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	Re: The NeverEnding Story
	Posted By: D-M.A.	Date: 4/4/05 5:33 a.m.
	In Response To: Re: The NeverEnding Story (Yossarian) Ralph knew his life would never be the same again. A spook with a proposition... fucking great. He decided to play it cool. "What if I refuse?" There was a faint smile on the spook's face, but it quickly disappeared. "Mr. Cameron, you're working for the UESC. I like to call it a proposition, because in a way, that is what it is. On the other hand Mr. Cameron, I'm your superiour, and if you refuse, you can pack your bags and look for a job elsewhere." Ralph pondered this for a moment in his head. What he really wanted to do, was to take out the spike-pistol in the cabinet behind him, and fire the whole load right through the spook's head. "Ok, I'm listening, but make it quick. I'm very busy getting a CRIST ship up in the air." The spook leaned back in the chair. He was staring at Ralph for a brief moment before he started talking again. "You've probably heard rumours about something big... something really big going on in the UESC. You have a good reputation in the company Mr. Cameron. I want you to come and work on this project." Ralph hesitated for a moment. Ralph wanted nothing more than stay right here and work on the CRIST's. He knew that the Marsians were doomed if the CRIST vessels were taken out of service. But on the other hand, this other project might be something else to help the Marsians. "I'll think about it. Now if you excuse me, I have a lot to do here." Ralph turned around and started walking away. "Wait a minute! You don't understand... There's a vessel waiting outside for you Mr. Cameron. I know of your strong sympathy for the Marsians after what happened to your wife. But the CRIST's will only prolong the Marsians suffering, their doom is inevitable. Either you get on that vessel with me right now, or pack your belongings and kiss your job goodbye." Ralph froze instantly. These guys had been doing their job well to know about Eve... : Not though these mishaps were totally unexpected; this particular CRIST : vessel was reaching the end of its useful life. There are only so many : maintenance overhauls you can perform on a ship before the original : structure is gone and all that's left of it is a bunch of patch-ups. Good : shipmakers know by gut when a bird can still fly and when its time to clip : her wings, and Ralph knew this ugly bird still had a few trips to make, : though it was likely her last major overhaul. : He knew this not only because the CRIST was getting so old, but because there : had been talk around the shipbuilding circles that the UESC had something : big planned for Mars. He'd heard the rumors same as everybody else, but he : didn't pay much attention to them. There was no point believing it unless : it came from UESC brass themselves, and even then it had a spin to it. : Some of the possibilities he'd heard were pretty far out there: that the : UESC wanted to make a "super-CRIST" for a colony ship, that : there were plans to construct orbiting "pacification devices", : or that -ridiculosuly enough- they were going to hollow out one of the : Martian moons and turn it into a colony ship. : He didn't enjoy always guessing what his next assignment would be, and had he : been running his own shop that wasn't something he'd ever had to worry : about. But at least with the UESC there was stability, and the success or : failure of his career didn't depend on the sensitive economy of Earth's : fledgling colonial period. As long as there were CRISTs and they were : breaking down, he'd be just fine. Maybe that was the difference between : Ralph and his dad: one was more buidler, the other more businessman. Plus, : the CRISTs were necessities for the Martians; he'd rather be working to : keep the Martian lifeline alive than constructing yachts for rich : spacefarers or maintaining the useless Martian orbital guard. : Metal screeched and sparks flew high above him as several bolts strained and : snapped. The main crane assembly was failing. Luckily no one had : overlooked erecting the secondary clamps, and the panel slowed and : stopped. Immediately other cranes starting moving into position to support : the clamps. : "Shit" Ralph whispered under his breath. This would set them back a : couple of days. "All right, let's get this mess cleaned up. Eddie, as : soon as it's safe get the metalworkers checking the panel. Frank, I want : to know what the hell is wrong with that number one crane. Anika, get an : order cut for some more bolts, I don't want to have to wait any longer for : spares from the depot." Ralph learned you can't act fast enough when : trying to get anything done. Indecision took too much time, and that : wasn't something they had. Each day the CRIST wasn't cruising was a day : Mars was going without resupply. : "You got it chief." "Sure thing Ralphie." "I'm way : ahead of you boss." : They were a good crew, they just needed to learn to pace themselves a little : better. The radio chatter increased as the platform supervisors barked : commands to their techs. : Ralph took off his helmet and rubbed his forehead. He was going to have a : hard time explaining this to the Admiral. : "Chief Engineer Cameron?" a voice asked behind him. Ralph turned : around to face the attractive young technician. "Yes?" he asked, : trying his best to look suave smiling. She didn't smile back. : "There's a UESC man waiting in your office, sir." Speaking lower : she added, "I think he's an officer, and he doesn't have a rank : insignia." : Ralph's smile diappeared. Officers without patches. Spooks. : Ralph broke into a slow stride towards his office. The door slid open to : reveal a UESC spook sitting comfortably in the corner chair, looking clean : and professional in his black uniform, sans insignia. : Before formalities could be exchanged, the spook spoke. "Mister Ralph : Cameron. Have a seat. We have a proposition for you..."

