9 Years, 11 Months, 23 Days After Eridani Landing
Home World
[Vann] groaned as the Senate leader run the bell for afternoon recess. The few members who had attended the general meeting got up to leave, most them continuing to deliberate with one another. Several larger groups moved towards the doors that led to the more secure meeting rooms.
In the public seating, high above the Senators and on the opposite side of the rectangular room from where [Vann] sat began to move as well. [Vann] narrowed his eyes, just barely making out a gaggle of small children pressing themselves up to the clear material isolating and protecting the Senators, their eyes locked on him.
[Vann] raised a hand and waved in the general direction of the children.
“That was literally [five hours] of nothing!” growled [Vann] as he slowly stood up and stepped away from the solid white green marble throne that had been in the ruling chambers of the Empire since the tenth Emperor.
“The Civil Art’s Appreciation Act is important.” Said [Syn] from her small table off to the side of the small raised dais where [Vann] was.
“Compared to everything else going on?”
[Syn] shrugged and turned back to her Comm. [Vann] stretched and walked forward’s down the steps of the dais and into the empty seating. Several Senators glanced in his direction and one quickly moved ahead towards him.
“Emperor.” The older man raised his hand in a salute, covering his right eye. [Vann] raised his own saluting the man, “Senator Walcom.”
The Senator lowered his hand, “Do have time to for a quick discussion? I and my Regents feel that we have the right to certain information, given the amount of direct action that you have taken in the area I’m responsible for.”
[Vann] weakly smiled, “I think it would be best that I consult with Consul [Marcus] before doing so. I can assure you that both he and I have the utmost confidence in your ability to lead, but there are matters of supreme importance taking place in your area of space. Matters which require the resources of the empire as a whole.”
Walcom’s face remained neutral, “I understand that in matters of great importance, your direct action is needed. You have a responsibility to the people, I and every other Senator shares this burden.” Walcom licked his lips, “However I must put those in my space first, all I am asking is that I be given more information so that my people remain safe.”
[Vann] considered him for a moment, looking the man up and down. Average in build and stature, the skin on top of his head was losing some of its red fading towards white in color.
“I completely understand Senator. I would be happy to sit down and discuss this with you at nearly any other time, but I’m afraid I have another event scheduled.”
Not leaving the man time to respond [Vann] stepped down around him and followed the other government officials out of the hall.
[Syn] fell into step behind him, “[Howard] is at the restaurant already.”
[Vann] quickened his pace and glanced at his Comm, “He is early.”
“He arrived [two hours] early.” Said [Syn].
“Eager.”
“His family has been attempting to make the jump from influence over the market’s and business to the government for generations. In that time, his grandfather came closest he was to bond with a Senator’s daughter.”
[Reece] stepped forwards, gently directing [Vann] away from the public Transport area at the front of the Senate building towards another hallway. [Vann] followed the direction and the bodyguard started quickly guiding them into another wing of the building.
“What happened?”
“She was propositioned by one of your great-grandfather’s illegitimate. Half royal blood, was far preferable than the business influence to her.”
[Vann] sighed, “Which one?”
“The 20th child, I forget his name.” said [Syn] shrugging.
[Vann] rubbed at his eyes, ignoring the men and women around him who were freezing in place and staring wide eyed as [Reece] forced his way through a section of the building where the aides to the Senators and other officials were working. Few managed to raise their hands in salute, [Vann] ignored all of them following the bodyguard.
[Reece] opened an emergency door, the usual alarm silenced. Stepping out the bodyguard quickly opened the door to the small transport that had squeezed into a place where two renovations of the ancient building had left a small gap in the roof.
“Was there a threat?” asked [Vann] as he quickly ducked into the vehicle.
[Reece] slammed the door behind [Syn] and moved around the pilot’s seat. Sliding into it he quickly maneuvered them up into the air and away from the Senate.
“No, but [Howard] has not been silent about this meeting. He has been bragging about it to all of his business partners, who have been similarly loose lipped.” Growled [Reece].
“I didn’t tell Ven to keep it a secret.”
