Second Chances (100 page)

“I think they did. I'm not sure,” Sandra said. She looked over to where her teenage daughter was teaching Tucker how to make a snow angel. Tucker was more interested in playing in the snow and trying to eat it.

“Don't eat any yellow snow kid. Trust me,” Mitch warned. Sandra snorted. She heard a click and then the creek as the door opened. “That door needs some more WD-40,” Mitch sighed.

“It's a good warning,” Sandra said as kids came out, some still half dressed. She laughed as a few went to the nearest trampled snow to make snowballs, while others screamed and dived for cover. She was surprised when more than just kids came out. A few of the adventurous teens and adults came with them. “Yup,” she said grinning as she took a handful of snow and mashed it in her husband's face.

He laughed and tried to retaliate but she rolled away and then took off with a grin. She stuck her tongue out at him then dodged a snowball he flung her way. “Missed me by a mile!” She said, then as he got up with mischief in his eye she ducked behind Cassie, then laughed as her daughter tried to get clear.

------*------

Mitch grinned as they introduced Tucker and some of the other kids to another tradition, hot chocolate. The stuff they had was a mix of artificial and real cocoa, but it still hit the spot after being outside and cold.

“Marshmallows too?” Janet asked, plopping small white cylinders in a few of the cups. Mitch shook his head but he watched as Tucker daintily took one and then tried it. His son picked the thing out of his mouth after a moment and then mashed it on the table.

“Nice,” Cassie chuckled, shaking her head. “Oh no you don't!” She said, catching the little fist before he could touch his hair or hers. She took a napkin and carefully wiped at the hand.

“That was fun,” Mitch said. “Right kids?” he asked. He got an enthusiastic yes as a reply. He chuckled.

------*------

Eventually Pete reported the radio chatter had turned to talk about what base was making or what it
should
be making. “We've catered to them. I've taken some orders, so did Jolie and Paul. Well, if it isn't paid for, it's not a priority,” Mitch said. Pete nodded. Mitch made it clear most of the goods would be used to expand the base and its factories. Some of the material would be used in anticipation of goods needed later. Some would also be used to expand their electronics and vehicle manufacturing ability. “We're almost out of spare parts, and the radio network is extended pretty far,” Mitch said. Pete nodded. He knew all too well how hard it was to punch a signal through some of the more outlying areas. “We'll expand on that, plus the stuff Jim is working on.”

Pete dutifully wrote that down, then reported it on the radio. He reported later that evening that there was considerable disappointment, disagreement, and annoyance over that agenda. Mitch snorted. “They'll get over it. We've been looking after them; it's time we do more for ourselves and the big picture.”

Each of the departments had given him a wish list. He intended to hit at least one or two items on the list. The list was prioritized by need, but not everyone was going to get what they wanted.

The Summersets were already hard at work on expanding the air fleet. That was taking up a lot more resources than some had expected. Jacklynn had also insisted on more drones as her first priority, and Mitch had agreed since that dovetailed with one of the requests from Paul and Sam, as well as requests from some of the communities. She'd also insisted on spares and spare parts too. Spare parts for current aircraft were also worked on; fortunately they had stored the jigs and molds, not thrown them out or recycled them.

Debate on expanding aircraft fleet with more of same aircraft or build newer larger aircraft raged while the drones and parts were made. Akira wanted more helicopters, but Mitch didn't really see a need beyond the mountain communities. Jim and Jacklynn also wistfully expressed a need for jets to do the larger hauling and long hauls, but the lack of materials and equipment to make them made that a pie in the sky dream for the time being.

Once the aircraft factory was moving at full swing, Adrian and Arby expressed their desire for more bots. “Some of the bots are getting old, worn Mitch, you know this. We've had to cannibalize two of the GPs. You also said you wanted more security bots. We've also got communities wanting them.”

“And we need to expand the security bots to lower our response time to a breech location,” Phyllis said.

