"I understand," Vyx said with a glazed look in his eyes. "It will take time to work out all the problems and make such speeds practicable for normal use. Uh, I've heard that this ship is damaged."
"Yes, our drive system suffered extensive damage and can't be engaged. We only have Sub-Light engines and thrusters at present. We spent months drifting in space, waiting for our mother ship, the Prometheus, to arrive. A Raider ship happened across us and towed us here."
"You drifted for months before arriving here?"
"Yes."
Vyx wet his lips as he thought. "I'm surprised the Raiders didn't board you where they found you."
"They tried, but they couldn't get in. They even fired on us with their laser arrays, but they didn't even nick our hull while we just watched from the bridge. We could have fired our torpedoes, and destroyed them, but I decided to let them tow us to their base while we played dead."
"This ship is impervious to laser fire?" Vyx asked, his eyes as wide as saucers.
"Yes, it's a new design, both hull and engines. I guess that the hull is no longer a secret since the Raiders are aware of its existence, but you should treat the information as being confidential. This ship was just completed at the Martian ship building facility a year ago July."
"And you made it all the way from Mars to here in that time?"
"I guess you might say we caught a good tailwind."
Vyx smiled. "I guess. What are your plans now?"
"The Prometheus will be arriving next month. It has a special, airtight docking collar for the Colorado on its keel, and our engineers can start making repairs to the drive system once we've docked. What are your plans?"
"My immediate destination is the mining colony of Scruscotto."
"So you said last night. Scruscotto is in the new Frontier Zone. I thought that you might have changed your plans to a location within regulated Galactic Alliance space."
"Well, in my line, business is often more lucrative outside regulated GA space."
Jenetta nodded. "I just thought that you might have some unfinished business to clean up within the old Frontier Zone before moving to the new one."
Vyx stared at Jenetta for a few seconds before making a decision to discuss his active investigation. "Rivemwilth is the key to solving this case. When the GAC announced the border expansion, he left Gollasko, as did practically every other felon on the planet. No one knew where he was heading; or if they did know, they weren't talking. All I can do is set up a new base of operations and wait until he surfaces again. When he does, I'll get there and resume the operation. In the meantime, it wouldn't do for me to be seen in the vicinity of Space Command operations too often, or for too long. Not if I'm to continue in my present occupation."
"I understand, Commander. Naturally I wouldn't want to see your position compromised."
"Thank you, Captain," Vyx said standing up. "And thank you for sharing your views with me."
"They were only hypothetical musings, you understand?"
"Of course, ma'am; just hypothetical musings."
"Good luck, Trader."
"You also, Captain."
After Vyx left, Jenetta thought about the conversation. She didn't regret that she had shared information that was still classified top secret. It was probably the most un-secret top secret in Space Command anyway. Her entire crew of a hundred eighty-five knew the whole story and she was pretty sure that the thousands of crewmembers on the Prometheus knew all the facts, or had heard the rumors. Then there was the command structure at Headquarters, and probably dozens of scientists and their assistants in Space Command and at the shipyard. Since the trial hadn't been part of a secret test, it would have been impossible to contain it for very long.
* * *
Chapter Eleven
~ December 27th, 2273 ~
The battleship Thor arrived forty-five days after the Song, and the Prometheus showed up two days after that. Captain Gavin, as the most senior captain among the officers, took immediate command of the forces inside the asteroid. Disconnecting from the other ships, the Colorado moved to its docking collar beneath the Prometheus, and after ten months of separation, the two ships were joined once again.
After all Space Marines from the combined forces in the cavern were moved onto the Prometheus, Captain Gavin ordered all ships to disconnect and prepare for action. He then ordered all ships other than the Thor to vacate the asteroid. When just the two battleships remained, he contacted Commandant Bacheer. Jenetta sat next to him on the bridge of the Prometheus.
"Commandant, I'm Captain Gavin of the Prometheus. I'm sure that you're familiar with my first officer, Commander Carver."
"I am."
"Commandant, we're now ready to relieve you of the responsibility for maintaining discipline within the habitat. I'll give you one hour to move all your people to the docking level, and assemble them in the main cargo area. Marines will move in and take them into custody. If there's resistance it will be dealt with severely. An organized revolt will result in our pulling out and exercising the final option. I've already moved all other ships, but one, out of the asteroid for safety reasons should that option be necessary. Are you ready to comply?"
"I'm ready, but I can't speak for everybody on the station. I've done my best to keep things under control, but there's a faction that's prepared to fight when you come in. You can't hold me responsible for the actions of a few fanatics."
"I'm sorry to hear that they prefer to die. How many are in this faction?"
"I would estimate about two hundred to three hundred. I can't be sure because they're operating clandestinely, in defiance of my edicts. The other six thousand will go peacefully."
"That certainly complicates things, Commandant. It's unfortunate that you're not able to control your people."
"You can't destroy the habitat, Captain. You'd be killing thousands who want to surrender peacefully."
"Stand by, Commandant, I'll get back to you shortly."
The com operator closed the connection.
