Liu rushed into the room. "What the hell's going on?"
"Ship's fucked. We have to get to ground ASAP. Gather the suits together. We may need the air.”
Liu's face turned to fear. Being stuck in space with no power or air was every traveller’s worst fear. Mason knew they all felt as sick in their stomachs as he did.
"How long to reach Krittika?"
"At our current speed about three hours. I don't want to risk using the thrusters anymore. Using the engines for life support is putting enough strain as it is. We need at least a little power to slow our descent."
"We could cut the engines now, use our suits to breathe, and fire them back up when we get there?"
"No, once those engines stop, we aren't likely to get 'em started again without a fair bit of work."
Mason sighed, "So what can we do?"
"Your idea about using the suits isn't a bad one. We could cut all life support systems and reduce the strain on the engines as much as is possible. It might help. Downside is, if the engines do fail en route, we'll already have been using up our oxygen reserves," replied Wizard.
"You remember when I recommended buying that old two-seat fighter a few weeks back. This is exactly the kind of situation we could have done with it," added Felix.
"Yeah, big help."
Erin stepped into the room. She had followed the sounds of the heated discussion and overhead the very end of it.
"How about sending out a distress signal?" she asked.
"From a privately registered small transport in these territories? Anyone who didn't assume we were pirates would be a fool."
"So maybe we pray for a fool?"
"Sorry, princess, we never have that kinda luck. Break out our suits. Everyone needs to be running on their own air in the next five minutes. Felix, shut everything but the essentials down in two. Wizard, you better be with those engines, and make sure they give us everything they have to give."
Fifteen minutes later, all but Wizard were sitting on the bridge in their space suits. The lighting was down to emergency only. They knew there was nothing to do now but wait. For a long time an uncomfortable silence loomed over the bridge until Erin finally broke it.
"This world we're heading for, what's there?"
"Don't look at me, never heard of the place," replied Mason.
"It's a frontier colony. Back to basics," Felix said. "Says here there was a substantial migration there after Balkatide crystal deposits were discovered in several parts of the world."
"They aren't poor then," replied Liu.
"How so?"
"It's used in construction," said Erin.
"And how would you know something like that?"
"Because I read, Max."
Liu laughed, and Felix couldn't help but join in.
"Laugh it up, junkie."
Felix's smile was instantly removed from his face.
"Hey, that shit ain't funny, man. I thought we just left that crap behind."
"Hope so," he replied. "So go on, what is this Balkatide?"
"A key component in creating the power chips in laser guns, as well as ancillary engine components. and all sorts of other things. With the war, they must be booming," Liu replied.
"Well, we should at least get access to some workshop supplies then. They must have transports in and out all the time."
"Hope so," said Andrews.
"And this world is still in Alliance territory?" Erin asked.
"Afraid so. You seem pretty desperate to get out, why?" asked Mason.
"Because any family or friends I could get help from are that side."
"Yeah, but you aren't a combatant. You could hop on any transport out of here."
She shrugged her shoulders. He could see she was uneasy about the Alliance forces getting hold of her, and that made him suspicious. Liu could see he wanted to pry further so intervened.
"Hey, we all have secrets. She doesn't have to tell us."
"Not unless it puts this crew at risk."
Liu turned to her. "Does it?"
"No," she replied sternly, but Mason wasn't convinced.
The conversation continued and moved on to less stressful and more trivial topics to pass the time, until finally a red blinker light flashed on the console to say they were approaching the world. It was not the hive of activity they had been anticipating. Just one ship could be seen leaving the atmosphere. Had they not known otherwise, they would have doubted the world was inhabited at all.
"One of the first few planets to ever be terraformed," said Felix.
"I suppose you've been doing your reading too?" Mason grinned.
"All the money you got from the last job and others you have done, surely you could buy a new ship?"
"The cost of the operations and the logistics either side are much more than you'd think, Erin," Liu explained.
"And anyway, I like this ship," Mason added.
"You hang on to things so dearly, and they have a habit of breaking your heart," muttered Andrews.
"Hey, she's got us through hell more than a few times. It'll take more than an engine malfunction to end the Foxy Lady's days."
"All ladies get old," he replied.
"Well you're a real cherry bastard today, aren't you?" asked Mason.
"This is it. I'm gonna try and reverse thrust the engines to slow our approach."
"And if it doesn't work?"
"I got another idea, but you're not gonna like it."
"Then make the first plan work."
The engines roared to life as they approached the atmosphere, but as they got half way through, there were two loud cracks from the engine bays, and the power dropped off.
"Shit this is gonna be rough!"
They burst through the clouds at double the speed they would normally and were heading nose first for a vast salt lake.
"We ain't got a lot of power!"
"Use the landing thrusters."
He hit the switch and it began to reduce their speed, but not quickly enough.
"Deploy the chutes."
"Not at this speed, they'll tear right off."
"Wizard, we need you!"
Mason turned to see Archibald was already gone.
"Six thousand feet!" yelled Felix.
