Dark Echoes - Part 24

The hull shuddered again multiple times as Aaen aimed at the hatch. The sound of multiple metallic clicking and crackling sounds confirmed the locks had been engaged amid a resounding red alert. Security wasn’t going to be far behind. Aaen reasoned the only way he was going to get out is by blowing the hatch, cutting through it, or waiting for a power failure and then forcing the hatch open. None of the options offered much in the way of promise for stealth. . . shoot. Then again, if the hatch opens from the outside—he aimed at the crevice, thumbing the beam setting on the pistol to narrow. He noticed the air was getting thinner. There was no time to wait, on top of the fact that the pistol was down to 60% of maximum power—he fired. Sparks flew all over the tube as he gradually traced the beam along the hatch crevice.

“Valiant’s continuing to engage the dreadnought!” Jones declared. “Their defensive matrix is down to 80 percent!”

“Give them whatever help we can!” Smith commanded Sandberg.

“I think I’ve got a fix on the Captain’s location!. .He’s on what looks like an engineering maintenance access junction on their 70th deck! There’s a bunch of hostiles approaching his location—I’m also detecting an atmosphere change where he’s at. They might be trying to vent the oxygen!”

“Can we get a phase lock on him?” Smith asked, amid several more sharp hull shudders.

“Affirmative! What are you thinking of doing, sir?”

Smith looked at the pulsating lightning pounding the dreadnought’s vulnerable hull, sending fireballs and small bursts of burning debris into space. “Ending this,” multiple hull shudders rocked the ship after dozens of near-misses. Sparks shot from various points along the ceiling.

He had an idea. “Jones, get me a technical scan of the dreadnought.” 

*****

Steve H. of Portland, OR told Jordan Foutin, "You are the next Tom Clancy. You really are a gifted writer."

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