Deep Six Chapter 15

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Ed Man
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Deep Six Chapter 15

Post by Ed Man »

Neptune
Chapter 15 Deep Six

Gabe had finished up and was waiting in Elena’s Fortune on Josh to show up with the new ship. The crew had loaded their thing up on the RT and Windfall and were at the trading station getting in some R&R. Simon and Donna had loaded up on the Buzzard and were at the Goner Temple. Donna was going to meet her counselor that was at the Temple this week while Simon hired a crew for the Miner and some crewmen for the mini TL Gabe had already named Neptune.

Gabe seen the sector map light up with a big green ship and as he looked at the ID it said TL class and the name was Neptune. Gabe zoomed in on the ship as Josh made his way through the traffic and headed for his position. As the TL got closer and Gabe could see the sides he seen the name Neptune above the ID numbers. The new Miner went along with the salvage aspect of the company name Deep Six Salvage.

The Miner could also separate and process ships hulls to be reused while the special Disco could cut up sections of larger ship and tractor them back for to the Miner for processing.
Gabe got a good ideal of the size of the TL when it got up beside his ship. It was smaller but still a massive ship about 35% smaller than the newer version of the Hercules and it had a smaller cargo hole but much more versatile and it fit the needs of what Deep Six was a salvage company.

The tour was long as Josh showed Gabe the ship section by section. The Neptune had four androids one in medical, one in the galley, one to serve the Captain and work on the bridge and the last one was assigned for the crew. The ship had linked transporters throughout the ship plus hatches, ladders, blast doors, halls and stairways leading to every section and part of the ship.
A simulator was onboard to train the crew and pilots. A briefing room near the command section and main docking bays a conference room near the Captains and Officers quarters. A recreation and game room and a fitness center with showers and a steam room. It even had a small library and research center.
Josh had adapted and upgraded the repair drones and constructor units ready to repair and upgrade any ship they found. The ship had four security drones onboard that could transport to any part of the ship. One was stationed near the main dock, one at the rear dock, one at engineering and the other near the control room and bridge.
Gabe signed the papers after the grand tour of the TL and the miner and new Nova tow ship.
There was one last thing Josh wanted to show Gabe as he took him to a storage room in his quarters and showed Gabe a latch that opened the lockers up like a door reveled a blast door leading to nowhere.
Gabe seen the door and asked Josh? “Is it a safe room?”
[Josh] “Yes it is place your hand on the center of the door and let it scan you and I’ll show you the room.”

Gabe laid his hand on the door and it opened to a large with regular doors that lead to other sections of the what Gabe was starting to find out was a massive area with living quarters a galley and a bay to build a ship in and a android. Josh told Gabe to never show or tell anyone about the door and if he had to use it after he was inside it had a special distress signal that would contact Josh. The only two people that could open the door the door was Gabe and Josh and if he didn’t come to his rescue build a ship in the bay and transport into regular space and recover the door himself and rescue his crew inside.

Josh went on to explain that the room was only to be used as a last resort in case Gabe and the crew needed a place to escape destruction. Not a safe room to hide in every time a Pirate attacks. The door and safe room was a gift and if Josh found out it was being misused the next time he went to it, it would be gone.
Gabe thanked Josh and asked. “Did you find what you were looking for in your room?”

Josh gave one them smiles you see on the faces of people as they talk about the good times they had with a loved one that had just passed away and said. “I found a old friend. Our ships android we called Roman and data I thought would be lost forever. But most of all pictures and recordings of my family were there.
Gabe when you start a family I’ll give you access to add your wife and children so they can access the safe room good luck Gabe and remember to help people when you can you can always make more. it’s a code I’ve lived by my whole life. The word says to give and it will be given back to you in great measure. I’m living proof of that. You can’t out give God Gabe. I but you a plaque up in your office I think you’ll like it.”
Josh transported off the Neptune and took the ships and was gone by the time Gabe made it to his office and was looking around till he seen it a plaque hanging on the wall in plan view from his desk with the ten commandments written on it.
Gabe remembered how Pop had keep one in there home and on the ship. Gabe smiled as he asked. “Bit how do you like your new home?”
[Bit] “I like it Gabe do you have any orders?”
[Gabe] “No not right now just hold position.”

