Circuit Rider : Loopy Canyon Settlement (p1)
Posted on Tue Feb 18th, 2020 @ 10:20am by Lieutenant Commander Sofia Nikedoros
1,994 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Canary
Location: outlaying areas of the colony
Miracle scampered into the church, looking around a bit lost. She frowned at the warm quiet of the interior. Ears twitched to see if she could hear anything. She accidently left the door slightly ajar. Just enough to let in a draft of cold air.
She moved deeper into the building, taking in the religious icons of the human beliefs. "Squeah?" loud enough to be heard, yet showing no disrespect if anyone was observing their beliefs at the time, out of sight of herself.
Much to her embarrassment, Sofia noticed the cold draft and the door ajar before noticing the new visitor. In fact she had headed toward the door to push it shut when she heard a sound of inquiry and looked around, and then down.
"Hello," she said with a welcoming smile. "I'm sorry. I didn't see you come in. I'm Chaplain Nikedoros. Can I help you?"
"Aaahhhzzz, just the person Iz need." Miracle smiled warmly as she turned towards the taller lady. "Iz Swiftpaws, Fleet Supply Pilot for making sure the outlying settlements get their supplies. Yooz have the day free to leave here?"
"I don't have any appointments scheduled..." Sofia said, somewhat taken aback by the question. "But I usually try to be available for walk-ins. Can you tell me why you need me, and how long I might be gone so I can let someone here know?"
"Squeeee… At rendezvous points where Iz drop off supplies to outlying prospectors, farmers, trappers and such that can't make it to a major settlement or town. When Iz drop in on a scheduled drop. They gatherz on location. A few asks mez if Iz could bring out holy person." Miracle spoke softly eyes twinkling in merriment and warmth.
"When yooz be back?...That depends on how fast yooz can perform mating rituals, Last rites, blessing of the new born micelings… I mean, their children." Miracle pulled out her ever present data pad and consulted it. "Iz have 4 drops to do...." Looking thoughtful. "Lookin at least around 2200 hours (10 pm), When wez should be getting back. Unless yooz want to stay longer.?"
Miracle looked up at Sophia. "There is replicator and bunks on the Cargo Danude if yooz want to stay out longer..."
"Oh my," Sofia exclaimed, surprised. They only had to send a comm and she'd have come, but if she was needed, she'd gladly go. "In that case, I'll let my assistant know not to expect me until morning. Just let me grab my Chaplain's bag." So saying, she dashed to her office for it and quickly returned with a bag with all the necessary elements for marriage, burial, baby anointing, and last rites for the dozen faiths listed for the colonists.
Slinging the bag and small personal travel kit over her shoulder, she imagined herself for a moment as an ancient Circuit Rider, and smiled. Perhaps that was something she would have to become here. "I'm set to go. Perhaps we can talk about making this a regularly scheduled trip on the way?"
Miracle waited till Sophia returned and led the way back to airstrip and landing pad where a sleek, yet old Danube shuttle sat ready. "Wez can put the word out at each stop. Maybez once every thirty dayz?" Glancing at Sophia as she entered the waiting loaded Danube. "As for mez. Anytime you have a flea to go, Iz will make room for yooz."
Inside the Danube was pretty much stripped with a heavy cargo net that separated the bridge area of the craft and the cargo area. Miracle waved to one of two crew seats with a good view out of the forward view screen. It was obvious which one was Miracle seat as it had a tailhole for her tail. Miracle double checked the cargo net once more before setting down in her seat, putting on a headset with mic. The other crewperson nodded to Sofia, sitting on a fold down seat bolted to bulkhead behind the copilot seat.
Sofia nodded to him, smiling hello as she settled into the available seat.
Miracle spoke softly into the mic as she powered up the Danube up to full power from idle. She glanced at Sophia, gave her a wide warm smile showing her teeth, but not the pointy ends of them. "Ready?"
The crewperson spoke, "Check and secured, Captain." To Miracle as she was senior crew of the Danube.
"Ready when you are," Sofia affirmed.
Miracle fingers flew over the control as the Dunabe smoothly took off, banked, buzzed main settlement while gaining altitude and speed.
Sofia watched through the screen, taking in the view of the colony. It was actually the first time she'd had a chance to really look at it from the air. With the mounds of snow starting to subside, color was peaking out on buildings, and the banners hung beside the entrance to the chapel looked cheerful and bright. "Do the outer settlements have a gathering place we could use for services?" she asked. She didn't mind performing individual ceremonies at homesteads, but it would better for the community to be able to come together.
"Theyz aint actually settlements. Just a big single building like barn used as a trading post, storage and gathering place if needed. Iz land as close to building to unload. These people scatter out to their mining claims. Trapper lines and farms." Miracle spoke. "When Iz come in with supplies at scheduled time. Theyz come and gather a few dayz before Iz show up. Theyz set up tents or sleep in their wagons."
