2319 AD. The Marines at War. Book 2: Andy and Hepburn

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ISBN: 9781543961560

117,589 words

Dedication

To my heart

Acknowledgments

Thanks to the following people.

Linda Jean who proofread this material and gave several good recommendations

Father Miguel Grave de Peralta, formerly a military chaplain and part of the Archdiocese of Atlanta who represents all the fine chaplains and confessors I have met

The drill instructors of Platoon 1049, A Company, 1st Recruit Training Regiment, MCRD/San Diego, who turned me into a Marine

Jay Anderson, digital artist extraordinaire, for the cover art

Book 2: Andy and Hepburn

Cast of Characters

Reconnaissance Ships - elegantly engineered and very tiny interstellar ships, packed with miniaturized electronics and sensor systems, capable of carrying one human being and keeping that human being alive for months, in a medically-induced coma if necessary.  The reconnaissance ship is about five times the length of the Marine that it carried inside of itself.

The ship is virtually invisible when it powers up; it is designed for reconnaissance operations in space, and able to operate on the surface of a planet, a moon, a ship or a space station.  Every bit of data that it captures will be provided to the officers and specialists who examine that data looking for answers when it brings its data back to base. 

The reconnaissance ship was able to change shape, permitting her passenger to stand, sit or lie down, but walking any distance wasn’t going to happen, barring the Marine debarking the ship.

Each reconnaissance ship bore the name of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) software application resident over that ship’s operating system.  The software applications had women’s voices and, when spoken of collectively, were called the ladies.  Hepburn represents the use of a name for the individual reconnaissance ship.  That software application is paired with a Marine, and they carry a Reconnaissance designation.

The Marine and the software application would work together to arrive at an understanding of each other.  Much of this is rote learning, the kind of repetition where each begins to understand and expect a specific response to a specific recognition.  We are operating silently, and I’ll monitor any scans directed in our position in preparation for an emergency jump, if necessary is an example of Hepburn teaching Sergeant Ronald Andy Amos about her command priorities, reinforcing the training which preceded Andy and Hepburn being paired.  If Andy was required to take manual control of the ship, it was assumed that he would maintain the command priorities normally handled by Hepburn, and part of his time at base involved using a trainer to practice these kinds of operations.

The reconnaissance teams operating out of Marine Base Tarawa, which always listed the last name of the Marine before the software application, included Sergeant Ronald Andy Amos and Hepburn /Reconnaissance 9, Staff Sergeant Thomas Limbo Limbaugh and Holly /Reconnaissance 13, Lance Corporal William Ron Preston and Watson /Reconnaissance 14, and Corporal Andrew Joe Fisk and Monroe /Reconnaissance 16.

The AIs, such as Hepburn, can operate in more than one place simultaneously.  Operating as a distributed intelligence, the ladies can operate the ship and have a segment imbedded in the Marines they are teamed with.  At the base, Hepburn may be on duty with Base Operations, may be tasked with adding information to her intelligence, with reviewing her operation or the information she has procured, or to working in her reconnaissance ship with or without her Marine partner.

Marine Brigadier General Moore, commanding officer of Marine Base Tarawa.  The base provides a ground-based defense, food services, medical support, supply, repair facilities, the Judge Advocate General legal staff, and the chaplains for the Marines and sailors stationed there, including the members of the Reconnaissance Squadron.

Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Conway, commanding officer of Reconnaissance Squadron 4, not stationed at Tarawa, commonly called the colonel.

Major Ted Tradzuski, commanding officer of Reconnaissance Squadron 3, abbreviated R3/4S, meaning Reconnaissance Squadron 3 of the 4th Reconnaissance Squadron, Ship.  R3/4S is stationed at Tarawa, with the squadron including the reconnaissance Marines and the technical-support personnel along with the squadron’s clerical people.  Consistent with Marine and naval terminology, the major could be called skipper.

The squadron’s food services and supply people were attached to the base personnel.