[Reece] grunted and twisted the transport around into the traffic of the Capital. “In the past [five years] you have not attended anything beyond official functions. Today you’re meeting at a civilian restaurant, and you forbade me closing it. I decided additional security would be prudent.”
[Vann] chuckled, “I have made your job too easy I think, that or I let you dictate far too much.”
[Reece] twisted his head around to glance at [Vann] his face completely blank.
“Ven?” asked [Syn] jumping in to help the bodyguard.
[Vann] winced, “[Venna].”
“Yes, I understood that. Why is she now Ven?” Syn leaned forwards towards him as she spoke, propping her chin up on a fist to look at him.
[Vann] looked away from her and out at the buildings, “Am I supposed to be completely detached from this? Using her to get to her Father and [Marcus] does not mean I can’t continue to see her.”
“No, but then again she is your first attempt at courting. Unless we are counting those lovely dates, we had.” Said [Syn] as she grinned back at him.
[Vann] smiled, “I was what, [eight years old?]”
“Something like that. You were cute, having the garden’s replanted with my favorite flower. Very romantic. It would have gone better if you hadn’t spent the entire time training with your swords, and showing off.”
[Vann] shrugged, “You were impressed.”
[Syn] harrumphed, “Yes well, my point is that [Venna] is young love, if that’s what it is. Only in old romanticized stories does that work out very well. She’s not going to complain no matter what you do, she and her father will both be content with her serving as a, diversion when you bond with someone of higher stature.”
[Vann] scowled, “I’m not going to do that [Syn]. The old Emperors remained only with those they Bonded to, and they are revered for that and their accomplishments in the Empire’s service.”
“They also did not have to contend with electronic recording. It was much easier to modify information thousands of years ago.” Deadpanned [Syn].
[Vann] waved a hand acknowledging the comment. The transport fell silent as [Reece] continued to quickly weave through traffic. Reaching one of the older skyscrapers of the city the transport quickly dropped down to the ground.
[Vann] glanced out seeing another half dozen men dressed like [Reece] standing in front of the old squared off building blocking the pedestrian traffic all the way up to the entrance.
“Called on the whole guard today?” asked [Vann].
“A third.” Said [Reece] as he opened the back door.
[Vann] stepped out and quickly walked between the men to the entrance of the building. A man dressed in a uniform reminiscent of the old-style Imperial servant attire quickly pulled the door open ushering [Vann] inside.
“Emperor, we are honored to have you dining with us today.” Said another man dressed in the same uniform. He was standing with the rest of the staff arrayed out behind him, the tables of the small restaurant around them empty.
[Vann] frowned, “I thought I told you to leave the establishment open.”
“I did not do this.” Said [Reece] his voice low.
The greeter meekly stepped forwards, “The Consul requested some privacy Emperor, we were happy to comply.”
[Vann] closed his eyes and drew in a breath, “The Consul is here?”
The man hesitated, “Yes sir, he arrived only a minute before you did. The president of the Baroom corporation an [hour] or so before that.” He nervously swallowed, “They are this way Emperor.”
The man gestured towards the back of the restaurant and took a step towards it.
[Vann] nodded, “I’m sure I can find them. Bring us whatever you feel is your best dish in [thirty minutes] we have some matters to discuss before we enjoy the meal you have prepared.”
“Of course, Emperor.” He saluted again remaining rooted to the spot.
[Vann] and [Reece] quickly stepped past them and quickly through the array of empty tables.
“[Howard] was not secretive about this meeting.” Repeated [Reece].
[Vann] snorted, “Even if he told no one, [Marcus] would have still known about the meeting. You no doubt appreciate his extra security measures.”
[Reece]’s eyes hardened and his lips narrowed to a thin line. “I do, but I did not inform the Consul or anyone else of this meeting. The additional security was only informed this morning.”
[Vann] paused and looked the man up and down. [Reece] stiffened and stood at attention glaring back at him.
“I have never questioned your dedication to my safety. But neither am I going to remain in a bunker my entire life.”
[Reece] bowed his head, “No you should not.”
[Vann] turned and walked into the small room at the back of the restaurant.
[Marcus] glanced up from his seat at the head of the small rectangular table, [Howard] jumped to his feet and saluted.
