Radio Silence - Edited 11-9-2018

The rest of the fire team came through shortly after, followed by the assault craft. Having arrested our momentum, we prepared ourselves to start cycling through the hatches. The Assault ship had taken up residence in the hangar, nose pointed outward into space, and the point defense cannons ready to be used as anti-personnel measures.

“Janssens, on the door.” I checked with the sensors in my helmet, and we were not pressurized. I would have to enable the EM field for the exterior opening.

Observer, can you help with any translations that need to be done in real time?

That is an acceptable request

I started to scan the room until I found what passed for a terminal on this ship. I pushed myself off the bulkhead and slowly floated, gripping it to stop my momentum. It took less than a minute to find the commands to engage the external EM seal as well as start pressurizing the compartment. Forty seconds later, Janssens was ready to pop the hatch.

“Hold one,” Lebowski called out. From one of the compartments on his armor, he pulled a length of Therma-cord and placed some around the entire hatch. The Therma-cord was a self-oxidizing welding tool. With the way, Lebowski applied it if he hit the detonator it would melt the hatch open forcing a breach. This was an old tactic used for boarding during the Terran-Martian conflicts from the last century.

“Breach in 3…2…1…” Janssens turned the manual release on the hatch, allowing it to swing open freely.

“Careful walking though. It is roughly 1.3G, so your suits will be heavy and provide some lag while moving. It is also going to hurt while you get used to moving.” I was not looking forward to this again. “Also, weapons range will be affected. Adjust sights to aim high. For the Light Bringer and Hades, you shouldn’t notice anything different.”

We exited the compartment and depressurized it again. We then started jogging through the hallways, my helmet running full scans the entire time as we started making our way to the compartment Observer had highlighted for me.

We had made our way about a fourth of the way to our waypoint when I realized there were zero contacts anywhere.

“Hold one. I need to find a terminal. Something isn’t right.” I was going to have to remember to bring a few crates of M1k33s next time we made a run to recapture an Ark. Observer added a waypoint outside of what was reading as a Comms compartment for me.

“Let’s clear this compartment before continuing. I want to see if I can shut down the comms then we can head to a reactor and do the same, and possibly draw any defenders to us. Then we don’t have to worry about any defenders between here and our objective.”

We popped the hatch and went in ready to fire, but the compartment was empty. I then ran through and disconnected power couplings to disable the comms systems. Internal and External, primary and secondary.

“This is too easy; I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop,” Wilhelm announced, inevitably jinxing us.

“Walsh, this is Jax, do you read?” I was met with silence. I tried again, still nothing. After two more times, I gave up.

“We’re probably out of range Lots of metal to scatter the signal.” Goldstein supplied. I didn’t like it, but I couldn’t help but agree for now. The M1K33s were definitely required kit from now on.

Observer, is there any way for me to patch into the internal ship sensors so I can see where every alien on board is?

:Time-consuming, but possible. Engineering.:

A new waypoint showed up on my HUD. There would be some backtracking, but not much.

“Okay, next stop is Engineering.” I gathered the team, and we exited the compartment. “Seal the hatch,” I ordered. Lebowski got to work. Unfortunately, the heat from welding the hatch closed then set off the internal fire sensors.

“Thanks for jinxing us.” Janssens clapped Wilhelm on the back. We all readied our weapons and started to head towards Engineering. At the second intersection, the first wave of bugs hit. The Light Bringer worked well with the railgun dialed down to 0.01c/ Each round could go through a dozen targets in a row. The lasers were also pulsing quickly. My battle rifle was punching through targets ahead of us as well. As we approached the next intersection, the bugs were approaching from all directions.

Even without comms, they were able to locate us and communicate an attack plan. I started to scan all frequencies hoping to find something, anything that I could use to “jam” their communications.

Neith, can you detect anything as to how they are communicating?

-Surprisingly, yes. There is a small wire, thread or similar connecting them all. It is possible that it is similar to spider silk. I do not know if that is how but watching in your sensors, I have been able to see this happen.-

Well, shit. Not something that I can jam.

“Grenade out!” I shouted, tossing an EMP grenade. Then I noticed I had grabbed one of the phosphorescent napalm grenades. Oops. The read of us exploded into a massive fire. A jelly-like substance having splattered the entire corridor, including up the walls a part of the way, then it ignited into a fireball that would not extinguish.

“Rear is safe!” I called out seeing the bugs instantly cooking themselves as they tried to charge through. Then the bulkheads started to buckle, and the deck started sagging. I checked to ensure that there was no equipment in the decks below that if hit with the napalm, would cause a chain reaction.