Navy Lieutenant Commander Henry, commanding officer of the Intelligence Section at Tarawa, reporting directly to the commanding officer of the base.  Lieutenant Commander Henry is always the initial and primary recipient of the intelligence information provided by R3/4S.

Marine Sergeant Charles Biggs, Corporal Michael M Malone, known as Three-M, Corporal Bill Hayes, and Corporal Pedro Gonzalves, reconnaissance ship technicians and crew chiefs for Watson, Monroe, Hepburn and Holly respectively.

Bruce Connelly, the flight surgeon, known as ‘doc’ or the doctor by the Marines.

Corvettes, naval vessels usually identified by name, such as (EAS) Ripley.

Other naval vessels are also usually identified by name.

EA / EAS Earth Alliance / Earth Alliance Ship.

Alphas, a defeated enemy.

The Sadlers, an allied race whose individual names commonly start with the letter S.  The Sadlers were previously known of as ‘Bravo.’

The Joint Committee – a committee formed to handle issues facing the alliance of the EA and the Sadlers after the Alpha War. 

An AU or astronomical unit is about 149,597,870,700 meters, or about 93,000,000 miles.  For this story I am dividing the distance by an AU when inside of a solar system.  So, for instance, 250,000 miles divided by 93,000,000 miles is 0.00268817204 of an AU and will round up to 0.0027 of an AU. In most instances the distance will be expressed to four digits behind the decimal point.

Synopsis

The reconnaissance ship Marines of Reconnaissance 3 of the 4th Squadron, Ship (R3/4S), stationed at Marine Base Tarawa, have been involved in a war against a race known as the ‘Alphas.’  A second race, originally known of as the ‘Bravos’ and now known of as the Sadlers of the Sadler Confederacy, make common cause with the Earth Alliance in the war against the Alphas.

That war is prosecuted until a series of minor Alpha planets are found and defeated, followed by what is believed to the major Alpha planet is found and it is defeated.  Later, a problem with piracy against ships involved in mining operations becomes known and the reconnaissance ship Marines become involved in the pursuit of the pirates.

Chapter 1 – Why?

Chapter 2 – Missing Ships

Chapter 3 – A Baby

Chapter 4 – An Invisible Ship

Chapter 5 – Toys

Chapter 6 – Gunny

Chapter 7 – A Wedding and A Letter

Chapter 8 – Naval Technical

Chapter 9 – The Missing Platform

Chapter 10 – A Celebration

Chapter 11 – Outside of Golf India Sector 5

Chapter 12 – Your Name is

Chapter 13 – Arrival

Chapter 14 – Preparation and the Attack on Golf Mike Sector 8

Chapter 15 –Golf Mike System 8 - Odds and Ends

Chapter 16 – Back at Tarawa

Chapter 17 – Golf Victor Sector 7

Chapter 18 – the Battle at Golf Victor Sector 7

Chapter 19 – January 25th, 2320

Chapter 20 – the Goodman family

Chapter 21 – Goodbyes

Chapter 22 — Expecting the Unexpected

Chapter 23 – Come out, come out, wherever you are

Chapter 24 – The Return of Walkabout

Chapter 25 – Preparations at Tarawa

Chapter 26 – Guess Who

Chapter 1 – Why?

March 5, 2319 0800 hours in Watson in the Gulf Sector

Ron, time to get up.  Breakfast and coffee are waiting for your attention.  During your sleep, I finished examining the two closest planets to the sun.  There are no military or civilian facilities or satellites on or near either of them.  If there were, I’d have awakened you then.  We are going out toward the fifth and sixth planets now.

"Watson, please open a window for me.  I want to watch with you as I breakfast.  And, I have a question for you, if you know: Why does the Marine Corps want us to search these systems?  What are we looking for?"

