crystals.
She activated a powerful, tactical light on her rifle and scanned the room. Its scope automatically conveyed mapping data to Muir's tactical station on the pinnace.
“Okay, fellas. Gear up. We have some scanning to do.” Perry opened his cases and Weston took some handheld equipment from his pack.
“Sir, I think this is a classic colony redoubt shake-and-bake base from at least 200 years ago. We should have files in the system that will have the layout, once we get some detail,” Hume said, as her light examined a huge, dusty machine she didn't recognize.
“Data storage is down. Archives are off-line. All systems are running on local. Perry, do any of your people know anything about central computer plants?” Jim asked.
“Dr. Bowen knows a lot. More software than hardware,” he replied.
“Oh, boy,” Hume added.
“What?” Perry asked.
“Nothing...Commander, it looks like we’re ready to move out. Gentlemen, I recommend we run with helmets on and visors up.”
***
They soon found a very handy map of the compound, mounted to the wall of the corridor near a lift. They were in a five dome complex, with each dome about 100 meters across. The domes sat on top of a clover-shaped foundation that also went down another eleven levels into the ground.
Only one of the domes was depressurized.
Solar arrays kept the lights on, but once they were in the dark phase of their orbit, there would be no lights. The power banks were all bone-dry. Before they returned to the Memphis , they also located the water storage. It held tens of thousands of liters, but it was all frozen solid.
***
Eight hours after the attack, they returned to the briefing room. All detailed their activities and spent time listening to the condition of the ship and crew. Everyone had a med check and all the bodies had been collected and placed into a cold compartment.
Only one more area lost integrity and went to vacuum: the same room over the dock where Ensign Weston had been trapped.
“Does anyone have any other updates?” Commander Worthington asked, from the podium in the briefing room.
“What's the plan?” Dr. Bowen asked, her arms crossed over her chest.
“We will get reactor number two back online,” Worthington began, not showing his annoyance.
“Two is one. One is none,” Hume cited.
“We will assess our assets. We will recon, if possible. We will repair what we can. We will keep our heads down. We will survive.”
“I think we should attempt to contact the planet. This has all got to be a mistake. I believe we can reason with them. They’re humans!” Bowen was getting spun up again.
“They are humans that nuked the Ventura without so much as a warning,” Hume stated, flatly.
“I think if we can just talk to them, we can make them understand that we’re just a survey ship. I say we take a vote.” Bowen stood and turned to the room, with her hand raised.
“Sit. The. Hell. Down,” Worthington growled. “Let me be clear about this, right now. There will be no vote. This is not a democracy. You will do as you’re told or it's back to airlock number three for you.” He turned to Tyrrell. “We are in a communications blackout. NO communications out.” He turned to Hume. “If anyone violates that order you are to summarily execute them prior to notifying me.” He turned back to Bowen, who was still standing. “Do you understand those orders, Dr. Bowen?”
She stood there, saying nothing.
“The proper reply is, 'Yes, Commander'.”
Hume stood up at that. Standing next to Worthington, she only came up to his chest, but she was so fierce, it made Bowen flinch.
“Yes, sir,” Hume growled. Her hand was on her sidearm.
“Yes, Commander,” Bowen said, and sat down, quickly looking away.
Hume spoke next to the entire group. “The only way we’re going to get through this is to work together and to follow orders. I know that some of you are not used to this, but we do not have any other options.
She activated a powerful, tactical light on her rifle and scanned the room. Its scope automatically conveyed mapping data to Muir's tactical station on the pinnace.
“Okay, fellas. Gear up. We have some scanning to do.” Perry opened his cases and Weston took some handheld equipment from his pack.
“Sir, I think this is a classic colony redoubt shake-and-bake base from at least 200 years ago. We should have files in the system that will have the layout, once we get some detail,” Hume said, as her light examined a huge, dusty machine she didn't recognize.
“Data storage is down. Archives are off-line. All systems are running on local. Perry, do any of your people know anything about central computer plants?” Jim asked.
“Dr. Bowen knows a lot. More software than hardware,” he replied.
“Oh, boy,” Hume added.
“What?” Perry asked.
“Nothing...Commander, it looks like we’re ready to move out. Gentlemen, I recommend we run with helmets on and visors up.”
***
They soon found a very handy map of the compound, mounted to the wall of the corridor near a lift. They were in a five dome complex, with each dome about 100 meters across. The domes sat on top of a clover-shaped foundation that also went down another eleven levels into the ground.
Only one of the domes was depressurized.
Solar arrays kept the lights on, but once they were in the dark phase of their orbit, there would be no lights. The power banks were all bone-dry. Before they returned to the Memphis , they also located the water storage. It held tens of thousands of liters, but it was all frozen solid.
***
Eight hours after the attack, they returned to the briefing room. All detailed their activities and spent time listening to the condition of the ship and crew. Everyone had a med check and all the bodies had been collected and placed into a cold compartment.
Only one more area lost integrity and went to vacuum: the same room over the dock where Ensign Weston had been trapped.
“Does anyone have any other updates?” Commander Worthington asked, from the podium in the briefing room.
“What's the plan?” Dr. Bowen asked, her arms crossed over her chest.
“We will get reactor number two back online,” Worthington began, not showing his annoyance.
“Two is one. One is none,” Hume cited.
“We will assess our assets. We will recon, if possible. We will repair what we can. We will keep our heads down. We will survive.”
“I think we should attempt to contact the planet. This has all got to be a mistake. I believe we can reason with them. They’re humans!” Bowen was getting spun up again.
“They are humans that nuked the Ventura without so much as a warning,” Hume stated, flatly.
“I think if we can just talk to them, we can make them understand that we’re just a survey ship. I say we take a vote.” Bowen stood and turned to the room, with her hand raised.
“Sit. The. Hell. Down,” Worthington growled. “Let me be clear about this, right now. There will be no vote. This is not a democracy. You will do as you’re told or it's back to airlock number three for you.” He turned to Tyrrell. “We are in a communications blackout. NO communications out.” He turned to Hume. “If anyone violates that order you are to summarily execute them prior to notifying me.” He turned back to Bowen, who was still standing. “Do you understand those orders, Dr. Bowen?”
She stood there, saying nothing.
“The proper reply is, 'Yes, Commander'.”
Hume stood up at that. Standing next to Worthington, she only came up to his chest, but she was so fierce, it made Bowen flinch.
“Yes, sir,” Hume growled. Her hand was on her sidearm.
“Yes, Commander,” Bowen said, and sat down, quickly looking away.
Hume spoke next to the entire group. “The only way we’re going to get through this is to work together and to follow orders. I know that some of you are not used to this, but we do not have any other options.
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