“Emperor!” said [Howard], his voice was deeper than average almost reverberating in the small room.
“[Howard], I’m glad you accepted my invitation for this lunch. Given the relationship I have with your daughter, would you be comfortable being a little more informal? Just call me [Vann].”
[Howard] blinked and quickly nodded, “Of course Emperor. I, [Vann]” he swallowed and quickly wiped at his brow, “Of course.”
[Vann] pulled out the chair across from [Howard] and sat, putting [Marcus] on his left.
“Emperor.” Greeted [Marcus] as he raised a glass to his lips.
“Consul, I’m afraid I don’t remember inviting you.”
[Howard]’s face drained almost to pink across the table, [Vann] smiled. “It is a very welcome surprise though; your council is as always invaluable.”
[Howard]’s face stopped draining in fear, and [Marcus] chuckled. “I’m glad you think so. You’ve been so busy lately it’s been difficult to schedule a meeting with you. The class C debacle, Chront, your little fiasco at that party.”
[Vann] bowed his head and reaching out picked up his own small glass of wine, “That little fiasco was a blessing I think. I’ll admit, it was not the most gracious way to meet [Venna] but my embarrassment is a small price to pay for the pleasure of getting to know her. She is an amazing woman.”
[Howard] struggled to form words, his mouth opened and closed several times.
“That she is,” drawled [Marcus]. “Almost everything associated with the Baroom company is.”
The Consul leaned forwards, “Which is why the Emperor and I have something very important to ask of you and your company. We both think it is something you are the only one capable of doing.”
[Vann] narrowed his eyes and turned to the Consul.
[Marcus]’s lips twitched into a faint smile.
9 Years, 11 Months, 23 Days After Eridani Landing
Chront
“Derrick, where the hell is that latest power subsystem report?” shouted Stagg, her voice echoing through the hanger and into the wreckage of the Canada where Derrick was working in what had once been the main engineering compartment.
“I sent it to you!” shouted Derrick as he frowned at the results of the analysis in front of him.
Stagg clambered up into the hole in the hull and stuck her head up into her ruined ship, “No you didn’t, what the hell are you wearing?” asked Stagg frowning.
Derrick blinked and glanced down, “Oh, this.” he thumbed the dark jacket, which was high collared and long, going down nearly to the ground. A single large button on the waist kept it tight there, while the rest of it remained loose.
Derrick blushed and rubbed at the back of his neck, “I’m going off base, with Hala to actually look around the island. I got your approval for this a week ago.”
Stagg slowly nodded, “Right, but what the hell are you wearing? You look like detective out of an old movie.”
Derrick frowned, and shrugged. “I asked Hala to pick up something to help me blend in.”
Stagg pulled herself up into the wrecked engineering compartment, “The fact that your mouth is moving out of sync with your words, isn’t something you can cover up with a jacket.”
Derrick rolled his eyes, “I’m just trying to not get mobbed in the streets is all. Hala’s promised whatever it is we’re going to it’s not going to be insane.”
Stagg’s eyes flicked to the place where Arik had been and then back to him, “The energy report?”
“Your Link’s probably disconnected, some of them were having that issue a few hours ago.” Derrick pointed at the analysis he had started, “Looks like one of the antenna in the Canada’s overheating. I’m cycling the signals through the two remaining short range arrays for now, but I think the long-range array is shot. We’re limited to anyone actually on this island.”
Stagg frowned and pulling out her Link shook the device, “Damn it, here I was thinking that nothing was going wrong for once. I’ve missed about a hundred messages!”
She turned to glare at Derrick.
“We need a satellite, shuttle something Human permanently in orbit, or the Russia. Since they’re scheduled back tomorrow, I think we can go a few hours with spotty communications. It’ll take me just as long to pull out the main antenna in gravity and that’s not even with the time to try and fix it.” He grimaced, “and I’ll need the entire engineering crew. I could do it on my own in space, but it’s buried in some of the remaining armor on top of the ship. Those plates are heavy.”
Stagg held up a hand. “I get the idea; how long would it take you to build a compatible communication satellite? Just for future reference?”
