Glancing at the 8 foot diameter engine exhaust tube sticking a few feet out the rear of the engine room hull , Mark noticed something different about the exhaust nozzle as well. Focusing in on it as he walked down the ramp to get a look inside, the nozzle dissolved in his glasses to show him millions of small tubes honeycombing the walls of the nozzle instead of being just one big open mouth hole out of the back like the ship's old shuttle exhausts s . Questions started forming in his mind when Mickey spoke up.
"That is part of the magnetic plasma coils running the full length of the engine. These are not just shields coils but actually part of the engine, accelerating and compressing the plasma as it exhausts out the engine while reducing the detectable signature. They can also vector the exhaust stream up to 10 degree s n in any direction Mark."
“Ok that could come in handy.” Mark took one last look around at the growing crowd and the marines and their bots then noticed the other 3 shuttles sitting lined up around the pit. But only this shuttle had the growing crowd since they were closest to the ships Quarter deck ramp. Turning he headed forward again. Looking toward the Starboard engine room he noticed the heat outline superimposed on the inner hull of a person crawling up the engine that had to be Grissim.
As he walked forward of the engine rooms, Mark he looked at the torpedo room for a few seconds noticing the vague outlines of the torpedoes and nothing else. Then he looked around the hold as details about all the APC’s that just loaded and all the equipment packed in them and around the hold started jumping out at him again. He was just about to tell Mickey to cut the feed as way to much information when he noticed the outline of two people in the starboard missile room hunched over a missile on one of the work benches. Pieces seemed to be scattered around them. "Godstar almighty. Can these people leave anything alone?"
Mark He kicked himself for not going straight from the port side weapons bays to the starboard side immediately after finding two of the techs ready to tear perfectly good missiles apart just to see how they ticked . Stepping into the missile room he had to stop and study what they were working on and to his shock, what they had done to the sensor torpedo it to . The first thing popping into his head was. "How the hell did you two get the damn sensor torpedo off the rotary launcher amd and traded with the missile that was on the workbench and what the hell do you think you are doing?"
The weapons Chief looked up from the nose of the torpedo and smiled at Mark. "Bad news Commander; we can't get replacement parts for these sensors. The good news is that we don't need replacement parts for these sensors." Holding up a 3 inch round (black as night) ball that looked all to too familiar to Mark. "The sensor package is standard Empire tech though few are left in operation these days with the carrier torpedo built around it not that long ago, some 50 years ago would be my guess. From the Calnixes F f ederation according to the manufacturing stamps on the torpedo itself." Built to official Imperial design specs, it could have been made on a hundred other planets across the Empire but the Calnixes Federation was one of the best .
Only thing was, as far as Mark could see , was that this ball was missing over a quarter of the ball. Mark shook his head sadly. "Well you fucked it up Chief. It is missing a big hunk of the sensor package."
"What you talking about?" the Chief looked the ¾ ball with one side flat, over very carefully. "It is all there Commander."
"No it isn't Chief." Mark pointed at the cut off flat section of the ball. "There should be a hump there. A pedestal like thing."
The Chief looked at Mark and then back at the ball and then back at Mark and starred with his eyes going wide. "How do you know anything about Imperial sensor balls sir?"
"I have one I took from the junk dealer in A-hold last week the other day ." I have been trying to figure it out, but I can't get it apart. I can see the hairline crack (thanks to Mickey), where yours has the missing section but I don't have a clue about taking it off. But then I have not had time to work on it for a few days now. I have some ideas but…"
"You have a complete fucking Imperial Sensor ball?" The Chief demanded.
"Ah ya, I guess. Only thing is I can't seem to access its programming or get it apart. Why? What's the problem and why did you break yours."
The Chief rolled his eyes. "I did not break mine. This is how 99.9 9 % of the ones left in the Galaxy look. They were stored like this when the Empire died with the propulsion section packed separately. For some reason most of the propulsion sections were either not found or destroyed in the apocalypse war. Only one in a hundred or maybe even a thousand of the original sensors still exist and maybe one in a thousand of those had the power pack and you have one. Where is it Commander?"
"Ah, on my work bench up in Tramptown. But like I said I can't seem to access it. I was trying to trace its signal back to its owner."
Pawing through a tool box. He pulled out an old but nice looking case. Opening it up , he pulled out a short cable. "You have to have one of these , ( almost as rare ) , attached to the sensor ball to connect it to the torpedo or missile or base you attach it to program it . The advantage of having one with its propulsion module attached is that it can go anywhere and is utterly undetectable by anything including we know about including another Imperial sensor. You don’t need the fucking torpedo for it sir. It is totally self contained self-contained and wireless once programmed . You couldn’t have detected the signal if you tried. "
"Shit. No wonder I didn’t find anything digging back into the damn housing the thing came in for something to plug into it. But then I did not see any place to plug something into it. But Ok. It sounds like we could use that thing for finding the hostages and the bots." Thinking for a few seconds. "You sure you can make it work?" With the Chief's open mouthed nod, Mark smiled. " Ok then I guess I will go get mine. Thanks Chief." Starting to leave but stopping at the hatch. “Put this one back together now.” Mark left the magazine headed for the ramp of the Shuttle. "Captain Cook." He said to Mickey.
