Chapter Getting Ready for the Big Job
She walked onto a small raised tform and surveyed the group of various lifeforms that were assembled.
“Good morning, gentlefolk,” She said in a loud and clear voice. Everyone fell silent. “Now I know you are all just dying to know what the job is but first we need to cover a few things. First off, we are reaching the point of no return. If anyone has any second thoughts and wants to split now is the time. You will be taken to the Vengeance and given enough bus fare to get wherever you want to go.” She paused for a few moments and as expected, nobody left. “Excellent,” she continued. “From this point onward nobody can leave. You can still back out but you will be staying with us until the job starts. You will bepensated for your time with ten thousand credits plus room and board.”
Jessie, Gloria, and Jacob started walking through the groups handing out tablets. Almost immediately there were shouts and murmuring as everyone saw the first page with the words “White Star” in big print.
“That’s right,” She said with a grin, “We are taking out the White Star.” She gestured to the array of VR stations in therge room. “We have an excellent n and have a high probability of sess on this one. These stations have fullyouts of the entire ship, battle ns, and training simtions for all of you to get your roles down pat. I expect all of you to get a lot of simtion time in and pay attention to the briefings. The better prepared we are the better chance we all have of getting this done, and getting home alive.”
“This isn’t what we were expecting!” a human yelled. “This is nuts!”
“Well, look over the n and if you are still unhappy take your ten thousand and put your feet up for a couple of weeks,” She said with a smile. “Of course there is another surprise that is ‘nuts’. Your pay has gone up. Each of you hired guns can expect to bring home one million credits minimum with bonuses depending on how much we get. Still too insane for you?”
“Um… I’ll get back to you,” the human said as he grabbed a tablet.
“Ok, now we will start the first mission brief,” She said as arge holo-projector switched on disying arge three-dimensional image of the White Star.
***
After an hour of briefings She stepped outside and looked at the forest around them. Sarn-2 was even more beautiful than she remembered. A bunch of hardened Z’uush warriors were scampering around, squealing, and frolicking like a bunch of children. She couldn’t help but smile.
T’sunk’al walked up with a cup of coffee and handed it to her.
“They seem to be having fun,” She said with augh.
“For some of them, this is the first time they have ever been on a’s surface or at least one as verdant as this,” T’sunk’al said with a happy click. “Many of us were born, lived our entire lives, and died in the mines. For some this is the first time they have truly been ‘outside’. They may have been in cities or a space station but as far as this,” He waved his ws towards the trees, “This is new.”
“Huh, hadn’t thought of that.”
A man approached the pair. She turned to him and smiled.
“Hey, Logan,” she said as she trotted over to him. “It’s been too long.” She raised up on her toes and gave him a kiss.
“Mmm.” he replied as he returned her kiss, “So why did you have to set up the camp here on this goddamn?”
“Well,” she said, “If you couldn’t get down here then you aren’t the pilot for the job.” She grinned. “I think your crew’s cut is worth the hassle.”
She took a sip of coffee as she looked at him fondly.
“So, you get a void jumper?”
“Yeah, I’m all set.”
“Didn’t see anyone new at the briefing.”
“Oh, she will show up sooner orter.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Not terribly professional.”
“Eh,” Logan said, “All she has to do is jump. I wouldn’t trust her with a gun anyway. Oh, speak of the devil.”
An oddly dressed old human woman staggered up wearing dark tinted sses and a beaded headband.
“<em>Oh no</em>. No no no no no… <em>No!”</em> She said pinching the bridge of her nose and shaking her head.
“Hiiii Shellllia,” the old woman said barely able to stand upright. “How’s it been, girrrl?”
“Hello, Delores,” She said and then grabbed Logan and dragged him off. “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you would have said no,” Logan said with augh. “I know what you think of her but she can do the jump. I’ll keep her out of the way. She won’t be any problem, promise.”
“She is the problem. She is a walking problem. Problem is her fucking spirit animal!”
“Heeeyyy, girrrrrl,” the woman said as she staggered over to them. “Just whipped up a fresh batch of dreamweave. Want some?” she asked producing a small vial of clear liquid.
“No. Running naked and screaming through one starport is enough, thank you.”
“Meh, lightweight,” the woman said as she opened the vial and drained it.
“How many fucking hits was that?” She asked in horror.
“Dunno… All of them? (giggle)” The woman stood stock still for a little while and then said, “Woooooaaahhh those trees... <em>Trees!”</em> and then ran off into the woods.
“Ugh,” She said in disgust and then heard a chuckle. She turned and saw her entire crew peeking out from around the doors to the main hall.
“You! All of you! Come here!” She yelled as herughing crew fled with She in hot pursuit.
***
“Crrreators!” Mul’sha’kal eximed as she was filling her te from the buffet. “Is this what college was like?”
“No,” Bal’sur’k replied as he surveyed the feast, “I think this is actually a little worse.”
“I mean, why the hell do we need to know anything about power distribution? <em>Seriously?</em>... Ooo! Fish!” Mul’sha’kal said as she grabbed some sashimi.
“Well, I can see how it coulde in handy… I guess...”
“And what’s this about written exams?!?” she wailed.
“Well, I think the only thing we need to know is that we really want to pass. I understand that if you fail out you get the ten thousand credit vacation,” Bal’sur’k said as he selected some fresh fruit.
“Fuuuuuckkk… I’m so screwed...”
“Don’t think like that. You are plenty sharp when you want to be and don’t forget, you have the almighty Brainiac on your side. You have any trouble, just let me know and I’ll break it down for you.”
“Really?” Mul’sha’kal asked her eyes glittering, “You think I’m sharp?”
“Sure. Our little jobs haven’t exactly been simple. You got those ns down didn’t you and you didn’t survive the war by being stupid.” Bal’sur’k said as they headed over to where the rest of their crew was sitting. He gave her a little tap on the back. “You will do just fine.”