The dark scar began to take form and open up into a wide canyon as Miracle piloted the Danube down towards and into a curving turn to line up with the canyon. Soon the ground rushed up to meet them as the craft dropped into the canyon between break in the rocky terra firma. Miracle slowed the craft down to a more sedate speeds, letting Sophia see the layered levels of the rocky jagged walls of the canyon.
"Ours first stop iz Loopy's canyon." Miracle pointed out the dark scar in the landscape up ahead. "Mining is the main occupation here. Theyz find enough useable minerals, metals and gemstones to keep them here. Weather like now, theyz need airlift their supplies in on credit."
Miracle weaved the Danube through several hair raising turns without slowing down as if she was flying a fighter aerospace fighter in combat, while speaking to Sophia as she flew.
Sofia gripped the armrest and said a silent prayer. Pilots - they were all the same...
Suddenly the canyon opened out onto 4 kilometers wide, 10 kilometers long valley with a river cutting a path through it off to the western side of the valley. The towering cliff walls showed cut trails and humanoid cut holes. Valley floor was piled with rocks of various sizes piling up the sides of the cliffs covered in snow and ice mixed in from the old dumping along with the new.
Towards the end of the canyon was manmade plateau 2.5 kilometers square with tents and the main storage building. Miracle reached out and switch frequencies and spoke softly. Soon the prospectors and miners began to clear an area close to the big main storage building, chasing off family members, animals and other debris of settlement. Others that wasn't helping began to gather at the edge of the landing spot being cleared for the Danube.
Taking in the scene as they came in for their landing, Sofia saw it was very much as the pilot had described. People camped in tents or supply transports ringed the large main building. She imagined that this regular rendezvous for supplies had also become an excuse for a community gathering - to trade, exchange news, or simply connect with others. Adding a worship service, or a couple depending on the faiths of those here, would make perfect sense. There were likely other things that would to...
"If you'll introduce me to whomever is mostly in charge here, I'd like to talk to them about setting up regular services to coincide with the supply delivery," she said. "And maybe having someoe from medical come as well for check ups, especially for the children."
"Squeakies!" Miracle responded with a smiling nod and then raised the mic up to speak as she hovered the Danube and rotated so that the back was towards the main building big sliding doors.
A whine came from the rear of the Danube along with a rush of cold fresh air. A soft thump as the Danube settled on the snow packed ground. Crew person jumped up and open the personnel side hatch and exited. Soon followed by Miracle.
Sofia picked up her bags and followed after, blinking in the light as they emerged from the shuttle.
"Iz have brought the Holy Person yooz all seek" Miracle yelled at the crowd and a big tall dude that towered at least 6'6 plus in thick winter garb, who was approaching them and the craft. She waved a hand back at Sofia.
"Hello," Sofia said, ducking her head slightly, a bit embarrassed to be described as a 'holy person'. She was a Chaplain, but far from being a saint. "I understand there are folks here who would like a clergyperson for weddings, and other sacraments. I'd love to hold services for all who wish it as well. Who do I speak to about a place to hold the events?"
"That would be me." The big man spoke. "I run the supply depot here. We can use this building here for the weddings and other sacraments." He waved a hand towards the building that the cargo from the craft was being transferred to. "I'm Big Jim. Or we can clear out the beer hall, which is the other building on the other side."
Miracle had disappeared as she was helping with the cargo transfer and making sure mail and packages for the locals given to the proper person inside big warehouse.
The prospectors, miners and family members were busy talking and listening in to the conversation of Sophie and Big Jim. Runners were taking off to inform those that were not there busy doing other things that a preacher was there and ready for business.
"Chaplain Sofia Nikedoros, but just Sofia is fine" Sofia replied, smiling at Big Jim. "I'm happy to use whichever building is most convenient for you. In my faith tradition, the Almighty spent forty years with a tent as a meeting house, so outside is fine too, but I'd prefer to have a building reserved for regular services in case the weather's bad."
"This time of year, the winds can pretty strong coming out of the canyon," Big Jim motioned her to tag along into the warehouse. "As for regular services. Not happening. These heathens.." waving an arm to indicate those still hung around, "... will be strung out all up and down this canyon till the next scheduled supply run.
"I meant 'regular' in the sense of timed to coincide with resupply runs," Sofia explained. "But if the winds are that variable, I'll be glad of the use of your storage building. However, we can discuss that later. I understand that among the 'heathens' there are those who've been waiting for a chaplain."
He showed her the cavernous room with a counter cutting across a portion of it and offices against the opposite wall. Rest was open space with cargo freshly arrived and ingots of various metals stacked neatly. Near another entrance/exit, were several young couples looking eager to be married. looking hopeful, nervous, yet ready to take the next step in their lives.
Pulling out her chaplain's stole and dropping it over her shoulders, Sofia approached the group with a smile. "Hello, I'm Reverend Nikedoros. Who do I have the honor of marrying...?
---
JP BY:
Lt. Commander Nikedoros
Chaplin
Lt. JG Swiftpaws
Pilot
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