Rust Bucket Read Online Free PDF

entire galaxy, let alone the business community, was abuzz with the news. Every business saw a chance for profit in dealing with those new people who weren't too unlike ourselves in biological terms. Save for their blue skin and the fact that they weren't as technologically advanced, they were just like us in temperament, personalities, and the placement of vital organs.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Of course, they were far off the beaten path, so any company having business dealings was going to have to use a shipping company that had armed escorts available, especially if the cargo was valuable. Because those discovered people were new to all this, it meant that some commodities suddenly became more valuable simply because the Blues, as they became known commonly, were willing to pay for those things with cargoes that were just as valuable to us. Pennyweight Shipping Company got one of the cargo runs that were granted by both governments. That meant that the Thurman was going to have to include a run to their planet once each month in addition to our run to Gabriel.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Even though the Blues were very much like us, they still had major cultural differences. Shore leaves on their planet wouldn't be happening until the differences were fully understood and we could be briefed properly so that we wouldn't create a diplomatic incident. If nothing else, it meant that some of the other crew members would be forced to save some of their pay that they would have otherwise spent on having a good time. For me, it made no difference. I spent very little time on shore when not in space. I was trying to complete my fourth-year classwork.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â Because of my studies, I was granted an upgraded badge that allowed me to do some of my work on the bridge of the Thurman while it wasn't involved in a critical procedure. I imagine that it was probably the Sarge's efforts again that got me that privilege since I didn't tell anyone in the company that I was studying. I only know that I got a call while on Beulah to report to Jim in the office and he asked for my badge. For a moment, the look on his face betrayed nothing. I thought that I was being fired. I took off the badge with some reluctance and handed it over, thinking that my world was about to crumble, again. I was about to take off the gunbelt and return it as well when he held out his other hand with the upgrade badge while he smiled at me. Then he only said, "Wear it in good health. We're rooting for you." I felt more embarrassed then than I had the first time in the shower with Wellesley. I numbly accepted the new badge and placed it in position carefully as if it were made of delicate, expensive crystal before saying thanks and returning to the ship to resume my studies.

    ***
    Somehow, I expected it to happen and I wasn't wrong. Our company received the salvage rights to the second pirate ship as well. It took a few months for the ship to be recovered and then rebuilt into another gunship. Of course, part of what I expected to happen was for us and the Edmund to have to transfer some of our crew members over to the new ship in order to man her with some experienced people. I almost got selected to go to the smaller ship, but for some reason I wasn't. I wouldn't have objected since it would have been an opportunity for me to work with another size gun ship and perhaps pick up some more education along the way. It might have led to a more rapid promotion for me. Instead, our ship gave up the lion's share of personnel to help man the new ship, though I stayed on board the Thurman. We saw a whole new influx of personnel to replace those people who moved over.
    Â Â Â Â Â Â She was commissioned as the Theodore and took over the Gabriel route since it was a shorter route. We faced both her and the Edmund in mock-battles, winning three out of three, even when it was two to one. I guess it was when she was commissioned that the company's