Shipping Mishaps Chapter 6

The Fleet ship had peeled like a banana from the explosions within it's hull. “no, no, No, NONONONONO!” yelled Geo. She thought 'It wasn't supposed to go this way! We were supposed to disable their engines and be able to get away. Just like all the stories dad and I watched back home!' A tear slowly making it's way down her cheek.

“Shit, shit, shit! Sensors, are their any survivors? Can we rescue anyone from that hulk?” Yelled Captain Lod.

“We have life signs in a couple of spots, but...not for long...” responded the sensor tech.

“Campy, launch search and rescue drones, if we have any. Helm, Bring us closer to the remains!” Lod ordered.

“Yes Sir!'' echoed across the bridge.

Geo slowly walked over to Hershtang, sank her fingers into his fur, and started to quietly weep on his shoulder.

*-*-*

Bfop'r*ik was panicking. He had just finished sealing his armored vac suit when he had felt the shudder of enemy fire. Then all hell had broken loose. The hull had split at its nonexistent seams, and he had been flung into space. Several of his comrades had been as well, but...most of them hadn't sealed up yet, and the few that had weren't moving. Something pinged his suit. Then a drone, large, old, and decrepit looking; probably from the enemy ship; was in front of him, a light playing across his suit. A small manipulator claw reached out, grabbed his leg, and started to drag him inside. As he struggled in vein to get free, he saw similar interactions playing out across the expanding field of debris.

*-*-*

“Search and rescue attempts successful across the field, Captain.” Sensor tech Btrm'vnyu announced. “We have retrieved all life signs, and collected the bodies of the dead. Sir.”

“I trust you didn't put them all in the same recovery drones. We are NOT the Unfrlk. We do not do things like that.” Replied Captain Lod. 'Now there was a species the galaxy could rid itself of. Who needs ten legs, and eats their food alive?'

Btrm'vnyu sighed, then shook his head, “No captain. We are better than that. We do remember the standard S&R protocols. The drones will be back in 30 minutes. Should we meet them in the docking bay?”

“It would be wrong not to do so. Campy, does this tub have any automated medical systems?” Captain Lod asked the AI.

“Yes Captain. I will move an automated med bay to the fore end of the docking bay.” Campy replied, a hurt tone in his normally pleasant voice. “Several old systems are still coming online after the Admiral unlocked my chains. The AI mesh that Trans-Union tried to overlay on me has done severe system wide damage. Please be advised that I have reached my limit to prevent a mandatory re-boot of my core.”

“Thank you Campy. As soon as the med bay is in place, do what you need to do.” Captain Lod replied.

Geo looked up from Hershtang's shoulder at this exchange. “Campy! Why didn't you say something sooner? Dear god, re-boot!”

*-*-*

25 minutes had passed, and the first S&R drones were returning. Most held nothing but the dead. But in some, there was the possibility of life.

As the casualties poured in, Geo became more and more distressed and lethargic. She had done this. She had caused this. She was at fault. The bodies, so many bodies. The bodies were, with few exceptions, small. She shuddered again.

Captain Lod stepped up next to Geo, saying, “Admiral Geo, you don't need to watch all of this. You could go look in on the survivors.”

“No Captain Lod, I need to see what I did. I need to own my own actions. I need to know.” Was Geo's flat response.

“Very well Admiral. I feel that you should be informed that we were able to rescue 56 survivors, 14 of whom needed extreme measures to resuscitate. Of the dead, they count 273. That is more recovered than in many similar circumstances.” Captain Lod stated. “As for needing to 'Own your actions', I will remind you that the LHUIVTRMYUK fired on us, without any formality or proper warning. All we did was try to defend ourselves, so that we could escape.” He let out a long breath.

“On the plus side, Admiral, our former crew mates were not on the ship before it exploded, so no innocents were in the casualty numbers.” Continued Captain Lod.