“I understand that, I do, but we can't handle the electronics. Servos...yes. But the complex electronics are beyond the stuff we're making now,” Mitch explained. He held up a hand. “And no, don't compare it to the drones. No way.” He shook his head. “But what we can do is make parts. You'll have to help though,” he told the two young men. Both nodded.

“What do you want us to do?”

“I'll turn over one CNC machine and one 3D printer to you for two days. Make up a list of parts you need; start with stuff you can do production runs of. Common parts. Then go from there,” Mitch said.

“What about casings?” Arby asked. Akira looked up. “We can make them for the drones then we can make them for the bots right?”

“If they need them. I don't know of any that have broken casings though,” Mitch said, frowning. “A few cracks, but rigging tape will fix that. Or you can epoxy the cracks,” he said.

Arby frowned, deflated. Mitch smiled. “And don't think I didn't see you trying to back door parts for new bots there. It's a waste of resources right now. Having a shell but not the innards is silly,” he said shaking his head. Arby sighed and then nodded in resignation.

“Next...” Mitch said, consulting his tablet for the list. He turned to Paul and Sam. “I understand you both want construction equipment? Not trucks?”

“Security gear too,” Paul said. “I wouldn't mind getting a couple motor homes, but my people prefer sleeping in the king cabs of the trucks. It makes it easier to do shifts or to just pop into the driver's seat if there is an emergency,” he said.

“But not trucks themselves?”

“We're at the point where we've got just so many drivers,” Sam said. “And I don't need or want just truck drivers. I need people who can work equipment and drive a truck.”

“Not a lot of people want to be out of the perimeter risking their necks,” Paul said. “Your KITT program is nice, but we can't rely on it, and we can't use it in the new trucks because some don't have it,” he said. “And you just finished saying you can't make the more difficult electronics right now,” he said.

“Okay,” Mitch said nodding. “Well, Jack, Mike, Vance, and a few other people have expressed their desire for more construction equipment. Stuff beyond the small track loaders we've got,” he said. Both men nodded.

“Definitely,” Vance said, waving a hand. “I'd like more than two loaders. Having just two and one getting borrowed is a pain in the ass,” he said. Brian made a face and nodded as well.

“Okay, well, we have the track loader jigs and stuff, and we have experience making them. So, what we can do is start there while we research how to make the larger equipment. That will give us a couple more for around base, say, at the graphite mine,” Mitch suggested. The men nodded. Sam took a sip of his coffee and then set it down. “But loaders are the priority? Not a crane or other vehicle?”

“I'm the one who needs a decent crane half the time,” Paul said.

“Speak for yourself. I need it too when we're putting up bridges or retaining walls,” Sam said.

“Okay, okay, Loaders first, then a crane each.”

“And a crane here,” Vance said, raising a hand.

“Okay. I'm not sure how many of each we can do, but we'll find out. Moving on...” He turned to look at his wife. “You want more medical supplies.”

She nodded. “The medication replicator would be a godsend. I can understand if you can't make it though,” she said.

He frowned. “What happened to the one I had?”

“It's in use,” Sandra said. “I need a spare. And that way if I need to make more than one med at a time, I can.”

“Okay. Well, that comes under the heading of complex electronics. Very complex honey. So, I can make parts for the one we've got, but...” Mitch shook his head.

Sandra pursed her lips and then nodded curtly. “Okay.”

“I need more equipment. Pumps for one. Piping and fittings,” Bob said, interrupting Sandra.

“Excuse me, it was my turn,” Sandra said politely to Bob, eyes flashing. He stopped what he was doing to stare at him. The others looked at him.

“Sorry,” he mumbled.

“As I was about to say, I need basic equipment. A 3D printer would be nice. One of our own would let us print stuff as needed. IF not that, then...”

------*------

When they finished with the drones and parts, Candy and Bill switched to the next more ambitious project as Tao and the other factory crew started gearing up for their own projects.

