Second Chances (115 page)

“We're looking into sonic weapons as an additional deterrent,” Brian said, looking to Mitch. Mitch nodded. “I can look into retrofitting the design to the trucks. Not all of them, but at least a couple in each convoy.”

“That...”

“Sonic weapons, Paul. Anything that you point it at will lose its balance and have one hell of a headache and tummy ache. They'll probably barf,” Mitch explained.

“Um...” Paul rubbed his goatee. “Could work,” he mused. He looked to Sam. Sam shrugged. “We'd have to try it. I'm not so sure about stopping a T. rex charge though. The air horns and lights sometimes don't work.”

“We can set up a demo. I've got one working model,” Brian said. “The prototype. It's bread-boarded though, so...” He shrugged.

“And here I thought you've been working on that aircraft or Lisa,” Paul teased.

Brian snorted. He'd done a lot with the aircraft and other projects, and yes spent time with Lisa and the other girls, but the sonic weapon was an on-again, off-again project. He'd finally gotten it back up and running with Akira's help two days ago. This version was completely built from native parts. They still had some quality control issues to work out, but he figured they could do a field test. He frowned thoughtfully. Maggie was still pissed at him for the one they'd done in the barn, so they'd have to go out in the field...which meant the cold and snow. And finding an animal out there...he pursed his lips.

“Okay, moving on...” Anne said, holding up her tablet to get everyone's attention. “Next on the agenda, we've been looking at stores, and I've got another request for people to have their own quarters again...”

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

Crash Town offered to host the infant space program. “After all, we're the southernmost community. We're closer to the equator,” Professor Hinkley said over the radio, making his case.

“Yes, but the problem, Roy, is that they'd have to transport the rocket components to you and then you'd have to assemble them,” Evan said.

“True,” Roy admitted. “It was just a suggestion.”

“I know, and I thank you. Perhaps if and when we get this program going, we'll expand it. What we'd like to do is go the space plane route. The jets and liquid fueled rocket engines are still a pair of hurdles to overcome.”

“How goes the runway expansion, Roy?” Evan asked.

“Um...it's coming along. I think.”

“You think? You don't know? If you can't handle the runway, how did you expect to build the vehicle assembly building, let alone the rocket pad, roads, and gantry for the space program?” Evan demanded.

“Um...”

“We all take on more than we sometimes are capable of. Our reach should exceed our grasp. In this case, we break it down into smaller projects and knock them down in succession,” Mitch said. “The runway, hangars, and roads will allow your community to support the AN-38 you bought plus the landing of the Hercules.”

“That reminds me. I want in on the manufacture of the rocket and aircraft components. Something simple even if it is the seat bits,” Evan said.

“Um...” Mitch frowned at the distraction and then shrugged. “Okay,” he said, exhaling. “There are thousands of pieces in each aircraft design. We're trying to keep as many off the shelf and modular as we can to make it easy on our logistics. It's not always possible, but for things like seats and such...it should be. I'll check the computer and get you a list.”

“And the CAD files. I'm serious Mitch,” Evan said.

“Gotcha. Back to the runway project. Roy, do you have a cement works?”

“Yes. The problem is with just the one bobcat we can't be everywhere at once with it. Mining in the hills and mountains, working on the roads, working on the base, the runway, and running the plant.”

“Okay, so a buildup of logistical infrastructure is called for,” Evan said.

“We've got another...” Mitch checked his tablet and then grunted. “Four bobcats under construction now that Bill and Candy have the kinks worked out. We've got some parts in from Mike and Jack to make two more it seems.”

“Can you put me down for two?” Roy asked. “I'll talk to the gunny about finding a way to pay for it.”

“Understood.”

“Put me down for one too,” Evan said.

“That leaves one left,” Mitch said.

“Wait, I thought you said there were six in the pipeline?”

“Yes, but I'm keeping one, and Jack already paid for one. Yuri also put in for one. He's supposed to have a down payment for it in the spring.”

“Ah.”

“Don't get me started on the other vehicles,” Mitch sighed. “We've got a lot of projects going on, but retooling between them means we're down for a couple days...and it takes a couple days for people to get up to speed.”

“Wishing you had more room?”

“Something like that. More people or doing longer production runs would be nice,” Mitch said. “The six bobcats will take up the rest of this week and a good part of the next. Then they are going to work on subassemblies of the other vehicles...at least that's what the schedule looks like.”

“Okay.”

“Candy's taken over the carbon fiber department, she's even handling the thread and textile manufacturing now that we have a proper dedicated loom and machinery for her. She's taking over the carbon nanotube production too. That's a major lift off Bob and Selma's shoulders right there. I just hope Candy can handle it. She looked a bit frazzled.” Mitch made a note to give the lady a hand and maybe a couple hours of time off to be with her daughter. He'd heard through the grapevine that she wanted to get pregnant again, but her work load was too much for her to consider the idea seriously.

“It seems you have a lot on your plate,” Evan said. “We can do subassemblies here,” he said suggestively.

“I know. You mentioned that a minute ago, remember?” Mitch asked, smiling. “Tao's been a trooper about that. I think he'd appreciate the effort. Jack and Mike have already gotten into it too.”

“Well, I can 3D print a lot of stuff if I have the CAD files, power and materials. Right now though electric power is an issue. We're using every watt for the heaters and lights.”

“We're experimenting with nanotubes again,” Mitch said. “Back in 2013 or so they came up with a way to layer nanotube felt to generate an electric field from a heat differential.”

“The Seebeck effect?” Roy asked, sounding amused. “I thought that was a gimmick? It's expensive, and it's not very efficient. What, 5 percent?”

“No, it works. It's tough to manufacture though. You need a clean room and the right equipment,” Evan said.