If Bal’sur’k had been looking he would have seen her blush. They both settled down with the rest of their gang.
“So what do you think, boss?” Bal’sur’k asked Jak’kul’sha as he started to eat.
“Don’t call me that. I ain’t nobody’s boss.”
“Yeah, big Z’uush, you keep on thinking that,” Bal’sur’k chuckled, “but seriously, what do you think?”
Jak’kul’sha just looked around and sighed.
“I’m telling ya Z’uush… I mean… Fuck... I thought we had our shit together but these guys… This is a whole ''nother level… I mean shit… This… All these pieces, all these ns, all this information, this setup… Fuck… Just… Fuck...” he stammered. “This… This is how it’s fucking done! Never mind the cash… Just to be a part of this… To be able to <em>learn</em> from them…”
He shook his head.
“This,” he said as he waved a w over the whole scene, “this is what we want to be. We could do this, <em>be this.”</em>
“Yeah, right,” Salz’rashughed. “Dere’s no way.”
“No, ‘dere’ is a way,” Jak’kul’sha said punching Salz’rash yfully on the shell, “Think about it, who we have? We have you with yourputer shit, Brainiac with… well Brainiac shit... The rest of us ain’t no softshells either. We got plenty of smarts, we just got to use those smarts… smarter...”
“Well, the payout for this job will certainly get us heading in the right direction,” Bal’sur’k said thoughtfully, “and if we do well and gain their confidence we could have more and better opportunities as well as perhaps gain their mentorship.”
“And the creds will mean that we won’t have to scrabble and risk our shiny little shells over scraps. We can take our time and pick our jobs.” Mul’sha’kal said while she ate some sashimi, “This fish is raw!… Good though… I wonder how much it costs.”
“Well, things going well we will find out for ourselves.” Ray’shel’zun said happily.
“For any of that shit to happen we have to get this job down and get it done,” Jak’kul’sha said as he tried some of the sashimi. “Hey! This raw fish is good!” he then turned to Bal’sur’k. “You gotta pull out some of that brains and pass it around. We gotta ace these tests.”
“Well,” Bal’sur’k replied, “does anyone have any questions?”
***
“So, what do you think?” She asked Greg as he was pouring over some spreadsheets.
“Well, most of the units are experienced professionals and know what to do. Even so, we are going to be cutting a few of them loose if these test scores are any indication but we should have more than enough to fill our roster.”
“So how about those new Z’uush squads?”
“Not bad,” Greg replied, “Most of them had at least a little bit of a technical background before they became warriors and it shows. They also seem to be a bit more willing to co-operate outside of their individual crews. There is this one guy… I think they call him ‘Brainiac’ who is damn near running his own training camp within our training camp. They all go to him with questions.” Greg said as he pulled up their scores. “It’s almost a problem. They go to him instead of us. That being said these scores speak for themselves.”
“I’ll talk to them, but that’s a great problem to have,” She said looking at the results. “How about the simtors?”
“They are operating well and getting plenty of use. People like video games. The results, however...” He pulled up another screen.
“Yeesh!” She said. “We are going to have to crack the whip. I think we need to eliminate at least one group of low performers earlier than nned. Show them that we are serious.”
“Well, I think I know who that will be, those former army fucks. You know the ones I’m talking about.”
“Yeah, let’s cut them loose. Give them their ten grand and ship them to the hotel.”
***
“This is total bullshit!” a human male yelled as the sun set on the first day.
“Yeah!” a woman hollered.
“Sorry. That’s just how it is. We don’t need you,” She said as she held out half a dozen crystals. “Here’s your pay and there is a truck outside. Grab your shit.”
“This isn’t over,<em> bitch!”</em> their leader yelled.
“Oh?” She asked in a menacing tone.
The arguing continued as the fired group raised holy hell, just like She wanted.
Mul’sha’kal walked over to Jak’kul’sha.
“What’s that all about?” she asked.
“Looks like the first gang just got their ten grand,” Jak’kul’sha replied.
“Oh shit! Do you think we are ok?”
“Well, there is only one truck outside. I think we are good… for now.”
“Where’s Brainiac?” Mul’sha’kal asked urgently as she looked around. “I gotta go over some shit.”
***
“That was nice.” She said as she rolled off of Logan and curled up next to him. “We should meet up more often.
“Yeah. It’s been too long, baby girl.”
“Ugh, you know I hate that,” She said as she punched him in the side.
“Ow! That’s why I say it.” Loganughed. “So how is the taskmistress doing. Whipping all of the little guys into shape.”
“Bleah,” She said as she snuggled in closer. “Looks sort of ok so far. Had to cut some assholes loose today but I was gonna do that anyhow.”
She raised up on one elbow and yed with his hair.
“Speaking of little guys,” she said with a smile, “Your crew didn’t exactly ace anything either. You need to put a boot up their ass.”
“Rx,” Logan said with augh, “I’ll talk to them but is it really that important? We are just flying and hauling.”
“Don’t piss me off,” She said as she started pinching him, “Everybody has to know their shit, even you fucking pirates.”
“Ok, ok… Stop it!” Loganughed. “I’ll apply leather to backside first thing in the morning.”
“You better,” Sheughed. “I gotta go. I still have some shit to do before bed.”
“You know… you could just stay here,” Logan said smiling.
“Tempting, but the taskmistress needs get her whip ready for tomorrow.”
She got up and got dressed.
She opened the door and turned to him, smiling.
“See you tomorrow night,”
“Can’t wait.”
Logan smiled as she left and then pulled out his tablet. He pressed his hand to the screen and typed in a password. A Federation sigil appeared on the screen.
“Sorry, baby girl...” he said to himself.