Star Missions - Book One - Part III

Chapter 21 - Jammer

Nova Station, Robotics Lab

Marcus Hawkins was hunched over a circuit board in the Nova robotics lab, trying to integrate some new circuitry to the drone guidance system. It was tedious work and had to do it just right. He was not as skilled as Jammer was, but he still above average and motivated. The work did make him long for when Jammer got back, though. He could get it done in half the time. Colonel Hand was already breathing down his neck, demanding that the drones be ready. They had worked well for years, but with recent upgrades to propulsion systems and new high-speed satellite relays in place, their technology needed an update.

Now, with the gate closed and Blue-Ray missing, there was no time to lose. The events of the past week did merit a heightened level of preparedness. Without Jammer, there was little chance of meeting Hand's deadline.

Jamram Joshi preferred that everyone call him Jammer, so that's what everyone did. He was chief engineer and Hawkins' longtime friend, in addition to being Lita's older brother. He was an electronics whiz, and Hawkins had complete faith in him. Hawkins was the head of the Lab and kept everyone on task, but Jammer got the work done. It's as if he was an interpreter, who spoke a different language that the techs and the other engineers in the Lab understood with nerdy accuracy. He was Hawkins' right-hand man.

Hawkins let his head roll back so that he was staring at the ceiling. He loved his work, but the pressure of his new duties still weighed on him. There was too much to do. He realized he needed Jammer in the Lab. Without his help, it was overwhelming.

Hawkins buried himself in the task again, but just then, the door to the Lab slid open. Hawk looked up and saw Jammer grinning at him.

"Welcome back!" Marcus said, breaking out into a smile of his own. "How did things go at the plant?"

"Operational again." Jammer shrugged. It was evident that he had come straight to the Lab from the Tunnel bay. He put his travel bag down by his station and continued, "But who knows for how long. Those Novans steal everything. I have no doubt they've got enough parts to build their own ore processing plant by now."

Hawkins laughed. Something about having Jammer around always made it easier to relax. "For all we know, they've already built three of them out there, these past twenty-five years."

Jammer chuckled and moved to another work station where he picked up some wires and began fiddling with them. The man could never sit still for more than a second, and his hands were always working on something. Everyone in the Lab was qualified and capable, but Jammer was on another level. He was the Lab. It was so obvious that nobody ever questioned that. At least Jammer was content with his work and stayed humble.

Hawkins kept making slow progress on his project. He wanted to catch Jammer up on all that was going on but didn't want to bring anything up prematurely. Jammer just got back and needed to settle in first. Jammer, though, wanted to talk.

He stopped moving from station to station and, while holding circuit boards in both hands, stands and says to Marcus, "I'm gone for one week, and everything goes topsy turvy. Terra is attacked by unknown forces, killer bugs infest our Lab on Hydra, and the military drops an atomic bomb on our own people to exterminate the things. What am I supposed to think?"

"You forgot to mention that we found an alien, Governor Belter is in the hospital after being beaten by a couple of Space Dogs, and Hand is in charge of all operations in the system," Hawkins added.

Jammer shook his head. "Please forgive my forgetfulness." He put the circuit boards down, sat on the stool next to Marcus, and pivoted to face him. "I do not think Belter is to blame. His own family is dead. The only one left is Nathan on Terra. And now, we do not know what is happening there? He cannot mourn properly."

They were all excellent points, and Hawkins was just about to open his mouth open to express his agreement. It seemed that Jammer was speaking rhetorically anyway. He knew Hawkins well enough to know he felt the same way. But as usual, Jammer's attention quickly moved on to other important matters. He started straightening out some wires. When that was completed, he noticed that Marcus was taking an unusually long time to finish his work.

"Do you actually know where you're doing there?" Again, without waiting for a response, Jammer approached and shooed Hawkins aside by saying, "Step aside, before you hurt yourself."

Hawk only smiled. "Glad to have you back. I have to say; things do run a lot smoother when you're here."

He expected a witty reply, but Jammer's attention was all on the circuit board now. If his full focus was on the thing, Hawkins knew he'd probably have it in perfect working order in minutes. Jammer enjoyed making small talk while he worked. Hawkins watched Jammer work for a few seconds, his eyebrows going up as his friend made connections as precisely as a skilled craftsman. After a moment, he leaned back. "Belter is being transferred to our med Lab tonight. Why don't we visit him in the morning?" Hawkins asked.

Jammer made a few more adjustments to the circuits, and then placed the guidance unit gently on the desk. "Of course, Mr. Belter is a very great man. It is a shame. He should not be in that position."

Hawkins nodded as he said, "I know." Then, in somber agreement, they let a respectful silence hang between them. "C'mon," he said finally, "assemble the crew and let's test these upgrades."

It was Jammer's idea that the drones be updated. They worked well enough, but with Hawkins' bionic upgrade recently implemented, they could not respond as quickly to his movements. But, Colonel Hand would not settle for 'well enough.' With the recent attack on Hydra, upgrading the Strolla system's military defenses made sense.

Hawkins punched his friend on the shoulder. "Hand made the drones priority one, and I don't need him putting any more pressure on me."

"Don't worry, buddy," Jammer said. "I will put everyone on it. We will have the Colonel eating out of our hands." He then burst out laughing.

Hawkins cracked a little smile, but Jammer expected more. He asked Hawkins, "Do you get it? Hand eating out of our hands!"

Marcus, already familiar with Hand jokes, said, "Yeah, I got it. Very funny." Jammer then left to greet the rest of the team, grinning from ear to ear, proud of himself and his witty response.