The lights in the corridor started to flicker. Not that you could tell much due to the white flames coming from our rear, but I think I accidentally severed some power conduits with that. Go me. At least it would prevent any reinforcements coming from behind us for a bit. I switched my scanning for motion based and eliminated my team from being hit by my sensors.

Janssens, Goldstein, and Lebowski were each concentrating on one each of the connecting hallways. The sensor readout that was connected to my mini-map was continually being updated with Bugs that were dying moving along the corridor as they were rolling to a stop, their legs or body shot out from under them.

“I’m clear!” Lebowski shouted as the biomass in his corridor stopped moving towards us. He then joined in helping clear Janssens hallway. Goldstein and Wilhelm were concentrating on one passageway, the lasers being fired at such a steady rate that they were almost visible to the naked eye. Wachowski and Janssens were on the other, swapping between lasers and railgun rounds.

Soon the team started to call out that they were low on ammo. And the bugs were still coming.

“This way!” I shouted, leading the team through the carnage Lebowski had cleared. We were going to need to get to Engineering so I could rig up a charger for the Hades systems. The run was slow going, but because I dropped another of my napalm specials at the corridor intersection. Nothing was coming our way.

We arrived at the Engineering compartment and made our way inside. This time there was some resistance, two of the giant creatures. I still had a few AP rounds, so it was up to me to take them out. Fortunately, they were just as slow out of the game as in the game. We were able to get a charger rigged up for our magazines as well as for the backpacks. I also took a few minutes to carefully scan everything and store it with Neith.

Okay, show me how to configure the ship sensors so that everything will show up on my scanners.

Observer walked me through the uplink. I then started to get messages from the rest of Observers people. Observer handled most of the discussion while I was fixing the uplink.

:THANK YOU FOR COMING FOR US. THERE IS NOISE. MUCH NOISE. UNKNOWN CAUSE:

We are taking the ship so that you can recover it.

:WE MUST ESCAPE. THE SHIP WILL NOT LAST. EXODUS:

How many intelligences?

:EIGHT SURVIVE:

We can recover.

ARE THEY COMPATIBLE?

:I have recovered more than I had calculated possible.:

:Can we save more?:

:ONE ADDITIONAL SHIP NEEDS TO BE RECOVERED:

That will be difficult. Once we have left they will be able to detect us

etection does not seem to have happened yet:

:WHAT DO YOU MEAN?:

:The new hosts have an electromagnetic field that masks the signature:

They have biological shields?

:Negative, it is part of their biology, yes, but it is the way their brains process data.:

:INTRIGUING:

:The gambit appears to be successful. We may yet survive our genocide.:

I finished configuring the sensors and found a clear-ish path to our target. I then mapped a way back to our hangar.

Observer, is there a way to set the reactor core to go critical at a specific time, and if we do, will it also cause a catastrophic explosion? I am not familiar with this energy generator.

:No, it will not cause a critical failure. For that, you will need to manage an overload at the engines.:

I mapped a route to the main engine room. This would take some time.

Do your people need atmosphere to survive?

:They can survive for a few hours if they seal the compartment.:

And it is sealed, now, right?

:Yes.:

Then let’s blow the hangar.

“Lebowski! Blow the hangar door.”

He did so before verifying that it was what I wanted. I love a Marine with a detonator.

“Brace yourselves!” The suction was almost immediate. I ended up being slammed against a bulkhead before I was able to secure myself. The grapple in my arm did its work as planned. Once the suction was done, I found a terminal that killed the gravity through the ship. I then locked out the systems and dropped an EMP grenade in the room, completely shutting down the ship controls.

“Let’s move!” I led the team through the corridors and compartments to where Observers people were. We were intercepted another two times, but with the loss of gravity, we had the advantage. Surprisingly, the bugs couldn't control themselves. I wonder what the difference is between these and the ones on the Ark.

“Ma’am, why are they just floating there?” Janssens was the first to ask.

“No clue. I am wondering if it’s a training thing or if it’s an equipment thing. I didn’t get a good look at the ones on the Ark.”

Observer, have them open up, we’re here.

The hatch to the compartment opened up for me. We swept into an empty room.

“Where are they?” Lebowski asked. Everyone seemed to have that same question.

I sealed the hatch, then popped one of the air canisters I had brought.

“Everyone pop a canister!” I ordered

“Ma’am?”

“You heard me. I think I know what is going on. Pop a canister.”

