Planet of the Valkyries

by Callista Hawkes

  “Yes captain.” She confirms. “It’s coming from a freighter, the Zephyr, orbiting a nearby planet. Captain, her orbit is decaying rapidly! Estimate that she’ll burn up in the atmosphere in less than six hours.”

  “What’s the Zephyr’s complement?”

  “Seventeen souls, captain.” She replies.

  “Goddamn it.” The captain mutters before turning to you. “Thoughts, commander?”

  Suggest you mount a rescue

  You must get the Ambassador to her destination without delay. Ignore the distress call

  “Captain, far more than seventeen lives are at stake with our current mission.” You reply. “We cannot afford any more delays.” Captain Madison frowns before slowly nodding.

  “With a heavy heart, I have to agree.” She sighs. “I’ll note the distress call and last known position of the Zephyr in my log. Helm, continue on our present course.”

  “Aye, captain.” Comes the answering response. You meet the captain’s gaze, sharing a moment of pain and guilt as you abandon the freighter crew to their fate.

  The next morning, you stand on the bridge alongside the captain as the Ranger drops out of hyperspace.

  “We’re on the very fringes of Earth Alliance space.” Captain Madison murmurs. “Just us and empty space from here on.”

  “Contact to port.” The navigation officer announces. “Slow moving and on a parallel course.”

  “You were saying?” You grin.

  “There shouldn’t be anyone this close to the demilitarised zone.” The captain replies, her brow furrowed as she peers at the view screen.

  “Could be a scout from the Aurigan Empire.” The navigator suggests.

  “That’s just conjecture, lieutenant.” The captain chides her, but glances meaningfully towards you. Clearly it’s a suspicion she shares.

  Recommend you intercept the vessel and fire a warning shot

  Scan the mysterious vessel

  “While I appreciate the urgency and importance of our mission, we cannot in all conscience, ignore a vessel in distress.” You tell the captain.

  “You’re right, Commander.” Captain Madison nods.

  “All the same, with the Zephyr’s dire predicament, we daren’t endanger the Ranger.” You reply. “Captain, I’d like to volunteer to take a shuttle and mount a rescue. It’ll be a squeeze, but we should be able to get seventeen crewmen aboard.”

  “You’ll need a co-pilot.” She tells you.

  “Permission to volunteer.” A familiar voice announces behind you. You turn to find the petite, blonde haired Ensign Anderson turning from her station.

  “You are trained to pilot a Class 7 shuttle, Ensign…?” The captain asks, raising an eyebrow.

  “Ensign Anderson, Captain.” She smiles. “Juno Anderson. And yes, I am fully qualified.”

  “Then it seems you have your co-pilot, commander.” Captain Madison smiles at you. “Good luck!”

  A few minutes later, you climb into the cockpit of the shuttle and sit down, with Juno sliding into her seat alongside you. As you run through the pre-flight checks, she pulls on a headset and studies the console before her.

  “Ready, Ensign?” You ask, preparing to leave the Ranger’s hanger bay.

  “Ready sir.” She smiles, her blue eyes gleaming with excitement. You smile and wonder if you were ever as eager.

  “Then let’s go.” You reply, the shuttle’s engines pulsing with power as you gently rise up above the deck. You apply the thrusters and slowly ease forward until you are clear of the hanger bay, the cockpit window filled with the inky blackness of space. “Lay in a course for the Zephyr.” You tell her.

  “Done, sir.” Juno confirms a moment later and you lock on to the waypoint, bringing the thrusters up to full power, the engines humming. You glance across at the young blonde. She’s pretty in a girlish way. While her body is encased in her black uniform, it is snug enough to show off her trim, petite figure and small though perky breasts. Her blonde hair is collected in a long plait which is draped over her left shoulder.

  “I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to be accompanying you on this mission, sir.” She gushes.

  “I’m glad to have you with me, Ensign.” You reply. “I’ve read your file. You finished top of your class in the academy and you are expected to go far, perhaps even to a command of your own someday.”