"Ron, during the war it was believed that we lost several sites where humans or Sadlers ran mining operations on rocky planets or moons, or in the belts in or on the edges of various solar systems.  There were no records about these sites in our possession, and apparently the Sadlers only had a limited awareness of their people involved in such operations.  Reasonably, the fact that free people were attempting to find minerals or metals would cause them to move about, searching for whatever they were attempting to mine. Hence a scarcity of accurate records, let alone records of any sort in many cases.  When the war ended, the Joint Committee took possession of many of the Alpha records and reviewed them.

They were able to identify several locations that we had no idea about.  We don’t know what happened at those sites.  The Alpha records don’t indicate what actions the Alphas took at those sites, but the initial battles against the Alphas which they recorded don’t indicate actions either.  We do know about some of those actions because our records tell us what did happen.  It is improbable that the humans or Sadlers survived the Alpha’s visits in the early interactions.  The only humans we found were survivors of the Hansen, and Limbo, and we have no idea of why those people were spared.  The only Sadler survivor was the ambassador, Senat, and we have no idea of why he wasn’t killed.  There are eight known living survivors of the Alphas and we’ve accounted for them because we freed them.  The Marines found the Hansen’s survivors; and Andy, Walkabout and Joe found Limbo and the Sadler ambassador and brought them back to the combined EA/Sadler fleet that we were part of. 

In any case, the Earth Alliance went to any of the companies that might have been involved in sending out crews or financing independent operations, to see if they had any records that might be compared with what we found with the Alphas.  There was some minor information but not much.  They had records of their own crews and records of contracting with the independent operations, but little to no idea of the whereabouts those crews were checking.  At this point you and I are visiting solar systems in a systematic fashion, as are the other recon teams.  The information we collect will be reviewed by the Joint Committee.  What they will do with it isn’t something I was briefed on.  We should jump to the other side of this system to check two planets there.  We’ll reach the end of this solar system in two to two and one-half days.  When we do, we’ll jump for Tarawa."

"Thank you, Watson.  You mentioned Walkabout.  Was he my predecessor?"

"Yes, Frank Truman, nickname and callsign ‘Walkabout.’  He was very good, but of import to you, he grew into his job as a reconnaissance Marine.  He started out a bit quiet, and even shy.  He was sent home on leave by the major after too much time alone in space shortly after the beginning of the Alpha

War.  When he came back from his leave, he had changed.  His outlook was different.  He went from being a competent if slightly reluctant participant in a war to someone dedicated to finding out what the enemy was doing, and then trying to wreck those enemy plans by any means at his disposal.  It turned out that he was very good at wrecking the Alpha’s plans.  We found Alpha sites and planets, and we collaborated on doing our ‘silent in, silent out’ job.  He identified considerations that I would not have thought of, and based on his recognitions, we were able to destroy Alphas, and put the fleets we served into a position to attack the Alphas and disrupt their plans.

And, I know Walkabout recommended to Joe that if Limbo or Andy said something, that Joe pay attention.  Walkabout said that the Marines had taught him the alphabet, but that Limbo and Andy taught him how to spell using that alphabet.  Limbo and Andy are superior reconnaissance Marines.  Your attention when they speak will benefit both of us."

March 15, 2319 0900 the gym at Tarawa

The four reconnaissance Marines were working their routines on machines beside each other when Biggs, Three-M and the other two crew chiefs walked in and started their stretches, a preliminary exercise to the Marine martial arts routine or a preparation for working with weight machines.  When the technicians were finished, they walked up and picked the four machines beside the recon guys and started a conversation.  Biggs spoke, The ladies are clean; we’ve checked all the systems and they are good to go; and, before anyone asks, we’ve performed an oil change for the slip stream drives.  All the Marines smiled when Biggs referred to an oil change.

Andy asked, Biggsy, is this oil change something new that you’ve been working on? 

