by Max Dane
She nodded, “Mr. Hale, are you ready for a walk?”
“Yes, Commander, I’m collecting my tools now.”
“Very good, I’ll come with you,” she said rising from her seat.
“No Sir, Commander. The protocol says the highest-ranking officer stays on board to coordinate from the ship. Besides, I don’t need help, at least not yet. After I’ve located and prepped the children, Amador will escort them into the shuttle.”
She glanced at Amador next to her; he was nodding, “Hale is right, Commander. It’s a good plan.”
Disappointed, she eased back down, “Very well, gentlemen, let’s do this.”
Moments later, Hale was outside the airlock and jetting quickly across to the Trumpeting Horse. In front, he pushed a cart with tools, a separate power supply, and additional environmental suits for the children. Covering the distance quickly, he reached the ship’s hull and deftly attached a magnetic grapple.
“So far, Commander, this is by the numbers. I’ve reached the target, and now I will try to locate the kids.”
Back in the shuttle, Amador had shifted to the navigation station to monitor the sensors, and Micha had overlaid the position of the only remaining power source, against the big hull. “Mr. Hale, it looks like the only active power is in the top, front of the ship. I would suggest starting there.”
“Check, Commander, I’m on my way.”
Hale left the cart attached to the hull, and with a quick burst from his suit thrusters, scaled the side, on his way to the top. Along the way, he paused occasionally to peer inside each window he passed. He was hoping for signs of the children, but all of them were dark.
Tense moments passed while he continued up the side, but finally he crested the edge, “I’m at the top.”
Windows were everywhere, but still no lights or signs of life. “This ship is dark; I don’t see any lights indicating power, Commander. But they might be in some interior space.”
Then, just over another steel ridge, he found a blinking running light. “Wait, I think I see something.” Carefully he rose from the base of a tower where the tiny light was blinking, and up the side. Above, he could see a long narrow window that was lit from the inside. “I found something, a lit room; I’m heading there now.”
Micha was holding her breath when suddenly he said, “I found them, Commander; I can see them. Hold on, let me see if I can get their attention.”
He floated outside the window, looking in. Tapping lightly on the glass, he watched as they moved towards the window. Abruptly a girl, very small, screamed and jumped back. He held his hands up and tried to motion to her. “They are frightened. I think I scared them. I’m going to lift my sun visor.”
He checked the position of the sun and deactivated his protective visor. Getting as close as he could, he tried to smile the biggest smile he could muster. Slowly they crept back to the window. “I’m smiling and giving them the ‘OK’ sign, now.”
Quickly the kids lined up by the window, waving and jumping.
“It’s okay now; they’re fine. It looks like eight or ten, maybe more. And they seem to be held up in the ship’s command center. I see five stations and a command chair. The room looks like it’s on reserve power, Commander. The lights are dim. I bet it’s getting cold in there. I’m going to try to have them seal the room.”
From a pouch at his belt, he pulled out a grease pencil and wrote on the window, ‘SEAL THE ROOM’. They saw him writing, but didn’t seem to understand.
“It’s backwards for them. They’re not quite getting it; I'll try again.”
He wrote it again, more slowly, turning the ‘E’ and the ‘L’ the other way. Suddenly one of them, a small boy, ran to the message and held his thumb up.
He laughed and waved at the boy, “They get it; I think they understand. I’m going back down now.” He waved once more and activated his visor again.
Moving carefully, he descended back to the bottom.
“Mr. Hale, you’re doing very well,” said Micha, “how’s your air holding out?”
“Still way in the green,” he responded, “No problem there, Commander. I’ve almost reached the entry point again, and will begin cutting my way through shortly.”
Dropping to his cart, he activated the magnetic couplers in his boots and took a firm position on the exterior. From there he pulled out his cutting torch and attached the power supply. “I’m in position and will begin cutting now.”
The laser from the torch sliced cleanly through the hull.