  “I’m just happy to serve, sir.” Juno replies. You grin. Modest and tactful too. She’ll go far.

  As the shuttle closes in on your destination, you can see the long, bulky shape of the Zephyr silhouetted against the yellowy brown planet. Soon, the stricken vessel fills your cockpit window, a dark plume of gases venting from the engines.

  “Looks like there’s been an explosion in the engine room.” You murmur as the shuttle’s spotlights play over a long rent in the aft hull. Juno checks the instruments on the console before her.

  “We’re within sensor range of the Zephyr, sir. Shall I scan the ship or try to hail her?”

  Scan the ship

  Hail the Zephyr

  “Scan her.” You reply. “Let’s see what kind of shape she’s in.”

  “Scanning.” Juno replies, studying the monitor on the console before her. “The Zephyr’s compromised compartments have been sealed and the remaining compartments are pressurised. The main engines are offline, but the power generator is still operational, so the lights and carbon dioxide scrubbers should be working.”

  “Any life signs?” You ask.

  “Inconclusive.” She replies, furrowing her brow. “Nothing distinct, but there seems to be signs of movement. It may be interference from the damaged engines.” You nod and manoeuvre the shuttle towards the Zephyr’s bow.

  “We’ll dock near the bridge. If there’s anyone still alive, they’ll likely be there.” You tell Juno as you engage the automated docking system. The shuttle’s manoeuvring thrusters fire one after the other, the starboard side of the Zephyr looming into view before a heavy clank echoes through the cabin as the docking clamps engage. Green lights flash up on the console before you as an airtight seal is made with the airlock.

  “Readings beyond the airlock indicate the compartment is still pressurised and breathable.” Juno tells you. You nod and climb out of your seats. You open a nearby storage locker and pull out a pair of blasters, passing one to Juno.

  “Never hurts to be prepared for the worst, Ensign.” You tell her.

  The airlock cycles and the door into the Zephyr slides open. You step through into the functional beige panelled corridors of the command decks of the freighter.

  “Hello?” You call out, the word echoing along the corridor. “We’re officers of the Galactic Navy responding to your distress call. Please make yourselves known.” You wait a moment, but there is no answering call. “Always a good idea to identify yourself when boarding a vessel without permission.” You grin at Juno. “You don’t want to be shot by accident as a suspected pirate. It would be embarrassing.” Juno chuckles nervously as you cautiously continue along the corridor towards the bridge, both of you holding your blasters ready.

  The door sighs open and you step onto the bridge, blinking lights and glow of display monitors at the control stations all around you, but no one manning them.

  “Looks like no one’s home.” You murmur.

  “I don’t like this.” Juno replies. “It’s starting to feel like a ghost ship.”

  “Keep it together, Ensign.” You tell her. “The crew might simply have abandoned ship already. Let’s use the ship’s instruments, see if we can solve this mystery.”

  You spend the next few minutes studying the various readouts on the screen. Juno finds a security camera feed and switches through the various views. One is of the cavernous hold which appears to be sub divided by mesh partitions most of which are filled with rows of neatly stacked plasteel containers. One stands empty with a large tear in the mesh.

  “The mesh is bent outwards.” Juno murmurs. “Like something has forc
ed its way out.”

  “Check the ship’s manifest for a T Rex.” You reply flippantly. She narrows her eyes at your thinly veiled sarcasm. “No point in conjecture.” You shrug. “There’s likely a reasonable explanation.” Juno glances nervously about her and you notice her eyes widen.

  “I’d love to hear your reasonable explanation for that!” She points at the far side of the bridge. There is a drying crimson puddle with a long smeared trail of blood leading from it, across the floor and through a closed door.

  “Maybe we should evac and come back with a tactical team?” Juno murmurs, her eyes fixed on the gruesome sight.

  Follow the trail

  Return to the shuttle

  “We need to investigate before we leave.” You tell Juno. “If someone requires medical attention, we need to render assistance.”

