by Ryk Brown
“Then we’ll keep jumping forward in small increments until we catch them,” Lieutenant Haddix replied.
“On course and speed,” Lieutenant Taren reported.
Lieutenant Haddix looked down at his flight displays. They were also on course and speed. “Jump in three……two……one……jump.”
* * *
Vladimir reached over and plugged the power feed from the portable fusion reactor into the portable life-support unit that he and Renny had connected to the wreckage of Striker Three. He turned slowly around, being careful to keep at least one hand gripped firmly onto the badly damaged gunship. He had seen more than one mag-lock fail in his time in the service, and he wasn’t about to trust his life to the devices in the boots and kneepads of his EVA suit.
He watched the device for a moment, but nothing happened. “Is the reactor up?” he asked Renny.
“It’s at ten percent,” Renny replied. “That should be more than enough.”
“The unit is not cycling.” Vladimir slowly turned the unit over, being careful not to twist the supply and return hoses that connected the device to Striker Three. “It’s got power,” he announced, spotting a green indicator light on the other side of the unit.
“Want me to increase the output on the reactor?”
“Negative,” Vladimir replied. “If the unit doesn’t cycle, the return is probably clogged. It won’t feed pressure if it isn’t getting pressure back. It’s a safety feature designed to prevent over-pressurizing a compartment.”
“What could possibly be in there?” Renny wondered.
Vladimir looked around them, noting all the bits of debris ranging in size from nearly too small to see to the size of a human head. “You’re kidding, right?”
“You think a piece of debris got inside the return line? How is that possible?” Renny challenged. “Pressure would be outbound, which would blow debris away, not suck it in.”
“I do not know,” Vladimir admitted, “but that was the only return line available. We’ll have to use a supply line.”
“Aiden will have to reverse the flow controller on the line for it to work as a return,” Renny realized, “but how do we know which one? Everything was scorched, and you can’t read the labeling on the lines.”
“He can tell which ones are working just by feeling for air movement at the vent,” Vladimir explained.
“But the unit isn’t cycling,” Renny reminded him, “so, there is no air movement.”
“We have to splice T-connectors into the return line and pump oxygen through it so he can identify the line and reverse the flow.”
“Did you bring a T-connector?” Renny wondered.
“I brought everything,” Vladimir replied. “I even brought some galupsi for dinner.”
“Some what?”
“My grandmother’s recipe…with some minor modifications. It is delicious, you should try some.”
“We’re out of time, Commander,” Robert warned.
“Domasco,” Vladimir called over comms, ignoring Robert’s warning, “send over a T-tap and a T-connector with a two-way valve. They should be in container three.”
“I’m on it,” the technician in the back of Reaper Two replied.
“How much longer is this going to take?” Robert asked.
“Only a few more minutes, assuming Ensign Walsh is alert enough to assist us from within,” Vladimir replied.
* * *
“Turn complete,” Lieutenant Haddix announced. He glanced at the tactical display, noting that Reaper Five had also completed their turn. “Jumping to launch point in three……two……one……”
The tactical display went blank and then refreshed a second later, after recalculating their new position.
“Jump complete,” Ensign Weston reported. “Two octos at max range. Got ‘em, Jays?”
“Targeting the one on the right.”
“We’ve got the one on the left,” Ensign Weston announced. “Locking missiles. Good lock.”
“Good lock,” Ensign Jayson announced, as well.
“Two minutes until we’re in their sensor range,” Ensign Weston added.
“Make them stealthy,” Lieutenant Haddix reminded them.
“Two cold-coasters, thirty-second launch burn, five-second hot time,” Ensign Weston confirmed.
“Taren, after launch, pitch down ten. We’ll jump past their forward sensor range and then come about for a head-to-head intercept jump.”
“Got it,” Lieutenant Taren replied.
“Ninety seconds,” Ensign Weston warned. “Missiles in ten…”
“We’ll intercept as the missiles go hot to distract them.”
