DeployableBatteries

There were cheers and pats on the back as the team stode into the briefing room for the post-flight debriefing... It had been a spectacular mission... flawless... perfect.

The team set down in the massive Eastern Crater, set up a new Deployed science camp, and returned without incident...

It was perfect... they thought...

So why, then, did Gene look like his head was about to explode???

"Sit down..."

"What's wrong?" Val whispered nervously...

"What's wrong??? Gene whispered back, then slammed his notes onto the conference table, sending them flying in every direction... "WHAT'S WRONG???"

"I... I don't understand," Bill began...

"Everything was running perfectly," Bob finished

"Yes... yes... everything was running perfectly..." Wernher von Kerman sighed. "Until the sun set and we lost the signal"

"But... but we set it up on the light side on the Mun," Jeb argued. "Not the dark side..."

THUMP.... von Kerman's head hit the table... repeatedly...

"The... thump... Sun... thump... Still... thump... sets... thump... on the light side... THUMP!!!

For a few minutes no-one said a word... until Bob whispered almost imperceptibly... "It was the batteries..."

"What batteries???" Gene sighed...

"Yeah, that's the point... sir..." Bill grumbled. "There were none."

"WHAT???" Gege suddenly howled... "What do you mean... no batteries???

No-one said a word...

"Werhner..." Gene growled...

"It... there... uhhhh.... there was a problem at the last second, and ... well,... uhhh.... we had to switch to a different vendor... sir. " von Kerman stammered... "Zaltonic promised they would be compatable..."

"Zaltonic..." Gene's jaw dropped... "You... you trusted them??? Great... just great!!!"

"I... I can fix this," Wernher started drawing notes on the table... another habit Gene hated. "Yes... yes... I will contact a friend at Ionic Symphonic... She'll should be able to get me the proper materials..."

Werhner stopped and grinned at Gene...

"We can make our own deployable battery packs."

Gene just sighed... How many times was thing going to happen to him??? He was sure this wasn't the last...

"You have 48 hours..."