  “I knew you were going to say that.” She grumbles.

  “The Zephyr’s orbit is decaying and we don’t have enough time to return to the Ranger and come back.” You explain. “The ship will have burned up by then.”

  “I guess so.” She replies with a sigh. With your blasters at the ready, you cautiously step towards the door which slides open at your approach. The trail of blood continues along the deck of the corridor beyond, the lights in that section of the ship flickering.

  “Be on your guard, Ensign.” You murmur as you slowly follow the gruesome trail, your footsteps echoing on the deck plates.

  “What do you think happened?” Juno whispers. “You think one of the crew got space dementia, went berserk and murdered the rest of the crew?”

  “Let’s not jump to conclusions.” You reply as you reach a T junction at the end of the corridor. Two adjoining corridors join the one you are standing in and you notice similar blood trails leading from them. All three trails lead into a door before you.

  “Ready, Ensign?” You murmur, your finger poised on the door control. She nods and you jab your fingertip against the button. The door slides open and you both recoil at the gruesome sight within.

  “My God!” Juno gasps.

  “Looks like we’ve found the crew.” You murmur grimly.

  “Or what’s left of them.” She replies. “What is that?”

  “I think it’s part of a torso.” You tell her, your stomach churning with revulsion.

  “It looks like they’ve been torn apart!” Juno turns away, blanching. “What could have done that?” As if in answer, you hear heavy footsteps approaching along one of the adjoining corridors. You both turn towards the source of the sound, your blasters readied. A rather functional looking android walks stiffly towards you, his chrome skeletal body supporting a large inverted egg shaped head with a rudimentary white moulded plastic face, his eyes glowing blue. He is dragging the bloodied corpse of another of the unfortunate crewmen by his ankle behind him. The android stops when he sees you, his head tilting inquisitively to one side.

  “Intruders.” His heavily synthesised voice announces. “Please remain where you are.”

  “I don’t think so.” You growl, aiming your blaster and squeezing the trigger. The android’s chest erupts in a shower of sparks and it keels forward, smashing down onto the deck.

  “Looks like a service android.” Juno tells you, cautiously approaching the smouldering automaton. “It must have malfunctioned and run amok.”

  “Intruders!” Several synthesised voices announce in unison, their voices echoing down the corridor towards you.

  “Doesn’t sound like he’s alone.” You tell Juno. She quickly pulls back just as several more identical androids appear at the far end of the corridor, marching stiffly towards you. When they see you, their eyes turn from blue to red. “Intruders are hostile. Use of deadly force authorised.”

  “Oh no.” Juno exclaims, pointing down the first corridor. More androids are approaching in a seemingly endless column, their eyes glowing red in the flickering lights. You glance over your shoulder at the final adjoining corridor and are relieved to find that it is empty, at least for the time being.

  “What now?” Juno asks, her eyes fixed fearfully on the approaching legions of androids.

  Shoot them before they reach you

  Escape down the empty corridor

  “We’ll make our stand here.” You tell Juno. “Take steady aim and make your shots count.” You both fire in unison, your blasters finding their targets in a shower of sparks.

  Soon the corridors are a mass of smouldering androids, the air thick with the acrid smell of burnt electronics. Yet still they come. Identical androids stepping over their fallen counterparts, red eyes glowing malevolently on their otherwise impassive faces.

  “There’s too many of them!” Juno cries out, panic creeping into her voice now. As they slowly but surely close in on you from both corridors, you’re inclined to agree.

  “Fall back!” You reply. Juno nods and glances over her shoulder and you know from her gasp of terror exactly what she is about to tell you.

  “Commander, behind us!” She cries out. You follow her gaze along the last corridor and your blood runs cold as you see ranks of androids advancing towards you from that direction too.

  “Shit, keep firing!” You shout back, fear clawing at you as the androids close on you from all sides. “We’ve got to break through!” Within moments, they are bearing down on you and you feel the cold steel fingers of an android’s hand on your shoulder, pulling you towards him.