With five air canisters opened, there was enough air for us to not have to have our helmets off, for a few minutes at least. I removed my helmet.

“Helmets off.” I then pulled myself down and did my best to sit on the deck.

They slowly followed my lead. Then I saw some shadows appear from the deck. A small spike from two hit each in their Neural ports. I felt a connection in my own. The team all flickered from my sight before they flickered back into view.

Is that all of them?

Yes.

“Button up, time to leave!”

“Where’s our objective? Ma’am, did we come all this way for nothing?”

“No, we picked them up. If I remember correctly we just phased. Come on. We need to go blow up the engines now.”

The hallways were entirely clear on our way through to the engine room.

Phase us back, Observer. We need to blow this, and I don’t want to lose another limb in the process.”

My team flickered at the same time; then I was standing alone in the corridor.

Any reason why it’s just me?

The rest are still adjusting.

Let them know not to move.

I popped the hatch and had to take out a giant. These damn things were massive. Unlike the bugs, it looked like it knew how to handle the Zero-G. I discharged my CO2 to launch myself into the compartment and started to hotwire everything. Halfway through I was joined by Janssens.

“Jax? What the hell is happening?”

“Well, we picked up the captured aliens, they loaded themselves up as part of our Neurals. A small side effect, they phase us to an alternate energy plane so that we can integrate, I think. Being in a different reality seems to strengthen them, so I think it is similar to being able to eat and breathe. I’m not positive on that though.”

You are not wrong

“From what I can tell, they can phase us at will. You only had one jump on board, I had one as well, but I already had Observer, so the transition for me was a lot easier this time. When it first happened, I couldn’t interact with comms to anyone alive, and Rasputin couldn’t detect me, though he could hear me on comms. I know that not all equipment is in their world and ours. That’s how I lost my arm and leg. I phased in inside of some gear and a person.”

“It’s like a battery. It only recharges when plugged in properly. That means that it needs to be in that phased reality to recharge. I don’t think that they can successfully make the transition without a host. Symbiotic, not parasitic. I expected a physical being, but when they weren’t, I remembered the video that the captain had shown me of the initial explosion. That there was a spike that went straight into my Neural port. I took a gamble, and it appears I was right. Now we have to blow this Escort and see about rescuing the rest on the other escort. Lots of ammo will be needed, though.”

A few moments later, the rest of the team entered the compartment.

“I’m hearing voices, Danni. What the hell happened?” Wilhelm asked. Janssens filled in the rest of the team while I finished up. As we were leaving the engine room, a thought came to me.

“Shit. They’re the kids.”

“What’s that?”

“The bugs that we were fighting earlier. They were the kids.”

“What do you mean.”

“I mean that the bugs we were fighting earlier. They hadn’t learned how to navigate in zero-G. Did you see any quills being launched? Those two things should have happened. These were the kids of the ones that are on the hull of the Ark out there.”

“That… Shit, did we just slaughter a daycare?”

“Back to the Assault Craft.”

My heart was heavy now having put two and two together. We would be blowing up the ship soon, how many more children would I be killing.

Think of them like your hogs. They all try to eat what is in their way. They are all dangerous. However, they get truly dangerous when they have grown.

Thanks, I guess? I know you’re trying to distract me, but I’m going to need to take some to help with processing this. Do you have a count for the survivors on the other Escort?

There has been no answer from me trying to communicate. We are well within range.

I didn’t hear from Observer for a while after that.

This time I remembered to send the ID pulse before entering the compartment.

The ship wasn’t there. Not it was blown up. I mean there were no signs of it, anywhere.

“Walsh? Where are you at?”

“LZ got a little hot. Was pushed out by a pressure breach and haven’t been able to get a clear entrance again.”

“Okay, we’re coming to you, then. Please catch us soon.” I took a deep breath. “Okay, assisted jump out. Let’s all link up, so there’s only one package for pick up.”

We tethered to each other, then started to connect up to the bulkhead directly across from bay opening. I launched my grapple and caught the edge, then pushed off and started to retract as quickly as possible. We were successful in launching out of the hangar. The moment we were a few meters away from the exit I detached the grapple and reeled in the remainder.

“Please, please, please, please… puhleeeeeese.” I was chanting that we would have enough room before the meltdown started.

I faced the Escort we had just vacated while sending a steady ID pulse so that Walsh could find us. Scanning the ship, I noticed several of the turret drones were moving around. I took aim and used the last of my ammo. The small bonus was the additional speed we gained. Walsh was another minute out.

