**Action** Prologue: The BD gets an actual mining mission?

**Action** Prologue: "The BD gets an actual mining mission?"
JMC Headquarters, Grimsby, England, Earth
Willy Eckerslike's office
Mid Afternoon
The boss of the Jupiter Mining Corporation sat in his high back
chair looking out of his window onto Grimsbys grim looking docks.
The foul stench of fish and rotting boats was subdued by the offices
air conditioning. Eckerslike argued with someone on the phone in his
dry northern voice.
"Wha' do you mean we're loosing money? We've got 6 mining operations
on the go, 8 transports…"
His voice trailed off as the woman on the phone reported to him.
"Oh, 4 out of 6 mining operations on hold because of the threat of a
Hymenoptera attack? Ahh, 5 transports grounded because of the
proximity to the Hymenoptera front line? But at least we have a new
planet being surveyed that looks like its made of pure potassium
don't we? We can sell that stuff for a fortune if the Titchmarsh
estate still want it for their garden planets…. Oh whats that you
say? There was an error in the scan? Well what is it then? Gold? A
planet of pure gold ore? What use is gold? Nobody wants gold these
days, its as cheap as chips. Maybe we can sell it to a council
estate… people in me mams neighbourhood wear tonnes of the stuff."
Someone knocked and entered the office. Eckerslike put the phone
down and turned his chair to face him.
"Reet Danny boy we have a problem. We're running out of money and
need some planets to mine quickly and cheaply. We'll have to cut
corners on this one and keep the taxman out of it, them greedy
buggers are bleeding me dry, and we're still being sued for mining
that planet while the entire civilisation was away on a day trip.
The man called Danny looked through a book of notes he had
made. "What about the Blue Dwarf, they've not done any mining for
ages, they're still on that quest to find the Red Dwarf am I right?"
"Yes… well" replied Eckerslike swinging on his chair. "We get a fair
pay packet from the Queen for that one, just for having Niples
aboard."
"The Queens nipples on Blue Dwarf? I don't follow sir?"
"No no! Niples is working as her Ambassador, real snooty man, used
to work for us, did a good job after me old mate Captain Cannon died
but then we had a bit of jip with him after he smacked General
Anders round the face. Still thinks he runs the place over there
though. Anyway, speaking of the Queens nipples, have you seen her
2104 calendar? Phwoooor!"
"Oh yes sir! It restored all my faith in the monarchy, especially
too after what she wore in the Queens speech this year!"
"Oh aye! Anyway back to business, yes I'm happy for the Blue Dwarf
to keep scouting because it gives us back a fair few planetary
charts and possibilities to mine."
"Oh yes sir, I'm looking through their charts now… we have a few
possibilities… Ffion.. oh no good they blew it up… an asteroid
around Argus... oh no, they blew that up too… a water planet…"
"That'd take too much cost and equipment."
"Yes, and by the looks of it the entire place was…"
"Don't tell me they blew that up too?"
"Erm… well there was a huge explosion just after they left, but it
might not have been their fault. Same as New Ibiza, the Hymenoptera
destroyed it whilst they were there…"
"Geez, that's ships a disaster area! I'm surprised they haven't cost
me any lawsuits!" said Eckerslike, head in hands.
"Oh but heres one sir. They reported about a year ago a moon near
the planet of Plebe that emitted bizarre radiation that gives humans
super powers!"
"What? Why didn't I hear about that!"
"Actually I think I did show you the report sir, but you laughed in
my face!"
"Oh yeah. Well is there anything in it? I mean, was it all bunkum?
Or can we really mine the substance that gives people super powers?
If we can, then we'll be…. Rich!" Eckerslike stood up in thought.
"Or we could be superheroes and fight crime sir!"
"Don't spoil the dream Danny boy.." Said Eckerslike.
Danny looked down.
"Anyway sir, the inhabitants of the planet Plebe might not take too
kindly to their moon being mined. And they haven't taken too kindly
to us in the past. Its inhabited by a colony of people who were
genetic failures. The spacecore tried to create an army of super
humans and ended up breeding slow stupid people. Its quite ironic
that the Space Core then dumped them on a planet next to a moon that
actually DOES create super heroes!"
"But they're not…"
"No sir, the Plebes are even too slow and stupid for the moon to
affect them according to the Blue Dwarfs reports. Although they do
pose a threat, last time they creates a swarm of robots and loaded
them on a missile headed for Earth. They swarmed everywhere,
destroyed Buckingham palace, and set up a robot manufacturing
factory in Germany."
"Oh that was THEM?" Said Eckerslike, spinning in his chair again.
"Yes but the Blue Dwarf crew helped sort most of the problems out,
although they did set off a nuclear bomb in East Germany…"
"Oh yeah, we're still paying that lawsuit too." Eckerslike fidgeted
nervously. "Okay, send the Blue Dwarf to Plebe. Get them to assess
the Plebians first. If they're no threat then set up and mine the
moon."
"And if they are a threat sir?"
"Hmm… you said they blew up East Germany?"
"Quite a lot of it yes sir."
Eckerslikes voice lowered in an evil tone. "Make sure they're well
equipped with nuclear devices, I want that superhuman moon mined!"
"Erm… yes sir."
**Blue Dwarf**
Sailing away from the Space Gate
After a few days of making repairs and replenishing the Blue Dwarfs
alcohol supplies (as some had been stolen by the Aerons), everything
was getting back to as normal as could be possible on the Dwarf.
**Drive Room**
The fax machine whirred into life and Alota pulled the fax out as it
printed. She took it into her office while casually eating a
sandwich and put her feet up on the desk.
Suddently, as if he could smell the chance to interfere, Ambassador
Niples appeared in her office.
"Is that new orders by any chance? Any need for the Commonwealth's
best Ambassador?" he tried to take the orders off her.
"How many times have I told you I'M the captain now!"
"It is new orders isn't it?" Seymour beamed.
"Okay, yes it is." Alota read the fax. "The JMC wants us to head
back to Plebe to assess their situation."
"Ooh," Seymour said excitedly, he fiddled with his bow tie. "We left
them in political turmoil, they might be in need of a Royal
Ambassador!"
Alota sighed. "Okay fine, I know what you're going to ask. Your on
the mission okay?! I know how whiney you get if you don't get to go."
"Jolly Good!"
"We'll jump to the Plebe system tomorrow. Make yourself useful and
get a shuttle ready if you're so eager. And you can tell Keats and
my husband they can all fly their owns ships as escorts and the rest
of us can take Deans Raven, he's got plenty of room.
"Ok Alota." Seymour walked out, nose held high.
"Call me Captain dammit!" she shouted after him.