GLASSMANOAK'S Contest Thread #115...for WINNERS and with MULTIPLE WINNERS !!
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10/30 #1
story time, Part 2
One by one the officers straggled in. Flannery was first, forever puffing on that antique pipe that never left his person. Colleen Callahan, the sexy red-headed navigator, followed closely behind, wearing her usual frown. Next was Harrison James, the science officer, straight and neat as always. Close on his heels was Cyril "Doc" Martin, medical officer and the man in charge of their cargo.
"Let's get to it," said O'Reiley. "What's your exact assessment of the situation, Flannery?"
"Well, sir, as I said previously, the drivers are in sad shape and fading rapidly. At present we have only 43% power available for hyperdrive. Life support is steady, but we are losing forward speed and will drop to sub-light in about nine hours. I cannot repair the coils without a major strip-down and that cannot be done in space."
O'Reiley's face was knotted in what would be called an unusual grimace, even for a sourpuss like him. He turned to Callahan and asked, "How far to our destination?"
"One moment sir." She had started punching numbers into the Navcomputer while Flannery had been explaining the state of the engines. She shook her long red mane and announced to no one in particular, "Four point nine two two three lights."
"Anywhere we can lay by between here and there?"
"Afraid not, sir. There is a system point two off our course, but to the best of my knowledge, no one has ever bothered to explore it. Chances of finding a suitable planet are low. And if we get stuck out there, the chances of anyone ever finding us are almost nil."
O'Reiley's grimace tightened. "What have you got to say James?"
The science officer cleared his throat and sat forward. He'd been double-checking Callahan's figures, as was his usual wont. "We obviously have no choice. Flannery says he can't fix the ship in space. It will take several years to reach Vishnu at light or below. We do not have the air or provisions to last that long without everyone going in the freezers, then there's no one up to check further deterioration. Assuming we don't have that deterioration, thereby killing all of us, we'd still reach port just in time to retire. And I believe your contract specifies timely delivery of this... uhh, cargo. If they refuse to accept a cargo four or five years overdue, we'll all retire penniless. I suggest we take a chance on that unexplored system."
"We have another problem," chirped Martin. "The computer is set to defrost the cargo when we go sub-light. That way they'll all be wide-awake for landfall. "
Flannery sat up suddenly, almost dropping his pipe. "What do you mean 'they'll be awake'? Just what the hell is this cargo we're carrying?"
"Don't be so naive! Uh, er, captain, doesn't everyone know about the cargo?"
O'Reiley was rubbing his temples. "No Doc, but I suppose we better tell them now. Only Doc and Lt. James were privy to this, but we're transporting over 2,000 illegal colonists."
"Holy Mother!" exclaimed Flannery, twisting on his pipe.
Callahan looked off at the view screens and chewed her nails. Then she spun on O'Reiley and slammed her fist on the console. "Do you realize what kind of trouble we could be in? Of course you do! You accepted the bloody cargo and didn't bother to tell the rest of us. Hell, I expect a double bonus if we get out of this without a prison sentence."
"Doc?" queried Flannery. "Why can't we reprogram so the illegals... uh, cargo, don't wake up?"
Martin looked a little sheepish, then replied, "I don't know how."
O'Reiley looked at Harrison James. "How about you?"
"I will look into it, Captain." James got out of his chair and walked across the bridge to another console, sat, and started tapping keys. He returned in minutes and looked straight at O'Reiley. "I can over-ride the computer, but it will make an automatic log entry that will be extremely difficult to explain. Of course, blowing the engines is going to be a tough review in any case. You knew we needed a complete overhaul back at Proterius, but were in such a damn hurry to cash in on this big bonus... "
"Hold it! That's enough!" O'Reiley was getting red in the face as James neared the end of his tirade. "Your point is well taken, but let's not get insubordinate in making it."
Flannery and Callahan were looking at each other with a very large question written on their faces. Then Flannery decided to risk the question, "Oh, just how large is this bonus?"
"Stow it, Flannery!" O'Reiley was near fuming now. He paced a bit, then turned back, looking slightly calmer, but still worried. "Flannery, can you fix this tub if we put you on dry land?"
"Aye, Captain. Well, maybe. I can fix anything with enough time and provided we find a place with good atmosphere and the right minerals for fabrication of the necessary parts. And like Callahan said, that isn't too likely from an unexplored system."
O'Reiley looked around at each person. "Seems to me that we either give it a try and maybe not make it, or do nothing and definitely not make it." Only blank stares were returned. "OK, Callahan, plot us into that system. Flannery, hold us together awhile longer. The rest of you, cross your fingers."
-- to be continued --
She might even be worse than me about clambering up the rocks...
story time, Part 2
One by one the officers straggled in. Flannery was first, forever puffing on that antique pipe that never left his person. Colleen Callahan, the sexy red-headed navigator, followed closely behind, wearing her usual frown. Next was Harrison James, the science officer, straight and neat as always. Close on his heels was Cyril "Doc" Martin, medical officer and the man in charge of their cargo.