Gabe set in the massive ship waiting on the crew to return. The size of the crew was about to over double in size after Gabe asked Simon to hire at least 14 new people. Eight were just to keep the Miner and it’s Disco going and six were for the TL and that was just the minimum amount needed. Gabe asked for twenty so the TL would have 12 crewman.
Gabe locked the door to his room as he laid down to sleep and wait on his crew to get back and the first group of new ones Donna brings to the TL.
The Goner were more than willing to help out in any way they could and had already checked the backgrounds on this group and had files ready for Simon and Donna to look over before the interviews.
Gabe was awake and eating breakfast when the crew returned from the station requesting permission to dock. “Bit have them dock in the back bay and sent one of the androids to escort them up and show them their rooms. After their done storing there things have them meet me on the bridge before there tour of the ship.”
[Bit] “Donna has just jumped into the sector with five new people where do you want her to dock?”
[Gabe] “Sent her to the main docking bay and have the bridge android escort them to there rooms then bring them all up together onto the bridge and they can all take the tour together.”
[Bit] “Understood Commander and you have just received a message from your grandfather.”

Gabe opened the message saying that Pop was going to pay him a visit after Gabe got his crew settled in to just sent him a message when. Gabe returned the message and told Pop to stop in whenever he was ready he had time now. Gabe wanted to see Pop not just to show him the TL he missed him and wanted to see how he was doing with his therapy and if he was getting better.

Gabe gave the current and new crew members a welcome aboard speech after they all made it to the bridge then sent them on a tour of the TL. Donna had dropped her things off in her new room and gave Gabe the files on the new crew members then left in the Buzzard and jumped back to help Simon.

Gabe remembered how hectic it was the last time trying to find the best personnel for each position and they only hired four people and this time Gabe was wanting twenty. Gabe knew Simon had his hands full but he trusted him and knew he was going to hire the best people he could. And being in the core sectors gave Simon a much better selection of highly skilled workers to select from. It may take Simon a while to find them but Gabe knew he was going to get a good crew.

Pop returned the message saying he was coming and was entering the sector a hour later. Gabe went to the main dock to meet him as he got of the Buster alone. “Gabe it’s good to see you boy give me a hug.”

Gabe watched as Pop walked over a lot better and gave him a hug that felt like the old Pop he use to be.
As Gabe was showing Pop the way to the transporter he asked about his progress and got a quick rundown on how well he had recovered but would never be completely healed but was doing a lot better.

Pop and Gabe talked while Gabe gave him a quick tour of the ship and after Pop found out about Gabe needing a Captain for the Miner and Disco Pop stopped Gabe and told him about a problem he had.
Pop had a crewman that was a top notch Captain and he wanted to give him charge of the new freighter he was about to buy but he knew Cherrit was wanting the post. Cherrit was a good Commander and one of the best fighter pilots but he didn’t have the patients or experience of the other Commander. Pop wanted Cherrit to run his freighter and manage the business for him but he needed to get use to the position and helping Gabe out for a while was exactly what he needed to help prepare him.

Gabe knew they may be a problem if Simon had already hired a Captain so the talk was stopped and a message was sent to Simon. Who responded right back saying the position was open. Then Pop sent Cherrit a message asking him if he was willing to take a Captains position with Gabe on the miner for a while to get a real taste of what he was getting into when Pop started pulling away for the business.

