Whispers Of The Tempest - 3
14 Jul 2023Silvia Sharpe
Part 2 Here
Part 3
Silence hung in the air as I strained my senses, my gaze fixed on the storm-choked sky. The rain continued to pour, and the wind whipped around me, making it difficult to discern any potential threats. The static on the comms channel buzzed softly in my earpiece, reminding me of the urgency of the situation. Then, amidst the cacophony of the storm, a faint crackle came through the comm system. It was Kira's voice, distorted but recognizable.
“Silvia,.... getting this, I’m ..... now. It’s going ..... few minutes...... your positi...... thing going ....... can. ....... get ...... signs of trouble,...... back ...... ship immediately ....”
As I attempted to decipher the message amidst the overpowering storm interference, confusion clouded my mind. Did Kira intend for me to return to my ship urgently? Was there a looming danger that she was aware of? Uncertainty gripped me as I climbed back into my scarab, seeking shelter and a means to establish communication. However, the electromagnetic interference emanating from the storm rendered any further attempts at communication futile, reducing my comms system to nothing but a garbled symphony of static. Realizing that I was now at the mercy of the relentless storm and the enigmatic presence lurking within, a sense of vulnerability washed over me. As the fear began to sink in, I attempted to call over to Celeste.
'Celeste I need you to try to amplify the signal from Ranger. I need a communications line opened.'
I proceed back to my ship cautiously, the rain and hail hammering against the Scarabs hull. More communication comes through from Kira but most of it is garbled. I catch a brief line about a ship lurking in the clouds above. When I hear that, a feeling of dread washes over me and my hands become clammy. As I make it back to the Ranger and ascend back into the ship with the scarab Jackson slowly begins to regain consciousness.
'Wh.... Where am I? Silvia..... You came! ugh fuck!. You shouldn't have come back though. Gren...... Grensh......'
Jackson falls unconscious again before he can get the name out but what he had said was enough for me to realize who he was talking about. The problem with it was that from my understanding Grenshaw and Diaz were both dead. They cant be alive can they? How would they have even found me if they were? Were they the ones who sent Jules after Melli or was that a cover to get her to take me back in? These questions run through my mind as I rush to the cockpit to try and contact Kira.
'Kira, Jacksons ship was attacked by Grenshaw. He works for Diaz, the same man who killed my wife.'
Kira responds back her voice more clear thanks to Celeste boosting the comms frequency.
'What do you mean? How do you know this? You did hear me say there is a ship up here right?'
'Yes I heard you. Well sort of heard you. Comms were pretty bad but yes something about there being a ship or rather you thinking there was a ship up there.'
As we finally exchange proper communication after a long period of garbled and fragmented relays Grenshaw takes the distraction as an opportunity. Using the electromagnetic interference to his advantage he drops his mamba Neptune's Curse inline behind Kira in her ship and unleashes a barrage of rounds targeting her main thruster assembly. the first volley of plasma rounds takes out a decent chunk of her ships shields. As Grenshaw fires off a second volley, Kira rolls her ship to the left but not before the full volley of rounds makes solid contact with her ship.
Kira calls over to EDI in an attempt to get a target lock on his ship.
'EDI I am going to need that ship targeted. Please try to clear up some of this interference I need my sensors to be accurate.'
"I am sorry Kira but this storm is making it difficult to pin point where the ship is. This is the best I can do right now."
Kira's sensors are cleared up a bit but not enough to be able to accurately rely on ship systems.
"No target lock, no gimbals. Alright, guess we’re just gonna have to do this the hard way."
***
I rush back to the planetary vehicle bay and carefully lift Jackson out of the vehicle and bring him to the medical bay on the ship. I check him over once again noticing several bruises and a small laceration on his left forearm. None of the injuries are life threatening and can wait to be taken care of later. He regains consciousness once again. I help him sit up and hug him gently.
