Issue 1 Downtime

Just outside the front gates to the Braddock estate, a telephone company van was parked, and the workers were setting up what looked like some sort of cell transmission tower, immediately across the street from the front gates.

No one had been informed of a scheduled installation.

((open))

"Hey, why are you people ruining our nice view?" Teri asks after watching them for a while from a nearby tree.

"Cell phone reception, ma'am," one of the installers said, apparently not phased by crazy bug girl. "We've had some complaints about poor signal quality in this area."

"But you're ruining the landscape!"

"Progress marches on, ma'am."

"But we like the landscape..." she frowns.

"Sorry, ma'am."

The headmistress was walking towards the gates at that point.

She did not look pleased.

"Heeeere we go."

"Excuse me," she said as she reached the gates, "your dispatchers aren't aware of there being any work here, today."

"Are you sure? There probably was another paperwork snafu."

"They aren't aware of any expansion project, and in this case neither am I, which is quite odd. Due to the concerns of the school, we have to sign off on these things to prevent interference."

"You'll note, ma'am, with all do respect, we're not installing this on your grounds. Though if you'd let us, that would allow your students much better call quality."

"It's not property rights we're dealing with, there's interference concerns. Maldon has been kind enough to work with us on this, so there really is no 'paperwork snafu' that would have sent you out without us signing off on the project."

"Now, I would advise you to start explaining quickly, or we will get the police involved."

"There's nothing to explain. Unless it's your equipment in there that has been causing the poor reception in this area."

"There's plenty to explain, because everything I'm getting is saying that you are not authorized to do this."

"We can show you the work order, if you'd like."

"If your home office can't confirm this workorder, you'll be talking to the Maldon police department."

"You really want to escalate that this much?"

"Considering we have a private airstrip here, which Maldon is more than aware of, then yes I am more than willing to hold you to the letter of our agreement with the town."

"Well, if you're going to be that way about it," he said, yawning and looking down at his watch. "I suppose we'll have to go get the paperwork straightened up. Thanks for all of your community support, Professor."

"Who are those people?" Teri asks Sam as a lone locust hops through the grass and after them, seeing if it can slip into the van or cling to it.

"If we're lucky? Some poor sods who got a mistaken assignment."