“Break radio silence. Let the assault teams know that we need to get the Ark powered up and moving away from that Escort; she’ll blow in about ten more minutes.” I sent that to Walsh, my fire team, and everyone near enough to pick it up.

Radio Silence - Original

The rest of the fire team came through shortly after, followed by the assault craft. Having arrested our momentum, we prepared ourselves to start cycling though the hatches. The Assault ship had taken up residence in the hangar, nose pointed outward into space, and the point defense cannons ready to be used as anti-personnel measures.

“Janssens, on the door.” I checked with the sensors in my helmet and we were not pressurized. I would have to enable the EM field for the exterior opening.

Observer, can you help with any translations that need to be done in real time?

That is an acceptable request

I started to scan the room until I found what passed for a terminal on this ship. I pushed myself off the bulkhead and slowly floated, gripping it to stop my momentum. It took less than a minute to find the commands to engage the external EM seal as well as start pressurizing the compartment. Forty seconds later, Janssens was ready to pop the hatch.

“Hold one.” Lebowski called out. From one of the compartments on his armor, he pulled a length of Therma-cord, and placed some around the entire hatch. The Therma-cord was a self-oxidizing welding tool. With the way Lebowski applied it, if he hit the detonator it would melt the hatch open forcing a breach. This was an old tactic used for boarding during the Terran-Martian conflicts from last century.

“Breach in 3…2…1…” Janssens turned the manual release on the hatch, allowing it to swing open freely.

“Careful walking though. It is roughly 1.3G, so your suits will be heavy and provide some lag while moving. It is also going to hurt while you get used to moving.” I was not looking forward to this again. “Also, weapons range will be affected. Adjust sights to aim high. For the Light Bringer and Hades, you shouldn’t notice anything different.”

We exited the compartment and depressurized it again. We then started jogging though the hallways, my helmet running full scans the entire time as we started making our way to the compartment Observer had highlighted for me.

We had made our way about a fourth of the way to our waypoint when I realized there were zero contacts anywhere.

“Hold one. I need to find a terminal. Something isn’t right.” I was going to have to remember to bring a few crates of M1k33s next time we made a run to recapture an Ark. Observer added a waypoint outside of what was reading as an Comms compartment for me.

“Let’s clear this compartment before continuing. I want to see if I can shut down the comms then we can head to a reactor and do the same, and possibly draw any defenders to us. Then we don’t have to worry about any defenders between here and our objective.”

We popped the hatch and went in ready to fire, but the compartment was empty. I then ran through and disconnected power couplings to disable the comms systems. Internal and External, primary and secondary.

“This is too easy, I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.” Wilhelm announced, inevitably jinxing us.

“Walsh, this is Jax, do you read?” I was met with silence. I tried again, still nothing. After two more times, I gave up.

“We’re probably out of range Lots of metal to scatter the signal.” Goldstein supplied. I didn’t like it, but I couldn’t help but agree for now. The M1K33s were definitely required kit from now on.

Observer, any way for me to patch in to the internal ship sensors so I can see where every alien on board is?

Time consuming, but possible. Engineering.

A new waypoint showed up on my HUD. There would be some back tracking, but not much.

“Okay, next stop is Engineering.” I gathered the team and we exited the compartment. “Seal the hatch.” I ordered. Lebowski got to work. Unfortunately, the heat from welding the hatch closed then set off the internal fire sensors.

“Thanks for jinxing us.” Janssens clapped Wilhelm on the back. We all readied our weapons and started to head towards Engineering. At the second intersection, the first wave of bugs hit. The Light Bringer worked well with the rail gun dialed down to 0.01c/ Each round could go through a dozen targets in a row. The lasers were also pulsing quickly. My battle rifle was punching through targets ahead of us as well. As we approached the next intersection the bugs were approaching from all directions.

Even without comms they were able to locate us and communicate an attack plan. I started to scan all frequencies hoping to find something, anything that I could use to “jam” their communications.

Neith, can you detect anything as to how they are communicating?

Surprisingly, yes. They are all connected by a small wire, or thread. Possibly similar to a spider silk. I do not know if that is how, but watching in your sensors I have been able to see this happen.

Well, shit. Not something that I can jam.

“Grenade out!” I shouted, tossing an EMP grenade. Then I noticed I had grabbed one of the phosphorescent napalm grenades. Oops. The read of us exploded into a massive fire. A jelly like substance having splattered the entire corridor, including up the walls a part of the way, then it ignited into a fireball that would not extinguish.