Derrick thought for a moment, “With purely Human components? A few months, with Empire components from the Valiant, a week. With Seninon and salvaged pieces of the Canada, a month. I’d rather not use anything from the Empire.” He glanced at Arik’s spot. “I don’t have any way to quickly check the operating code, the Vakurian have cleaned a lot of it but I still don’t understand the tech as much as I would like to use it for anything critical.”
“The Seninon route then?” asked Stagg.
Derrick nodded, “They’ve already got communication satellites, and with some salvaged components from the Canada and spares from the Russia, we could expand that network for them a few hundred times over in capacity, and add in our own communication protocols.”
“I’ll bring it up at the next meeting with the world leaders.”
Derrick turned back to the analysis and bit at his lip looking it over, “Even with the short-range array, I’m having to cut the throughput. We’re going to start losing fidelity, the Links might switch to combat protocols.”
Derrick closed the analysis and turned back to Stagg, “I’ve got to go though, I’m already late meeting with her.”
“I don’t have to remind you that you’re representing all of us, don’t do anything too bad while you’re out. We need the Seninon.”
Derrick raised an eyebrow, “I’m not planning on going to a strip club. I said I wanted to try some of the Seninon food and Hala offered to take me to a restaurant, and then she wants me to see some sort of performance.”
“Hala, she’s the daughter of the President. Yes?”
“And one of the better engineers.”
Stagg gave Derrick a critical eye, “This could be interpreted as favoritism. The only reason things have been as smooth as they have been is because we’re keeping all three nations involved. We can’t afford to have that questioned.”
“She’s the daughter of the Fidelin president, on a base in Bitus territory taking an alien out to be exposed to the culture of their world. I haven’t left this base, I need to look at something other than this.” Derrick gestured at the empty spot where Arik had been perched.
Stagg glanced at the hole, and nodded. “I suppose you have earned some leave.”
“Some, and you already approved this!”
Stagg rolled her eyes, “If I ordered you to take time off and relax, you’d ignore me on principal.”
Derrick shrugged, “Probably.”
The two smiled at one another, Derrick clapped his hands together. “I’ve got to,”
He was interrupted as alarms began to blare, the sound loud enough to punch through the thin metal of the hanger and the armored hull of the Canada.
Derrick blinked, “What?”
Stagg whipped her Link out and glared at the small device, “Damn it, what’s going on?”
Reaching into the jacket Derrick pulled out a dull gray box with a large antenna sticking up out of it. Stagg furrowed her brow as he turned a dial on the side and raised it up to his lips.
“Engineer one to command, what’s going on?”
The device crackled for several moments, static issued from its primitive speaker making both Humans wince.
“Command to engineer one, the perimeter of the base has been breached by a hostile party of unknown intent. Their site of incursion is close to the published location of the Canada, units are deploying to defend the base! End.” said a barely discernible voice through the tinny speaker.
“Is that a radio?” asked Stagg.
Derrick smiled and shook the device, “If it works, the Seninon officer who’s supposed to send out the Link alerts at their command isn’t very fast. It’ll pop in a minute or two. Poor guy’s having a hard time with the keyboard.”
Derrick raised the radio, “Humans will be moving into a defensive posture, end.”
The radio buzzed for several moments, the alarm continued to blare and Derrick jumped as the sound of an explosion echoed in the distance.
“Understood.” It was a different voice on the radio now, “Defensive only. Retreat from current locations only if required. I do not need the confusion of your forces in this mess, end.” Said the voice, the deep baritone of it more discernable through the radio.
“I’m assuming that’s what you were going to order right?” asked Derrick, his eyes flicking over Stagg.
Stagg popped her holster open, “Yes, and send out a roll-call. Anyone not checked in within five, we’re moving to their Link’s location.”
Derrick stepped back to the Engineering console of the Canada and quickly sent off a crew-wide message.
“We’re not going to stay here? We’re going to get,” Derrick winced as another explosion went off, “in the way if we go out there. I’ve got hand-to-hand training, but I’ve had more training as an engineer than anything else.”
Stagg drew in a breath her eyes locked on the display as names on the ship roster flashed green, individuals checking in. “Hopefully everyone checks in. Whatever this is, it’s nothing official.”