“The hull is definitely fatigued. I’m cutting the entry more quickly than anticipated. I’m firmly attached to the hull and expect to see signs of decompression any second now.”
As he worked his way around the hole, he could already see signs of dust and air leaking through his cuts. Taking a step back, he said, “Here we go.” Then he took a deep breath and made the final incision. When his cuts met, the hull fragment blew straight up in a cloudburst of gas and debris. Among the pieces that flew out, he saw a jump suit and some shoes. He deactivated the laser cutter, “I’m through.”
He waited until the last escaping gasses fizzled out.
From the shuttle cockpit, Micha and Amador could see the cloud of debris blow free from the hole he made. She said, “Well done, Mr. Hale, that was a nice cut.”
“I think we might be in luck; the area behind my cut looks like it’s sealed. The amount of air that escaped was relatively small, maybe even a single room. I’m locking down my gear and will enter in just a moment.”
He disconnected the cart from the grapple and pushed it inside the hole. Following it in, he turned on his helmet lights and carefully made his way inside. “It looks like I’ve cut through to a mechanical space; I see plasma conduits, but they look cold. I doubt the engines have been active in a while. I’m going to seal the hole and pressurize the room, now.”
From the cart, he pulled out a polymer shield and stretched it over the hole. Then he found the tube of resin and squeezed out a bead, smearing it around the edge. Instantly the perimeter of the shield bubbled and melted to the hull, sealing the hole. Finally, he pulled a canister of oxygen out and opened it up. “The hole is sealed, and I’m pressurizing the room again. It won’t last forever, but I should be able to open the cabin door without causing harm to the rest of the ship. After I get the kids in the extra suits, we’ll just cut our way out from their room.”
He watched his gauge while pressurized oxygen rushed to fill the room, “Okay, I’m ready. The pressure isn’t perfect, but it’s close enough. I’m going to open the door.”
Slowly, he cracked the door open, and air whistled in. Opening it all the way, he could see a long dark corridor ahead. “So far, so good. There’s no artificial gravity, so I’m going to have to use the magnets in my boots. That’ll slow me down.” He activated the couplers in his boots and took a few tentative steps, “I’m moving along now; I need to find a way up, through to the tower topside.”
Micha turned to talk to Amador, “Why doesn’t he just float along?”
“When there’s no gravity inside, everything tends to float. If you get tangled up in power cables or plasma conduits, you might not get back out, not to mention that it helps maintain your perspective regarding which way is up. It’s very easy to get disoriented in there.”
On the Athena, Finn and Julian were listening to the exchange between the shuttle and Mr. Hale. “Finn,” said Julian sounding alarmed, “I’m seeing some vibration in different parts of the flotilla.”
“Is it coming from around the rescue area?”
“No, it’s not localized like that. I can detect shearing stress occurring around points everywhere. The harvesters are hollowing it all out. Right now that whole structure is like a house of cards.”
Finn turned to Lieutenant Banton, “I want to talk to the shuttle and Mr. Hale, but not the communicator where the children are; they don’t need to hear this.”
She nodded, “Yes, sir,” and quickly
opened the channel.
“Attention Commander, we are noticing an increase in shearing stress around the entire flotilla. Our best guess is that the whole thing has been hollowed out by the harvesters. It won’t take much for it to collapse, just like the buildings at Madras.”
“I understand, Captain,” said Micha.
“Check, I heard that as well,” said Mr. Hale.
In the Trumpeting Horse, Hale rounded a corner and stepped hard as his foot went right through the floor. “Ouch, I caught myself, barely. The harvesters have consumed the main corridor going forward. I just stepped right through the floor.” He shined his light to the left and right, “Man, it’s dark in here. I’m going to have to go another way.”
He walked past the juncture and down the corridor, slowly feeling his way along. “I’ve found an elevator. There’s no power, but I might be able to pry the doors open.”