After a little wait and a few more sections seen on the tour of the of the ship Cherrit replied back yes.
As the tour continued Pops explained his next project was looking for some land on a planet to build a home on then retirement. Pop and Gabe had already talked about a place large enough for all of them on a planet and Pop was planning on finding something after he got the second ship running and a good flow of funds were coming in.
Pop was more than impressed with the TL as he made it to the last stop on the tour at the main docking bays. The tour and visit was over so Gabe hugged Pop and wished him well then watched his ship pull away thinking to himself it was time for Pop to enjoy himself and do whatever he wanted and a place to visit and call home sounded really good.

Several hours later the Buster returned with Cherrit and his things and while Gabe was showing Cherrit the Miner while they were there Donna entered the sector and docked with seven more recruits.
Donna gave Gabe the files on the new people and said. “Captain I’ll be glade when this job is over with and we get back to our regular post.”
[Gabe] “Are you going to be ready to start right up when the rest of the crew is hired and you’re back?”
Donna smiled. “I’ll be ready and I’m looking forward to it.”

After Donna left Gabe looked at Cherrit saying. “Simon is second in command and after that Donna and Luke are two people I trust and you can too. You’ll be starting off with a new crew all of which are pilots so the they’ll need some time in the simulator before you head out.”
[Cherrit] “After I do some time in it if some of my crew are already onboard I’d like to meet them and get them into the simulator if I can?”
[Gabe] “Take a quick tour with the others and when you’re done come to my office and I’ll call them in so you can meet them. Pop looks a lot better and stronger than he did.”

[Cherrit] “Yes he is I didn’t notice it as much as you because I seen him every day as he got a little better. Before she left the Nurse said he had did better than she ever expected and Pop keep up with his working out after she left. There’s still a few things he can’t do well but he can at least do them now which made him fill a lot better about himself. Simon told me about the shootout and you getting shot and the medal you got and how you saved the Split Pilots. It took a lot of guts to go back after that last Pilot and the way you stepped up and saved Pop.
Simon and I went out to make our mark in the universe and found out just surviving was hard enough then you come along and do more than we ever thought about. I just want you to know I’m proud of you Gabe and I’m glad we’re family. Now I said it and don’t ever expect me to say it again.”

Cherrit gave Gabe a hug. “And I won’t be doing that again either.” Cherrit replied as he left out to meet up with the others to take a tour of the ship.
Gabe looked at the floor and laughed a little Cherrit was the oldest and always tried to act so unconcerned about Simon and Gabe when they were little. But he was always the first one to there rescue when a bully tried picking on Simon or Gabe.

Simon had hired twenty new people and the next few days were hectic for the group as each was required to spend time in the training simulator and qualify before they could fly any of Gabe’s ships. The senior crew as well as Gabe each spent time learing how to operate and fly the TL. Luke and the original crew were taking turns gathering freight out from around the Gates to stay busy and were ready to start the search. As soon as Cherrit and his crew were ready to start using the Miner and Disco the search started.
Gabe had already planned on a four day search of the sector because of its activity.
A day into the search and a Harrier was already in the bay being worked on to sell and it didn’t take long to find out they needed a extra freighter with a jump drive just to sell the ore and freight building up in the cargo hole of the TL. Two days into the search and they found just what they needed a Dolphin setting adrift. The hull was shot up and the shields were fried and anything that could be transported of was gone. The pirates had it striped it clean!

The Nova delivered the beaten down Dolphin back to the TL and docked and after Mike and the new mechanic Simon hired agreed that two of the shields could be repaired. It would take a day to repair the frame and four more days to repair the ship, shields and replace the equipment but it could be fixed.
Days later the sector search was over and the Dolphin was a day away from being ready but needing the final pieces of equipment to be completed so Gabe sent Luke to sell some of the excess missiles they found in the sector and pick up the equipment needed for the Dolphin at the Equipment dock in Cloudbase Southeast.
While he was there Luke sent Gabe a message. “I talked to a Boron for a while I seen on the job board that is looking to buy some ore. He has a Caiman Hauler he is wanting to get rid of it and get a basic Dolphin. He believes that the Boron are shunning him and not giving him a fair deal because of his ship and is wanting to trade for a Boron ship. Do you want to talk to him?”

