“Jim!  Jim Brungess!  What are you up to, you old rascal?”

The face of Captain Mansel’s best friend stared intently back at Mansel.  “Hey there, Captain.”  He broke out into a wide grin.  “I see you’ve managed to survive your first year as a starship captain.  Glad to see you and your ship all in one piece.”

“Glad to be all in one piece,” Mansel laughed.  “What can I do for you?”

“Remember that favor I never cashed in on?” Brungess asked with a wide grin that split his friendly face.  “It’s time to pay up.”

Mansel knew exactly what favor Brungess was talking about.  It had been he who had set up Mansel and his old girlfriend, Makeisha Lee, now UNSF Intelligence.  Though the relationship split after three years, Mansel still owed it to Brungess for hooking them up.

Mansel groaned.  “What do you want me to do, Jim?”

The UNSF liaison officer smiled.  “I have about twenty or so people here who need to be taken somewhere.  Think you and your ragtag ship could scoop them up and take them for me?”

“First of all, Jim, the Excelsior class ships are anything but ragtag.  Second, we’re not an escort service.  Why don’t you call an escort ship?”

Jim Brungess’ smile faded somewhat.  “You owe me a favor, Mansel,” he said.  “This is how you pay up.”

“Fine,” the starship commander said after a time.  “Where and when?”

“Here and now.”

“Fine, we’ll be there in a little bit.”  With that, Mansel closed the communications.

“Don’t tell me our dinner is being interrupted?” Lieutenant Commander Lamb asked as Mansel approached the table.

“Unfortunately, yes,” Mansel confided, looking down on his crew.  “We have to transport some people.”

“That seems simple enough,” said Lieutenant Hardy, finishing her water.  “Back to mapping assignments after that?”

“Most likely,” the Captain responded.  “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

“You’ll need us on the bridge, Captain,” Lieutenant Talaj asked, eyes filled with hope.  To Mansel, she seemed too eager to be back at her post.  Lieutenant Talaj was a workaholic.

The starship captain sighed as he glanced at his chrono.  I doubt I will, but just in case anything happens, I’d like you guys to be there.”



Starbase 51
12:52 Standard Earth Time (SET)
2185

The Explorer arrived at Starbase 51 to pick up the score of people that needed transporting.

“Where are we taking them to, Jim?” Mansel asked his friend, who was his guest aboard the Explorer. Currently, they were in Mansel’s office, connected to the bridge.

On the other side of the desk sat Jim Brungess, Root Beer in hand.

“Ya gotta take them to Earth,” Mansel’s best friend said, leaning back in his chair.  “There’s a mass conference on the update of the war that these people need to attend.”  He took a sip of his beverage.

“Earth?” asked Mansel.  “Geez, Jim, that’s opposite the direction we’re going.”

“Remember,” his friend reminded him, “you’re paying off a debt.”  He couldn’t resist a grin as Mansel let out a growl of frustration.

“What are you up to?” Mansel asked after his period of frustration had passed.

“Keep things running smoothly between the EEDF and the UNSF, as always.”  The liaison officer favored Mansel with his political smile. “You know how hard by job is.”

Before Mansel could respond, Lieutenant Hardy contacted him and told him that the guests were ready to come aboard.  Brungess and Mansel rose and headed of to the shuttle bay to greet the Explorer’s temporary guests.
                                                                          ***

“Welcome aboard the U.S.S. Explorer,” Captain Mansel greeted as the eclectic mix of scientists, engineers, soldiers, and pilots came down the ramp, each carrying their one bag of luggage.  “Hope you enjoy your stay aboard my ship.”

“I’m sure we will, Captain,” said the last person to come down the ramp.  He extended his hand. “I’m Hanz Waltz.  I helped to organize this little party.”

“Greetings, Mr. Waltz,” said Commander Vaughn, coming from seemingly out of nowhere.  “The security detail will take your stuff for you and show you to your rooms.”

“No thanks,” the scientist replied, clutching his suitcase.  “We prefer to keep our luggage to ourselves.”  He gently patted the suitcase,  “Important material.”

“They’re a good group of people,” Brungess said after they had left with Vaughn.  He checked his chrono.  "Time for me to go.  I have to keep things straight, you know.”

“Of course, Jim,” said Mansel, shaking his hand.  “I’ll get them there, safe.”

“Be sure that you do.  If not, the UNSF will have my head and I’ll have yours.  Literally.”  With a grin and a wave to Mansel, he hopped in the shuttle the guests had arrived on and took off.
***