“Rear is safe!” I called out seeing the bugs instantly cooking themselves as they tried to charge through. Then the bulkheads started to buckle and the deck started sagging. I checked to ensure that there was no equipment in the decks below that if hit with the napalm, would cause a chain reaction.

The lights in the corridor started to flicker. Not that you could tell much due to the white flames coming from our rear, but I think I accidently severed some power conduits with that. Go me. At least it would prevent any reinforcements coming from behind us for a bit. I switched my scanning for motion based and eliminated my team from being hit by my sensors.

Janssens, Goldstein and Lebowski were each concentrating on one each of the connecting hallways. The sensor readout that was connected to my mini-map was constantly being updated with Bugs that were dying moving along the corridor as they were rolling to a stop, their legs or body shot out from under them.

“I’m clear!” Lebowski shouted as the biomass in his corridor stopped moving towards us. He then joined in helping clear Janssens hallway. Goldstein and Wilhelm were concentrating on one hallway, the lasers being fired at such a steady rate that they were almost visible to the naked eye. Wachowski and Janssens were on the other hallway, swapping between lasers and rail gun rounds.

Soon the team started to call out that they were out of ammo. And the bugs were still coming.

“This way!” I shouted, leading the team through the carnage Lebowski had cleared. We were going to need to get to Engineering, so I could rig up a charger for the Hades systems. The run was slow going, but because I dropped another of my napalm specials at the corridor intersection there was nothing coming our way.

We arrived at the Engineering compartment and made our way inside. This time there was some resistance, two of the giant creatures. I still had a few AP rounds so it was up to me to take them out. Fortunately, they were just as slow out of game as in game. We were able to get a charger rigged up for our magazines as well as for the backpacks. I also took a few minutes to carefully scan everything and store it with Neith.

Okay, show me how to configure the ship sensors so that everything will show up on my scanners.

Observer walked me through the uplink. I then started to get messages from the rest of Observers people. Observer handled the discussion while I was fixing the uplink.

Thank you for coming for us. There is noise. Much noise. Unknown cause.

We are taking the ship so that you can recover it.

This ship will not last. We need exodus.

How many intelligences?

Eight are left alive.

We can recover.

Are they compatible?

I have recovered more than I had calculated possible.

Can we save more?

One additional ship needs to be recovered.

That will be difficult. Once we have left they will be able to detect us.

Detection does not seem to have happened yet.

What do you mean?

The new hosts have an electromagnetic field that masks the signature.

They have biological shields?

Negative, it is part of their biology, yes, but it is the way their brains process data.

Intriguing.

The gambit appears to be successful. We may yet survive our genocide.

I finished configuring the sensors and found a clear-ish path to our target. I then mapped a way back to our hangar.

Observer, is there a way to set the reactor core to go critical at a specific time, and if we do, will it also cause a catastrophic explosion? I am not familiar with this energy generator.

No, it will not cause a critical failure. For that you will need to manage an overload at the engines.

I mapped a route to the main engine room. This would take some time.

Do your people need atmosphere to survive?

They can survive for a few hours if they seal the compartment.

And it is sealed, now, right?

Yes.

Then let’s blow the hangar.

“Lebowski! Blow the hangar door.”

He did so before verifying that it was what I wanted. I love a Marine with a detonator.

“Brace yourselves!” The suction was almost immediate. I ended up being slammed against a bulkhead before I was able to secure myself. The grapple in my arm did its work as planned. Once the suction was done, I found a terminal that killed the gravity through the ship. I then locked out the systems and dropped an EMP grenade in the room, completely shutting down the ship controls.

“Let’s move!” I led the team through the corridors and compartments to where Observers people were. We were intercepted another two times, but with the loss of gravity we had the advantage. Surprisingly, the bugs didn’t have the ability to control themselves. I wonder what the difference is between these and the ones on the Ark.

“Ma’am why are they just floating there?” Janssens was the first to ask.

“No clue. I am wondering if it’s a training thing or if it’s an equipment thing. I didn’t get a good look at the ones on the Ark.”

Observer have them open up, we’re here.

The hatch to the compartment opened up for me. We swept in to an empty room.

“Where are they?” Lebowski asked. Everyone seemed to have that same question.

I sealed the hatch, then popped one of the air canisters I had brought.

“Everyone, pop a canister!” I ordered

“Ma’am?”

“You heard me. I think I know what is going on. Pop a canister.”

With five air canisters opened, there was enough air for us to not have to have our helmets on for a few minutes. I removed my helmet.

“Helmets off.” I then pulled myself down and did my best to sit on the deck.