Gabe thought for a few minutes about the Caiman Hauler. It was a lot faster and did have a bigger cargo hole and if the Boron had made up his mind that was his problem nothing was going to change it so why not here him out so Gabe sent a reply. “Yes tell him about the Dolphin and if he‘s interested tell him where the TL is.”
A few minutes later Luke replyed back. “He is interested and on his way. I’ll on my way back with the parts now. I scanned his ship and am sending the data for you to look at now.”
Gabe looked over the data on the Caiman and it was a impressive ship compaired to the Dolphin.
The whole point in repairing the Dolphin was to keep from having to buy a freighter and the Caiman was worth a lot more. So Gabe decided to at least here the Boron out first and maybe sell him some ore so the trip wouldn’t be a complete waste of time for them both.

Luke docked long before the Boron ever made it to the sector and Gabe set a thought about the Caiman and decided to offer him 25,000 credits and 250 units of ore for the trade. Or he could buy the 250 units of ore for 100 credit’s a unit which was a fair deal considering it could be sold in Argon Prime for 130 credit’s a unit.
The Boron transported over to the TL and Gabe showed him the Dolphin and took him into the office to talk about the trade. Gabe started off with his offer. “I’ll swap your shields and equipment over to the Dolphin and trade for 25,000 credits.”
Before Gabe could say another word and rephrase the offer the right way the Boron said. “I’ll take it! Boron need ore what you sell 400 units of ore to Boron for?”
Gabe was a little surprised at the quick response to the wrong offer and stopped to thank for a minute before he said anything else and said. “I’ll let you have the ore for a hundred credit’s a unit.”
Again the Boron replied. “I’ll take it! You have small fighter to sell Boron need escort fighter for Dolphin?”

Gabe was a little slower to respond to the question this time but took the Boron to show him the Pirate Harrier he had setting in the docking bay he had just bought shields and weapons for and said. “I’ll take 200,000 for the Harrier and the equipment onboard.”
The Boron was a little slower this time as he looked at the equipment list and checked his PDA and said. “I’ll take it who do I transfer the credits to?”
[Gabe] “That would be me it will take my men about a hour to swap the equipment on the freighters. You and your crewman are welcome to wait in the ships lounge if you want.”
[Boron] “Crew will take Harrier to shipyard to have it fitted for Boron. I wait here on freighter. We transfer credits now?”
[Gabe] “Yes follow me.” Gabe replied as he directed him into his office and transferred the credits over and signied the ownership over to the Boron pilot.
The Dolphin already was set up for Boron and was going to traded in on a human one at the shipyard. Now they were going to take the Caiman in it’s place. The crew had worked long and hard to get the Dolphin ready to go and now it had paid off as the bigger, faster and armed Caiman took it’s place on the list of ships belonging to the TL.
The Dolphin was ready to go and the ore was loaded and the final inspection was made as the Boron turned to Gabe as he was about to go and said. “Boron thanks human. Maybe we do business again.”

The crew and Gabe watched as the Dolphin eased out of sight headed for the shipyard to meet up with the rest of his crew and finish filling the larger living area of the Dolphin up so they could come out of their space suits.
Gabe knew that the trade-in price on a Boron cabin made to fit a Caiman was about worthless. But the extra credits made on the deal and sell of the Harrier was more that enough to buy a third 25 meg shield and jump drive. But first have the entire Caiman cleaned out and fumigated and have the best human cabin and cockpit installed.
Luke and Jack suited up and took off in the Caiman to get the job done at the shipyard while the Miner sold the rest of the ore and excess freight off. They had recovered quite a bit of goods from the sector but they had already spent to much time there and as soon as the ships returned to the TL they were moving on to the next sector and start it all over again.

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