Salvage System by Kevin Steverson

Author:Kevin Steverson [Steverson, Kevin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Theogony Books
Published: 2019-04-24T22:00:00+00:00

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Chapter Nineteen

Seven days later the shuttle landed with a slight thump, and the engines spooled down. After a minute, its pilot spoke. “Engines are disengaged, Uncle Harmon,” said Bahroot. “Would you like me to drop the ramp now? The Withaloo shuttle is lowering theirs.”

“Sure, and good job with that entry,” Harmon said as he shook his head at Clip, who was wiping the sweat off his face.

“Thank you,” said the young AI. “Next time I’ll approach from the other end of the continent. Looking at the newly mapped weather patterns, the west side seems to have those storms this time of year. I’ll remember that.”

Harmon disembarked with Zerith and Clip, who was carrying Jayneen in his kit while holding the slate. The four associates, Kyla, Vera, Hank, and Stan were with him as well. Hank and Stan were happy to see the planet firsthand and had to be restrained from examining the construction equipment. The two warrant officers, not so much. They wanted to be on Salvage Title in the shipyards, supervising the repairs.

All four had their goggles on, and Kyla and Vera had reapplied their lipstick in preparation for the meeting. It would not do to not look their best. Harmon and Clip didn’t say a word.

Harmon looked around at the location planned for the first town. The area had been cleared of ruins, and some of the trees and the vegetation had been cut back. Several pieces of construction equipment brought in by the construction companies from Joth and Tretra were in motion near the old airfield.

Harmon was surprised to see several buildings already in place. Granted, they were prefabricated buildings designed to house the work crews, but they were lined along what would become a street. There was even a small restaurant and bar. That figured. Construction crews were the same galaxy wide. They worked long, hard days and partied late into the night, managing to get up the next morning and do it all over again.

Near the airfield, two shuttles were parked. One was the shuttle Harmon had purchased from Mike and Mike. It had been modified into a dropship to transport mechs, as well as troops. Even at this distance, the quad-barrel machine gun mounted underneath looked menacing. The Bolts were using both shuttles as temporary quarters while they patrolled the colony site in squads and continued their mech training. A large prefabricated metal building held the mechs, as well as the replicator from Yatarward Industries, along with a few technicians who’d opted to come work in the new system.

The Withaloo shuttle was parked a substantial distance from the construction area. Harmon saw four of the large humanoids and a smaller being headed toward the buildings. It would be a few minutes before they reached them.

Out the corner of his eye, Harmon saw the hatch open on a mech and its pilot dismount. He looked over and realized something was missing, but he couldn’t place it. To his surprise, the pilot

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