Hunt for the Saiph (The Saiph Series Book 3) (30 page)
Read Hunt for the Saiph (The Saiph Series Book 3) Online
Authors: PP Corcoran
The urgent tones of Kilor broke the stillness.
“Captain Calan, what’s happening? We’ve lost your video feed. What is your situation? We have indications the ship’s power is coming online.” The general and Kilor had been following Calan’s progress on the banks of monitors in their makeshift control room aboard the freighter.
Calan took a closer look at the door which had closed behind him, it was of similar composition to the outer door, which they had burned through and he saw no control panel to open it. He tried to make sense of events.
“May be the ship reads our cutting through the outer door as a hull breach and has activated some sort of emergency protocol? This second door could be used simply to protect the integrity of the ship.”
#
Kilor liked Calan’s logic, airlock failure safeguards, simple. “Calan, back away from the second door. Jara will cut another hole and we’ll get you out of there…”
“Excuse me, sir.”
Kilor hunted the room until he found the technician monitoring Calan’s suit’s readouts who had the temerity to interrupt him. “Yes?!”
The tech shrank in his seat a little, at Kilor’s irritated tone. “The sensors show the airlock has a breathable atmosphere.”
“What? Confirm that… Then check again.” Kilor eyes met those of General Kula for a brief second. “Calan, check your suit systems. We’re reading a breathable atmosphere in the airlock. Jara could cause an explosive decompression if he cuts through the door while the airlock retains an atmosphere. Give us a few minutes to work the problem and I’ll get back to you.” Cutting the link to the stranded captain, Kilor faced General Kula.
“Well, our exploratory mission seems to have morphed into a rescue mission.”
“Indeed! So how do we rescue our good captain without causing any more damage to the ship?” Major Dora cleared his throat loudly.
“You wish to say something, Major?”
“Sir, if I may,” the major didn’t wait for approval, “during my last tour of duty I was stationed aboard the Emperor Yalo IV spaceport as Section Head of Damage Repair. One of our regular training scenarios was a breach of the outer hull causing a full or partial depressurizing of particular sections, while the rest of the section remained pressurized. Our procedure was to erect a secondary airlock around the damaged section, which could then be cut away with no risk to any trapped survivors.”
Kula and the general nodded, it seemed to be a workable solution.
“Do you have the equipment to build another airlock, Major?” Asked the general.
“I don’t need to build one, sir.” Dora smiled, enjoying his moment.
“Get on with it Major, or you’ll find yourself reduced to the rank of private before you leave this room!”
The major blanched, unaccustomed to such threats. “The mining team transport shuttles come equipped with an extendable personnel tube. The personnel tubes have an integrated airlock on each end. If we move a shuttle close enough to the damaged airlock we can fabricate a makeshift docking collar to seal the airlock and allow us to cut through the inner door without the danger of an explosive decompression.”
The general looked to Kilor who nodded in agreement. “How long to get the shuttle in place and fabricate the docking collar, Major Dora?”
“No more than two to three hours I would think.”
“So ordered. Get to it, Major.”
As Dora scampered out of the control room, Kilor reestablished his link to the stranded Calan to keep him appraised of the rescue plan, however, the increasing power levels registering throughout the floating ship drew his attention. Section after section showed signs of coming to life and if the scientist interpreted the data correctly then within a fleeting moment the entire ship could have life support and power. What in the Emperor’s name was happening over there?
#
Calan had exactly the same thought. Kilor had cut his radio link only moments ago and Calan was sure the control room was doing everything in their power to ensure his rescue. But his rescue was not his main concern at the moment, as the airlock pressurized, sound traveled freely and from beyond the inner airlock door he was certain he heard movement.
At first, he dismissed the noises as his wild imagination, but then came a bang so loud the small airlock reverberated. No trick of the mind! He activated his radio link, no longer fearful of looking stupid to the crew. Calan received only static.
Bang!
There it is again.
Bang! Bang! Whoosh!
The inner airlock door retreated into the roof and Calan faced two aliens in tight fitting green uniforms carrying large boxes. Their large round eyes widened matching Calan’s surprise. For what seemed an eternity, the trio stared across the meter or so separating them, before the aliens let out a fusillade of high pitched squeaks and hopped from foot to foot. Calan held up his hands in what he hoped was a peaceful gesture, the aliens stopped screaming and seemed increasingly fascinated by his hands.
Swapping confused looks the smaller of the two gingerly stepped forward and raised its hand as if to place it against Calan’s. Their palms met and the alien jerked backwards sparking another animated conversation.
The smaller alien, the one Calan thought was in charge, tapped at its neck and spoke for a few moments then cocked its head as though listening to a reply. More squeaking ensued, followed by more head cocking. Calan reasoned they were equipped with a communications device, perhaps this one was speaking to the captain of the ship? Calan smiled wryly as he imagined this conversation.
Excuse me, sir, you know that airlock you wanted fixed? Well, I found a stow away... Yes… Yes… What, sir? Throw him overboard, sir? Yes, sir, right away sir! Calan’s thoughts were interrupted with the whoosh of the inner door. The aliens had stepped out of the airlock and sealed Calan, once more, within. Calan frantically activated his radio link to Kilor, but got only an earful of static. Damn! He suspected his alien friends had jammed his signal, all he could do was sit tight. He did not have to wait long.
The inner airlock door retreated into the roof and revealed a single alien. The uniform was different. This alien wore a dark blue one and at his waist was a weapon, Calan was sure, about the size of a standard pistol.
The alien gazed quizzically at Calan.
Son, you gotta look a man square in the eyes if you want to get his true measure, Calan’s father’s word replayed in his mind. He hoped the same principle applied to this alien.
Calan reluctantly released his helmet clamps, gingerly removing his helmet before laying it at his feet. The alien fearlessly watched Calan as if he were a curious exhibit in a freak show. It reached up with its arms and motioned a vertical line down its chest, like dragging a zipper, then wiggled its shoulders. Are you kidding me?
“I’m not taking my suit off!” Calan broke the silence and put his hands on his waist staring at the unwavering alien. Dammit! Calan shook his head and looked away as he considered his options. One, remove his pressure suit and the alien opens the outer door leading to the cold, nasty end of Captain Calan. Two, ignore the request and the alien opens the outer door and Captain Calan still meets a nasty end. Three, remove the suit.
Calan reasoned he’d already removed his helmet, there was no chance of him replacing it in time if the alien decided to flush the airlock. He sighed. What’ve you got to loose, Calan? Calan worked his gloves off and wriggled out of his awkward suit. Stripping down to his inner thermal layer, Calan felt naked before the implacable alien.
The alien stepped forward, apparently satisfied Calan was no threat and Calan noticed, for the first time, their similarity of height and build. The alien grasped Calan’s right wrist and turned Calan’s hand palm up before it placed its own palm on it. The breath caught in Calan’s throat as he looked at the five lightly furred fingers wrapped around his own. In shock, his jaw slackened, he drew his eyes from the gripping hand into the now playful eyes of the alien.
My God, he’s a Saiph
!
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