bad thing. When we make it to the command deck, I’ll power up the magno-discs again and restore power to the ship. Once that’s done we’ll open the docking bays and you can get the Stargrazer back onboard. In the meantime, hang tight.”
“Sounds like a plan , boss.”
“All right, General Abruzzi, Dan, Red, and Ariel with me. Ariel are you okay enough to scan for survivors mentally as well as linking us? I know you took a beating these past few days, but I have to rely on you hon, I’m sorry.”
She smile d as she looked at him, “I’m fine, don’t ‘Mother Hen’ me. I’m really okay, I’m not just saying it, I promise.”
He leaned forward and kissed her quickly. They both smiled before turning and walking into the ship, flashlight beams from their uniforms sleeves were brightly illuminating the corridor they walked through. Everyone had taken a pistol before they left the Stargrazer, including the General. They all walked with their pistols drawn and ready now through the pervading darkness.
Nothing stirred.
Red took point as they walked, Dan stayed at his shoulder scanning right while Red looked left. They looked at each other and shrugged, then made a right turn down a corridor that led to the command deck.
By now enough power had been drawn from the Stargrazer to operate doors and minor systems before restarting the magno-discs. As they approached the maglovator doors to the command deck they slowly slid open. As with the rest of the ship so far, the command deck was empty.
“They fought to the very end here.” Red commented while he was looking at blaster burn marks along the walls and ceiling.
“Yes, but gratefully I don’t see any bodies left behind.” Mark replied as he seated himself in the Captain’s chair. Dan sat down in the engineers’ seat and began touching virtual controls that dimly sprang to life before him.
“It’s amazing they even drained the emergency energy storage cells with that weapon of theirs. If not for the Stargrazer being hooked up to us , we wouldn’t even have power for the control interfaces.”
“I know Dan, and I purposely gave those their own power supplies when I designed this ship.”
“Let’s try a re-start; we should be able to do it now. It’ll be just like jumpstarting a car, with the ‘Grazer attached.” Dan replied.
Mark touched his sleeve, “Eddie , do you copy? We’re going to restart. Be prepared.”
“Will do , boss,” came his crisp reply.
Sledge touched a few buttons on his slightly brighter glowing control panel and suddenly there was a slight rumble as the great ship flared to life about them.
Instantly everything came online as the magno-discs powered up and began supplying energy to all the systems.
“Air filtration and life support back online.” Dan advised.
“Which brings up another curious point,” Mark noticed, “The air in here was not stale. This couldn’t have happened too long ago.”
Dan and Red both nodded in agreement.
“Eddie,” Mark spoke, “disconnect the Stargrazer from the Cagliostro and proceed to the docking bay.”
“On my way, boss.” Eddie’s voice replied clearly.
“Red, you and General Abruzzi start making a deck by deck sweep of the ship. Holler the instant you see anything out of the ordinary.”
“Danny get down to engineering and make sure everything there is okay. I felt a small rumble when the magno-discs kicked in. Let’s make sure everything is still aligned properly. If you need help, I’ll be there immediately.”
“ Eddie, when you get back on board make your way directly to the command deck, I want to go over weapons command with you to make sure everything is okay here as well.”
They all agreed and within a few seconds only Ariel and Mark were left aboard the command deck.
“What do you think happened to our people?” She asked quietly while staring straight ahead.
“Whoever did this took them. That’s what you and I are going to work on right now.
“Sounds like a plan , boss.”
“All right, General Abruzzi, Dan, Red, and Ariel with me. Ariel are you okay enough to scan for survivors mentally as well as linking us? I know you took a beating these past few days, but I have to rely on you hon, I’m sorry.”
She smile d as she looked at him, “I’m fine, don’t ‘Mother Hen’ me. I’m really okay, I’m not just saying it, I promise.”
He leaned forward and kissed her quickly. They both smiled before turning and walking into the ship, flashlight beams from their uniforms sleeves were brightly illuminating the corridor they walked through. Everyone had taken a pistol before they left the Stargrazer, including the General. They all walked with their pistols drawn and ready now through the pervading darkness.
Nothing stirred.
Red took point as they walked, Dan stayed at his shoulder scanning right while Red looked left. They looked at each other and shrugged, then made a right turn down a corridor that led to the command deck.
By now enough power had been drawn from the Stargrazer to operate doors and minor systems before restarting the magno-discs. As they approached the maglovator doors to the command deck they slowly slid open. As with the rest of the ship so far, the command deck was empty.
“They fought to the very end here.” Red commented while he was looking at blaster burn marks along the walls and ceiling.
“Yes, but gratefully I don’t see any bodies left behind.” Mark replied as he seated himself in the Captain’s chair. Dan sat down in the engineers’ seat and began touching virtual controls that dimly sprang to life before him.
“It’s amazing they even drained the emergency energy storage cells with that weapon of theirs. If not for the Stargrazer being hooked up to us , we wouldn’t even have power for the control interfaces.”
“I know Dan, and I purposely gave those their own power supplies when I designed this ship.”
“Let’s try a re-start; we should be able to do it now. It’ll be just like jumpstarting a car, with the ‘Grazer attached.” Dan replied.
Mark touched his sleeve, “Eddie , do you copy? We’re going to restart. Be prepared.”
“Will do , boss,” came his crisp reply.
Sledge touched a few buttons on his slightly brighter glowing control panel and suddenly there was a slight rumble as the great ship flared to life about them.
Instantly everything came online as the magno-discs powered up and began supplying energy to all the systems.
“Air filtration and life support back online.” Dan advised.
“Which brings up another curious point,” Mark noticed, “The air in here was not stale. This couldn’t have happened too long ago.”
Dan and Red both nodded in agreement.
“Eddie,” Mark spoke, “disconnect the Stargrazer from the Cagliostro and proceed to the docking bay.”
“On my way, boss.” Eddie’s voice replied clearly.
“Red, you and General Abruzzi start making a deck by deck sweep of the ship. Holler the instant you see anything out of the ordinary.”
“Danny get down to engineering and make sure everything there is okay. I felt a small rumble when the magno-discs kicked in. Let’s make sure everything is still aligned properly. If you need help, I’ll be there immediately.”
“ Eddie, when you get back on board make your way directly to the command deck, I want to go over weapons command with you to make sure everything is okay here as well.”
They all agreed and within a few seconds only Ariel and Mark were left aboard the command deck.
“What do you think happened to our people?” She asked quietly while staring straight ahead.
“Whoever did this took them. That’s what you and I are going to work on right now.
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