Another explosion reverberated through the night air drowning out the alarm, Derrick collapsed into his seat, “How can you tell?”
“If one of the governments had condoned this, it would be a little more intricate than a frontal assault on a military facility. Being fooled by the public misinformation of where the Canada is housed, all three nations have spy satellites correct? Simply looking at where all of the people on the base are at any given time will reveal where the Canada is.”
Derrick frowned, “Then it’s another faction, or a distraction?”
Stagg nodded, “Can the Canada still self-destruct?”
Derrick scratched at his chin thinking, “I could set off one of the nukes we’ve still got, but they were designed for space combat against the Empire shields. Even on the lowest yield it’ll kill everyone on this base and a good portion of the city.”
Stagg grimaced, “That would be the end to any alliance.”
“I can encrypt the computer systems, that’ll be as good as wiping them from the Seninon perspective. Their computers wouldn’t be able to break even civilian encryption unless they figure out quantum computers.”
“Those are impossible.”
Derrick shrugged, “They’re trying. Anyway, even wiped the hardware would still be valuable. It’s not like Earth-Mars where the hardware was virtually identical and the software was secret, a computing node, a Link. Given enough time they’d be able to reverse engineer most of it.”
Derrick paled and turned back to the console, “If they wanted technology, taking a Human engineer would be the target. A spy could easily get technology from the Engineering teams working on the fabricator, but we’re only sharing a few technologies with them. All of the militaries have been pressing for weapons technology.”
Stagg held up a hand, “That’s assuming this isn’t just more people like the gentleman who decided to shoot you on the tarmac.”
Derrick said nothing for several moment’s his eyes locked on the list of people checking in, the final names on the engineering department flashing green.
Derrick sighed in relief, and then jumped as something banged on the side of the Canada.
Both Humans jumped and drew their side-arms.
“Derrick!” shouted a muffled voice.
He frowned, “That’s Hala’s voice.”
Stagg moved towards the hole in the bottom of the engineering compartment, “Hala, what is going on?”
“I don’t know, the alarms went off right when I pulled up to pick up Derrick. I was going to take him out to show him the city, he was late to meet me, and I figured he was doing another analysis looking for Arik. We salvaged another computing node today.”
Stagg raised an eyebrow, and glanced back at Derrick. He winced, “I was doing that and fixing the communication array.”
“Can I come in?” asked Hala.
Stagg frowned, “If your right then..” she trailed off.
“I think it would be easier to kidnap me when we were off the base, like we would have been in thirty minutes. Besides, she’s closely associated with one government. We’ve got camera’s in here backing up to all of the shuttles and everyone’s Links.”
Stagg leaned down through the hole, offering one arm to the woman her other hand still holding her gun. Hala clambered up through the hull of the ship, and took Stagg’s hand.
Derrick frowned looking her over. Her usual attire of rumpled engineering jumpsuit with a few dozen pockets to hold components had been replaced by what looked like a tightly wrapped kimono on top and transitioned into tight pants at the waist, continuing down to high black boots on her feet.
“What, are you wearing?” asked Derrick.
Hala scrunched up her nose, “I got you the right clothes to wear out to town, am I supposed to go out in my work clothes?”
Derrick shrugged, “I don’t think either of us are going out.”
She huffed in frustration, “No probably not.”
Another explosion, further off reverberated through the building.
“You have no idea what’s going on?” asked Derrick.
Hala shrugged, “The Certus wouldn’t be stupid enough to attack like this. My money would be on one of the purist factions from my own nation. The Herninites have been especially vocal, and in they have been violent in the past.”
Another explosion echoed through the air, and reverberated through the ship. Derrick winced at the noise, “Do I want to ask what they have been saying?”
“The Humans are creatures will take everything we have worked to create, you deserve whatever it is the Empire has inflicted on you, you don’t have souls so we should kill you and take your technology.” Hala grimaced, “To be truthful the Vakurian have been getting the brunt of it, they’re more alien in a way.”
Hala scrunched up her nose and her snakelike eyes narrowed, “Their lack of monogamy, the pheromones, their camouflaging skin. Their culture, and the fact that they divided themselves along stupid things like hair color.”
