Metafire

To maintain a standard capsule in proper orbit usually took about one half day of tug work every two months. During this time, the tug also refueled the capsule's nitrozine rockets, replaced any exterior assemblies that were malfunctioning, and, if there was a particular need for special provisions like air and water, the tug had additional provisioning supplies. Rich companies, like Metafire, could afford their own tugs, but Metafire's tug, although purchased, was on a six month back order. A launch window would take another three months because it required a Shuttle.

The Captain of this tug was Scooter Burbank. Scooter lived in a colony of people that developed their skills in the shipyards of Terminal Island, in Los Angeles Harbor. He was a direct descendent of the Burbanks of Burbank, California. But he did not grow up rich. His father was an early protester of the Vietnam war and found himself wired, out of work, and in jail. His father named him Scooter. It was not a nickname.

Over the years Scooter had served as an LA fireman, an LA policeman, an LA police helicopter pilot, and finally a harbor pilot. He crashed the copter. His four friends, two of which had also been firemen, were looking to operate tugs in space when he made a relation's party in Newport Beach. An LA group was funding a cybernet bank to operate in space, and they found it interesting to have 'family' operating the tugs that provided the essential security of New Boston. They spent 25 million dollars to put Scooter and his friends permanently in space. The boys never even thanked them. Now the boys were having more fun than they had ever imagined having before.