Ghost Soldiers by Michael G. Thomas Page B

lighting.”
    White and dull yellow shapes appeared as the incredibly powerful lamps shone out to the vessel. Those further away provided a low level of ambient light, the closer ones moved about in a search pattern to examine every nook and cranny. Captain Delatorre changed the display to show both the live view, as well as the computer model that combined radar cross-section scans with the lit detail. Every few seconds the shapes increased in detail as a high-resolution map was created before their eyes. Spartan leaned in closer, scrutinising the details.
    "The derelict is not quite as it appeared on the last transmission. Look at the surface damage and all of this expelled debris."
    Captain Delatorre seemed to agree.
    "Yes, it looks like she took a beating from multiple volleys."
    He pointed to three key areas.
    "Notice the pattern? That's quadruple cannon fire. The gun turrets of a Liberty class destroyer would match that perfectly."
    He leaned back and sighed.
    "ANS Orion fought back and hit these sections with gunfire."
    He then moved the image along and pointed to the areas of debris.
    "This is where the missiles impacted. Orion may be gone, but they put out a lot of fire in this engagement."
    Spartan seemed disappointed.
    "Yes, but how was a modern Alliance warship beaten by a derelict hulk of junk? Just look at it."
    Khan shook his head in irritation.
    "I've seen Liberty ships take on warships twice their size, and for a long time. They are tough and reliable. And Orion was a missile destroyer, perfectly built to destroy ships at range."
    Spartan nodded.
      "Quite. This derelict is as big as expected, but the condition is terrible. I know the data we received suggested it was old, but this thing looks like a floating scrapyard, but the size of a city."
    Captain Delatorre pressed a button and brought up a projection of ANS Orion.
    "And where is Orion? That ship was crewed by experienced men and women, people I've served with before. They would not have been caught by surprise, and if they had, they would have fought back and ensured we received all the data they could send. There must be something here, or at the very least, her lifeboats or transponders.”
    A single red light flashed on the mainscreen. The computer located the source and enlarged the view to show a section of the derelict. Five-Seven looked to Spartan and the Captain.
    "The lifeboat beacon is coming from inside the derelict."
    Spartan's eyebrows rose at that small piece of information. Captain Delatorre leaned in and examined the derelict in detail.
    "Interesting. The signal source is in what appears to be a domed habitation area."
    He then turned to Spartan.
    "What if they abandoned ship and took refuge on the derelict?"
    Spartan didn't look convinced.
    "Possible, but that would mean they lost the ship and their lifeboats. I've seen very few space engagements where not even one lifeboat made it out. They might have been captured and taken aboard, assuming any of them are still alive."
    He looked back at the imagery on the right of the mainscreen, an area showing the region of space around the derelict. Green outlines flagged parts of the debris there.
    "Those are hull fragments. I recognise the shapes."
    He wiped his lower lip.
    "Something happened out here, something violent. ANS Orion is gone, and with her the answers to what happened."
    He turned to Captain Delatorre. "Suggestions?"
    The naval officer swallowed uncomfortably.
    "Uh...we maintain a safe distance, establish a protected cordon, and send in a team to investigate."
    Spartan smiled. "Good."
    He looked back at the screen again.
    "I want two dropships for this, one for possible support, and the first for insertion."
    "Khan, you will stay on the operations level and get 3rd Platoon ready. If we hit trouble, I want to know you're ready. I'm leaving the defence of the ship to you, old friend."
    Khan struck Spartan's shoulder.
    "The ship can only house ninety controllers; that's two full