougal offered.

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