He had got the nose up a little, but there wasn't enough power to get the lift he needed.
"Five thousand!"
"Come on, Wizard," whispered Mason.
"Four Thousand!"
Mason ripped his helmet off and rushed out of the bridge towards the engine bays. Mitchell’s voice still echoed through the corridors over the tannoy.
"Three thousand!"
He reached the engine bays. Wizard was drilling through into a compression chamber. He lifted up an electro rod and slipped it into the hole, picked up a huge wrench, and threw it to Mason.
"Two thousand!" came Mitchell's voice.
"Hit that with everything you've got!" yelled Andrews.
"What? How can that work?" yelled Mason.
"Just do it!"
"One thousand metres!"
He got a good grip on the wrench that was a metre and a half long and weighed twenty kilos. Mason swung it back and smashed the rod with every ounce of strength he could muster. Sparks burst from it, and a pulse of electricity rushed down the wrench and into Mason's hands. The shock threw him off his feet and three metres away onto his back where he landed hard. Rolling over to his side, he coughed out a little blood as he heard the engines roar with power.
"Five hundred metres, four, three."
They could feel the engines begin to push the tail down and quickly level them off. Mason looked up at Archibald from the deck and prayed. Twenty seconds went by when they both expected to crash and burn at any second.
"We've done it!"
"Just as the call came over the radio, the engines coughed and spluttered and cut out."
"All right, here we go. Hold on to your asses," said Mitchell.
They hit the
ground hard, but a lot lighter than they had expected. They bounced just a metre off the ground, landing once again with a jolt, and sliding a hundred metres through dirt and dust.
"This is the pilot speaking. Welcome to Krittika. I hope you had a pleasant flight and appreciate the fact you’re still alive."
Chapter 3
Mason sat sprawled out on one of the chairs from the hold of the ship. He’d dragged it out into the open air beside their final resting place and also brought the table with him. His right leg was up on the table, and he had a bottle of Beaulieu's reserve in one hand. It was a coarse and unlikeable whiskey liqueur they had gotten a crate of cheap a few months back. It was the only drink available, and he was making the most of the sunshine while drinking it. Wizard strode up to him. He looked even filthier than before, now he'd spent an hour going over the damage.
"Well, how bad is it?"
"Bad. We've got a couple of holes in one of the blocks. The reactor's shot. Inlet manifolds punctured."
Mason's eyes widened.
"Yeah, I'd say we took a few shots back on Sharini when we picked you up. They must have nailed us in the ass. The damage was done and gone unnoticed. It has only got worse."
"Christ, what did they hit us with?"
"Something heavy. Looks like they took one of your trucks, so I guess that would explain it. You should have been long gone before that could have happened."
"That was my fault," replied Erin.
She and Liu were sitting beside the table with Mason.
"Damn right it was," added Mason.
Liu scowled at him.
"Not like she asked to be there," he said.
"Well, nonetheless, it is what it is. Upside is we get to catch a few rays."
"What do we need to get her working?" Liu asked.
"A tonne of components which should cost about fifty k, but God knows what we'll be charged if the dealers know they have us over a barrel. Plus about a week’s work."
Mason shook his head.
“All the years of smooth running the Lady has given, us and now we get lumped in the shit."
"They were never that smooth," muttered Andrews.
"Mily okay?"
Erin looked surprised.
"The quadcopter you came in on," Liu clarified.
"One of the Boss’ wives?"
"Girlfriend," Mason smiled.
"Yeah, amazingly she didn't take anything but a few scrapes and burns. She's ready when you are," said Andrews.
"Nearest town is just a few clicks north," stated Mason. "Felix, you know what parts we need?"
"I got a pretty good idea."
"Good, then you're coming with me. We don't know anything about this world, so all of you watch yourselves. Wizard, get working on what you can. Liu, you're on guard duty. We came in pretty hot, so our presence cannot have gone unnoticed."
"You expecting hostility here?"
"I always expect hostility and prepare for everything, Erin."
"It's a little cynical, don't you think?"
"Fact, I'm still alive while many others in this line of work aren't."
She looked to Liu who could not help but agree. Mason turned to leave but was interrupted by Erin.
"Then I can help. I can shoot."
He smirked and laughed a little. "Really? That part of your comprehensive education?"
"Yes," she replied sternly, "I can ride, I can shoot, and I can hunt."
"Anyone ever put you to the test?" he asked, lifting his rifle from the table. He threw it at her with some force. She barely caught it and almost lost her balance.
"This the way you treat all the women you meet?"
Liu laughed, and it was confirmation enough for her. Mason spun around, looking at the landscape. It was a warm climate with a mix of grass, dirt, and dry sand. He spotted a crop of three trees close to a hundred metres away. They were each no more than thirty centimetres wide.
"Put a single shot into each one of those trees, and I'll take you at your word."
"Max..." Liu cut in.
It was a tough challenge, and they all knew it.
