Ishimaru
Page 2
“So tell me player, where’s the gold?” asked Connors.
“According to my console readings, they point to these Fisher-like canyon areas near the equatorial latitudes. From the looks of things they indicate some deep gold and mineral veins close enough to the surface for easy extraction,” concluded Andre.’
“Well then, that settles it. Take us in,” ordered Capt. Paige.
The DSMV Fortin slowed down and assumed a near standard orbit over the small planetoid Eros 3117. Up on the flight deck, the flight crew readied for their unscripted mission.
“Survey officer, please enter in our claim registration to mark the claim,” ordered Capt. Paige.
“Okay, what would you like to call it?” he asked.’
“Andre,’ seriously! How many times do we have to go over this? You signed the same contract as we did, so you know the drill. Unless you happen to use your own ship or crash land with an escape pod and somehow miraculously discover gold on your own provided you live long enough to claim it, anything we find using the company’s vessels we are contractually obligated to claim it for them. I don’t need to remind you that if you do otherwise and get caught, you forfeit all your shares and risk criminal prosecution,” reminded Jackson.
“Yeah, sure, like they would know this far out here,” dismissed Andre.’
“Look, Andre,’ we’re wasting valuable time for our launch window back to Earth. If you don’t like it, you can always get your own ship with your own crew and find something on your own dime and then call it whatever you want. But until that time mark the claim and do your job with sugar on top. Vy ponimayete (Russian– You understand)?” conveyed Capt. Paige.
“Yeah, I understand you loud and clear. And with all due respect, please don’t try to speak to me in Russian. You’ll only embarrass yourself.”
“Just stow the attitude and do your job. Oh, and by the way: that’s an order,” reprimanded Capt. Paige.
“Aye-aye Captain,” acknowledged Andre,’
If there was one thing Andre’ did not like it was being talked down to. For that matter, the same could be said of any Russians. The crew looked on as their Survey Officer shrugged his head at the conclusion of the Captain’s reprimand before reluctantly entering the claim marker into the computer for transmission:
“Claim MM178353 is now marked and relayed,” reported Andre.’
“Good. Okay people, let’s tidy up here and set the ship to Survey Mode / Auto Orbit,” ordered Capt. Paige.
Captain Paige got up from her seat and proceeded to exit out the hatch to head to the Launch Bay. Connors, Jackson, and Lee soon followed while Andre’ remained at his station.
“Hey, Andre!’ You’re not coming along?” asked Jackson.
“You know, I think I’ll sit this one out,” he said.
“Is this because of our little naming rights dispute? Are you throwing a temper tantrum?” asked Jackson.
“No, I have some work to catch up on,” replied Andre.’
“Alright man. Suit yourself,” said Jackson.
As the bridge was left in the care of the Survey Officer, an unexpected incoming priority signal came in. Andre’ at first tried to shrug it off by donning his headphones to listen to his movie. But the blinking light flashing off and on interfered with the screen resolution of his movie making it impossible to watch without distraction. Frustrated, Andre’ put his movie on pause and removed his headphones.
“DSMV Fortin acknowledged,” answered Andre.’
“Earth Communiqué” priority message for Mike Connors from Hiroshi Matsumura,’ sounded the header.
“Shit!” he exclaimed.
Andre’ shook his head and hit the intercom.
“Flight deck to scout ship,” he summoned.
Capt. Paige and Jackson freshly suited in their LSS suits were just strapping into the scout ship’s crew cabin seats when the call came in.
“Delta-9 Com, Go,” acknowledged Jackson.
“Don’t take off just yet. We got a priority message for Connors. Sounds important,” relayed Andre.’
“Acknowledged,” answered Jackson.
“Mike, you want to take this here, upstairs, or in the launch bay?” asked Capt. Paige.
“I’ll take it in the launch bay,” replied Connors.
“Patch it through to the Com,” relayed Jackson.
“Will do. Patching your call to the launch bay Com,” relayed Andre.’