He pulled the cutting torch out from the cart behind him and wedged its long handle in the seam between the doors. Bracing himself, he began to pull, but the torch pushed easily right through the elevator doors. He found himself flying backward against the corridor wall. Lying there, he caught his breath, “The doors have been hollowed out; the harvesters are here. I took a spill, but I’m okay.”
He got up and walked back to the elevator doors. Using his hands, he pushed the sandy doors to the floor. He deactivated his boot magnets and floated into the long shaft. Using his lights he looked up, “I’m in the shaft, and I can see a long way up there. I think this is going to be my best bet for getting topside.”
Micha said, “Mr. Hale, what if you come to the elevator and can’t get out?”
“Either I’ll cut my way out, or if it’s been consumed already, I’ll just push my way through.”
She was shaking her head, “Mr. Hale, remind me to buy you a drink when we get back.”
“I’ll do that, Commander. Is Amador there?”
“Yes, I’m here.”
“Be ready. I think this may take me right to them. When I get there, I’m going to be moving fast.”
“Check, I’ll be outside the window waiting for you.”
“Okay, here I go.”
Hale grabbed the cart and began pushing himself upwards. The ship was a freighter of some kind, and this looked to be one of the main access shafts. It was long, very long. Pushing himself gently along, he rose floor by floor towards the top. For just a moment his light flickered, and he felt the hard adrenaline rush of fear.
Long minutes passed back on the Athena and the shuttle. Both groups listened in utter silence as Hale continued to ascend. His breathing was louder now, quick, then slow.
“Mr. Hale, are you okay,” said Micha.
“Y-Yes, I’m fine. I’m still rising. Had a bit of a scare back there with my light. But, I’m fine, I- ”
“Mr. Hale?”
“Check, Commander, I’m here. I’ve come to the top; I hit my head. The elevator is here; and, sure enough, it’s blocking the way out.” He pushed against the bottom, but the surface held firm. “I’m going to have to cut my way through, hold on.”
Hale retrieved the cutting torch and took aim at the bottom of the elevator. Moving as quickly as he could, he cut a circle, large enough to push himself and the cart through. After putting his tools back, he braced against the wall with his feet and pushed the hole all the way through. “It worked; I’m entering the elevator through the floor.” He laughed over the transmission, “Good news, people, the buttons are lit; the elevator has power. It means I must be very close to the power source by the children. Amador, you better start heading over there.”
“Check, I’m on it, Hale.” Amador nodded at Micha and walked to the airlock.
Hale hit the ‘Door Open’ button, and the elevator doors slid gracefully back to reveal a short corridor, with a sign reading, ‘Pilot’, ‘Navigation’, and ‘Command’. “I’m here, and I can see a sign reading ‘Command’. I’m almost to the kids now.” As he floated out, the cart floated erratically behind him, bumping against the buttons just inside the elevator. Noticing the doors were closing, he yanked the cart through after him. He could hear the elevator descend; it sounded like it was moving fast.
“Finn, something has happened; the vibrational noise I’ve been detecting is increasing across the whole mass, exponentially. Captain, it’s coming apart!”
“Mr. Keating, pull us back to a safe distance,” shouted Finn. “Micha, get out of there!”
On the Trumpeting Horse, the descending elevator accelerated out of control in the gravity-free environment, shattering fatigued safety locks and rocketing onward to the bottom. As it reached the cannibalized structure of the harvesters, the elevator car tumbled, tearing easily through the shaft and hull, to explode out the bottom of the ship, and into the adjacent vessel like a missile.
Micha looked back to see Amador just stepping out of the airlock, “Amador, get back in here, now!”
The sharp blow from the elevator car nudged the vessel below out of position, causing makeshift corridors and flimsy connections to flex and splinter apart. Debris began to fly in all directions. Then as the ship below the Trumpeting Horse was pushed away, it fell against another hull, pushing it as well. The catastrophic domino-like effect rippled out in all directions, and the mad colossus of ships fell apart with a great tearing and rending. Vessels that had been consumed by the harvesters collapsed and tore apart at unnatural angles. Micha watched in horror and disbelief as the Trumpeting Horse tore like paper from the bottom up. Amador came running up from behind, leaping into the seat next to her.