"No, no, she said she can hunt. With those kinds of skills, you must be capable of a hundred yard shot. Let's see what she can do," he replied as he turned to her.
"You see we're in the business of fact, not hearsay. If you want our trust, then you must prove you’re worth it."
She didn't like his assumption about her character, but it only made her more determined to prove him wrong. She lifted the rifle to her shoulder. The fact she didn't kneel to take the shot made Liu wonder if she was either confident or naive. Her finger squeezed the trigger, and they watched as the laser struck the first tree on the left.
"Lucky shot..." Mason quickly snapped.
Before his words were out, she had put a shot into the other two and left him speechless. She turned around to enjoy her moment. Max did everything he could to recover and hide his amazement.
"Happy?"
"Well, Erin. That might be the first honest thing you've told us since coming aboard. Hang onto the rifle for now."
"Thanks."
"You ever shot a man?"
She shook her head.
"Well I hope you can shoot that well when it counts."
He turned and walked away with Mitchell. Liu stepped up to her, looking highly impressed.
"He likes you."
"Really?"
"Not many people give him reason to be impressed. Well done. You really learned that for hunting?"
"How else?"
"Lot of reasons to learn how to shoot, and most of them aren't for sport."
"I can see why you were a detective."
It was a subtle and clever shift of subject and that amused him. They turned as they heard the rotors fire up, and Mily raced out from the ship with Mitchell at the controls.
"You ever come to places like this much?" she asked.
"We go wherever we can get work. A well off frontier world like this though; it's wealthy enough to manage on its own, not the kind of place I'd expect to see kidnappings."
"That all the work you do?"
He shook his head. "If it needs some muscle, and they pay enough, it’s work for us."
"And what about right or wrong?"
"Its a grey area. We would turn a job town if it were against our principles."
"Turned down any work recently?"
He shook his head.
* * *
It was just a thirty-minute ride to the town, and as they approached, they could see it was a small place.
"Really think we'll find what we need here?" asked Mason.
"Pretty sure. They have to keep ships moving on mineral rich worlds like this. We'll make it work."
The town was mostly constructed of metal prefabricated complexes that looked like they’d been there for many decades. There was no guarded entrance or security of any kind, let alone a perimeter wall. It looked big enough for a population of up to a thousand.
"Can't get a lot of crime around here," Mitchell commented.
"I'll believe that when I see it. Just remember, some of these worlds aren't too friendly to newcomers."
"Perhaps we should have brought rifles?"
"No, be ready for a fight, but don't go looking. If we need more than our sidearms, then things really are bad."
Quadcopters and wheeled trucks alike were rolling in and out of town at a steady rate. It was clear it was a mining town and running steadily. A few turned to look as they entered the main high street of the small town. The main streets had been concreted in a stark contrast to the dusty roads outside the populated area. Mason noted how the people he saw all appeared comfortably off, if not dripping in wealth.
"We aren't gonna get anything cheap here," whispered Mitchell.
"Nope, but I'll be happy to get in the air at any cost."
"I'd hold that thought until you've heard the prices."
A line of vehicles was parked outside what ap
peared to be a bar.
"Pull up there."
"Sure?"
"Yeah, we need information, and in a little place like this, the local watering hole is the place to go."
"If you say so, Boss."
They looked at each other in surprise. It was the first time he'd ever been called it by the crew. Mitchell didn't know whether to apologize or not. They both thought about it for a moment.
"I may be Captain of the Foxy Lady now, but there was only ever one Boss. This is our first time of going at it alone, so let's do it right."
The name of the establishment was the Digger, a rather uninspired choice, considering the location. It was a three storey complex with a hand held mining drill hanging from the name post as its mascot. Inside, they found tall ceilings, and it had been decorating lovingly with artefacts from several worlds. There was enough seating for a hundred, but only eight people were sitting or standing around the bar. Mason noted a young woman several tables away from the rest, harbouring her glass. She looked brooding and serious, but was of slight figure and seemed of little threat, despite her angry eyes.
They passed the woman and reached the bar. The barman looked afraid the second he spotted them. He looked down at the guns slung on their sides and at their dusty clothing.
"What can I do for you boys?" he asked.
"Couple of beers and info on who could supply us with some ship components."
The colour seemed to return to his face, and he suddenly mellowed and reached for a glass.
"Sorry, I thought you were here for something else."
The man's fear made him curious, but he knew not to pry when they had just arrived and had no business there.
"You come with that ship that came down hard to the south of here a little earlier?"
Mason nodded.
"Can't have been your intention to come here. Not many folks do who aren't here for business. What line of work you in?"
"Transport."
His eyebrow rose. "A ship that small, and yet you wear that gun like you were born with it."
Mason smiled.
He’s quick and smart.
"We specialise in high risk valuable goods. Some folk around would try and rob us in our work."
"Mmm, ain't that the truth?" one of the patrons snorted.
"Really? Mason asked. “Looks like a pretty safe town to me."
Maniacs: 01 - The Krittika Conflict Page 4