LITMIR.BIZ

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the other frames were being laid down, “And those?”

      “Two standard models for Humph's latest children scheduled to be complete in about a year or two. Another one for yourself and the two extended versions for the Grnatz and Elysium fleets. Then the new assembly line at Grnatz will be underway, and this one will be all yours to do what you need.”

      “I have had inquiries for a dozen, once the interested parties identified my factory as a potential supplier,” Senior said.

      “Probably need a habitat and crew to continue as Humph will probably want most of his construction androids for the other facility, but he has found a source where there are several robots available when needed.”

      “We will see, that sounds like a bridge that we will cross when we get to it,” Senior said, “Where to next?”

      “Just cruise around the system while you get the hang of steering,” Mike said.

      So setting off again the shuttle and Senior was put through the paces until Senior was confident of his capability and started to explore with Mike taking a back seat just observing.

      Having filled the day in Senior piloted the shuttle back to the base and hopped out allowing Mike to fly home and visit his family near Gympie.

      Back in his office, Senior checked in with the teams and noted that they were making progress, sourcing government paperwork that would be required to start the ball rolling. The Beta team in the process of surveying a location for the heavy-water plant; they found that the Tugun desalination plant was in maintenance mode running at a loss. Jim suggested that if the company were to buy in and install the distillery and centrifuge equipment together with a new power generator, the State Government would be delighted. The same water output would be delivered with the centrifuge process only diverting a couple of hundred tonnes a day, which would hardly make any difference and have the running costs cut down to a sustainable level.

      Alpha Team reported that the initial prognosis was correct as manufactured in a non-signatory country of origin it would be a tedious process. This status despite having several of the same design circulating from extraterrestrial origin. Those, of course, were the spacecraft given special dispensation by the Federal Government.

      Seeing that was underway, Senior retired for the night and planned the tasks for the morning, perhaps a system tour and check out Mars.

      It seemed that his head had barely hit the pillow when he heard the whistle of his shuttle arriving for the day’s effort, grabbing a quick breakfast, Senior dressed ready for the day and trying to restrain his enthusiasm reached the ramp almost before Mike had dropped it.

      “If I knew you were that keen I would have arrived earlier,” Mike laughed.

      “I suppose I could have slept a little longer,” Senior replied following up with a question, "How’s the family?"

      "They are happy, this job will allow them to see me a bit longer than the one day a month I have been able to visit,” Mike said, “So any place you would like to visit?”

      “What sort of preparation to visit Alpha Centauri?” Senior asked, “Could start the reconnaissance for a possible tourist destination.”

      “Each direction is a day to jump point, day in hyperspace then another day into the system, so we are looking at a week and about 5 tonnes of fuel,” Mike calculated, “The last being the ration for the training task.”

      “I suppose we can put that off until we get the fuel supply happening,” Senior conceded.

      "Humph does have a small outfit running near my farm. It is automated and is a handy backup if he runs low on a visit,” Mike suggested, “Next time I am home I will see how much is available, last time there was a stack as we haven’t needed to touch it.”

      “I suppose I should just take each day as it comes so what do you suggest we do?”

      “I think that the low and slow techniques can be practised for a while as that is where most of the panel damage occur,” Mike advised.

      “I will call up the Airport website and see what is necessary to do touch and go approaches. The training school usually handles that,” Senior said as he looked up the screen, “Ah here’s the answer, free if I don’t land or $60 an hour if I touch, probably explains why my training fees are so high.”

      “Okay let’s make a few approaches then see if the Army Airfield wants a look at your toy?”

      “Yeah last time I was there, I was a civilian mechanic on helicopters,” Senior reminisced.

      So the shuttle headed off and radioed ahead with several windows of approach completed without dramas. Then they radioed Oakey and received permission to park using their RAAF call sign. The base was made aware that there were civilian pilots in control and that it was a shakedown flight. The pilots and techs all wanted a look as they had heard about the new toys, but that had always happened at the RAAF bases, they had been listening to the radio transmissions as the shuttle made its’ way around the area.

      As the shuttle drifted in and made a helicopter landing, it stood out with its bright red trim amongst the drab green and sand-camouflaged Army aircraft. Once on the ground, interested spectators surrounded the shuttle trying to get a close look at workings. Mike and Senior were soon answering questions and fending off joy flight requests.

      “Once we have the spaceship ready perhaps I will be able to show the performance off especially if I can do landing practice with my new astronauts,” Senior suggested, "Then I suppose we can fit in a few back-seat drivers."

      The spectators had to be content with that as the shuttle was re-manned and continued with a training run across the Downs seeking out abandoned landing strips to obtain more slow speed maneuverings. After several hours practice, Senior suggested, “How about visiting your home and checking on the fuel stockpile?”

      “I suppose we can do that; I have spoken about you to Mum and Dad, who are keen to meet you,” Mike agreed, “So I will organise the flight path and head off to there,” as he did so.

      Tracking up the mountain range enjoying the scenery as it passed by, arriving at the farm and then descended into the paddock that Mike used for this purpose.

      After exchanging greetings, Mike borrowed the farm ute and ran Senior over to the cache site where that there were several tonnes piled up ready for use in 20-litre containers.

      “What we will do when we need this is to land the shuttle next to it and just pour the water into the tanks, the setup can then refill them until the next time,” Mike suggested.

      “Makes sense rather than double handling the containers,” Senior agreed.

      While they were heading back to the house; Mike suggested, “If you feel confident enough to solo back to your base and return in the morning.”

      “Sounds like a plan I need a few more solo cross-country hours, see you in the morning,” Senior replied as he climbed back aboard the shuttle, lifted off and headed south.

      As the return flight was registered, there were no dramas as Senior guided the craft back to Charlton and landed on the helipad adjacent to the factory.

      Getting an early start in the morning, Senior registered a flight plan and then headed off to Goombooria a little town nears Mike’s farm. After only half an hour’s slow flight, Senior lowered the shuttle to a gentle landing ready to start the days training.

      As he alighted, Mike came out with toast in hand and quipped, “Who’s the keen one today I have only had just enough time to feed the chooks and plough the back paddock.”

      “Pull the other one, it has bells on it; your Mum dobbed you in that you lost all the habits of early rising since you have been swanning around the cosmos,” Senior replied.

      “It is easy for you to lose track of time doing that,” Mike said then glancing at his watch, “It is beer o'clock on half a dozen worlds give or take a million.”

      “Well

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