40. Proximity of the dead

• “Sir, movement down there.”
• “Report!” — snapped back the XO at his officer.
• “Unresponsive worker vessel, fast approaching the team’s entry position. Our interceptors in position.”
• “Just as expected, keep monitoring the open channels.”
• “Unidentified vessel, break off from the wreckage and land immediately. Or you will be fired upon.”
• “Sir, no answer and no change in vector or speed.”
• “Alpha leader, authorized to fire on outer perimeter breached.”
• “Understood. Unidentified vessel, repeat, break off or will be fired upon.”

• “Still nothing.”
• “Alpha leader, Fox 4 away.” — indicating the launch of active radar targeting missile with an electromagnetic warhead, designed to disable or disrupt hostile targets.

Just in the next second, Irondome observed confirmed hit and the vessel started losing altitude. Relaying data to a second commando team, already closing in on the expected landing position.

Without an atmosphere, Irondome bridge could watch events unfold live in high-definition. XO let out a smile for a moment before returned to his professional poker face. The crew performed exceptionally, despite they never trained for executing this tactic on a stellar body.

The moon’s lower gravity gave enough cushion, at least the analysts came to the conclusion this approach would be non-lethal. Observation reported no movement while seconds later the commando stacked up next to the new wreckage. Though it seemed the worker’s vessel was barely scratched, lights and transponder went dark confirming the EM hit successfully.

Bravo team lead with his second put the charges onto the predetermined positions, popped them burning the heavy locks. They were already inside, knowing from the design that these small ships were not pressurized, every passenger standing at their assigned place in their environmental suits.

The EM charge expected to knock out the exoskeleton controls too, rendering everyone helpless and unable to move.

• “Six onboard, plus a pilot, extracting them now.” — sounded loudly from the comms on the bridge as the screens showed the interceptors circling nearby ready for the remaining two vessels if they make a move.
• “Bravo team, get out of there!” — a third grade bridge analyst shouting into the comms.
• “Moving out with first two now.”
• “Highly flammable compound detected by your suit sensors, leave immediately.”
• “Bravo team, you heard it, leave them and get away!”
• “Understood…” — as bravo lead stepped out, he looked back onto the pilot. Last thing he ever saw.

Pilot’s suit restarted and just leaned ahead onto the control panels.

Irondome bridge lit up to bright white as the fireball shined through their screens.

John could not see a thing in the darkness. Download inched to a finish, his thoughts racing on what’s next. Looking around, being in the close vicinity of a damaged ion engine, people pointing high-caliber guns around him did not help for calm planning.

Then John’s helmet interface lit up like a Christmas tree. More precisely showed a Christmas tree lights. Took a moment to realize the shape is Victoria’s, she must have gone full active mode. Then she opened fire into the darkness. Nobody hearing the lifeless body thumping on the metal floor. Another tracer round from Michael, a second short burst.

• “John, how much?” — their position compromised anyway Victoria broke radio silence.
• “Few seconds and done.”
• “I see ten more on my screen, coming from three corridors. Cover each. I am on left.” — ordered Michael still in charge of the mission.
• “On the right.” — affirmed Victoria.
• “Covering center.” — one of the vanguard signaling to the another to move over to the right assisting their captain.
• “John, stay down.”

Mesmerized by the silent flashlights, the dancing tracking lights, he unconsciously straightened up. Victoria’s shape wriggled left and right for a few moments. A mild surprise, his chest felt like it was slapped. As if someone hunted down a fly and he was in the way.

• “Clear, all movement neutralized.” — reported Michael just as John found the switch for his infrared sensors.

Now he joined the club of Christmas lights on the other’s view. The team feeling a rumble under their feet as the events just outside unfolded.

• “Download finished, we can move to next download.” — John urged them.
• “We keep to the plan, identify our attackers then we extract. Let Bravo team and the cavalry secure the area before we return.”
• “Wait, what?”
• “Stirred up the rat’s nest, let’s clean it up before putting you to more risk.” — Michael shortly turned on a bright spot light and pointed to John’s chest armor.
• “Oh my…” — first time he saw the deep scratch almost breaching his suit.
• “Ricochet bullet mark. Now, let’s go to extraction. Captain…” — Michael just noticed her missing. — “Captain Sebes, come in.” — waiting for seconds in vain.
• “Last I saw her was before I got hit. There!” — now John put together one and one.

Both ran to the right corridor entrance she was protecting, the vanguard noting he lost track of her and had to knock back an attacker as they ran up to them.

They could only see a whole on the floor, mangled metal draining downward.

Read the story leading up to now:

Giant of the Stars

Fictional story of a luxury starliner’s catastrophy