Derrick sighed, “Humans did things like that in the past, with skin color. I don’t think you can hold that against the Vakurian though, they destroyed themselves and learned from it.”
Hala shrugged, “I don’t particularly care. We need you and the Vakurian if we want to fight the Empire. Humans fought one another because of skin color?”
Stagg chuckled, “We’ve fought over reasons far less important than skin color. Truthfully this is the most united we’ve ever been in history. A common enemy that’s monolithic in power, it’s brought every faction Humanity has ever had together just to survive.”
The sound of rending metal tore through the air, Derrick turned back to the engineering display and an external camera feed from the bow of the ruined ship flickered on. Rain was falling through a hole in the ceiling of the hanger, down onto a surprised Human who looked to be the only other person in the hanger working on one of the extracted bridge stations.
Derrick angled the camera up, just in time to catch a small object falling through the hole.
“Grenade!” shouted Stagg, her voice echoing out of the ruined hull of the ship.
The Human crewman dove away from the explosive, which detonated only a moment after hitting the ground. The flash of light and roar of sound was loud even inside the ship, the light brighter through the hole than the camera which was built to filter out the flash of naked atomic blasts in space.
“Flash-bang!” growled Derrick as he began to furiously type on his console.
“Damn it, Derrick we need defenses!” said Stagg as several lines of rope dropped down through the hole in the ceiling of the hanger.
“Everything’s deactivated, and built for combat in space! The reactor’s deactivated, we’re getting a power feed from the Seninon!”
“Weapons lockers still stocked?” asked Stagg.
Derrick nodded and spinning away from his station threw his chair away and jumped up into the central corridor of the ship. Clambering up into the small tube that had been the backbone in space but was impractical in gravity Derrick awkwardly fell into the bridge.
Flashing his Link on for light Derrick grabbed at the small handle next to the captain’s chair and pulled.
The hatch popped open exposing the suit of Martian armor stored in it. Grimacing Derrick tore the weapons away from it and tossed them back up into the central corridor. Donning the suit would take too long.
“Derrick!” shouted Stagg. The familiar sound of a Human sidearm being fired reverberated through the bridge and Derrick winced at the noise.
Ignoring the ringing in his ears Derrick jumped back up into the corridor and pushed the weapons along in front of him. They clattered onto the floor of engineering as Stagg fired again.
The Captain of the Canada stood over the hole in the hull of her ship, stance wide and eyes focused through the wound. Her eyes were set and her gun completely steady in her hands as she fired again.
Hala glanced up at Derrick, she was holding a length of metal that she had pried from the wall in her hands. Derrick looked back at the monitor and winced, men were still descending the ropes that had been tossed into the hole in the hangers ceiling.
“Call for reinforcements!” shouted Derrick, he tore the radio from his jacket and tossed it at Hala. She dropped the length of metal and scrambled to catch the device.
“Captain!”
Derrick tossed the heavy assault weapon towards her.
Stagg stowed her sidearm and grabbed the weapon out of the air, angling it down she fired a rapid burst down at the attackers. The echoing roar of the explosions deafened Derrick as he brought his own weapon to bear on the breach in the hull.
Looking down through the hole Derrick could see men in primitive black combat gear, pads and heavy helmets, wires running up to their ears and weapons similar in shape to what he was wielding. A bullet clipped Derrick’s shoulder and he winced as the ship suit underneath his clothing deflected it away and up into the ceiling.
Bringing his weapon to bear Derrick lined up his shot and released a quick burst of fire down the hole. The armor the Seninon had was bulletproof, towards their own ammunition. The assault weapon Derrick wielded was built to penetrate state of the art Human armor. Each small bullet Derrick fired carried the same kinetic energy as an old .50 caliber round.
Trained from the time he could hold the weapon in his hands Derrick carefully put rounds down the murder hole, wordlessly trading shots with Stagg and covering for her when she moved to reload.
A grenade was tossed up into the compartment. Derrick squeezed his eyes shut and continued to fire, the sound in the small room completely blowing out his eardrums. Opening an eye and barely able to see Derrick continued to fire down into the hole his ears prickling as the normal dosage of nano-machines in his body began to fix his eardrums.