Mitch had several medium turboprop cargo aircraft designs in his database. He'd leaned towards the LTV XC-142 tilt rotor design originally built by NASA. The blueprints had been updated to the civilian Downtowner C-142B design, but then updated with the latest technical materials and innovations cutting its weight while adding computer support. However, the complex machine, not to mention the need for sophisticated avionics computers, had relegated Mitch's desire to build the craft to the back burning for a few more years.

Jackie had expressed a desire for the Cessna 208 Caravan, but she'd changed her mind and favored the Short 360-300F or the Short Sc.7 Skyvan until Mitch had dug up the blueprints to the updated Antonov An-38. The An-38 was a Russian designed bird built to handle snow and hard runways, not to mention extreme weather and abuse. Getting the blueprints and manufacturing license had been a legal circus. Updating the design with modern specs had been a pain. Unfortunately, they didn't have a prototype to see if the changes caused teething issues. She and the other pilots looked over the specs greedily and warily.

To help facilitate the construction, Akira, Angie and Jacklynn each helped out whenever they could.

It took them weeks to make the parts and subassemblies for the two long range aircraft out of carbon fiber, aluminum, and other materials. Each of the An-38 cargo aircraft were twin engine aircraft designed to carry a moderate amount of cargo or people and land on medium ranged runways. Only base, Copper Town and East had the necessary paved runways, though Colonel Dunn, the Yukon group, and others all stated they intended to do so as soon as they were finished with spring planting...if they could get help to do the job from Sam.

While they waited for materials for one part, or for parts to dry, they switched back and forth to another project, wood and metal biplane crop dusters. Ivan had requested one before the conference. When Adam Sevant at Prairie had heard, he'd put a deposit down with Paul for two more on Paul's last stop at his community.

When Jolie announced they were working on the planes over her radio address it sparked a bidding war for biplane crop dusters with interested communities. She came to Mitch amused and bewildered. “Did you know this was going to happen?”

“Pretty much. Everyone wants to be the first to have one. They don't understand what goes into making them, let alone the supporting equipment and parts,” Mitch replied, shaking his head. “Who wants them?”

“Everyone! Well, almost. Mike hasn't asked for one. Jack does. Chief Roberts is mildly interested...” she looked down at her notes. “The Yukon, Evan, Crash Town, Colonel Dunn...” She made a face.

“Prairie has priority after Ivan. I'll ask Candy how many they can make, or at least the subassemblies.”

“I...you may have problems with the engines. I think Brian needs the steel for the construction equipment,” Jolie warned.

“That's why I said subassemblies. We'll make what we can with what we've got. We've got timber stockpiled.”

“Yeah, outside,” Jolie warned, wrinkling her nose.

Mitch shrugged. “Then we bring it inside. We run it through the kiln to dry it out, then shape it for the parts they need. I'm not saying it is perfect, but that should work. They could turn out the wings and other parts. Even make some of the body panels out of carbon fiber or plastic.”

Jolie nodded. “I got it.”

“Don't go making any promises now. Just see who is offering what and what sort of timetable they want.”

“Obviously immediate delivery is out,” Jolie said dryly. Mitch nodded.

After speaking with Jolie, he went over to check on Brian and Vance. Brian was busy; he oversaw the smelting of the stockpiled iron ore and other metals. Most of the steel was earmarked to make more construction equipment and vehicles. He nodded as Vance used a magnetic hoist to move a piece of sheet metal over to the CNC machine. He followed along, carefully away from the thing, but close enough so he could control the hoist with the controller.

“Okay, we've got problems with supply and demand,” Mitch said over the tumult of noise. “Any ideas on how to address it?” he asked, turning to Tao.

“I've got a few,” the Asian said with a nod. Tao mixed in carbon fiber wherever possible to not only lose weight, but fill in for materials they didn't have on hand. Body panels and other shells were made out of plastic or carbon fiber. Anywhere they could they made things out of nonmetal parts.