Episode 139, Botched
25 Dec 2024Ryuko Ntsikana
Botched
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The underground storage areas had remained untouched by the chaos that happened above. The only difference was that several of the automated repair systems were absent.
Likely dissolved somewhere above and unrecognizable, Galileo thought as he wrinkled his nose at the uncharacteristic stench.
The few that remained he had already seen, working above. Far too few to make much difference. All of the generators were dissolved, as was much of the infrastructure. If he were lucky, they might be able to repair the interplanetary communications array, but then he would still need a way to power it.
Whatever weapons had been used on the facility above had crept down below filling the air with a strong burned caustic acrid smell that stung his face, eyes, and lungs. Lowering his helmet’s face plate was the only way he could breathe without wanting to vomit.
His gaze flicked to a sputtering drone in the corner, its once-bright casing now pockmarked and dull. The single glowing lens stared at him, accusing as if asking: Why didn’t you save us?
Galileo knelt beside it, his gloved fingers finding the maintenance panel with practiced ease. The power cell inside was depleted but not entirely empty. “Still some life left in you,” he muttered, pressing the release tabs on either side of the cell. The lens dimmed and went dark as the energy pack slid free into his waiting hands.
He turned the power cell over, inspecting it with a critical eye. It wasn’t much, but if he could scavenge enough of these cells, he might have a chance. Connecting them in series could provide the energy required to power the interplanetary communications array—if the array itself wasn’t too far gone. It was a long shot, but it was better than nothing.
Straightening, Galileo pressed onward. The faint hum of his suit’s systems was the only sound in the dim, acrid silence. His escape pod’s transmitter would be broadcasting an automated distress signal, but its range was limited—only detectable to anyone in orbit over this lunar hemisphere. That wouldn’t be enough.
He paused, glancing upward as if he could see through the layers of rock and soil to the sky above. Supply ships regularly used the space above this outpost as a transit corridor, a tightly controlled route that aligned with the earth-like world this moon orbited. Ships passing through often adjusted their trajectories here before jumping to hyperspace or descending to either the earthen planet this moon was orbiting or the colony on the other side of the moon. If he could reach the communications array and power it, even briefly, he might be able to send a signal strong enough to catch one of those ships.
But for now, that was a distant possibility. He needed more power cells.
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Raven flew in a lazy pattern near the system’s navigational beacon. All ships entering the system were recorded as public information by the navigation beacon, situated near the main host star. By flying around within a few kilometers of it, he could monitor all traffic and public information taking place.
To the untrained observer he would be just another ship, hanging around to scan the hyperspace wakes of ships jumping out, the data gained useful and required by engineers when a commander wanted to upgrade their own hyperspace drives.
‘New contacts detected,’ the computer assistant voice announced as the contacts tab on the multifunction panel to his left lit up.
“Classify,” Raven replied as he followed a Type-9 and its recently arrived escorts.
‘Four capital ships detected.’
Raven’s eyes opened wide as he turned his head to look at the panel, tapping a tab on the panel to display an overview of the entire system’s information.
Four fleet carriers were listed, three in orbit of the moon his team mates were operating on, with the fourth near a moon more than a thousand light-seconds distant, where various settlements were located.
Raven began to tap on the various tabs inside of the system information to get a more detailed report on each individual item being reported.
“Computer, correlate all new information and display.”
‘One Drake class carrier, Two Nautilus, and one Victory class carrier have arrived in the system. Of the four carriers, two are aligned with Pranav Antal. Combined they house 68 ships among them and three are sortieing.’
“Assessment and recommendation?”
‘The system is currently reporting a terrorist attack against the primary faction. The system is controlled by Li Yong-Rui. The system owner is aligned with the same. The owner of the military outpost is owned by the same. Confidence is high that the mission is in jeopardy. Recommend aborting.’
Raven studied the screen as he opened the communications panel, sending the correlated information to the other Coteries.
“Heads up, something big is going on. Four fleet carriers have jumped into the system, and the local news is reporting terrorist attacks, against the system owners. That’s the same group that owns the outpost.”
Nyx, voice came over the net, calm and relaxed.“Lysandra is already on the ground. Do we abort?”
Raven looked at the contact page, as his ship busied itself with identifying a slew of new contacts that appeared near the navigation beacon.”
“Lysandra, step it up. You’ve got 5 to identify anything of use, otherwise abort. Nyx, do what you do best. Corvus. Run cover for Lysandra. I’ll continue to run the beacon.”
There was no reply, there didn’t need to be one. Raven maintained his position, gathering as much information as possible from the navigation beacon. Whatever Nyx found out would be added to that to complete a larger picture.
Nyx broke orbit, using his ship’s stealth to sneak past three of the capital ships as he headed towards the next inhabited moon, which contained several of the lead faction's settlements. He could see a fourth carrier in orbit as he adjusted his course to the far side of the moon, entering and descending from a location where the carrier’s sensors would not be able to detect him.
Raven maintained his discipline, scanning each wake within his range, gathering as much data as possible while keeping a discrete distance. A smirk formed on his lips as he embraced the time dilating affect of the adrenaline, making each passing minute seem like an hour.
The message tab lit up as Raven reached up and tapped it with a finger. Nyx was data-sharing his ship’s findings.
“Combine and correlate new information.”
‘All of the system owner’s industrial and agricultural settlements have been attacked and are offline. The only remaining settlement is a tourist facility, which is attempting to evacuate its guests.’
“Lysandra, Corvus, hustle up. Looks like they aren’t wasting any time. Nyx, provide overwatch.”
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Galileo had been crawling and hiding behind different crates as a collection of armored-suited droids went about their task of moving any they would grab and moving them to the lift. A single-suited human who had maintained position on the lift turned to look up at the sky above and then issued orders to the droids.
“Abort mission and return with what you have. The attackers will be coming shortly.”
Galileo’s stomach tightened. Attackers? Returning? Whoever these people were, he needed off this rock—prisoner, hostage, or otherwise.
Summoning what little courage he had left, Galileo stepped from the shadows, raising his hands high. “Hey! Don’t leave me here to be dissolved!”
The droids froze, their heads snapping toward him in eerie unison. Weapons raised, targeting lasers flickering to life and tracing the space around him. Galileo’s heart thundered in his chest. He stayed perfectly still, hands trembling in the air.
The human hesitated, then gestured sharply. “Take him. Let’s move.”
Two droids moved swiftly, their grips firm but not painful as they hoisted Galileo off the ground. He winced as his boots left the floor, the droids carrying him toward the lift without ceremony. The remaining machines gathered their cargo, and within moments, the lift began its slow ascent toward the devastated surface.
As the platform rose, Galileo cast one last glance below. Whatever had destroyed this place, it wasn’t done yet. And whoever these people were, they were just as desperate to leave as he was.