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Replies:

	The NeverEnding Story	D-M.A.	4/2/05 9:55 a.m.
	Re: The NeverEnding Story	blake37	4/2/05 11:05 a.m.
	Re: The NeverEnding Story	D-M.A.	4/3/05 4:49 a.m.
	Re: The NeverEnding Story	Yossarian	4/3/05 9:46 a.m.
	Keep going! I'll post this to the MaraFF in awhile *NM*	Blayne	4/3/05 3:31 p.m.
	Re: The NeverEnding Story	D-M.A.	4/4/05 5:33 a.m.
	Re: The NeverEnding Story	blake37	4/4/05 11:50 a.m.
	Just a reminder about pre-FTL communication *NM*	Steve Levinson	4/4/05 12:31 p.m.
	Opps, your right.... Erm, crap :-\ *NM*	blake37	4/4/05 1:10 p.m.
	Re: Opps, your right.... Erm, crap :-\	D-M.A.	4/4/05 8:00 p.m.
	Correct - wanted to be sure others didn't slip up *NM*	Steve Levinson	4/4/05 8:19 p.m.
	Re: Opps, your right.... Erm, crap :-\	blake37	4/5/05 10:33 a.m.
	Re: The NeverEnding Story	•M	4/4/05 9:45 p.m.
	Re: The NeverEnding Story	Forrest of B.org	4/5/05 8:02 a.m.
	Re: AMB	•M	4/5/05 8:13 a.m.
	Re: The NeverEnding Story	Yossarian	4/9/05 8:11 a.m.
	Re: The NeverEnding Story	Forrest of B.org	4/10/05 5:48 p.m.
	Re: The NeverEnding Story - note	Blayne	4/11/05 3:38 p.m.
	Re: The NeverEnding Story	•M	4/13/05 1:42 p.m.
	Re: The NeverEnding Story	D-M.A.	4/18/05 5:25 a.m.
	Re: The NeverEnding Story	duality	5/21/05 12:02 a.m.
	Re: The NeverEnding Story	Blayne	5/23/05 5:41 p.m.
	Re: The NeverEnding Story	D-M.A.	5/23/05 7:55 p.m.
	lazy baztardoz! *NM*	Johannes Gunnar	5/24/05 6:22 a.m.
	did it	duality	5/24/05 1:51 p.m.
	Re: did it	Blayne	5/26/05 12:34 p.m.
	Re: did it	duality	5/27/05 3:11 p.m.
	Re: The NeverEnding Story	Yossarian	6/1/05 7:40 p.m.
	Wow! Great job, Yoss. *NM*	Steve Levinson	6/2/05 3:56 a.m.
	Agreed! *NM*	D-M.A.	6/2/05 7:21 a.m.
	Re: The NeverEnding Story	chotinai	6/22/05 9:07 p.m.
	Re: The NeverEnding Story	Yossarian	6/22/05 10:19 p.m.
	weirdest spam eVer mb?! :P *NM*	Johannes Gunnar	6/23/05 2:26 a.m.
	Re: The NeverEnding Story	Enkidu	6/23/05 4:20 p.m.
	Re: The NeverEnding Story	Blayne	6/26/05 12:03 p.m.
	Re: The NeverEnding Story	D-M.A.	12/2/06 9:52 a.m.

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