Return to Dakistee by Thomas DePrima Page A
Authors: Thomas DePrima
Tags: Science-Fiction, adventure, Literature & Fiction, Space Opera, Military, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Galactic Empire, Space Fleet
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Expedition Headquarters on Anthius that the cylinder be delivered to me at Loudescott because I require it for a research project."
"You think they'll give it to you?"
"The Expedition Headquarters owes Space Command, and especially the Carver sisters, big time. They'll loan it to me."
* * *
"Lt. Uronson reporting to the base commander," the butter-bar Marine officer said after being invited into the shuttle and coming to attention.
"Stand easy, Lieutenant," Christa said.
"Yes, ma'am," he said as he relaxed. "I apologize for not being here to welcome you, ma'am, but I was ordered to report to battalion headquarters for a series of meetings regarding new security procedures being implemented on the planet."
"It's quite all right, Lieutenant. Sergeant Flegetti has done a splendid job in your absence. There are always two sentries on duty at the entrance to the new facility, which has been perfectly adequate. Now that you've returned, I want you to establish a proper camp like the one at Fort Carver. A perimeter trench with protective berm should be dug one hundred meters from the tunnel entrance. I realize you don't have the manpower for proper patrols, but I hope we'll soon have reinforcements. I expect this new underground facility will be every bit as important as the other."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Any questions, Lieutenant?"
"No ma'am. But I have to say that expectations of reinforcements may not be realistic. The Corps is spread really thin on this planet and everyone is requesting additional personnel."
"I'm afraid you might be right. We'll just have to see what kind of priority Space Command places on this outpost."
"Yes, ma'am."
"That's all, Lieutenant. Dismissed."
* * *
Three days later, Christa received a visitor at her shuttle. "Welcome, Dr. Manson. Won't you come in?"
Manson entered the shuttle and walked to the table Christa was using for a desk. As she placed a small case on the table, she said, "The Expedition Headquarters has ordered me to deliver the cylinder to you. It's on loan for as long as you need it. I need your thumbprint on the receipt."
Christa applied her thumb to the viewpad and said, "Would you care for a cup of coffee, Doctor?"
"No thank you. I'm on a tight schedule. Good day." With that, she left the shuttle and walked to where her own was waiting.
"Wow," Carmoody said. "Did they make her bring it to you personally?"
"In my note I may have mentioned that Dr. Manson had proved to be a little less than cooperative. Perhaps that was the reason she was here today. I wouldn't have said anything if she hadn't deliberately tried to mislead us regarding where the cylinder was found. I still haven't worked that one out. There was no reason that I can see."
"Perhaps she just wanted to place an obstacle in our path and thought misleading us about where the cylinder was found might accomplish that."
"Perhaps. With luck we'll have no more contact with her. Her personality is no better than the coffee she serves to her visitors."
Christa opened the small case and removed the cylinder. She looked at the symbol on the end of the tube and smiled. "Well, we have it. Now what do we do with it?"
"It's yours for as long as you want it. You could mount it on a display stand and send a picture to Dr. Manson."
"No, I'm not looking to rub her face in it. I don't know why, but I really feel we need this object to open the door.
* * *
After breakfast the next morning, Christa and Carmoody returned to the tunnel. They stood staring at the door and the cylinder as they thought, but there seemed to be no real connection other than the symbol on the end of the tube. There were no openings in the door where the cylinder might be inserted, as would be done with a key, and no supports where it could be hung. The breakthrough came when Christa extended her hand to compare the length of the cylinder with the diameter of one of the circles. As her open hand neared the door, the cylinder suddenly leapt up and stuck
"You think they'll give it to you?"
"The Expedition Headquarters owes Space Command, and especially the Carver sisters, big time. They'll loan it to me."
* * *
"Lt. Uronson reporting to the base commander," the butter-bar Marine officer said after being invited into the shuttle and coming to attention.
"Stand easy, Lieutenant," Christa said.
"Yes, ma'am," he said as he relaxed. "I apologize for not being here to welcome you, ma'am, but I was ordered to report to battalion headquarters for a series of meetings regarding new security procedures being implemented on the planet."
"It's quite all right, Lieutenant. Sergeant Flegetti has done a splendid job in your absence. There are always two sentries on duty at the entrance to the new facility, which has been perfectly adequate. Now that you've returned, I want you to establish a proper camp like the one at Fort Carver. A perimeter trench with protective berm should be dug one hundred meters from the tunnel entrance. I realize you don't have the manpower for proper patrols, but I hope we'll soon have reinforcements. I expect this new underground facility will be every bit as important as the other."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Any questions, Lieutenant?"
"No ma'am. But I have to say that expectations of reinforcements may not be realistic. The Corps is spread really thin on this planet and everyone is requesting additional personnel."
"I'm afraid you might be right. We'll just have to see what kind of priority Space Command places on this outpost."
"Yes, ma'am."
"That's all, Lieutenant. Dismissed."
* * *
Three days later, Christa received a visitor at her shuttle. "Welcome, Dr. Manson. Won't you come in?"
Manson entered the shuttle and walked to the table Christa was using for a desk. As she placed a small case on the table, she said, "The Expedition Headquarters has ordered me to deliver the cylinder to you. It's on loan for as long as you need it. I need your thumbprint on the receipt."
Christa applied her thumb to the viewpad and said, "Would you care for a cup of coffee, Doctor?"
"No thank you. I'm on a tight schedule. Good day." With that, she left the shuttle and walked to where her own was waiting.
"Wow," Carmoody said. "Did they make her bring it to you personally?"
"In my note I may have mentioned that Dr. Manson had proved to be a little less than cooperative. Perhaps that was the reason she was here today. I wouldn't have said anything if she hadn't deliberately tried to mislead us regarding where the cylinder was found. I still haven't worked that one out. There was no reason that I can see."
"Perhaps she just wanted to place an obstacle in our path and thought misleading us about where the cylinder was found might accomplish that."
"Perhaps. With luck we'll have no more contact with her. Her personality is no better than the coffee she serves to her visitors."
Christa opened the small case and removed the cylinder. She looked at the symbol on the end of the tube and smiled. "Well, we have it. Now what do we do with it?"
"It's yours for as long as you want it. You could mount it on a display stand and send a picture to Dr. Manson."
"No, I'm not looking to rub her face in it. I don't know why, but I really feel we need this object to open the door.
* * *
After breakfast the next morning, Christa and Carmoody returned to the tunnel. They stood staring at the door and the cylinder as they thought, but there seemed to be no real connection other than the symbol on the end of the tube. There were no openings in the door where the cylinder might be inserted, as would be done with a key, and no supports where it could be hung. The breakthrough came when Christa extended her hand to compare the length of the cylinder with the diameter of one of the circles. As her open hand neared the door, the cylinder suddenly leapt up and stuck
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