Shackleton - Operation Have Sea

[Shulsky]

Guerrero Asteroid Cloud, Vespucci System
3 JAN 835 AS

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“Boss-man, grab a window…starboard side.”

Booth glanced up from his hand-held console, thick gloved fingers hovering over the extra wide keys as his helmet kept on staring down. Tapping up a report was annoying, but it had to be done…what could be coming alongside though at such a time? His mind went through all the possible things that could be going wrong - or right. What was scheduled for today? What…was today, really? A stare at the watch made him realize that they’d been at work for more than a dozen hours for the day. Well that really was a pain. What…was scheduled for the day?

Eryri hadn’t reported its position since confirming the signal on being requested, so that was always up in the air. Stuart had said something about not wanting to give away the position of the wreck, especially since he wasn’t able to use the official Bristol communications. He’d always been a pretty reliable sort. What else, what else…it wasn’t another transfer of materials from their waystation at Tijuana, that was still not for another week. Was Powhatan doing something or another it shouldn’t be? Maneuvering strangely? Aisa didn’t sound worried enough for that. Booth clicked off his console, mag-clamping the tablet to his belt before awkwardly getting up from that half-lean, half-sit.

A few steps that felt like forever. The Zoner hadn’t yet fully gotten used to how his legs felt encased so thoroughly, though a part of the man suspected that he’d get used to the awkwardness the moment such wouldn’t be necessary. That was how luck ran, that’s how luck always run, by falling off the asteroid and tumbling through the abyss until it hit something else completely. He snorted inside his helmet at the image. Click-click-click, sounded the respiration pump, louder in his helmet than usual. The thought to get it checked was filed away as soon as it appeared in Booth’s head. Just another thing to look towards. Just another thing to be checked and double checked. That snort was traded for a sigh.

Finally. The window wasn’t all that big, circular and reinforced as it jutted out just a bit from the hull. Booth leaned down, peered out into the void.

It was the Eryri, slowly settling into view with the wide cargo doors already opened up along her belly, pointed towards Booth. The Zoner could see little dots moving here and there, cargo-hauling skiffs and utility craft coupled with fellow-suited crew setting about to their tasks. He reached for a wrist, clicked open the comms. “Good sight for the new year, Aisa. Good friggin sight. Tell Stuart to not wait on my permissions before he gets started.”

“Aye, sir.”

A smile touched Booth’s lips at the sight, at the thought. Finally they’d be getting rid of the bad jutters and thoughts that’d seemed to surround the ship. Despite all his thoughts before, all his contemplations, the presences of the former crew had levied a toll against his, to a degree against him, and Booth was glad to see them off. Finally they’d make it more their own, more to their own purpose. It was a good sight indeed.

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Operation Have Sea