'Oh Jackie, I am soo glad you are alive. But we have bigger problems at hand...... shit what the hell was that?!'
I am interrupted by the sound of several stray rounds impacting the hull of my ship. Celeste issues a warning that we have come under attack and Jackson goes rigid. The look on his face tells me he knows exactly who was shooting at us. I help him to his feet and bring him to the cockpit. Once he is secure I rush over to my seat and begin preflight checks ensuring that all systems were operating properly.
As I complete the necessary checks, I make a determined effort to start the ship's engines. However, to my dismay, the persistent rain has seeped into the left and right main thrusters, causing them to malfunction. Despite my best attempts, the thrusters fail to ignite properly, impeding the ship's propulsion. I turn my attention to Ranger's main engine, hoping it will offer some respite. Unfortunately, even the main engine struggles to start up, exhibiting signs of the relentless battle against the elements. The combined effects of the flooding and the storm's relentless onslaught have taken their toll, presenting a daunting obstacle in my journey. I search for alternative methods to address the engine issues and restore the ship's functionality.
'Damn it I need to get this ship started. Celeste do you have any Ideas here? Is there a way to drain the water from the engine and thrusters? We are sitting ducks here.'
"I am not certain. Give me a moment to search the database for any information regarding this particular issue."
As Celeste analyzes the ship's database for possible solutions to address the engine issues caused by the storm, I feel a sense of fear building within me. Time is of the essence, and we cannot afford to remain vulnerable in this storm any longer.
After a brief pause, Celeste responds, her voice calm but tinged with a sense of urgency.
"Silvia, I have found some potential solutions. One option is to activate the ship's emergency drainage system. It should help remove the water from the engine and thrusters. However, this procedure might take some time, and it may not completely resolve the issue."
I weigh the options in my mind, knowing that our current predicament leaves us with limited choices. Despite the potential risks, the emergency drainage system seems like our best chance at restoring the ship's functionality.
'Activate the emergency drainage system,' I command, my voice filled with determination. 'We need to get the engines and thrusters operational again.'
Acknowledging my command, Celeste initiates the emergency drainage sequence, diverting power to the system. Celeste provides updates on the progress of the emergency drainage system after a short moment of silence with only the rain and hail as a way to break up the silence.
"The drainage process is underway. The water levels are gradually decreasing, but it will still take some time before the engines and thrusters are completely clear."
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, Celeste's voice breaks through the tension in the cockpit.
"The emergency drainage procedure is complete, commander. The water levels have reached acceptable levels, and the engines and thrusters should now be operational."
Relief washes over me as I hear Celeste's words. It's a small victory amidst the chaos of the storm, but a crucial one nonetheless. I activate the ship's controls, a surge of hope as the systems come to life, washes over me. The engines hum to life, their familiar vibrations a reassuring sign. I engage the thrusters, feeling the ship respond as it lifts off the ground.
With the engines and thrusters restored, we no longer remain at the mercy of the storm. It's a fleeting moment of respite, but one that allows us to regain control of our current situation. I retract the landing gear, and attempt to locate where Grenshaw and Kira are fighting. As I make my way further up towards the clouds, I am blindsided by Grenshaw ramming Ranger at full speed and firing a full volley of plasma rounds as well as railgun munitions. The sounds of metal being torn apart resonates through the ship sending chills down both mine and Jacksons spines. Melli comes rushing into the cockpit terrified of what is happening and tucks herself into her reinforced and padded cage.
Grenshaw slams forward into the console in front of him thrown off by the sudden appearance of a black ship seemingly appearing out of thin air. He growls out in an aggravated tone when he realizes what ship he just ran into. He knew that if he killed Melli, Diaz would surely take off his head. Grenshaw very much so wanted to keep his head on his body so made it a point to only aim for my thrusters while aiming to kill when firing on Kira. He yells out at me pissed off that he even had to worry about me getting in the way.
'Fucking dumb ass bitch! I need you alive! Fuck!