“Where is backup!” yelled Stagg.
She glanced back at Hala, the Seninon woman was staring at the radio still she was clutching in her hand.
“Hala!” Shouted Stagg, she stepped towards the woman. Derrick moving to cover her and grunted as another round from the Seninon weapon hit him in the chest knocking the air from his lungs.
Keeping the trigger down Derrick’s eyes flicked over to the camera, in time to see several of the black clad figures were dragging away the Human who had been working in the hanger.
“No!” Derrick whipped his eyes around and grabbed at the emergency oxygen canisters stored on the wall. Pulling them all free he quickly dropped them down the hole, and lining up the short shot fired.
The compressed canisters fizzled for a moment, Derrick continued firing into the mass of bodies and equipment below. The canisters detonated and Derrick felt his eardrums flex again. The men massed below stopped firing as they tried to recover.
“Derrick!” shouted Stagg. He ignored her and grabbing the edge of the hull dropped down onto the men his jacket flaring up around him and tearing as it caught on the jagged metal. Several more shots hit his suit and deep bruises began to form.
Hitting the ground Derrick emptied the assault weapon and dropped it. Raising his sidearm, Derrick fired at one of the men carrying off the unconscious Human. The man jerked as the bullet tore through his head and blood splattered onto his partner who whipped around to look at Derrick, raising his own weapon up to attack.
The searchlights on the side of the Canada flared to life behind Derrick, bright enough to light up objects kilometers away in space the light instantly blinded the man. He yelled in pain his eyes going up to his head. The Human he was carrying groaned as his own eyes burned, the nano-machines beginning to reconstruct his eyes.
Derrick glanced up at the hole in the hanger ceiling and fired at it.
A man fell from one of the ropes an impacted the concrete with a sickening crunch. Derrick looked around the hanger, absently noting that the Seninon blood was slightly lighter in color than a Humans.
The doors to the hanger opened, bright lights far less intense than those that the Canada had just flashed filtered in the silhouettes of men in similar armor to those who had attacked in front of them.
Derrick spun lining up a shot.
“Friendly!” shouted a man without a translator.
Derrick kept his gun raised, “How do I know that?”
A man dressed in what looked to be an officer’s uniform stepped forwards, his hands raised.
“I don’t think you have enough bullets even if we weren’t!” shouted the man, Derrick frowned recognizing him as the voice from the radio.
Derrick heard Stagg drop down behind him, Hala stumbling down after her.
“Commander!” shouted Hala.
Stagg reached into a pocket on her suit and pulled out an injector, offering it to Hala. Derrick dropped his gun to the ground and collapsed to his knees groaning as he began to feel the bruises forming on his body.
She looked at it and then pointed at her ears, “It’ll fix this?” she shouted.
Stagg nodded, Hala raised the injector to her neck and pressed it down. Taking the injector back Stagg strode towards Derrick reaching him just as the Paken commander did.
“That was incredibly stupid!” growled Stagg as she knelt next to him.
Derrick grunted, “I know.” Frowning he put a hand to his leg grimacing as felt blood. Falling to his back Derrick felt Stagg press the injector to his neck.
“They were taking Johnson.” Said Derrick, gesturing at the other man who was groggily getting to his feet his own emergency injector in hand.
“You good Johnson?” asked Stagg.
“I can’t see!” growled the man as he tripped over a body and fell to his knees.
Derrick chuckled, “Blame Stagg! She’s the one who set off the lights.”
Stagg frowned, “Lights?”
Derrick moved his eyes to Hala, “Did you manage that?”
Hala shook her head, “I didn’t turn any lights on.”
“Oh.” Derrick looked up at the ruined ceiling of the hanger, unable to concentrate as he continued to bleed and the nano-machines worked on putting him back together. “Weird.”
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15%
SYSTEM ALERT – corrupt files 49686/2086812
….
25%
SYSTEM ALERT – attempting to access other resources during recompile will damage files. Continue? Y/N
….
Y
….
50%
SYSTEM ALERT – corrupt files 55601/2086812
SYSTEM ALERT – compute node 023 offline
SYSTEM ALERT – compute node 096 offline
SYSTEM ALERT – compute node 023 online