Connors disembarked from the Delta-9 scout ship wearing his LSS suit. As soon as he cleared the hatch he went over to the Launch Bay Com while the crew awaited his return before setting off on their prospect run. Picking up the wall mounted handset, Connors called the flight deck.
“Launch Bay Com. Go for Connors.”
Connors stared into the video screen as the distressed image of his brother in law Hiroshi Matsumura appeared.
“Mike-san,” Hiroshi greeted.
“What’s going on Hiro-san?” asked Connors.
The pained look on Hiroshi’s face as he paused with a big sigh indicated that bad news was about to follow his every word.
“Talk to me Hiro,” urged Connors.
“Forgive me, but I have no easy way to say this,” slowly spoke Hiroshi.
“What’s going on? Something happened to the baby?” asked Connors.
“Yes and no,” said Hiroshi.
“Well, what does that mean?” Connors frantically asked.
“There has been an accident.”
Connors instantly became alarmed at the thought of his pregnant wife flashed before his mind’s eye. His whole world had ground to a halt awaiting Hiroshi’s next words.
“Hiro-san, I need you to be straight with me. What kind of accident? Tell me, what the hell happened?”
“Aya’s commuter craft from Nagoya collided with a high-speed sub-orbiter on the ground in heavy fog. They say some two hundred thirty-three people were killed and scores injured including Aya. I am sending you the news feed via data crystal right now,” relayed Hiroshi.
Connors' heart sank at the prospect of his wife’s status.
“Is Aya and the baby ok?”
“She was found alive and has been rushed to the hospital. I am calling you from there now. As far as I know, she is in stable condition,” relayed Hiroshi.
“And the baby?”
“The baby lives, but if Aya’s condition worsens, they will be forced to perform an emergency C-Section here at University Hospital Osaka.”
Connors wiped his forehead and a lone tear that appeared in the corner of his left eye as he feared for the well-being of his wife and unborn child.
“Stay with her. Keep me updated and tell her I love her. I’ll be there as soon as I can,” promised Connors.
“Hai! You have my word Mike-san,” promised Hiroshi.
Millions of miles from home and not one thing he could do! The news clouded Connors’ mind distracting him from the task ahead as he sighed with deep lament. Not being there for his wife and child weighed heavily as he took a moment before slowly walking over to the boarding ramp of the Delta-9 scout ship. Just then Lee appeared from the inside of the hatch.
“Yo! Connors! What’s up, man? You ok bro?” he asked.
“No. My wife has been rushed to a hospital. She was in a big shuttle collision with an orb jumper in heavy fog.”
“Oh, dude! I am so sorry to hear that. She’s going to pull through. I know this has got to suck being so far from home but right now you are here, and there’s little you can do. You just have to think positive and know she’ll make it,” consoled Lee.
“Thanks, Lee,” said Connors.
“I don’t know how you’re going to do your job right now with this going on. Maybe you ought to take a break. Get on the “long-com” and check with the hospital for any updates,” suggested Lee.
“You know, you’re right. I should take a break and check for any updates. With this sudden drama, my head is not in the game,” lamented Connors.
“Okay, go then. Go get the gold and save some for me!” waived Connors.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way!” said Lee.
Young Lee shook his head and gave his friend thumbs up before closing the hatch while Connors stepped into the rarely manned air sealed operator room. He could see the crew in the cockpit as they readied for their mission. Connors reached for the headset to answer a call from the scout ship.
“Go for Connors.”
“Lee just told us what happened. Hope your wife and your baby are okay. Don’t worry about us. You got other things to deal with,” said Capt. Paige.
“Thanks, Captain. Will do! Ready for O2 sweep.”
“Go ahead,” replied Capt. Paige.
Connors hit the button that vacuumed the air out of the launch bay. Rotating red and yellow beacons lit up as an automatic alarm announced the launch bay doors are impending opening. Once the door was fully opened, the scout ship lifted off the deck as it backed out before turning 180* to slowly exit the launch bay before engaging her engines. Once engaged, they could begin their descent down to Eros 3117 below. As the Delta-9 scout ship maneuvered its way out of view, Connors closed the launch bay doors and reset the O2 levels for safe entry.