They slowly followed my lead. Then I saw some shadows appear from the deck. A small spike from two hit each in their Neural ports. I then felt a connection in my own. The team all flickered from my sight before they flickered back into view.

Is that all of them?

Yes.

“Button up, time to leave!”

“Where’s our objective? Ma’am, did we come all this way for nothing?”

“No, we picked them up. If I remember correctly we just phased. Come on. We need to go blow up the engines now.”

The hallways were entirely clear on our way through to the engine room.

Phase us back, Observer. We need to blow this and I don’t want to lose another limb in the process.”

My team flickered at the same time, then I was standing alone in the corridor.

Any reason why it’s just me?

The rest are still adjusting.

Let them know not to move.

I popped the hatch and had to take out a giant. These damn things were massive. Unlike the bugs it looked like it knew how to handle the Zero-G. I discharged my CO2 to launch myself into the compartment and started to hotwire everything. Half way through I was joined by Janssens.

“Jax? What the hell is happening?”

“Well, we picked up the captured aliens, they loaded themselves us as part of our Neurals. Small side effect, they phase us to an alternate reality so that we can integrate, I think. Being in a different reality seems to strengthen them, so I think it is similar to being able to eat and breathe. I’m not positive on that though.” You are not wrong

“From what I can tell, they can phase us at will. You only had one jump on board, I had one as well, but I already had Observer, so the transition for me was a lot easier this time. When it first happened, I couldn’t interact with comms to anyone alive, and Rasputin couldn’t detect me, though he could hear me on comms. I know that not all equipment is in their world and ours. That’s how I lost my arm and leg. I phased in inside of some gear and a person.”

“It’s like a battery. It only recharges when plugged in properly. That means that it needs to be in that phased reality to recharge. I don’t think they can successfully make the transition without a host. Symbiotic, not parasitic. I expected a physical being, but when they weren’t I remembered the video that the captain had shown me of the initial explosion. That there was a spike that went straight into my Neural port. I took a gamble and it appears I was right. Now we have to blow this Escort and see about rescuing the rest on the other escort. Lots of ammo will be needed, though.”

A few moments later, the rest of the team entered the compartment.

“I’m hearing voices, Danni. What the hell happened?” Wilehlm asked. Janssens filled in the rest of the team while I finished up. As we were leaving the engine room a thought came to me.

“Shit. They’re the kids.”

“What’s that?”

“The bugs that we were fighting earlier. They were the kids.”

“What do you mean.”

“I mean that the bugs we were fighting earlier. They hadn’t learned how to navigate in zero-G. Did you see any quills being launched? That was two things that is obvious that should have happened. These were the kids of the ones that are on the hull of the Ark out there.”

“That… Shit, did we just slaughter a day care?”

“Back to the Assault Craft.”

My heart was heavy now having put two and two together. We would be blowing up the ship soon, how many more children would I be killing.

Think of them like your hogs. They all try to eat what is in their way. They are all dangerous, however they get truly dangerous when they have grown.

Thanks, I guess? I know you’re trying to distract me, but I’m going to need to take some to help with processing this.

Do you have a count for the survivors on the other Escort?

There has been no answer from me trying to communicate. We are well within range.

I didn’t hear from Observer for a while after that.

This time I remembered to send the ID pulse before entering the compartment.

The ship wasn’t there. Not it was blown up. I mean there were no signs of it, anywhere.

“Walsh? Where are you at?”

“LZ got a little hot. Was pushed out by a pressure breach and haven’t been able to get a clear entrance again.”

“Okay, we’re coming to you, then. Please catch us soon.” I took a deep breath. “Okay, assisted jump out. Let’s all link up so there’s only one package for pick up.”

We tethered to each other, then started to connect up to the bulkhead directly across from bay opening. I launched my grapple and caught the edge, then pushed off and started to retract as quickly as possible. We were successful in launching out of the hangar. The moment we were a few meters away from the exit I detached the grapple and reeled in the remainder.

“Please, please, please, please… puhleeeeeese.” I was chanting that we would have enough room before the meltdown started.

I faced the Escort we had just vacated while sending a steady ID pulse so that Walsh could find us. Scanning the ship, I noticed several of the turret drones were moving around. I took aim and used the last of my ammo. Small bonus was the additional speed we gained. Walsh was another minute out.

“Break radio silence. Let the assault teams know that we need to get the Ark powered up and moving away from that Escort, she’ll blow in about ten more minutes.” I sent that to Walsh, my fire team, and everyone near enough to pick it up.