by Ava D. Dohn
* * *
Leftenant Ilanit, a flight officer on loan to the Chisamore from the Palace Guard Home Squadron, just returning from patrol, picked up a weak distress signal from the carrier, and then the broadcast went dead. Realizing the possible gravity of the situation and the need for assistance, the leftenant opened a general channel, requesting help from any ships in the vicinity. She then made haste for the ship’s last known coordinates.
When Ilanit came within visual contact of the Chisamore, the situation appeared more hopeless than she previously imagined. The ship drifted helplessly on the tides of space, slowly twirling about while caught in a constant roll to starboard. Even though it was classed as a carrier, the Chisamore was little bigger than a modern large battle cruiser. Being an older ship, built near the end of the age of the great dreadnaughts, and under peacetime conditions, the Chisamore often patrolled alone, its inboard fighters and heavy search and destroy bombers being her only escorts.
There was little the leftenant could do until rescue arrived other than continue to send out her distress calls and listen for any possible replies. Finally, after almost ninety minutes, she received a weak signal from the cruiser, Brosh, that it was getting up steam, but it would still be two hours before it could rendezvous with the Chisamore. Soon, three other ships were signaling their approach, two freighters and the heavy frigate, Gorsbee, but it would take another four hours before the first of them would arrive.
Until that time, the Chisamore was on its own, its crew forced to fight for survival without additional support. Leftenant Ilanit slowly circled the crippled ship, waiting for help to arrive. Unable to regain communications with the ship, she wondered if there was anyone remaining aboard to rescue. The woman’s heart filled with remorse at the thought of such a potentially terrible loss of life, but there was nothing for it other than rely upon others who might be able to deliver aid.