Andy, that is very astute of you.  Oil is the future for reconnaissance spacecraft used by the Marine Corps.  And we may venture into the realm of manual transmissions.  Of course, we’ll have to teach you to use the clutch to engage the gears, so you can go forward or backward. Then Biggs looked around.  You do know what a clutch is, don’t you?  For those of you who don’t, it is not a small purse carried by a lady, it is something else completely.  In fact, I’d be surprised if most ladies could carry this kind of clutch.

Limbo said, When can we try out this clutch?

Biggs replied, We crew chiefs are working this out.  Once we have it working and installed, we’ll give you a call.  Biggs continued, Oh, today, by 1430 hours, you each will have a full load-out on remotes.  I’ve asked around, but nobody seems to have any idea of where you are going.  Limbo replied, We’ll continue looking for sites where humans or Sadlers might possibly have been searching, trying to find things to be mined or excavated.  I am under the impression that we’ll also be looking for ships due for provisioning.  Those ships are not showing up, anywhere.  It is believed that most of these ships were provisioned for six months.  So, to warrant the attention we’ll be giving them, one might presume that they have been out for a minimum of six and half months.  We know this because the Joint Committee is keeping tabs on Earth and Sadler ships these days.  Those ships aren’t restricted, and if some group of miners manages to find the motherlode of some necessary or precious metal or mineral, more power to them.  But we know that both humans and Sadlers eat, and a ship which has run out of provisions for its crew has a problem if it isn’t being recognized as having arrived at a port somewhere to re-provision.  Oh, and crew chiefs, please include a minimum of one week’s Sadler rations for a single individual.  If we can keep them alive, the ladies should be able to get us back to some EA or Sadler base in a week.  When Limbo was finished speaking, the Marines went silent and attended to their exercise regimes.

Chapter 2 – Missing Ships

March 14th, 2819 1100 in Major Tradzuski’s office

Present are Limbo, Andy, Joe, Ron and the ladies.  The major said, We are going to check on a problem that is getting worse.  There are nine known missing ships, six human ships and three Sadler ships.  We have general directions for each of those ships and you’ll be visiting the systems that each of them was expected to visit or pass through. Given the quality of the ladies’ sensor suites, you should be able to identify even faint emissions, let alone actual ships.

Limbo said, Sir, will we be carrying weapons?

The major replied, Only your personal weapons and some grenades.  If you find a need for something more, it will be turned over to the Navy or the Sadlers, for disposition by those groups.  Marines dismissed.

Fifteen minutes later Ron asked Andy, What was Limbo talking about?

Ron, by the end of the Sadler War, the ladies were using their built-in missile launchers, and had the ability to place nuke bombs on targets.  When the war ended, the Navy took away our missiles and our bombs.

Why? 

"The guarding of the space lanes is the function of the Navy.  They were forced to share it with us because the Marines were saving the Navy, and the Sadlers as well.  We had gone from ‘silent in and silent out’ to bombers with nukes tucked under the ladies to be placed on Alpha warships, and then to fighter pilots with missiles.  We’d go and find the Alphas and paint reconnaissance pictures for the admirals, and then the fleets would come in and destroy as many Alphas as possible.  At the same time, we were destroying very small Alpha groups, up to four Alphas using nukes; later we were destroying much larger groups of cloaked Alpha ships by launching remotes equipped with warheads, which your crew chief was heavily involved in developing.

At the battle bringing the war to a conclusion, Walkabout, your predecessor in Watson, used nukes to blow holes in two orbitals, one a fortress, and then took the war to the main Alpha planet.  He destroyed several power-generating stations, making much of that planet dark.  He said that if the Alphas could not protect their infrastructure, they could not win the war.  He was right.  They surrendered."

What kind of guy was he?