"Yes Commander; is the gun crews on board yet?"
"No sir but I have just found out what and how to use that sensor ball I found in the bomb in A-Hold last week the other day . We can use it to actually fly down into the building to find the hostages. I will be back in a few minutes sir. Out." Mark started jogging down the ramp, onto the ground and toward the ship going through the isle kept open by the marines. With each step his strides started getting longer as his boot soles started acquiring what felt like springs. Each foot would land compressing the sole down onto his boot and then as he pushed off with the next step , pistons along each side of his ankle up his leg, would elongate pushing down on the sole and propelling Mark into a yards long step for his other boot to extend the sole, land and repeat the stride. "What the hell." He was quickly doing 10 foot long strides just jogging at a good 20 miles an hour.
"I told you I added a few things the ship suits don’t have Mark. Though all the marine suits have this feature. The marines just don't know about it yet evidentially. Just be careful or you can tumble easily. You must think ahead and give yourself time to turn or stop."
Mark did not notice the Marines guarding the ramp watching him with wide open eyes. Nor did he see one of them try doing what he was doing and fall flat onto his face after taking only a couple of very long steps.
“You know Mickey this suit is going to scare half the damn ship’s crew to death when they see me running through the passageways.” Smiling as he thought about having some fun. But then deciding he really didn’t want to make some old lady have a heart attack as an icon in the corner of his screen suddenly lit up .
Mark slowed to a fast walk as he started up the Ships personnel ramp and an icon in the corner of his screen suddenly lit up . Several crewmen came out of the hatch with satchels over their shoulders and started down the ramp. He recognized them as the Gun Chief, the turret captains and half a dozen of the senior gun crewmen from the time he had spent training in the turrets as a cadet . The group taking up the entire
6 foot width of the ramp as they talked. Mark slowed down some 15 feet away as he approached wondering why he was not making more noise on the grating as he could hear each of there steps on the crating sounding like heard of cows.
Then when he was about to run them down, Mark turned his attention to the group that did not want to get out of his way as he approached. Coming to a stop, Mark smiled and said; "High. Glad you guys could make it." As the crewman suddenly halted as they stopped talking in mid word, starring down the ramp and then around them without their eyes stopping on looking at Mark and then behind them back up the ramp .
"You will find one of your new gun mounts or SP gravtrucks in each of the new shuttles. You will have to split your men into 3 man teams for each of the 4 trucks Chief. The Command APCC is in the closest second shuttle boat with an artillery gun console for you to coordinate and assign targets to the guns."
The group had jerked around as one as Mark started kept speaking. Their confused expressions as they looked up and down the ramp then behind them again baffled Mark.
Mark shook his head frowning. Surprised looks coming across their faces as they finely focused on him as he took a step closer to them.
"What the hell. What are you wearing? Where did you come from?" Said several of them a s one t onc e as the group stood there, frozen, blocking the 6 foot wide ramp.
"I just came from the shuttle. I need to retrieve something from the ship Chief. Excuse me please." Mark took another step forward raising his arm up to push his way through the crowd standing with shocked looks on their faces. And noticed that he seemed to be able to see through his arm. The image was blurred but the body of the woman he was about to push aside was there blended into his arm as he moved. Stopping , Mark he moved his arm around seeing each of the gun crew through it . Surprised himself. "Mickey; are you doing this? Is this what these guys are seeing?"
"I am not doing that effect Mark. The suit is and yes everyone around you is seeing that shimmering ghost as you move. It is part of the scout suit's stealth mod. Millions of micro geodesic domes cover the suit projecting a different color on each of the faces depending on what the background is for that angle forming a high resolution picture. It is not perfect but it does not need to be perfect from a distance of several yards. To the crew in front of you. You just appeared in front of them and as an indistinct figure, a ghost. And that is on the low stealth setting. You said you did not want to sca re the crew seeing your battles uit. "
"Well turn it off. I was talking about me running. The last thing I need to do right now is bump into people just because they don't see me coming." His arm turned flat black as he looked. Then looked up at the group. "Sorry I did not now I had scout mod on. You guys be sure to get suited up as soon as you get aboard and just use the standard ships crewman’s suit." Mark said to make it quicker for them to suit up and cut any speculation of them getting anything other than the standard crewman’s suit .
T as t he crewmen moved back out of his way now, giving him room to get past. Mark walked up the ramp through the hatch. Saluted the ships colors and then the officer of the deck. Turning he walked the few steps to the elevator and stepped in. A familiar well-built beautiful woman stepped in behind him, looking at him with a smile growing on her face. Mark smiled politely at her as he punched in his deck. Stepped to the back of the elevator and ignored the lady as he tried to peace things together about the sensor ball and how to use it, as well as the new suit ’s stealth a bility .
Chapter 17: Falling without wings
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As the hatch closed and the elevator started up, Mark brought his arms back up to study it trying to see the little bubbles that comprised the stealth surface them and then looked down at the rest of his body.
"Are you mad at me love."