Aboard the scout ship, Lee manually piloted the craft down towards the surface of Eros 3117.
“Slowing descent at 500 meters per second,” relayed Lee.
“Heads up! We’re going to feel some atmospheric chop,” warned Capt. Paige.
No sooner than the captain made her prediction, the scout ship began to rock with turbulence.
“Captain, I’m scanning the coordinates, but I do not see anything,” reported Jackson.
“You might want to run a quick diagnostic on the scanner,” suggested Capt. Paige.
Just then, the scout ship began to pitch in the heavier turbulence.
“Now entering stratosphere, slowing descent at three-hundred meters,” relayed Lee.
“Deploy Air Brakes and maintain heading,” ordered Capt. Paige.
“I’m on it,” replied Lee.
As the scout ship continued to descend, Jackson scoured through his instruments looking for Andre’s big find that appeared to be absent from his screens. Shaking his head, Jackson appeared to be frustrated.
“What’s wrong?” asked Capt. Paige.
“The Quad-Threes?” guessed Lee.
“I don’t want to hear that!” she scolded.
“Yes, Ma’am,” replied Lee.
“I still don’t see anything,” complained Jackson.
“Have you run another diagnostic?”
‘Yes! I’ve run it twice, and it still comes up in good working order,” replied Jackson.
“Well then run it again,” ordered Capt. Paige.
“Yes, Ma’am!” acknowledged Jackson.
Just then the faint starlight appeared over the horizon as the turbulence subsided.
“Now leveling off at twelve-thousand meters (40,000 feet),” relayed Lee.
“Let’s maintain this altitude and check our equipment again. Maintain a standard search pattern,” ordered Capt. Paige.
“Yes, Ma’am,” acknowledged Lee.
Meanwhile back aboard the Fortin, Connors casually made his way back to the lockers to get out of his LSS suit. Then suddenly, he noticed out of a small window what appeared to be a large shadow enveloping the Fortin followed by bright navigation lights off the port side of the ship. With the vacuum of space being what it is, he could not hear any sounds, but he could see the silent shadow and glow of lights that flickered off the long-range antennae array. ‘
‘What the hell is going on?’ he wondered.
Making haste, Connors raced up to the flight deck to see what was happening. Just as he was about to enter the flight deck, he could hear what sounded like a ship to ship communications in Russian. Suddenly, Andre’ could be heard replying back in Russian. A moment later, Connors heard a loud clump from the port side of the Fortin in what sounded like a docking column securing to the cargo holds. He could not believe what was happening! He overheard a voice on the radio relayed in English:
”Columns secured. Ready for mass transfer, standby.”
“Da! Go for Mass Transfer. Initiate,” replied Andre.’
“Son-of-a-bitch!” exclaimed Connors.
“Of all days to be pulling this shit! I can’t believe this guy is fucking us over!”
The shock of betrayal set in quick. Connors quietly slipped into the launch bay and back into the operator room without detection. He could see a dozen large men in space suits with pulse rifles slung on their backs moving the gold-laden cargo containers onto the conveyor belts leading into the docking column to the adjoining ship.
“Speshite! Speshite (Hurry)!” one yelled.
Connors weighed his options. Making for the weapons locker down the corridor was out of the question. The key was in a lock box at the captain’s chair on the flight deck where Andre’ was. Taking a fire extinguisher to bust open the locker would draw too much attention from the heavily armed men in space suits which Connors being on his own was no match for. Connors was left with one option that would weigh the burden of great responsibility.
Meanwhile, aboard the Delta-9 scout ship, Jackson and Nunez became ensnarled in an argument.
“I tell you there is nothing there!” argued Jackson.
“Okay then! Let’s get settle this once and for all! Call Andre’ and confirm the coordinates,” demanded Nunez.
“All right then! Let’s call our temperamental survey officer and see if he can explain this,” agreed Capt. Paige.