"In many ways, he was like Limbo, Joe, you or me.  He was, and is, a Marine.  He had a penchant though.  He would be presented with an opportunity and immediately do something about it.  He was the first of us to ride a reconnaissance ship attached to the side of an Alpha ship, and the first to identify an Alpha site.  He was the first to bring back Alpha corpses, space suits, weapons, and other equipment.  He was the first to lay nukes on Alpha ships and destroy those ships.  He jumped an Alpha warship, set off dialed down nukes to deny them communications and movement, and he was the first to enter that ship with the idea of capturing it.  Limbo and I arrived shortly thereafter and helped him complete the takeover of that ship.  It was given to Naval Technical so that they could study it.  The three of us got Silver Stars for that operation, but it started with Walkabout’s initiative and decision making.

He was the first to see the Sadlers; then when he found three Sadlers facing seventeen Alphas, he placed nukes on four of the Alphas and set them off.  The Sadlers then destroyed several more Alphas with the rest of the Alphas fleeing.  He was the first to identify the Alpha ships with the cloak, and the first to launch missiles at those ships, damaging or destroying them. 

Walkabout wanted to bring the war to a conclusion, so he made the fleet an offer.  The fleet accepted his offer.  A few hours before the fleet was due to arrive at the primary Alpha planet, he set off two nukes on orbitals, one a fortress, and then commenced destroying electrical generating stations and leaving people in the dark without power.  A lot of people had a hand in the last battle and deserve recognition, but Walkabout’s insight about the destruction of the electrical grid on the Alpha home world was a major component in causing the Alpha’s to surrender.  They could not protect their infrastructure.  They could not keep the lights on.

I worked with him for about three years and I ended up with a Silver Star and the Sadler Constellation with the Marine Insignia.  Not one of us, including Walkabout, had any idea that we would end up with such recognition.  I credit him.  He took everything the Marine Corps taught him, listened to Limbo and me, and then he exceeded everyone’s expectations by light years.  I won some major awards because of Walkabout.  No Walkabout, I’d be surprised if those awards were mine now.  Walkabout had a knack that I had not seen before.  The issues would come to him and he’d deal with them, virtually on the spot. 

Not only did I like him, I found him to be a real leader, a great Marine, and trustworthy to a fault.  Limbo and I had a hand in shaping him, but in the end, it was him taking what he was given, and doing something with it."

March 15th, 2319 1045 hours with Ron in the major’s office

Sir, thank you for seeing me.

Lance corporal, what can I do for you?

Sir, I had an idea.  We are going to go out searching solar systems for ships which have disappeared.  That may or may not succeed.  What if we ship out attached to ships which, purportedly, are going out to look for metals or minerals, and see if those ships can provoke some aggressive actions by whomever is causing Earth and Sadler ships to disappear?

What caused you to think of this?

"I thought it might be easier to seek a response using a potential target than to search solar systems for clues which may or may not be there.  I had a related thought:  No one has told me if there are commonalities for the Earth or Sadler ships which have disappeared.  Could the Joint Committee be inadvertently releasing information that might be used by hostile actors?  However, sir, all of that is someone else’s bailiwick, but putting ourselves where we can gather information and clues belongs to R3/4S, and Watson will help me with that."

Very good, Marine.  For now, run the search assigned to you.  I will pass your ideas up the line.  They are intriguing.  Thank you for bringing them to me.  Is there anything else?

No, sir.

Dismissed.

March 15th, 2319 1500 hours in the General’s office at Tarawa

Present are the general, Commander Henry, and Major Tradzuski.  The general asked, Major, you requested this meeting with the two of us.  What is on your mind?

"Sir, commander, my newest reconnaissance Marine asked me two questions this morning.  The first, is it possible for the Navy or Sadlers to provide a ship that resembles something that a company looking for minerals or metals might use, and then attach a recon ship to that ship.

The second idea was a question about security, given that the Joint Committee is collecting information on and then minimally tracking both Earth and Sadler ships searching for minerals and metals.  Could the committee be providing information, wittingly or unwittingly, that makes those ships targets?"

The general spoke, "I’ll talk to both the Navy and the Sadlers about the first idea.  Whether a recon ship should travel piggyback on a warship resembling a mining vessel or not, it might be a good idea to provide a target which can shoot back if necessary. 