"What?" Letting his arms drop as he turned to the woman. Recognition suddenly dawning on him.
"You have not answered any of my messages talked to me since this morning."
Marks mouth dropped open at a loss as to what to say. Finely he closed his eyes for a second and smiled. "Sorry. I have been off the ship most of the mor n ing and very busy day . I guise I ju st don't know what to say Kay . " His “His eyes went over her beautiful face and body again then looked away embarrassed and to keep from starring. “ I guise I just don't know what to say Kay. ”
"Do you love me Mark?"
Again Mark was shocked. His mind going completely blank for a second then until a thousand thoughts started floating to the surface all at once confusing the issue even farther.
"I love you Mark and I will just die if you don't love me too. But then I know better than that. You have only known me for a few days and with my father and brother trying to kill you. Please forget what I said. I do not need you to love me right now but I hope in time you will come to know and love me as much as I love you bab y e ."
"I… Ok.. Ah.. Well I like you Kay. Now that I know you are not just trying to help your brother kill me. But then I kind of liked you anyway when I was holding you in the shower hoping the water would keep us alive and you are damn hot looking." Mark smiled as his body started to react to the thought.
Suddenly Mark cringed Cringing at calling her , “H h ot ” . O o f all the stupid things to say. Then he remembered that she was damaged goods and would latch onto him as her rescuer without knowing a damn thing about him or him of her... Mark tried to smile His smile disappeared . Damn he hated having a mother that was a damn psychologist treating rape and abuse victims omungst amongst others. Trying to change the subject Mark said the first thing that came to mind. "A, I have been wondering. How did you know that the hot shower would save your life? That the water would dissolve the poison?"
Kay frowned and then smiled at Mark . “Not all the classes I took were worthless. I have a masters in Chemistry and when I saw people start dying in the park. I knew it had to be some kind of poison and I remember my dear old father using cargo hold fumigating canisters to kill a few union workers and others that had displeased him as an example to the rest. I still can’t believe the stupid Master at arms ruled both incidents as it an accident s . Anyway, I knew what poison it had to be and it was simple chemistry. Besides I looked it up on the net just to make sure after I sealed up my cabin and had made a wet cloth mask. Exactly like the ones you and Dian made I found out later. I knew the hot shower water and steam would help keep the mask clean and dilute and break down the gas in the cabin and then I plugged the drain hoping it would lead any rescuers to me and it did.” Taking Mark into her arms and letting the front of her blouse drop open and to her sides exposing her ample bra less breasts for Mark. “You are my Knight in Shining Armor and I will never forget.” She lip locked Mark.
Finally coming up for air. “I just love you is all. You make me feel so safe I never want to leave your side."
Embarrassed. Mark thought of a line from a movie he had once seen. "Ya , I bet you say that to all the guys." Chuckling to himself.
"No! I have never! How…" Taking a step back as her face became hurt covering herself back up and then silence for a few seconds and then. "I have never been with a man that has not rape d me. And the fact that you haven’t makes me love you more. I will only ever say that to you love and only you."
"Sorry Kay. I was just joking OK? … I just…" At a loss for words again.
"That is ok hun . You don't have to love me back. I am sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable. I did not mean or want that. It is stupid for me to feel impatient . Especially after my little talk with your mother this morning. I know you were just doing your job and are just getting over being dumped by Dian. It is just that I am so happy to be with you. I just want you to share in my joy. I don't want you to feel lonely ever again. I don't want to feel lonely and scared ever again. I don't want you to feel lonely ever again. I just want to get as close as I can to you and let you do whatever you want to me." She smiled from ear to ear. “Anything and everything love.”
Mark’s raising lust suddenly fell as Kays words hit home. “She did not want to feel scared again. She needed him for a crutch to protect her. Saying anything to win him over in desperation. While flattering he realized from talks with his mother that such dependence and the love based on that desperation would not last long. She was little better than a kid with a crush. Once that desperation and need to get away from and for protection subsided, Kay would grow into a completely different person.
Thinking about it as she rubbed up against him again placing his hand on her bare breasts as she locked lips with him again. Mark started thinking so what. He could screw her and have some fun for a while and then when she grew and did not need him, she would leave only this time he would be expecting it and not care since they were just friends.
Then Mark inhaled and her breath hit him full in the face as he tasted something a little sour or off. In spite of the minty mouthwash. Trying hard not to wrinkle up his nose as reality hit him. He suddenly remembered his mother telling him that dependence like hers could turn into obsession if she was encouraged and if the target of that obsession tried to break it off or leave later before the person w as ere good and ready, the person could turn violent. His mother had been talking about one of her cases with him long ago as a life lesson but Mark realized that with Kay’s family’s history and her past. She could wind up trying to kill him if she got mad at him like Dian had, only Kay would know how to do it. How to really kill. Mark was getting really tired of people trying to kill him lately.
Pushing her away, Mark started fixing up her blouse across her breasts. “Aaa, I have to go to work Kay. I have to go rescue… Aaa unplug an AI on the other side of the planet. I need to go. The Captain is waiting for me love….” Shit he had not meant to use that word. He was screwed.
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