  “No!” You hear Juno scream as his other hand rips your blaster from your grasp and swings it into the side of your head. You crumple to the floor, barely conscious as you feel the terrible weight of the android’s steel foot against the side of your head. As he slowly crushes your skull, the last thing you see is another of the androids dragging a struggling Juno through the door where the blood trails had led. Her cries of utter terror are abruptly silenced as the door closes behind them, no doubt to share the same gruesome fate as the crew of the Zephyr. You scream as your skull cracks, the last thought before you die a strong sense of guilt at failing Juno so completely.

  THE END

  Go back a few moments and rethink your actions

  “Try to hail them.” You reply.

  “Zephyr, Zephyr, do you read?” Juno speaks into her headset. “Zephyr, please come in?” She tries in vain for the next couple of minutes before turning to you. “No response, sir.”

  “She’s looking pretty banged up.” You shrug. “Might be that the communications systems are down.” Juno nods, looking just as unconvinced as you feel. “Let’s get aboard.” You tell her, locking on to the nearest docking port and engaging the automatic docking system. The manoeuvring thrusters fire one after the other as the shuttle moves down the starboard side of the Zephyr before a loud clank signals a hard lock. Green lights flash up on the console before you as an airtight seal is made with one of the freighter’s hold airlocks.

  “Readings beyond the airlock indicate the compartment is still pressurised and breathable.” Juno tells you. You nod and climb out of your seat. Juno does likewise, walking towards the airlock door.

  “Not so fast, Ensign.” You call out, opening a nearby storage locker. “Just in case, eh?” You toss her a blaster pistol and take one for yourself.

  The airlock cycles and the door into the Zephyr slides open. The corridor beyond is typically grimy and basic, with battered metallic panelling on the walls and exposed pipes and wiring running along the ceiling.

  “Makes the Ranger look as luxurious as one of the pleasure yachts moored at Astra D’Azur, eh Ensign?” You murmur, your feet clanking on the checker plate deck.

  “No sign of any of the crew.” She replies quietly. You nod and continue along the corridor, glad of the blaster in your hand. The door at the far end opens into a cavernous and brightly lit hold the size of perhaps four football pitches. It is divided with mesh partitions into several compartments along each side, most of which are filled with neatly stacked plasteel containers and crates. One of the larger compart
ments stands empty and you notice the mesh has been torn open.

  “The mesh is bent outwards.” You tell Juno as you examine the ripped and twisted latticework.

  “It looks like some kind of wild animal has escaped.” She murmurs. “Oh no…” She kneels, studying the deck at her feet and you move to join her. A dark red puddle glistens in the floodlights and you notice a smeared trail leading from it across the deck and through a closed door at the far end of the hold.

  “Still glad you volunteered?” You ask Juno, who is gazing nervously at the blood stain, her blaster gripped tightly in her hand.

  “Me and my big mouth.” She replies with a humourless grin.

  “Don’t worry, Ensign.” You tell her. “Just remember your training and we’ll be fine.”

  “Do you think we should get back to the shuttle and return with a tactical team?” She asks, glancing warily around the hold.

  Follow the trail

  Return to the shuttle

  “I think that might be a good idea.” You reply, gazing at the puddle of blood. “We’re supposed to be a rescue mission. It’s starting to look like we’re the only ones left to rescue.” Juno nods, her relief palpable as you retrace your steps back towards the shuttle.

  As you reach the corridor leading to the airlock, you both abruptly stop, gazing incredulously along the corridor. Several rather functional looking androids block your way, their chrome skeletal bodies supporting a large inverted egg shaped head with a rudimentary white moulded plastic face, their eyes glowing blue.

  “Intruders.” Their heavily synthesised voices announce in unison. “Please remain where you are.” They begin slowly walking towards you in a slow, stiff march.

  “I am Commander Kyle Chase and this is Ensign Juno Anderson of the United Earth Ship Ranger.” You announce, subconsciously taking a step backwards. “We are responding to a distress call. You will halt immediately.”