“You don’t really think that will work, do you?” Lieutenant Taren wondered.
“Those octos are heavily shielded,” Lieutenant Haddix replied. “Surprise is all we’ve got.”
“Missiles in three…” Ensign Weston interrupted, “…two……one…”
Ensign Weston pressed the launch button, and missiles rolled out of either side of their weapons bay. Their engines ignited, and the missiles streaked away. “Missiles away.”
“Missiles away,” Ensign Jayson also reported.
“Pitching down ten,” Lieutenant Haddix announced as he altered their course down ten degrees relative to their current course.
“Fifteen seconds to stealth mode,” Ensign Weston reported.
Lieutenant Haddix glanced at the tactical display again, checking that Reaper Five was keeping with them. “Jumping in three……two……one.”
Again, the sensor display went blank as it refreshed to show sensor data from their new position. Lieutenant Haddix pushed his flight control stick to the left as he added power to come about to their next jump heading.
“Twenty seconds to missiles active,” Ensign Weston announced as they continued their turn.
“What’s plan B?” Lieutenant Taren wondered.
“It’s a fluid situation,” Lieutenant Haddix replied.
“So, you’re making this up as you go, then.”
“Pretty much.”
“Ten seconds,” Ensign Weston updated.
“Turn complete,” Lieutenant Haddix reported. “Pitching up for intercept jump.”
“Five seconds.”
“Jumping in three……two……one……”
The sensor screen went blank again, only this time when it refreshed, two targets appeared and the threat light lit up.
“Octos, dead ahead!” Ensign Weston reported. “Missiles just went hot!”
“Firing!” Lieutenant Haddix announced as he pressed the firing button on his flight control stick. Streams of red-orange plasma streaked from their side cannons.
“Targets are turning toward us,” Ensign Weston reported.
Lieutenant Haddix smiled as he continued firing.
“Missiles are terminal!”
Two bright, white flashes appeared directly ahead of Reaper Six as their missiles impacted the first octo’s shields and detonated. At the same time, a blue-white flash appeared to their left.
“Target One’s shields are down!” Ensign Weston reported.
“Target Two jumped away!” Ensign Jayson yelled over comms.
“Did you get his jump energy reading?” Lieutenant Haddix asked.
“I got it! I got it!” Ensign Weston assured him. “One is powering up his jump drive!”
“Taren! Shift to target one!” Lieutenant Haddix instructed. “His shields are down! We can bust through his armor!”
“Targeting One!”
A second stream of plasma energy joined the one coming from Reaper Six’s plasma cannons, and a few seconds later the octo fighter broke apart, its drive section exploding.
“One is down!” Ensign Weston announced with glee.
“Pursuit course!” Lieutenant Haddix ordered as he rolled the ship into a looping left turn to follow the second octo.
“Got it! Ensign Weston replied. “Transmitting to Five!”
�
�Taren!” Lieutenant Haddix called. “We’ll jump in thirty seconds behind, you jump in ninety. If you find his light, jump to me before you pursue. I’ll do the same.”
“Understood,” Lieutenant Taren replied.
“I’ve got the pursuit plot,” Ensign Jayson announced.
“See you in one,” Lieutenant Haddix replied, pressing the jump button on his flight control stick as they rolled out of their turn.
The tactical display repainted, confirming their new position, but there were no targets. A second later, one suddenly appeared at the very edge of their sensor range.
“I’ve got them. One light minute out!” Ensign Weston reported. “They’re changing course and going to full thrust.”
“Not good,” the lieutenant mumbled as he adjusted course and toggled his jump button.
A split second later, the second octo fighter was directly ahead of them, no more than a few hundred meters away, crossing their flight path from left to right as they accelerated.
“They’re powering up to jump again!” the ensign warned.
Lieutenant Haddix pressed his firing button, sending another barrage of red-orange plasma energy toward the target. Its shields flashed with the impacts of plasma energy, then disappeared in a blue-white flash.
