BSC 4 Snippet 4

 Sitrep:

So, I hit a snag with getting Goodlifeguide to format the manuscript. There is a delay, it is out of my hands. So we're looking at a mid March launch.

So, bummer.

Anyway, on to the snippet!

 

Chapter 4

 

Base

 

Brian continued moving forward with construction of the second apartment complex. The process was easier the second time around since they knew the process and logistics better. The basic floor plan was the same, but a little more complex because the architect wanted more design variation. She patiently explained to an exasperated Mitch and Brian that modern design wasn’t just visually boring—it was displeasing to the brain. “The brain needs stimulation. Your mood changes when you see something with more to it than flat gray walls.”

A lot of the changes she proposed were minor. Awning covers in some areas that also served to break up the outline, some additional paneling to the exterior, and the sandblasting of bands. Paint was on the to-do list as well.

Inside there was to be a living wall of green along with a waterfall. Those would be pretty and appealing though Henry complained about the plumbing and the potential for leaks and mold.

The building itself still had the same footprint, a four-story rectangle with the basement. It was at a slight twenty-degree angle from the first apartment and connected by a sky bridge on the third floor to the original. There were some other changes, however. Above the second floor, they went with steel and larger windows. That meant there was less concrete but more armored glass. Balconies were nixed by Phyllis as a security risk. They were also too hard to implement since they would have to be cantilevered into the structure and that might compromise the engineering. No one wanted a long delay to run simulations to see if they’d work.

The first floor went up quickly but they were stalled on the second for a bit until truss segments were shipped in from Iron Town and flown into place. Once that happened, they began to move on to the next set of walls while the floor and utilities were run.

Brian repeatedly commented that he was glad Janet and the others who had harassed him had their own apartments and were not involved. Janet ruffled his hair when she overheard him and hugged him.

>>>*<<<

Candy Summerset surveyed the vehicle lines with a mixed feeling. Vehicle orders had tapered off a bit. The bulk of the orders over the winter had been for farm and construction equipment. Several communities like Fortress wanted to field their own road crews but the expense was daunting.

She was grateful for the reprieve and slower workload though she felt like they could do more. Aircraft orders had also dropped off. They had just the one replacement Antonov on the books. They had talked about building another Hercules but that had been nixed for the time being. The focus was on the space plane at the moment.

She hoped things changed soon. She didn’t need the frantic pace from the previous year, but some variety might be nice.

They had begun building crate motors and battery packs for orders and for later use. There were also some calls for more generators and replacement parts for legacy vehicles from Earth. Her husband Bill was handling those though. There were a lot of calls for fuel-making equipment. Bill and the chemists had worked out two systems—one to filter and process the vine pods, another that could make ethanol and ethylene with power, hydrogen, and some other ingredients. There was a third variation of the second design that could output straight methane but there were few engines that could burn it properly.

>>>*<<<

Fortress

 

Carlos looked around and then down to the soil around them. They had finally filled in the holes from the giant gusano, worms as Joe called them. That had taken valuable planting time before it had been finished. But now the plants were wilting in those areas.

He checked the soil and stuck his hand in it to feel how wet it was. He felt something moving under it and thought it was just bugs and worms but then something latched onto his hand and bit hard.

He screamed and yanked his hand out and screamed at the thing attached to it. The long whip like thing thrashed in the air. Other people turned to him. He clutched at his arm and then tried to pound the thing with the pistol handle.

The thing finally let go but not before taking several of his fingers. He sobbed in pain, clutching the mangled limb to his chest as he stomped the thing. Other people arrived and stared horrified before they too tried to stomp the thing. Then more of the worms began to appear in the soil so they made a hasty retreat.

>>>*<<<

Joe reported the incident to Base as Carlos received treatment. He was concerned about infection. It was a bloody mess, and he’d kept his distance. The poor guy had lost three of his fingers and his thumb.

“The worms?” Maggie asked. When he’d mentioned a worm problem, Pete had called Maggie in first. Mitch was out on the perimeter. He could talk through his phone but was a bit distracted.

“Yeah.”

“Huh.”

“Perhaps the soft wet soil of spring allowed them to burrow? Or did these hatch from eggs?” an unfamiliar male voice interjected.

“Both are possible. Can we get a sample?” Maggie asked.

“That’s not a problem. The problem is we’ve got too many. That field is covered in them and compromised. The same for the pasture. They are on the outskirts but that is a problem.” He’d seen a chicken wander into the field and get torn apart.

There was a long silence. “So, what are you going to do?” Maggie asked.

“I don’t know but we have to do something. Diego wants to burn those fields but that won’t get into the ground.”

“Let me think about it,” the male voice said.

“Electricity,” another more familiar voice said over the radio.

“Ah …”

“This is Curt. Haven’t any of you gone fishing?” the islander asked.

“Ah, yes…?”

“Of course!” Ducky said with the sound of snapping fingers.

“Use an electric probe. A long metal rod. Stick it into the ground as deep as you can and then send an electric current through it. The worms will rise to the surface. You can then kill them,” Curt told them.

Joe nodded and hastily grabbed a pad of paper and made some notes. He suddenly felt a little better about the situation.

>>>*<<<