"Let's get to it," said O'Reiley. "What's your exact assessment of the situation, Flannery?"
"Well, sir, as I said previously, the drivers are in sad shape and fading rapidly. At present we have only 43% power available for hyperdrive. Life support is steady, but we are losing forward speed and will drop to sub-light in about nine hours. I cannot repair the coils without a major strip-down and that cannot be done in space."
O'Reiley's face was knotted in what would be called an unusual grimace, even for a sourpuss like him. He turned to Callahan and asked, "How far to our destination?"
"One moment sir." She had started punching numbers into the Navcomputer while Flannery had been explaining the state of the engines. She shook her long red mane and announced to no one in particular, "Four point nine two two three lights."
"Anywhere we can lay by between here and there?"
"Afraid not, sir. There is a system point two off our course, but to the best of my knowledge, no one has ever bothered to explore it. Chances of finding a suitable planet are low. And if we get stuck out there, the chances of anyone ever finding us are almost nil."
O'Reiley's grimace tightened. "What have you got to say James?"
The science officer cleared his throat and sat forward. He'd been double-checking Callahan's figures, as was his usual wont. "We obviously have no choice. Flannery says he can't fix the ship in space. It will take several years to reach Vishnu at light or below. We do not have the air or provisions to last that long without everyone going in the freezers, then there's no one up to check further deterioration. Assuming we don't have that deterioration, thereby killing all of us, we'd still reach port just in time to retire. And I believe your contract specifies timely delivery of this... uhh, cargo. If they refuse to accept a cargo four or five years overdue, we'll all retire penniless. I suggest we take a chance on that unexplored system."
"We have another problem," chirped Martin. "The computer is set to defrost the cargo when we go sub-light. That way they'll all be wide-awake for landfall. "
Flannery sat up suddenly, almost dropping his pipe. "What do you mean 'they'll be awake'? Just what the hell is this cargo we're carrying?"
"Don't be so naive! Uh, er, captain, doesn't everyone know about the cargo?"
O'Reiley was rubbing his temples. "No Doc, but I suppose we better tell them now. Only Doc and Lt. James were privy to this, but we're transporting over 2,000 illegal colonists."
"Holy Mother!" exclaimed Flannery, twisting on his pipe.
Callahan looked off at the view screens and chewed her nails. Then she spun on O'Reiley and slammed her fist on the console. "Do you realize what kind of trouble we could be in? Of course you do! You accepted the bloody cargo and didn't bother to tell the rest of us. Hell, I expect a double bonus if we get out of this without a prison sentence."
"Doc?" queried Flannery. "Why can't we reprogram so the illegals... uh, cargo, don't wake up?"
Martin looked a little sheepish, then replied, "I don't know how."
O'Reiley looked at Harrison James. "How about you?"
"I will look into it, Captain." James got out of his chair and walked across the bridge to another console, sat, and started tapping keys. He returned in minutes and looked straight at O'Reiley. "I can over-ride the computer, but it will make an automatic log entry that will be extremely difficult to explain. Of course, blowing the engines is going to be a tough review in any case. You knew we needed a complete overhaul back at Proterius, but were in such a damn hurry to cash in on this big bonus... "
"Hold it! That's enough!" O'Reiley was getting red in the face as James neared the end of his tirade. "Your point is well taken, but let's not get insubordinate in making it."
Flannery and Callahan were looking at each other with a very large question written on their faces. Then Flannery decided to risk the question, "Oh, just how large is this bonus?"
"Stow it, Flannery!" O'Reiley was near fuming now. He paced a bit, then turned back, looking slightly calmer, but still worried. "Flannery, can you fix this tub if we put you on dry land?"
"Aye, Captain. Well, maybe. I can fix anything with enough time and provided we find a place with good atmosphere and the right minerals for fabrication of the necessary parts. And like Callahan said, that isn't too likely from an unexplored system."
O'Reiley looked around at each person. "Seems to me that we either give it a try and maybe not make it, or do nothing and definitely not make it." Only blank stares were returned. "OK, Callahan, plot us into that system. Flannery, hold us together awhile longer. The rest of you, cross your fingers."
-- to be continued --
She might even be worse than me about clambering up the rocks...
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10/30 #4
That's quite a story fuzzy..........it's getting close to that time for me...I have lots to do today as it's Friday and a big weekend for me............
That's quite a story fuzzy..........it's getting close to that time for me...I have lots to do today as it's Friday and a big weekend for me............
10/30 #2
Well, getting time to move my buns outside. It warmed up a little (it's 50*F at the moment). Gonna start my laundry (yes, often married men do their own laundry - no one but me has done mine for the last 36 years), then while that's washing, I'll go start splitting the last load of wood, come in to toss the first load in the drier, start the second load, then go stack the firewood, finish the laundry and bring a couple wheelbarrow loads of firewood in the house to keep us toasty tonight. Sound like a plan? Well, I'm off! Later...
Some place called Brush Creek in the Ochoco National Forest, central Orygun.
