Dusters NINE

The last scheduled test from Chaffee was going well. No major problems. The feedback from Earth was encouraging. Dinah was testing software that used the other arrays to compensate if a problem did occur again. Her work was getting notice from the Welhaven engineers, who were impressed every time they all talked.

Aidyn returned from Earth after a Month’s stay there. It was almost six months since leaving Chaffee.

Dinah was so glad to see him again. He even had some time to visit with his family and had letters for Dinah too, from her Uncle. Aidyn had the updates on refitting the arrays on Two and laid out the plans to run the new checkout procedures. The redesigned arrays and the software modifications Dinah had designed to keep them safe were both incorporated.

Two had been moved back inside Chaffee for the refit work. Several additional assemblers had been installed to assist in the effort.

Assembler 5 malfunctioned and almost ripped a hole in the hull while decapitating assembler 3 with its cutting laser. Gildo was the only person in the room at the time and escaped being killed by hiding under the ship. The whole effort stalled for a day while systems checks were confirmed on the assemblers.


Welhaven announced the new duster on the Net, without talking to Dinah or Aidyn. Welhaven Three would be assembled in Earth orbit, where neither of them could do harm or good.

Someone (or some many) was trying to hack into the computer systems on Chaffee. The “def-wall” held the attacks back, but Aidyn called Welhaven about it. It turns out a data leak occurred somewhere along the line and the Undernet was all over the project and the “anomaly” that happened with One.

What was once the free level internet has become layered (as some describe it) with the Overnet on top, spewing what most people call propaganda. The Internet was in the middle and the Undernet became what it is, a haven for criminals, perverts, protesters and dissidents. They eventually disconnected all systems from the outside and would rely on handhelds or encrypted ship’s communications to communicate with Earth from now on.

Dinah maneuvered Two remotely to exit Chaffee and dock alongside. She had gotten good at the controls. Testing and certifications continued for a few weeks.

The new crew appeared at Chaffee the day before they were to do the first trials on Two. They were already trained and handpicked by Welhaven, no interviews required.

They were;
Kelley; Pilot (Ex-Air Force, cute blonde lady).
Fagan; Copilot (Long haul transport experience, 50 year old male by Earth years)
Opoku; Navigator (Friend of Fagan’s with similar experience).
Amatucci; Quartermaster (Ex-Air Force, Chinese woman)
Norrie; Engineer (A long time Welhaven employee, stout brunette woman)
Prestmon: Mechanic (Ex-Air Force, a large black man, aggressive)

The test mission started with zero complications. The crew was operating Two perfectly and had obviously been well trained. Dinah talked to Aidyn about it and he said they had been in simulator training the whole three months on the way to Mars, no twilight sleep.