Gavin looked at Jenetta. "In my briefing room, Commander."
Jenetta followed him in and took a seat as he paced around the room.
"I don't want to kill six thousand people who want to surrender peacefully," Gavin said, "but the rebels will probably attack if we try to set up a holding area in the main cargo section as we did at Dixon, where we had less than a quarter of the prisoners we have here. They'll try to use the confusion to their advantage, and hope that more will join them. We could find ourselves greatly outnumbered."
"Let's reduce the odds, sir."
Gavin looked at her thoughtfully for a few seconds. "I'm listening. Tell me your thoughts?"
"I've had quite a bit of time to think about this, sir, and determine how I'd handle it. Everything I've seen so far confirms that this habitat is constructed along the same lines as the one at Dixon. So other than one enormous airlock capable of transporting full-sized shipping containers to the cargo area, there should be only narrow corridors running from the docking platform to the main habitat space. In the event of a pressure drop, say from a ship crashing into the protective wall outside the platform while docking, emergency airlock doors in each corridor will drop and seal to protect the main area. I'd move my Space Marines in and set up a fortified position around a docking pier entrance while the engineers close the emergency doors in all the corridors except the one closest to the Marine position. Then we have the personnel who wish to surrender come to the docking pier in groups of twenty through that single corridor. We'll let the Commandant handle that part. He won't send the next batch, until the previous group has been processed. That way, if the rebels make a move, no more than twenty would be in our midst, and they wouldn't be able to charge our position as a group because they'd be constrained by a narrow, four-meter wide corridor without cover. Between the Prometheus, Thor, and Song, we should be able to securely accommodate six thousand in the holds. Not for a long term, but for a couple of days unti
l the habitat can be fully secured. Once the non-combatants are removed, the rebels will be the ones that are greatly outnumbered. We can even resort to more severe means, if you wish."
"Destroy the habitat?"
"I was thinking more along the lines of depressurizing it, sir. The rebels would either be incapacitated or be forced into identifiable, air-tight sections where the Space Marines could more easily overpower them."
"What if the rebels have rigged explosive devices, or a single massive device?" Gavin asked.
"The Marines have equipment for the detection of explosive devices, but if the rebels are thinking of destroying the entire station, we may not be able to prevent it. However, if that's their goal, why have they waited this long?"
"Perhaps they wanted to take as many of us with them as possible. That was in my mind when I ordered the other ships out."
"Then perhaps we should just remove the non-combatants, and depressurize the station without warning. The rebels will be expecting an assault force and may not have time to activate a self-destruct device, or even reach EVA suits. It will help protect our Marines from people who simply want to die fighting."
Gavin nodded. "I'd like to give the rebels a last chance to surrender, but prudence dictates that we simply act."
"They will have a final chance, sir. They can join the non-combatants in the evacuation. After that their intentions to 'fight to the death' are clear."
Gavin raised the com panel on his desk. "Get me Captain Yung on the Song," he said to the com chief. A few seconds later, Captain Yung's image appeared on the desk top panel. "Captain, we've had a change of plans. We're going to temporarily evacuate all Raider personnel from the station. Clear as much space in your holds as possible, establish security around the areas, and move back into the asteroid. On my command you'll move to an airlock and begin loading prisoners. This is a temporary situation that won't last more than a few days so pack them in like sardines. We have to evacuate six thousand while we secure the habitat. If you can take twelve to fifteen hundred, the Thor and Prometheus can take the rest."
"Aye, Captain, we'll be underway in minutes. Our holds will be ready."
"Thank you, Captain. Prometheus, out."
"Song, out."
To Jenetta, Gavin said, "Let's brief the Commandant."
They walked out and took their seats on the bridge. The com operator made the connection.
"Commandant, you have one hour to assemble your people in the main cargo area. When instructed, you'll begin sending your people to a designated docking pier in groups of twenty, but you won't send any groups until the previous group has been processed. I want you to send the prisoners from your detention center first. Is that clear?"
"It's clear, Captain. What about the rebels?"
"We'll take them on after the rest have been evacuated from the station."
"Very well, Captain. I'll begin assembling my people."
"Commandant, you'll stay until the last groups of non-belligerent personnel are evacuated."
Bacheer nodded solemnly. "Yes, Captain."
"Prometheus out."
The line went dead as the com operator broke the connection.
"Helmsman, move us to airlock 1-Mike and commence docking procedures. Com, have the three senior Marine officers report to conference room 3-22-3-Quebec."
Both helm and com replied affirmatively. Gavin stayed on the bridge until the ship was docked, and then said, "Commander, you have the bridge. Handle any problems that might arise. I'm going to brief the Marine officers."
"Aye, sir," Jenetta replied. She was prepared to order the ship undocked if a group tried to rush the ship. Once the ship's forward cargo bay hatch was opened, the Marines would be prepared to handle any armed resistance.
Gavin returned after twenty minutes.
"Any signs of trouble, Jen?"
"Not a bit, sir."
"Good. Com, notify the airlock officer that the hatch can be opened as soon as Major Visconti is ready to disembark."