“They just executed a max jump,” Ensign Weston reported. “Directly toward Palee. Let’s go get him!”
“It’s only two jumps to Palee,” the lieutenant replied. “We’d be jumping into a hornet’s nest.” The lieutenant sighed. “We have to warn the others.”
* * *
“Hand me the line from the oxygen canister,” Vladimir instructed as he finished installing the valve on the T-connector. “Robert, patch me through to Ensign Walsh.”
“One moment,” Robert replied.
Vladimir took the line from Renny and began attaching it to the bypass valve on the T-connector.
“You’re patched in,” Robert announced.
“Ensign Walsh, this is Commander Kamenetskiy. Can you hear me?” Vladimir continued working as he waited for a response. “Ensign Walsh, respond.”
“Aiden…” Robert called, also trying to raise the ensign.
“…We need your help, kid,” Robert continued. “You need to wake up and save your crew.”
Aiden moved his head ever so slightly. His vision was blurry, and his head hurt. He also felt heavy, which was odd since there was barely enough charge left in the gravity plating to hold them to the deck.
“Ensign,” Vladimir called, “…Aiden. We need you to find the correct supply line and reverse the direction of flow.”
Aiden moved some more, this time looking around the battered interior of his ship. He saw his crew, the four of them, huddled together in the corner to stay warm, all of them drugged and unconscious, and Charnelle, her arms around him, her face snuggled into the side of his chest.
“Aiden!” Vladimir barked over comms.
“I’m here,” Aiden mumbled, barely finding the strength to speak.
“Good, good,” Vladimir replied. “I need you to feel all the supply vents and see which one is blowing air.”
“You want me to blow the vent?”
“Negative! Identify which vent is blowing air into your compartment! That is all!”
“Why are you yelling?” Aiden wondered, reaching for his head.
“Aiden, please do as the commander says,” Robert instructed more calmly. “Your life, and the lives of your crew, depends on it.”
Aiden tried to take a deep breath but found himself gasping for air. “No…air……I…can’t…breathe.”
“Aiden, we are feeding oxygen into your ship, but it will not be enough to keep you alive for more than a few more minutes,” Vladimir explained, his voice now controlled and calm.
Aiden continued trying to get his breath. It was difficult, but with each forced inhalation, it got easier and easier. “What do you……want me……to do?”
“Find the vent that has air blowing from it and then reverse its flow,” Vladimir explained.
“How do I……do that?” Aiden wondered as he pushed Charnelle’s unconscious body off of him, leaning her against the bulkhead.
“First, you must go to each vent and feel for air,” Vladimir instructed. “When you find the one with air coming from it, tell me the ID number on the vent.”
“I should……wake up……Ash.”
“Who?” Vladimir wondered.
“Engineer,” Aiden added, finally on his feet.
“Do not wake her,” Robert instructed. “You don’t have the oxygen.”
“Aiden, find the vent,” Vladimir instructed. “You can do it.”
“New contacts,” Striker One’s sensor officer reported. “Reapers.”
“Striker One, Reaper Six!” Lieutenant Haddix called over comms.
“Go for Striker One,” Robert replied.
“One octo destroyed, the other got away. He’s headed straight for Palee.”
“Damn it!” Robert cursed.
“They’re going for help,” Sasha stated. “It’s only a matter of time until they find us.”
Vladimir glanced at the gauge on the oxygen canister. “You need to hurry, Aiden, before the oxygen runs out.”
“Maybe we should reduce the flow?” Renny suggested.
“If I reduce it anymore, he might not feel the airflow,” Vladimir replied. “He is mentally impaired at the moment.”
“Maybe we can use our suit systems?”
“There is no way to connect them,” Vladimir told him. “Besides, they could not support the volume of the compartment.”