Well, getting time to move my buns outside. It warmed up a little (it's 50*F at the moment). Gonna start my laundry (yes, often married men do their own laundry - no one but me has done mine for the last 36 years), then while that's washing, I'll go start splitting the last load of wood, come in to toss the first load in the drier, start the second load, then go stack the firewood, finish the laundry and bring a couple wheelbarrow loads of firewood in the house to keep us toasty tonight. Sound like a plan? Well, I'm off! Later...
Some place called Brush Creek in the Ochoco National Forest, central Orygun.
10/30 #5
Well don't work too hard...........it's that time for me also....so have a great day everyone.....I will check back in later on tonight...........healing energy being sent to those in need....
Well don't work too hard...........it's that time for me also....so have a great day everyone.....I will check back in later on tonight...........healing energy being sent to those in need....
10/30 - 3: Let the weekend begin. Glad you and yours are safe Road. I agree Slow and it is a good story Fuzzy. Are you in the pic Ranger?
10/30 #5
Survived the costume parade at the school--but I don't know how the kids did. It was 91 degrees on the black top and the kids had to sit in the sun until their grade got up and walked a few laps. Most of the adults huddled in the shade provided by the auditorium building...
I think she's the one dressed up as me.
Survived the costume parade at the school--but I don't know how the kids did. It was 91 degrees on the black top and the kids had to sit in the sun until their grade got up and walked a few laps. Most of the adults huddled in the shade provided by the auditorium building...
10/30 #6
Well just in case I don't make it back on tonight.........stormy/windy we might lose power.....
Well just in case I don't make it back on tonight.........stormy/windy we might lose power.....
10/30 - 4: I do not recall you ever showing yourself so guessing...10/30 #5
I think she's the one dressed up as me.
Survived the costume parade at the school--but I don't know how the kids did. It was 91 degrees on the black top and the kids had to sit in the sun until their grade got up and walked a few laps. Most of the adults huddled in the shade provided by the auditorium building...
Blue be safe.
10/30 #1
..gettting in some chain vaping before I head out to do sumpthin..Fuzzy always says "Do" ..or "Not Do"
@tiggerrts ..you're alive!
...I think the smile gives it away... @rangerrobin
Conkles Hollow, Fall view
..gettting in some chain vaping before I head out to do sumpthin..Fuzzy always says "Do" ..or "Not Do"
@tiggerrts ..you're alive!
...I think the smile gives it away... @rangerrobin Conkles Hollow, Fall view
10/30 - 5: TIOA sns 4 eps 2: A few years back: Anjelvape77 received a call, her husband was in a bad accident; perhaps life threatening. "No!" and more in her mind. Present: Amlowe cuddled with her children, if there was nothing else, this was enough; she loved them dearly.
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Yep, Aloha!10/30 - 3: Let the weekend begin. Glad you and yours are safe Road. I agree Slow and it is a good story Fuzzy. Are you in the pic Ranger?
10/30 #2
Settling in for the evenin. Had spaghetti..with that killer sauce I made the other day. YUM! It's like home made chili...Always seems to taste better after a day or two in the frig
Hmmm..what to watch tonite
Maybe some Alien2
Wow. @Fuzzy Thunderbear ...a space odyssey!
and tiggs.. @tiggerrts ...can't wait for next installments of the story!
It's like having 2 channels on my TV! Well..actually..growin up we had 3 ..sometimes...You had to turn the on-roof antenna to get Cleveland
Conkles Hollow....cliff's ledge.
Settling in for the evenin. Had spaghetti..with that killer sauce I made the other day. YUM! It's like home made chili...Always seems to taste better after a day or two in the frig
Hmmm..what to watch tonite
Maybe some Alien2
Wow. @Fuzzy Thunderbear ...a space odyssey!
and tiggs.. @tiggerrts ...can't wait for next installments of the story!
It's like having 2 channels on my TV!
Well..actually..growin up we had 3 ..sometimes...You had to turn the on-roof antenna to get Cleveland Conkles Hollow....cliff's ledge.
10/30 #6
Dinner time at the casa. Good night, Treefam!
Dinner time at the casa. Good night, Treefam!
10/30 #3
Well, another day, another... wait, I don't even get the dollar for all this work. Oh well, I just console myself with how much I don't have to pay someone else to do all this.
Just a walkin' in the rain...
We'll all be on the ground shortly.
Well, another day, another... wait, I don't even get the dollar for all this work.
Oh well, I just console myself with how much I don't have to pay someone else to do all this.Just a walkin' in the rain...
10/30 - 6: Wanted to say Good night with this, a song I can sing all parts to. See you on the morrow.
#3
10 / 30
G'Nite Uncle!
10 / 30
G'Nite Uncle!
10/30 #4
My how things drop off on this forum when it gets to be about this time of night. Hello? Anyone out there? Well, maybe I'll go see what the newbies are doing...
Hey, little girl, ya wanna come over here and look at these rocks or what?
My how things drop off on this forum when it gets to be about this time of night. Hello? Anyone out there? Well, maybe I'll go see what the newbies are doing...
Hey, little girl, ya wanna come over here and look at these rocks or what?
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