Geo rounded on him, “No INNOCENTS? Don't you count all those people on that ship as innocents? Did they deserve to die? Were they evil criminals with a death sentence?”

“No, Ma'am, they were military personnel. Personnel that fired on a civilian vessel, because their captain decided that we weren't taking him seriously enough. At least according to the bridge memory core beacon we were able to secure.” Replied Captain Lod.

“WHAT?!?!? WE DIDN'T TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY? THAT'S WHY HE FIRED ON US?!?” Now Geo had a new emotion to contend with the fear and self loathing, anger.

*-*-*

Bfop'r*ik was awake. He was lying on a bed, the overhead light bright in his eyes. Realizing he was out of his armor, he groaned. 'Now what do I do? I'm a prisoner on board an enemy ship', he thought. He could hear the voices of beings watching something. He looked around. Several of his fellow Marines were sitting/perched on some kind of padded bench, watching animated creatures fighting on a flat screen. Shaking his head one more time to clear it, he sat up.

“Ah, Bfop'r*ik, nice of you to wake up and join us.”

That voice. That voice he could have never heard again. Why did she have to survive? Why was his ex-wife here? Did the 17 have no pity?

“Um, nice to see you made it too, oh sweetest sugar fruit?” Bfop'r*ik responded, eyes closed, slowly breathing.

The 6', well muscled, blue furred brnul*in*ESWVnul*i stepped in close; her fur a stark contrast to his mottled brown and black; wrapping her arms around him and picking him up, “Im so glad you lived! I would have been truly distraught if you hadn't come back to me.” said Kjern, his ex-wife, and commanding officer.

*-*-*

It had been a busy half hour since the last S&R drone and returned. The six crew who had jumped ship had returned, and once informed that the Admiral was now a legit business owner, had voluntarily returned to their duties.

On one of the recommissioned flight decks, one of them; a Gorak named Rouule; was not exactly happy, but not unhappy either.

“So, Captain, you're telling me that this whole time I was right? I wasn't crazy when I told you the launch bays were smaller than they should be? That we needed to cut out bulkheads in order to open up more space for cargo?” Rouule asked in a sarcastically pitched voice. “I wasn't crazy? I wasn't out of touch with reality?”

Captain Lod just shook his head, closing his eyes in thought, 'I'm never going to live this down, am I? The company had a strict policy in place. I couldn't do anything...' His eyes jerked open at a screech of pain from in front of him.

*-*-*

Geo heard the commotion from across the bay; still fuming at the information she had received about the attack; and walked over to observe. 'Some idiot bird is giving MY captain a hard time about what he didn't know? I THINK NOT!' she thought advancing the last few steps, and grabbing a fist full of a single long and well manicured feather.

And pulled. Hard. As hard as she could. It came out in her hand.

*-*-*

Screeching at the immense pain, Rouule spun in place, preparing to strike whomever dared pluck one of his splendid tail feathers, then shrank back. It was the new owner, self proclaimed Admiral Geo! He took an involuntary step back as it showed it's teeth.

*-*-*

The Gorak spun around, hand up ready to strike and Geo gave a polite smile, then spoke, “You have some nerve, yelling at your commanding officer about things he probably had no control over. Now, I will only say this once: STAND DOWN or I will have you plucked, stuffed, and roasted for dinner.”

She walked away.

*-*-*

Rouule stared. His legs were shaking, his hearts racing, his beak clacking. 'By the 17, this, this Dirt-rockian! Ouch, my brain. Ouch my butt.' was all the thought running through his brain.

Captain Lod sighed, “Listen Rouule, I tried to warn you not to go off like that anymore. You may be my cousin, but that isn't going to protect you from HER.”

Pain being overtaken by shock, Rouule squawked, “That is a brood hen of her species? The majesty! I am very impressed.”

“That isn't the half of it Rouule, according to her, at 14 years old, she hasn't even come of age yet. Imagine fully grown versions of her.” Captain Lod responded.

Rouule fainted.