"Aye, Captain."
As the forward cargo bay's enormous hatch was opened, the front screen on the bridge became a patchwork of images being fed from the video cameras carried by all Marine officers and senior NCOs. Every marine was equipped with a helmet camera and their feeds were being recorded, but it wasn't possible or necessary to show hundreds of duplicate views. The bridge crew watched as the Marines moved out of the ship unopposed. In ten minutes, they had secured the airlock area and established a perimeter that extended from pier 1-Mike to pier 1-Oscar. Engineers, operating under the protection of Marine squads, had closed and sealed all corridors to the habitat except the one.
"Com, notify the Song to dock at pier 1-November."
"Aye, Captain."
After ten minutes the com operator said, "Captain, the Song reports that they're docked and the forward cargo bay hatch is open. They're ready to receive prisoners."
"Notify Major Visconti to commence the evacuation."
"Aye, Captain."
Within twenty minutes, the first evacuees were being processed. These were prisoners from the detention center, and they were still wearing their restraint bands. Like all that would follow, they were searched for weapons before being passed through, in case the Raider insurgents tried to sneak someone through, but they were taken to a separate holding area after entering the Song. After that the flow never stopped. Major Visconti worked out how long it took to process a group and how long it took the next to arrive, so there was never a long gap between groups. All evacuees were asked their name, home planet, and job assignment at the base. A record was made for each individual. It contained their picture, retinal image, and handprints as they progressed towards the ship. Criminal identity nano-tags were injected into their bloodstream. The tags would spread throughout their bodies and from then forward, a scanning device could positively identify them. Once the chips were implanted, it was virtually impossible to remove them completely. Those who already had criminal identity tags in their bodies, indicating that they had previously served time in a penal institution, were excluded from receiving new nano-tags. Their tags were recorded and mated with the new arrest records before they were passed through. In two hours and twenty-eight minutes, the Song had taken on fifteen hundred prisoners. The hatch was closed, and the Song backed away from the airlock, then moved out of the asteroid.
The Thor was next to load, and it was moving into position at airlock 1-Oscar even before the Song had cleared the entrance of the asteroid cavern. As soon as their cargo bay hatch was opened, prisoners were ready to step inside.
Over the next few hours, everything progressed peacefully. Then suddenly, alarms sounded. Sensors placed in the open corridor that led from the main cargo area, had detected something. Ducking behind cover, the Marines ordered everyone to drop to the ground. One Raider stood his ground defiantly, refusing to drop. He put his arms out to the sides until shot by a Marine with a stun rifle. As he went limp, he dropped the live hand grenade that he was holding. His falling body landed on top of it just before it exploded. Only one other person was injured by the blast, and the injury to that individual was not life threatening. As the injured man was carried to the ship's infirmary, the body parts remaining from the rebel were scooped up and put into a body bag for later identification. There wasn't a lot left, but one reasonably intact hand was found, so identification should be routine.
Upon reaching its quota of prisoners, the Thor was sealed, the airlock depressurized, and the ship backed away. Instead of leaving, it took up its former position inside the cavern so it could offer cover to the Prometheus.
The remaining prisoners were moved into the Prometheus over the next few hours. There were no more suicide bomber attempts, and the evacuation finished smoothly. The final count was six-thousand eighty-eight, leaving just under two hundred unaccounted for.
As the evacuation progressed, several engineers worked at docking pier 1-November. Each docking pier that extended to a shi
p was equipped with five airtight doors. There was naturally one airtight door near the habitat at the beginning of the pier, and there was one at each of the three airlock ramps where, depending upon its configuration, a parked ship could access the pier. The size and shape of the ship, and location of the ship's hatch to be used, determined which airlock ramp was used. There was also one emergency door just before the first airlock. That door would seal automatically if a drop in pressure was sensed while any of the three airlock ramps were open. The engineers overrode the automatic features so that all airlock doors on the 1-November pier could be controlled manually.
With the evacuation complete, engineers moved into the one open passageway that led to the main cargo area. While Marines provided cover, they jammed the emergency gate open. With the one passageway unable to seal, the entire habitat could now suffer depressurization.
Completing their work, the engineers withdrew into the Prometheus and the ship's forward cargo bay hatch was closed and sealed. The Marines still on the docking platform anchored themselves to secure posts and stanchions near airlocks 1-Mike and 1-Oscar. When all were secure, they donned oxygen masks.
Gavin and Jenetta watched the preparations from the bridge of the Prometheus. When everything was ready, Gavin gave the command to depressurize the habitat and Major Visconti operated the control mechanism left by the engineers. All three airlock ramps at airlock 1-November opened and the air flowed out like an invisible river gone wild.
As the habitat's life sustaining atmosphere drained through the airlock, dust, dirt, and everything that wasn't tied or nailed down rushed out into the cavern. Paper, boxes, crates, garbage, small electric vehicles, and even a few bodies, still grasping wildly at any thing that offered a possible handhold, flowed into the airless void outside the habitat.
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