Commander, I’d like you to make quiet inquiries about how the information for the independent mining ships is being handled, and if there is any possibility that active or unintentional collusion might be occurring.  I’d also like a list of ships, their proposed destinations, and expected arrival times.

Major, weighing where the losses are happening and then parking some recon teams in positions to watch such arrivals might be desirable. 

Gentlemen is there anything else?"

Both officers replied No, sir and the meeting ended.

Leaving the general’s offices, the major looked at the commander and said, Congratulations on the promotion.  Will the Navy be moving you out?

Thank you, major.  At this point in time no hint of a change of duty station has drifted in my direction, but if it happens, I won’t be surprised.  A bunch of people at Naval Technical are on the way out.  Ends of enlistments, voluntary or involuntary.  Retirements, voluntary and involuntary.  Transfers.  It is a surety that my skillset fits at Naval Technical.

Commander, I’ll buy the first drink at the O Club if we meet there or when you find time I have some single malt and a couple of glasses in my office.  You are quite welcome to drop by and we’ll toast your promotion.

Thank you.

March 18th, 2319 0730 hours in Holly

The smell of food awakened Limbo up and he found breakfast awaiting him. 

"Holly, where are we?"

We are on the edge of Golf Foxtrot Sector 4.

Have you recognized any technical artifacts?

No, but we have a long way to go.  Unless you instruct me otherwise, I plan to circle the Kuiper belt between the rocky planets and the gas giants before I enter the inner system itself.

The Joint Committee believes that a mining exploration crew came here?

They do.

I have an idea: What if we release some remotes to circle the belt while we move into the system?

We can do that.  What would you like the remotes to do?

We once had a report that a remote was used to draw out technical artifacts near a belt.  Do you remember that?

I do.  The remote was transmitting, and it picked up a tail.  That happened near the end of the war against the Alphas.  I don’t believe a conclusion was reached on that item, probably because the war ended.  I never saw a follow-up report on that incident and, in the rush of things involved in ending a war, it may have been deemed so unimportant that it was never concluded.  If the remote was picked up, no notification was provided that I ever saw.

And you can program the remotes to recognize ships or equipment residing in or near the belt?

I can.

"Holly, what is the best way for us to handle this?"

Let’s put two remotes in operation.  One will go in one direction, and the other in the opposite direction.  Both will be instructed to stop when it recognizes the other remote.  We’ll pick them up and take enough time to interrogate them before we depart this system.  If either of them recognizes anything, we’ll know.  If one of them does not return, we’ll track it down.  That will allow us to move into the system and begin checking out the planets, moons and any internal belts that the system might have, without losing any information that the Kuiper Belt might provide.

Is there a best time or place for us to enter the inner system?

Once the remotes are out and performing correctly, I’ll jump the belt and we can figure out how we want to systematically search the inner system.

Last question: Is the belt wide enough to warrant performing a search from the other side?

I don’t know.  We’ll check once we reach the other side and decide then.  Now I’d recommend that you eat your breakfast before it becomes cold.

Yes, ma’am.  And, open a standing height window please.  We’ll watch together for a while.

Chapter 3 – A Baby

March 18th, 2319 2121 hours on Hepburn at Golf Echo Sector 7

Andy, I have something unexpected.  There is a very dark planet out here.  It is so far from the system primary that the system primary appears to be just another star in the night sky.  I’d like to make a pass over the northern hemisphere and then over the southern hemisphere.

Please do so.  And, open a window for me with a white dot so I know where you are looking.  The window appeared with the white dot.

"Hepburn, some coffee please."  A cup of hot water and a coffee bag are on a shelf below the window and Andy begins dipping the coffee bag.

About twenty-two minutes had passed when Hepburn said, Look through the white dot to the planet below.  I’ll magnify what I am seeing.  As the magnification ramped up Andy saw a light.  "Hepburn, I see the light.  What am I not seeing?" 

