Version Innocent

by Pete Molina

Chapter 56

  The hole that the explosion opened on the surface was gaping, and satisfying. Finally he was going to get some action. Dawson was perched on the edge of his restraint chair as the launch slowly began to thrust towards the opening. They could see the shaft extend for at least a hundred meters in to blackness. The launch’s radar wasn’t giving them a clear reading either because much of the signal wasn’t returning. It couldn’t be much deeper than it appeared, but there was no way to know except to go in. The Marines were still attached to the skin of the launch, so Bowman was maneuvering slowly to ensure they didn’t scrape one up against the walls of the shaft.

  Once they were aligned correctly, the launch accelerated a little and Bowman activated the forward lights so he would be able to see any obstacles.

  “Hold tight, Lt. Madison. We’re going in.”

  “Affirmative,” came her short reply.

  The launch continued until the light disappeared off the walls of the tube and they entered the huge cavern.

  “Slowing,” Bowman said as the launch slowed and hovered in the center of the space just below the entrance tube.

  “Marines, make sure we’re alone here, and try to figure out where we go now,” Dawson directed.

  Dawson could see Lt. Madison’s perspective through a window he had open in his displays. She was dropping, or thrusting rapidly to the surface that was above the bow of the launch. After several seconds Madison came over the com link.

  “There’s simulated gravity here,” she said as the Marines dropped quickly to the surface with a slight thud.

  In the Madison perspective window he could see her trying to move any direction, but she had become stuck in the fog that was obviously going to hold them firm from moving…another self defense mechanism. “We’re stuck here. Use your EMP guns,” she ordered her troops. “And watch your fire,” she added to make sure none of them accidentally fried their comrades. A second later she was moving.

  “The EMP weapons are effective against the fog. We’re working our way towards that wall,” she said, pointing. “Do us a favor and fire an EMP charge in that direction, please.”

  Bowman fiddled with some controls and a charge flew towards the wall Madison had indicated. “It’s detonated,” he reported.

  “Good, we’re having an easier time now. That must have been the direction the commands were coming from. You can set down now.”

  Bowman punched at a few more controls, and the launch flipped over and thrusted gently towards the surface. “There are a few other ships here, but none of them look active,” he commented as they set down.

  “They’re not important right now.” Dawson was paying attention to the Marine’s progress. “Let’s get after them. I don’t want to miss anything.”

  They both took the lift column down to the cargo hold and, after activating their space suit helmets, opened the airlock.

  Bowman began to drift outward from the hatch. “The simulated G is gone. We need the maneuvering packs. Grab them, Dawson. They’re right next to the door.”

  Dawson looked around near the door and saw the backpack like objects attached to the wall. He grabbed one and tossed it to Bowman who quickly strapped it on.

  Seconds later Bowman was maneuvering back to the hatch. “Thanks.”

  Dawson slipped on the pack and had his companion interface with it through the space suit so he could control it. Displays popped up showing his amount of propellant and power. He took a small thrust forward out the hatch. “Let’s go.”

  Bowman didn’t comment but turned and began to thrust after the Marines. In his displays Dawson could still see from Madison’s perspective. The Marines had made it to the wall and were examining a very black opening.

  “What is it?” Dawson asked the Marine.

  “Some kind of fog barrier, probably an airlock, but we’re not taking chances after what happened. I’m having an EMP charge set on it to knock it out,” Madison replied.

  Bowman and Dawson continued to thrust towards them. There was a brief burst of light as the charge detonated and there was a woosh from the now open airlock as some of the atmosphere came rapidly exiting into the cavern.

  The Marines fired several shots from their guns to clear any fog in front of them and then proceeded through the opening. Dawson and Bowman made sure to stay well behind them as they had no shielding against any kind of EMP, which would cause their space suits to stop functioning.

  Firing occasionally, the Marines made their way down to the next black barrier, which they dispatched just as easily. This time there was a rushing that lasted a full minute as large amounts of air evacuated from the pressurized section beyond. Dawson and Bowman had to grab onto one of the handles on the wall to keep from being swept back out into the cavern. Once again the Marines proceeded.

  They continued to follow the largest of the corridors because the sensors indicated it had recently been used by someone. It took them five more minutes to reach the big door. The Marines were studying the door intently when Dawson and Bowman came up behind them.

  “Well?” Dawson asked.

  “We’re not sure. It’s definitely some kind of fog system, but our sensors say that it’s much more robust than the last, much more solid. I’m in favor of blasting it.” Madison, motioned for them to step back around the corner.

  “We don’t want to depressurize this section,” Dawson said. “I’m sure this is our destination, and I’d rather not kill Storm before we have him captured.

  “Right,” Madison agreed. Then she turned to Corporal Halewell, the systems specialist. “Can you break into the system and hack the door?”

  “Sure,” Halewell replied confidently. “In my sleep.”