(… continuing)

On exiting the Hyperloop at the space port, Marr and Dukk found Kimince and Trence waiting.
“Hello, Captain and Co-Pilot,” Kimince said. “We are waiting for Annee. We messaged her and she said she will collect us in the cart.”
“Great timing,” Dukk replied. “When she gets here, we can all then go to the temporary storage area. There is a RoboContainer we are transporting back to Earth. I’d like you to verify the seals.”
“Only one?” Trence asked.
“Only one that requires your verification. We’ll also be transporting empties, but they don’t need to be sealed.”
“Oh, okay.”
“How was your stay?” Marr asked looking at Kimince and Trence. Dukk sighed.
“We had a ball,” Kimince squealed. “Annee’s recommendations were really good. We ate, drank and danced. The hotel she recommended, The Boudoir, was amazing. It had a cosy little bar, a restaurant, and wonderful views of the mountains. We will have to stay there again.”
“What did you like about the stay, Trence?” Marr asked, half regretting she’d asked anything about it all. She was hoping Trence’s input would calm Kimince down a little.
“I was fascinated by the fireplace in the bar at The Boudoir,” Trence replied calmly. “It was huge and occupied the centre of the room. It roared with a purple fire all evening. Did you know it has to be completely self contained with special smash proof glass. This is because the indigenous wood releases toxic fumes when it burns. These fumes are invisible, odourless and would kill us if we were to inhale them for too long.”
“That is interesting,” Marr answered in a soft tone hoping to hide the connection she’d just made to Mentor’s instructions.
“Here is our ride,” Dukk offered seeing Annee on approach.

“Hello you lot. Need a lift?” Annee said cheerfully as she pulled up near the hyperloop station.
“Absolutely,” Dukk replied. “Can we go via the temporary storage area. The load is ready to be collected?”
“Of course. Let’s get Kimince and Trence’s lockers into the brackets on the back of the cart, and we’ll be off.”

Ten minutes later, the seals on the container had been verified. Annee had left Marr and Dukk in the storage area and return to the rig with Kimince and Trence.
“Let’s leave this container here for a minute and buy some empties over in the holding area,” Dukk said as they watched Annee and the others disappear in the direction of the rig.
“Empties?” Marr replied.
“Empty containers and crates. We can sell them in the hub or back on earth. It helps sweeten the deal.”
“How does that work? This feels a little informal.”
“Some of it is and some of it isn’t. Most of the time, we aim to secure a round trip as part of the contract. The buyer, via the agent, is responsible for our fees, fuel, insurance and overheads. In return we carry the load of their choosing. The buyer is generally only interested in the outward load. Earth’s fresh produce. The agent might choose to cut a deal and carry some of the costs and risk. Buyers like that. The agent then recoups that via return loads. Seeing as there isn’t a lot of demand for Earth bound loads, the agent doesn’t always fill our hold. When we get space, we can pick up some empties and make a little margin of our own. The profit isn’t much but it will buy a few rounds.”
“Who buys the empties?”
“Traders. The hubs, like Kaytom Beach, service metals mines so they are always looking for RoboContainers to carry loads. It is more efficient than loading the canisters individually. Also, Earth needs them to reload produce. So they have some value there too.”
“Cool.”

With the three robotic containers in tow, Marr and Dukk made their way back towards the rig.
Half way there, they were met by Annee and Mentor in the cart.
“Dukk,” Annee said as she stopped the cart near them. “The passengers have just arrived at the Hyperloop station. Do you want to collect them and do your sermon? Mentor and I will bring these containers the rest of the way.”
“Good plan. I was about to contact port control and get them to lower the air wash barriers, so we can open the nose door.”
“Done and done.”
“You are a model of efficiency today, Ann.”
“What are you saying about every other day?” Annee laughed.

An hour later, just after five p.m., Dukk and his crew were seated around the table for their pre-departure circle-up.
“Good evening everyone,” Dukk said. “I hope you enjoyed the brief time here in Mayfield. Time to get moving again. How are we looking? Ann?”
“The passengers are settled in, briefed and eager to get underway. Mentor and I are ready to shower,” Annee replied.
“All set for the evacuation drill?”
“Yep. I’ve asked them to be seated by quarter to six.”
“Perfect. Bazzer?”
“Refuelling is done. Just need to check the load, then we are in the showers.”
“Excellent, Bazzer. The flight plan is loaded and launch permission is obtained, so we are on track for a six p.m. departure.”
“What is our path?” Luna asked.
“We are going to be tracking via Kaytom Beach for this return trip,” Dukk replied as he enabled the projection in the middle of the table. “Our path takes us back to WXR22, then we head to Layton 16, Layton 1, LX315, LX306 and into Kaytom 6, the system that contains the modern and full service, Kaytom Beach hub. From there we go to Kaytom 1, MJ3, MJ12, Willpo 3 and back to Teegarden. Then it is into the Solar System and Earth. We’ll probably take the intermediary inspections at Layton 1 and MJ12.”
“Cool,” Luna replied.
“We good?” Dukk asked.
Everyone smiled and nodded.
“Right Marr, time to fight for the showers before we do our final walk around the rig and close the door.”
“Dukk, you mean, time for the rest of us without en suites, to fight for the showers,” Bazzer challenged.
Dukk smiled cheekily and stood up.

Just before six p.m., the rig was ready for departure.
Dukk opened the comms to the passengers, “Hello, your Captain here again. Thank you for your help in doing the evacuation drill and getting seated. We are now preparing for launch. It will take us about fifteen minutes to exit the hangers and then get clear of the settlement. After that we can initiate the hard burn to reach orbit. Please sit back and enjoy the ride.”

(to be continued...in the next chapter)

[Rule of Twelve, Double Take, Chapter 20 - Groundwork (Passage 5 of 5)]

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