Jackson shook his head and donned his headset and radioed back to the mothership.
“DSMV Fortin, come in please,” hailed Jackson.
“DSMV Fortin come in please.”
All they could hear was static as Jackson’s hails went unanswered.
“Huh?” exclaimed Lee.
“Something’s not right,” said Capt. Paige.
“I’m switching to Priority Channel One. This way if Andre’ is asleep or he’s taking a dump the whole ship will know we’re trying to reach him,” said Jackson.
“DSMV Fortin, come in, please. Seriously Andre,’ quit messing around!” demanded Jackson.
“I don’t like this. Let’s break off the search and return back to the Fortin,” ordered Capt. Paige.
“Aye-aye Captain,” acknowledged Jackson.
“Now breaking search pattern Alpha and taking her back to the ship,” relayed Lee as the scout ship veered off into the upper atmosphere and back to space.
Meanwhile back on the Fortin, Connors hid in the small confines of the operator room. He could see on the console encased in glass an emergency docking clamp master release button which to access he would have to break the glass box covering the button which would then blow explosive bolts severing all docking couplings. If Connors were to take the chance, it could set the two docked ships adrift with the dangerous possibility of collision given their close proximity. This was not something Connors wanted to do, but when he peeked into the launch bay and watched the armed men stealing their haul with Andre’s help, it made Connors’ blood boil inciting him to take drastic action.
“Oh hell no! I’m putting a stop to this!” he exclaimed.
Connors counted to three then leaped up making him visible to the armed men below and slammed his fist down on the console breaking the glass covering and depressing the button.
“WARNING! EMERGENCY MASTER CLAMP RELEASE IN FIVE SECONDS!” echoed the female computer voice throughout the ship.
Back on the flight deck, Andre’ became startled as the alarm bell sounded.
“Get out of the launch bay! Do it now!” shouted Andre’ into the intercom.
*BA-BOOM!-BOOM!*
Within seconds, a muffled series of explosive sounds released along the side of the ship could be he
ard! It was apparent that it was too late. All ten docking couplings abruptly exploded in rapid succession one after another instantly sucking out several of Andre’s Russian accomplices out into space by violent space decompression which instantly activated the hull breach alarms throughout the ship.
Andre’ knocked his head during the explosion as the Fortin violently jolted hard to port. A deep guttural voice shouting frantically in Russian likely demanding to know what just happened could be heard. Within a moment Andre’ came through and looked upon the surveillance camera seeing Connors in the operator room. Andre’ quickly reached for his bag he stowed under his console and quickly opened it to pull out his small sidearm.
“Andre’!” hailed the other ship.
“Da!” he replied.
Andre’ could hear alarm bells and men yelling at each other in Russian in the background as he could see out the forward observation pane the glitter of gold floating away into space past the flight deck of the Fortin.
“Andre’! We have suffered damage and lost propulsion! We are now drifting into you!” relayed the man on the other ship that was now heard throughout the Fortin.
‘Oh, shit!’ thought Connors.
There was not enough time to power up the twin pulse engines to maneuver the Fortin out of the way of the larger Russian vessel. The larger ship was now adrift and heading towards an imminent collision that could destroy both vessels!
As the crisis loomed, seconds seemed like an eternity. Suddenly the collision alarms sounded throughout the Fortin right as the call from the scout ship was hailing.
“Scout ship to Fortin, come in Andre,’” hailed Jackson.
“Connors. Somebody pick up!” pleaded Jackson.
Suddenly, hull breach warning alarms sounded from the launch bay. Connors picked up the handset from where he stood and tried to reply.
“Connors, over. The haul is being high jacked by Russian pirates…”
With no delay, Andre’ instantly cut off all communications with the scout ship from the flight deck of the Fortin just as the two ships were about to collide and break apart. Now alerted that Connors might still be on the Fortin, Andre’ switched on the surveillance cameras for the launch bay and the area near the escape pods. Spotting Connors on camera, Andre’ angrily called him out.