Free Casserine by Bernard Lee DeLeo Page A

through the entrance.
    “Okay,” Adrian shouted. “You can drive, you big baby.”
    Jake’s head ducked back out the entryway with his head tilted and his hand cupping his ear. “I didn’t quite hear the apology. Could you repeat it a little louder this time, with an emphasis on: I am sorry for causing you to work your tail off for over an hour because of my screw-up, Jake.”
    “I’m sorry you were so slow bringing the tea out, I became bored and accidentally moved the rover, causing an accidental roll over.” Adrian said with unrepentant wit.
    Jake came straight after her. Adrian squealed her apology, all for naught, as Jake caught her. “Blackmail me with the cave all day long and then insult me, will you. I’ll give you a ride my pretty.”
    “Jake, you can not do this,” Adrian informed him as he attached the pulley harness to the back of the rover. She lay just behind the rover, trussed up from head to foot, with the other end of the pulley harness holding her upper body. Jake slid inside the cab and Adrian heard the whine of the power cell. She screamed as he circled the area slowly with her dragging along behind the rover. Jake stopped after completing one small circle. He went back to kneel down next to Adrian.
    “Hi Honey, having fun on your ride?”
    “You know of course, this means war.”
    Jake laughed as he started undoing the harness straps. “Are you going to stop threatening me with that damn cave, or not?”
    “Not.”
    Jake sighed and began reattaching the straps. “You do look kind of cute all tied up.”
    “I meant I’m not ever going to threaten you with the cave again.” Adrian said quickly.
    “Okay, come on.” Jake helped her up, and dusted her off. “We’ll go for a ride, and I’ll show you how not to make rover roll over. If you pay attention, I’ll let you drive back.”
    “Let’s stay out until we can drive back at sunset,” Adrian suggested. “We can bring our suits and helmets. We can pack something to eat and drink too.”
    “That sounds good. You go get our things, and I’ll stay here and continue research on the rover.” Jake replied smiling.
    “You don’t trust me,” Adrian pouted.
    “Affirmative.”
    Adrian started towards the living quarters and then turned. “Do you really think I look cute tied up?”
    “Affirmative.”

Chapter 6 
    Trouble In Paradise
    Adrian watched Jake carefully loading fuel cells onto their transfer dock. She stood looking out of the viewing port high above him, inside the transport ship, Tennyson. While she watched, Jake maneuvered the last cell into place. He then took off his work gloves, and mopped his face with the damp towel he always carried. Because the base still had not solved the final problem of maneuverability in their gravity suits for working on Casserine, Jake still loaded and unloaded the supply ships himself.
    The job went by faster since the new ground vehicles proved their durability in a few short test trips on the planet surface. They now had two of the vehicles. Jake could use the land rover much like the cargo drones on the base. He no longer had to load up the transfer dock a week in advance of the supply ships, by bringing out each fuel cell individually by four-wheel dolly.
    Adrian turned as one of the crew chiefs walked over to stand next to her. She smiled at the young, red-haired crewman, named Tim Dougherty, who made the Casserine run regularly. He was Jake’s old friend, who supplied them with entertainment supplies. The supply ship crews were very respectful of the Casserine inhabitants. Jake’s exploits on Casserine, and his working on the dock in spite of his new rank of Major, made him a favorite with all of the enlisted personnel aboard the supply ships and space cruisers which visited.
    Although solidly built, and only a couple of inches shorter than Jake, the crew chief was a formidable looking man. He knew, however, as did the other men and women serving aboard the supply ships, none of