Time's Team (short story): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Story
{{Infobox Story SMW
|series= ''[[Bernice Summerfield (series)|Bernice Summerfield]]''
|main character = [[Bernice Summerfield|Benny]]
|main character = [[Bernice Summerfield]]
|featuring      = [[Irving Braxiatel|Braxiatel]]
|featuring =  
|setting        = [[Shuttle (Time's Team)|Shuttle]]
|writer = [[David A. McIntee]]
|writer         = David A. McIntee
|publication = ''[[A Life of Surprises]]''
|anthology      = A Life of Surprises (anthology)
|prev = Setting Stone (short story)
|release date  = 4 October 2002
|next = Beedlemania (short story)
|series        = ''[[Bernice Summerfield (series)|Bernice Summerfield]]'' short stories
}}'''''Time's Team''''' was the ninth story in the [[Bernice Summerfield]] anthology ''[[A Life of Surprises]]''. It was written by [[David A. McIntee]].
|prev           = Setting Stone (short story)
|next           = Beedlemania (short story)
}}
'''''Time's Team''''' was the ninth story in the [[Bernice Summerfield]] anthology ''[[A Life of Surprises]]''. It was written by [[David A. McIntee]].


== Summary ==
== Plot ==
Bernice Summerfield is due at a dig on the [[Koloppan moon]], but her shuttle is delayed in orbit of [[Koloppo]]. Her presence at the dig is vital because it is being broadcast to the people of Koloppo.
[[Bernice Summerfield|Benny]] is due at a dig on the [[Koloppan moon]] where [[Irving Braxiatel|Braxiatel]] and a number of other people are waiting for her to take part in a [[HoloCast]], but her [[shuttle]] is forced to stop at a maintenance station due to a technical malfunction. When Braxiatel contacts her and learns that it is quite possible that the broadcast will have to go ahead without academic clout or be delayed at considerable expense, he decides that they will have to fake her appearance at the dig.


Benny wanders into the shuttle's bar and discovers that they are airing the dig. Depressed, she heads back to her room. Brax contacts her and learns she is delayed; he has an idea — they will fake her appearance. Benny sets up a camera in her room, focusing it on the starfield outside her window. Surely no one will recognise that the stars are not in the same position as those on the moon.
Benny mounts a [[camera]] on a wall using a [[suction cup]] and, hoping that nobody will notice that the [[star]]scape behind her will not match the [[sky]] as seen from the moon, takes part in the [[documentary]] through editing and [[hologram]]s. During a break, she goes to the [[bar]] and is recognised by the [[buffet steward (Time's Team)|buffet steward]], but she claims that she has been [[cloning|cloned]] many times and is not an [[archaeologist]] but a [[professor]] of [[biotechnics]]. [[Kreel (Time's Team)|Kreel]], [[Carruthers (Time's Team)|Carruthers]] and [[Bolland]] tell her that her image is being used on the HoloCast before realising that the stars do not match.


Several crew members watch the broadcast, and they recognise that Benny is aboard their ship. One of them, [[Kreel]], thinks the government is using their tax dollars to perpetuate a fraud. He convinces two other crewmen, [[Carruthers (Time's Team)|Carruthers]] and [[Bolland]], to warn Prof. Summerfield that her image is being faked.
The three men agree to help Benny keep her secret in exchange for being allowed to participate in the HoloCast. Bolland tells the other passengers that the Benny on the screen is her sister, which convinces them. Twelve hours later, Benny arrives on the moon and [[apology|apologises]] to Braxiatel for her lateness before asking if Kreel, Carruthers and Bolland can help with [[shovel]]ling.
 
Benny takes a break from filming and heads to the bar. However, at the moment the broadcast is replaying one of her earlier moments, and she is recognised by the [[Barman (Time's Team)|barman]] and several passengers. When she arrives back at her room, the three crew members are waiting for her.
 
At first she thinks they are on to her, but then she realises they think she's not aware of the fraud. She intends to bluff her way through, but Kreel recognises that the stars on the recording match where they are now. Benny tries to explain, and tells them how difficult it is for her to be kept away from this dig. She asks for their help and discretion, and they want something in return.
 
Benny heads for the bar. The barman and the passengers can see that she is both in the bar and on the screen at the same time. They are suspicious, but Bolland enters the bar and loudly refers to the televised Benny as this Benny's sister. The barman and passengers are convinced.
 
Benny finally reaches the dig, and she's not alone: Kreel, Carruthers and Bolland are with her, eager to participate.


== Characters ==
== Characters ==
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* [[Halin]]
* [[Halin]]
* [[Mallory (Time's Team)|Mallory]]
* [[Mallory (Time's Team)|Mallory]]
* [[Kreel]]
* [[Kreel (Time's Team)|Kreel]]
* [[Bellman]]
* [[Bellman]]
* [[Carruthers (Time's Team)|Carruthers]]
* [[Carruthers (Time's Team)|Carruthers]]
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* [[Barman (Time's Team)|Barman]]
* [[Barman (Time's Team)|Barman]]


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
* Benny can swear in more than a hundred [[language]]s.
* Benny can swear in more than a hundred [[language]]s.
* One of the Koloppan [[constellation]]s is a [[tree]]-[[squirrel]].
* One of the Koloppan [[constellation]]s is a [[tree]]-[[squirrel]].
* Benny drinks [[white wine]].


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
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{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
[[Category:Bernice Summerfield stories]]
 
[[Category:Bernice Summerfield sources]]
[[Category:A Life of Surprises short stories]]
[[Category:A Life of Surprises short stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 27th century]]
[[Category:Stories set in the 27th century]]
[[Category:Irving Braxiatel short stories]]
[[Category:Irving Braxiatel short stories]]

Latest revision as of 21:05, 20 March 2024

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Time's Team was the ninth story in the Bernice Summerfield anthology A Life of Surprises. It was written by David A. McIntee.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Benny is due at a dig on the Koloppan moon where Braxiatel and a number of other people are waiting for her to take part in a HoloCast, but her shuttle is forced to stop at a maintenance station due to a technical malfunction. When Braxiatel contacts her and learns that it is quite possible that the broadcast will have to go ahead without academic clout or be delayed at considerable expense, he decides that they will have to fake her appearance at the dig.

Benny mounts a camera on a wall using a suction cup and, hoping that nobody will notice that the starscape behind her will not match the sky as seen from the moon, takes part in the documentary through editing and holograms. During a break, she goes to the bar and is recognised by the buffet steward, but she claims that she has been cloned many times and is not an archaeologist but a professor of biotechnics. Kreel, Carruthers and Bolland tell her that her image is being used on the HoloCast before realising that the stars do not match.

The three men agree to help Benny keep her secret in exchange for being allowed to participate in the HoloCast. Bolland tells the other passengers that the Benny on the screen is her sister, which convinces them. Twelve hours later, Benny arrives on the moon and apologises to Braxiatel for her lateness before asking if Kreel, Carruthers and Bolland can help with shovelling.

Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

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