There are several lights, they blend into a single light because of the distance, and that is what you are seeing.  There is an encampment down there.  I’d like to move in closer for a better view.

Of course.  The ship moves in toward the planet.  Andy, we are about 0.0001078 of an AU out.  Anything inside the lighted area is clear and I’ll magnify that for your viewing.  What I am seeing are several buildings.  It appears that a portion of the land near the buildings has been removed, exposing the earth below the topsoil.  I have the impression that this encampment can collect whatever metal or mineral they can by using surface mining and then letting their equipment sort between the dirt and the material that they want to collect.  It seems a pretty standard surface mining operation.

Is there any indication of how they got here?

There are a few shuttles capable of a low-planet orbit but nothing that would get them out of this system, barring being frozen for a long trip back to civilization. That assumes that they have the equipment to turn themselves into living popsicles.

Let’s set up an orbit and monitor them for a half a day.  We’ll see what occurs.  And a related consideration?  Is there any kind of broadcast occurring?

No broadcast that I can recognize from this distance.  I could drop a remote to about 30 thousand feet and see if it picks anything up.

Yes, please.

Five minutes pass.  Andy, the remote is parked at 30 thousand feet and it isn’t recognizing any kind of transmission.  However, the technology maintaining the electricity is operational and is generating a megajoule of energy.  There are no external signs of humans, Sadlers, or any other race evident on the planet.  It may be that everything down there is automated.

The half-day passed with nothing happening in space or on the planet.

March 20th, 2319 0945 hours in Hepburn in orbit above Golf Echo Sector 7-11

"Hepburn, we are going down to that planet.  I am going to perform a reconnaissance on foot.  I’ll take one hand weapon, one rifle, and the detector to determine if there are any electrical devices or mines in operation anywhere near that location.  I’m going to scout the perimeter first, and once that is done, I’ll pick the closest building for an inspection.  We’ll maintain our connection and you’ll get the information from my equipment.

I’ll begin prepping now and I’d like to be down by 1005 hours.  I want you to look for any kind of signal or sign that people of any sort are there as we prepare for this.  You’ll put me about a half mile from the lighted area.  Now dim your interior.  I need my eyes to get ready for the dark."

Twenty minutes later, Andy, I have hovered over the encampment.  Other than the electrical system, I haven’t recognized anything.  No other electrical sources.  No signs of people.  No hidden items on the perimeter.  No working machinery other than the electrical system.  There may be equipment inside the buildings but if so, there is not enough power usage to make them recognizable.

Roger.  My voice coms will be intermittent.  If nothing is happening, nothing vocal will broadcast.  If something is happening, you’ll hear as well as see it. Now, open the door for me.

Andy began walking slowly in a circle around the outside of the encampment.  The detector registered and displayed in his headset but was not recognizing any electrical activity or sensing any kind of mines or sensors.    His suit and armor had darkened to match his surroundings.  He made a tour of the encampment, and then continued around searching for the place he wanted to enter the grounds. 

"Hepburn, can you see me?"

I can.

I want to enter the encampment between the two buildings in front of me.  What are you seeing?

I am not seeing anything.  I can distinguish between the buildings but if anything is happening in either of them, I am not aware of it.

Very good.  Thank you.  I am going start by checking the outside of the building on my left first.

Andy circled the building, checking both outer doors. The locking mechanisms for both doors indicated that the outer doors were unlocked.  The last people to use those doors had left the building.  He crossed over to the adjacent building, circled that building and checked the door locks.  That building’s doors were unlocked as well.  Andy could enter any of those doors and start a cycle that would pump air into the chamber, allowing him to enter the building interior.

Andy, there is a ship, about 48 minutes out, and coming in our direction.

Copy.

Andy stuck a squawker on the building.  After cycling through the airlock, he entered the corridor where the airlock joined the rest of the building.  Andy’s suit indicated that the air was good, and that the temperature was