Aiden stepped over Charnelle’s body and made his way to the nearest vent, just above the sensor station. Supporting himself against the overhead console, he reached up to put his hand in front of the vent, but felt nothing. “Not……this……one,” he struggled to report.
“Save your oxygen,” Vladimir urged. “Only report when you find the right vent.”
Aiden looked around the small compartment, struggling to focus. He spotted another vent, on the opposite wall, above Ashwini’s engineering console. He moved over to the console and reached up to feel for airflow. Again, he felt nothing.
“You must hurry, Aiden,” Vladimir urged. “We are running out of oxygen to vent through the unit.”
“Wanna……trade……places?” he asked as he moved aft.
“Don’t talk,” Vladimir scolded.
Aiden stepped carefully, not wanting to step on the bodies of his crew as they slept, oblivious to the fact that they were all on death’s door. He stopped a moment, shaking his head, struggling to maintain his focus and keep his eyes open. All he wanted was to lie down and sleep.
Aiden reached the next vent, in the starboard aft corner of the compartment, and reached up to feel for air. “Damn,” he cursed, barely audible.
“You must hurry, Aiden,” Vladimir urged again.
As Aiden moved to the other side of the aft end of the compartment, he felt something…the slightest of breezes. He tried to take a breath as he moved, finding it easier than before. He reached the corner and tried to get his hand to the vent, but the overhead was pushed down and twisted, blocking access. “I can’t……reach……this one.”
“What?”
“I can feel……air.”
“Which vent?” Vladimir asked.
“I can’t……see,” Aiden replied. “Too much……damage……but this is……the one……I’m sure.”
“That’s it,” Vladimir said, “it’s empty.”
“Where are you?” Renny asked as he clung to the outside of Striker Three, next to Vladimir.
“Aft……port side.”
“What’s by you?” Renny asked. “On the port bulkhead.”
“Uh……panel forty……seven bravo,” Aiden replied.
Renny thought for a moment, then it dawned on him. “Fourteen alpha! Fourteen alpha!”
“What?” Vladimir asked, turning to look at Renny.
&
nbsp; “Vent fourteen alpha is just aft of panel forty-seven bravo! Aiden, this is Renny! Look down at the bottom of the aft bulkhead!”
Aiden fell to the floor. In his weakened state, it was the easiest way to get down low to look. “I’m looking.”
“There should be four small levers. The third lever should say fourteen alpha on it. Do you see it?”
Aiden squinted, trying to focus. “I think so……my eyes……hard to focus.”
“Third lever from the left,” Renny instructed. “Turn it so the lever is pointed parallel to the deck.”
“Which way?” Aiden asked.
“It doesn’t matter; just make sure it’s parallel to the deck!”
“Quickly, hook it back up,” Renny urged Vladimir.
Vladimir immediately disconnected the line from the empty oxygen tank, letting it go and allowing the tank to drift lazily away from them. Within seconds, he was twisting the connection to secure the return line to the T-connector.
“I’ve turned it,” Aiden reported. “Third lever……from the left…… It’s parallel……to the floor.”
Vladimir finished reconnecting the return line to the T-connector and then turned the valve again. He reached over and pressed the button to activate the portable life-support unit, which immediately lit up as its pumps starting forcing fresh, oxygenated air into the interior of the battered gunship. “It’s working!” he exclaimed. “It’s working!”
CHAPTER NINE
“I want you to personally supervise the recovery,” Captain Madrid ordered as they walked toward the front end of the forward cargo bay.
“Jenna can handle it, Sheba,” her first officer assured her.
“Jenna does just fine as deck boss, but this isn’t cargo, Vema. I need someone who can think on their feet, in case something doesn’t go as planned.” She stopped and turned to look at him. “That someone is you.”
“She’s not going to like it,” Vemados warned. “She’s very possessive of her deck.”
“Tough shit,” Sheba replied as she turned to continue toward the exit. “Tell her it was captain’s orders,” she added as she stepped through the hatch.
