Stellar Dust 4 - A Simple Raid by Isaac Orr

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"Sir, I believe that the meal time for your shift is almost over. You have a large amount of work scheduled. You should eat and relax while you have the chance."

He was being stonewalled by a damned AI. Shrugging, he started to the door again. As it slid open he looked out. The hallway was empty. "I know what I heard Arti," he said aloud as he stepped out of the hangar and the door shut behind him.

Most of the second half of Stryler's waking shift was spent helping to load supplies. Crew members began returning from the satellite's surface, many of them suffering from varying levels of inebriation. Stryler just kept on working. He didn't mind the occasional drink, and had definitely done his fair share of getting blasted, but some of the crewmembers had gone way past what he considered to be his limits. He could easily tell that alcohol wasn't the only thing that many of them had been taking. For the most part these days he liked to make sure that he kept his head clear.

Right now that head was fully occupied by his unusual conversation with the AI earlier in the day. Take me with you when you leave. Well he wasn't planning on going anywhere right now. He didn't plan on sticking around as a member of this crew for any longer than he absolutely had to, but the AI had no way of knowing that, did it? Stryler's thoughts kept returning to this until he retired to the sleeping quarters full of crewmembers recovering from their overindulgence.

Next morning most of the crew was present in the mess when Stryler got there. Apparently this was standard procedure aboard the Anomaly on the day of departure from base. Stryler had time only to greet Doran and a handful of other crew members and settle into a seat with a cup of coffee when Captain Loramy entered the room in full battle gear, this time minus the helmet, which he carried at his side.

Good morning gentlemen," Loramy grinned as the crew turned to acknowledge his presence and conversations throughout the mess came to an end.

"First of all I'd like to thank you all for your exemplary work on our last cruise. The proceeds of your endeavors will be available to all of you in your accounts by the time we get back here."

There was a murmur of general approval amongst the crew. Loramy continued.

"This trip should be much shorter, because we have only one target and it's carrying a large cargo. We'll fill our holds with only a fraction of it. That's about it. Everyone prep for departure. I want us underway in two hours."

Loramy turned and walked from the room without waiting for any reaction to his orders. Stryler wandered over towards where Doran stood leaning back against a wall.

"He doesn't like to give out much information does he?"

Doran shook his head. "Nope. We'll find out what the target is and what it's cargo is once we get there. Must be good to make a one-target trip worthwhile though."

The Anomaly pulled out of port on schedule and rapidly left Delta 2 and the rest of the Roberts V system behind as it accelerated to plus-c.