In front of them, the top of the command tower broke loose from the fatigued superstructure. Slowly, it began to turn end over end. She recognized it as the place where the children were. ‘They must be terrified,’ she thought.
“Commander, let’s go get that,” he said loudly, pointing to the rotating command structure.
“What are you talking about?”
“Quickly, Commander, that room where the kids are, the command center, we can fit the whole thing into the cargo bay; but we have to move now!”
“Do it.”
He opened the cargo bay and activated the huge robotic arm used to pick up and move the shuttle’s cargo and equipment. Micha pulled the shuttle forward amidst the chaos of destruction. Debris and clutter filled the sky, sometimes obscuring their view completely, other times bumping into them only to be pushed back.
“Get me closer, Commander, hurry!”
She pushed forward again, realizing the danger they were in, closer and closer until she could almost see inside the window of the command center. Suddenly a random fragment flew into their cockpit canopy, and with a loud crash, sent cracks weaving across the glass directly in front of her. Amador wrestled with the gyros in the mechanical arm, but finally slowed the motion of the structure. He began to pull it back, “It’s working Commander, I’ve almost got it.” She counted the seconds, not sure if the room was still pressurized. “Hurry Amador, hurry.”
He slapped the console, “We’ve got it!” Glancing at her, he grinned, “I’m closing the bay now.”
Micha revved the engines, looking for a way out of the maelstrom.
“Bay closed, pressurizing now,” he said.
Suddenly they heard a familiar voice, “Commander Alwin, I’m here, I’m here!”
“Mr. Hale? You’re alive!”
“That’s affirmative; I’m approaching your nine, right now.” She squeezed against the canopy glass and could just make out his suit thrusters, flaring amid all the debris.
Amador jumped out of his seat and grabbed a medical kit, “I’m headed back to see if they need help.”
Over the comm, Hale said, “I should be in reach of the airlock in three, two, one.” They heard a loud thump as he collided with the ship. “Ouch! Give me just a second, Commander.” She powered up the thrusters. “Okay, I’m inside. Get us out of here, Commander.”
Micha said, “Hold on, everyone,
this is going to be tight.”
From the Athena, Finn watched in disbelief as the shuttle grabbed an entire room from the exploding debris, and then made its way to safety. Soon they were streaking round the back, to arrive, battered but intact, behind the Athena. “Captain, we made it.”
“And the children, Commander?”
“Amador reports that they are a little beat up, but alive. Twelve of them, Captain, we saved twelve.”
Finn fell into his chair and let out a huge sigh of relief. “Well done, Commander, and my congratulations to the bravest men I know, Mr. Hale and Mr. Amador. Well done, gentlemen, very well done.”
Micha disengaged the engines and jumped out of her seat. Hale, still wearing his suit, came walking out of the airlock. She ran up and hugged him.
“Come on, let’s see them.”
She walked into the cargo bay to see the broken piece of the command tower sitting slightly askew, inside. Running forward, she found the hole Amador had left and stepped through. The room was still intact, and children, ranging from four or five to others in their teens, sat along the floor between the consoles. They looked scared and bruised, but they seemed alert. Amador was putting a splint on a very young boy, and smiling broadly, from ear to ear. “What do you think, Commander; was it worth it?”
She looked around the room, tears welling up, and found she couldn’t speak; silently she nodded.
Just then Hale walked up behind her, still wearing his helmet and suit. Several of the boys and girls got up and ran to him, hugging his legs and waist. “Thank you, Mr. Astronaut, you saved us!”
Later that afternoon, Finn visited the medical bay to see the children and the crew of the rescue mission. They had come through the sterilization module, as Julian had requested. The children had a few sprains and showed signs of malnutrition and shock, but they were already coming around. Some of them had left their beds to play with the med-staff. He walked up to Micha and her team. Quickly they stood at attention.