“Just a bit. But I'm not looking to use it for clothes. I have it actually in some of the equipment and vehicles I brought over from Earth. They recover some of the energy lost to heat,” he explained. “Not as efficient as I'd like, we barely get 7 percent I think, but it is something positive.”

“Ah.”

“We're using it with motors. That's the plan. Anyway, I'm pulling up a list of subassemblies for all our projects. If you really think you are up to it, I'll shoot you the list. You'll need to make sure your quality control is tight though,” Mitch cautioned.

“Yes, we don't need or want to lose an aircraft,” Roy said grimly.

“Definitely not,” Evan agreed.

“Well, the next project on the horizon is radar arrays. Jim Conklin has been working with Warrant Brown, Akira, Suni Ling, Miss Raynes, and I think one of the Bradleys on your end Evan to iron out the bugs. They've got enough down to justify a production run. A small one to test.”

“That will be a good thing,” Evan said. “I tried to help when I could but I'm more into materials and well, the community...” He sighed.

“I understand. Trust me prof, both of you have done wonders. And I too understand wanting to be more involved with something but being pulled everywhere by everything else going on,” Mitch said ruefully.

“So, they are going to produce a series of radar arrays?” Roy asked. “I'm interested in that. We could use additional arrays along the coastline to warn of more storms,” he said.

“Definitely,” Evan agreed fervently.

“I know. Jackie wants them in aircraft to warn of threats in the air. Jim...both Jims want space arrays on the satellites they've been building.”

“You've been building vehicles, aircraft, rockets, the stuff for us, and satellites too?” Roy asked in shocked disbelief.

“Well, not all at once,” Mitch laughed. “Remember what I said about being pulled in various directions? The same goes for some of the other people here. And we can't finish one project sometimes due to a delay or scheduling conflict or manufacturing issue so it gets shelved. It's even harder in the spring through fall, what with everyone wanting something and wanting it right now. But now that it's winter we're catching up on these projects while we can.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Well, Claudia's calling me away so I unfortunately have to leave. It was good speaking with you gentlemen,” Evan said, sounding disappointed.

“Understood professor, have a good day,” Mitch said. Roy echoed the sentiment.

After Evan signed off Mitch sat back as he pulled up the parts list. He had the computer list all the components they were keeping in common with other aircraft, then he had the computer dump the list into a separate file for viewing. Then he went through it to find the simplest parts. These he highlighted for later review.

“You're quiet,” Roy said over the radio. Mitch looked up.

“Oh, sorry,” He said, hitting the transmit button. “I was looking at that list Evan asked for. So, about the things you need to expand...”

“Well, another concrete mixer would probably be good. Trying to do a runway this long with a small hand-sized one isn't working out well,” Roy said dryly. “The problem is working with that much material at once...and
getting
that much material at once I suppose,” he said.

“Chicken and the egg thing,” Mitch said. “You have to stockpile the materials in sufficient quantities, if necessary one at a time. Then when you have enough do a run.”

“Well, water we have in plenty. The same for sand, it is nearby. The aggregate is an issue. We have to use the bobcat and it's various add on tools to first jackhammer the pieces, then scoop them up...”

“Which is where more vehicles come in,” Mitch said, nodding. He frowned thoughtfully. “I would suggest talking with Joe over at Colonel Dunn's. See if he can fix up a truck or something for you to use as a dump truck.”

“Trucks have a thousand and one uses here. The other issue is fuel. We have plenty of electricity,” Roy said.

“Okay...” Mitch frowned thoughtfully. “I know Jack is making copper generators and motors. Batteries are a problem.”

“I wonder if he can make a grinding machine? Something to break down the rock into gravel?” Roy mused. “Maybe conveyor belts too?”

“E-mail him. The heavy machinery bits either I or Mike can do. Mike has a CNC machine too.”

“I have the one we have here,” Roy said. “Can you send me the blueprints?”

“You'd need the material,” Mitch reminded him, saving the file he was working on.

“Damn,” Roy sighed. “Forgot that.”

“I'll send them and some other stuff anyway. See what you think,” Mitch said.

“Okay. But our net connection is slow, so it'll take time,” Roy warned. “And I don't have a lot of computer support like you do,” he warned.

“Everything in time, professor,” Mitch said as he opened the e-mail and started typing.

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

East produced small plastic bits mostly for wiring. The bits were their first subassembly run. When he had enough for Jackie to justify a flight, she took the An-38 to his place loaded with food and plastic feedstock. She returned with a small shipment of plastic parts in four ancient plastic bags. “Hardly seems like it was worth the effort,” she said as she handed them over.

“Well, we'll know soon enough. Thanks for getting them,” Mitch said.

She snorted. “Hell, it beat sitting in that stuffy cave or playing spades with Akira, Angie and Conklin,” she said, shaking her head.

Mitch passed the plastic parts over to Brian to do quality control tests. Brian selected a few items at random and ran the tests, all passed. He green lit the shipment for production. Happy, Evan set up a teenager to work on a second production run as he expanded into other items.

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

Just after the community celebrated Christmas Brian, Arby, and Akira announced a breakthrough with microchip manufacture. Two days later Akira reported they had also successfully prototyped a radar array and once they got the bugs out they would be ready for construction.

“It's working fine in the lab and in the hangar. We need to do an all up outdoor test. Something to calibrate it properly for long ranges too,” Akira said.

“Okay.” Mitch nodded.

“Not with the storm going on outside,” Vance said with a sniff. The others chuckled wryly. Akira sighed.

“Any ideas when it will stop, Piotr?” Mitch asked. The Russian rubbed his scraggly face. All the men had grown out their beards or tried. Piotr was young enough that he didn't quite have a full length beard...or his genetics didn't support a full beard.