Bug Hunt - Part 23

"WOAH!" Aaen watched in shock as a bright red-yellow particle energy bolt sharply hummed through the air as the bolt reached out from the top of the hull and struck just behind the crew. Aaen could feel the intense heat of the beam weapon's impact from eight feet away. He eyed the top of the hull with a look of concern as he walked backward with the rest of the forward-facing crew.

—Another shot, much closer this time, Aaen noted. The intruder's either not aiming at all, isn't trying to hit any of us. . .or it's a bad shot, he guessed, but it's—

Jeez! Aaen jumped back as another bolt struck the docking bay floor, only feet away from him. He could feel himself starting to sweat on his face and shoulders. His hands were becoming clammy, and his otherwise well-groomed and styled head of hair started feeling more like the business end of a mop.

Those eyes! The intruder's face was becoming more clear with each shot—like lightning lighting up a stormy sky. It's trying to aim! Aaen quickly corrected himself. He stayed focused on staying with the rest of the crew—

—Hiss—POP

Another impact! "It's getting closer!" Aaen yelled, looking over his shoulder to see how close the crew was to the door. About fifty more meters. . . He gasped heavily.

"How close?" the First Officer asked loudly.

POP—

Six feet away! HURRY PEOPLE! Aaen thought, picking up the pace. "GO! Go! GO!" Aaen yelled. "It's on top of the ship! It's missing by less than six feet!" Aaen replied to the First Officer.

Communications looked behind her and up, and then snapped forward wide-eyed. "HURRY!" she screamed frantically.

"I see the intruder! Barely!" Jason yelled, sounding doubtful. "I don't think I can hit it from here!"

The air was getting even thinner. . .Aaen noted. The remaining thirty meters started to seem more like a half-mile after what already felt like a long run. Why isn't the intruder shooting at us anymore? Aaen thought, starting to turn to look over his right shoulder.

The First Officer looked right, then left. "Hurry! Everyone get behind a—" another loud, sharp hiss, and then a bolt struck the First Officer behind his upper-right arm. 

Aaen ducked sharply. "Get-down!" 

The rest of the crew followed Aaen's advice.

The First Officer spun around and then collapsed on the docking bay floor with a dull thud, cringing and expressing pain.

The Doctor snapped to the First Officer. Wide-eyed, she yelled, "OFFICER DOWN!" 

"TAKE COVER!" the Captain yelled, waving frantically in both directions. "Get behind these crates! HURRY!" he snapped to follow his own order. 

Aaen looked over, and behind his left shoulder, the door's only twenty meters away! He scrambled, diving behind a two-by-two stack of crates, ducking for safety.

POP—

            POP—

                        POP

Jeez! Aaen thought, who or what's-it trying to hit? He wondered, trying to problem-solve. Another bolt struck a wall behind Aaen—sparks from the impact missed him by less than a foot, he realized The bolt's glow was just enough to illuminate the silver label on one of the crates he was hiding behind. 

Each bolt started to sizzle and crackle on impact with the surrounding metal surfaces. 

Aaen read the label, 'Mechanical Components. HANDLE WITH CARE.' What kind of—

POP—

The crate he was hiding behind shuddered violently towards him. He ducked sharply in retreat, listening to the subtle hiss of a spot of super-heated metal inches from his head. This casing apparently isn't rated for high-power particle fire, he reasoned. The intruder's increased the power output of each shot. It's not looking to stun, anyone, he guessed, skeptical of the crews' odds at this point. 

Aaen looked to his left at the Captain. "Captain! We can't stay here!"

"What do we do?" the Engineer asked frantically. "It's got us pinned back!"

Aaen looked at the door's control panel, squinting at the small text displayed next to the door's illuminated controls. "Jason! Can you get to the door and disarm the lock!"

Another bolt impact. The bolt sparked against the Captain's crate cover. 

Jason turned his head, "No! There's too much incoming fire!"

"Doctor! How's the First Officer?" the Captain asked. 

"He'll be fine! He'll be fully healed in a couple of minutes, and his uniform repaired!" she ducked under another incoming bolt. 

—Now, the only sounds in the bay were the crew's frantic breathing and the faint echo of atmospheric distribution. Aaen displayed a confused look. . . More than five seconds passed since the last shot. 

Aaen looked at Jason with a confused look, mouthing, 'It stopped shooting.' He inched up, just enough to see over his cover.

Another bolt struck just inches from his face.

"Return FIRE!" the Captain yelled.

Jason struggled to take a knee, loosely pointing his sidearm up at an angle and fired back. Aaen carefully observed the first shot missed the shadowy figure significantly.

"More left!" Aaen suggested to Jason. "Use the sparks from the ceiling to help you s—"

Aaen ducked to silence. His head rested against the back of a crate at almost a ninety-degree angle. He pulled in his legs as a precaution, laying on his side.

Aaen listened as Jason fired multiple shots back in quick succession—he still missed, but not by much—Aaen reasoned. Aaen was having a harder time estimating the distance. He realized he didn't have to—

"Jason! Use the sparks from any missed shots to help you see the intruder!"

"I'm trying!"

"I might be able to disarm the lock on the door if you can keep the intruder from shooting at us!" Operations yelled to Jason.

"No promises!" said Jason. "Hurry! My sidearms close to overheating! Go! Go!"

"Sensors! Toss me the First Officer's sidearm! Quick!" Aaen said frantically.

"He didn't tell me to!"

Aaen looked at the Captain with a determined look. The Captain looked at Sensors and nodded. "DO IT! I don't want another crew member to get injured!"

Aaen rolled his eyes. DUH! He thought. Aaen scrambled, got up on his knees long enough to catch the sidearm tumbling in mid-air at him, and then looked up and right—then sharply ducked, wide-eyed as a bolt missed him by inches.

SHOOT! Aaen thought. That was TOO CLOSE! He decided. This intruder's not a bad shot, after all, he thought, worried. He gasped hard, taking several deep breaths—his heart beating sharply in his chest. He started to wonder if the station's artificial gravity was suddenly malfunctioning—or if he was the only one feeling like he was being pulled into the deck plate beneath him.

Aaen inched upright on his hands and knees, handling his sidearm carefully as he barely looked over his cover, up at the intruder. The sparks from Jason's missed shots briefly revealed the intruder's face for only a second or two per shot. Jason was getting closer to hitting the target—

But the intruder remained still. Aaen made eye contact with the intruder, again. Aaen detected a sharp look seemingly into his soul, a look Aaen returned. The intruder's face bore no indication of concern, nor the slightest hint of mercy. This time. . .Aaen saw only burning malevolence as another burst of sparks showered over the intruder.

Aaen reinforced his grip on the First Officer's sidearm—

The intruder groaned as it jerked sharply to its right, leaning over slightly as it covered its right upper-arm with its left hand.

"I GOT IT!" Jason yelled cheerfully, ducking behind cover.

The intruder looked back at Aaen, baring its teeth. No, Aaen thought, you just made it angry.

Aaen kneeled upright to a tactical stance, took quick aim at the intruder—fired!

*****

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

DANIEL STORM, a Jordan Foutin eBook, is available for $8.99 at any of these fine online retailers: 

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Bug Hunt - Part 22

Make sure the bay's pressurized, and then use the cargo loading ramp to put some distance between the crew and the intruder. Aaen thought. But it won't take very long for the intruder to catch up. . .and then who knows what will happen if it should. No time! 

The Captain snapped around. "Sensors, is the docking bay pressurized?" he asked directly.

"Yeah—just enough. The atmosphere containment field is just barely online. I wouldn't want to stay in the docking bay for any longer than I had to." Aaen detected a strong hint of doubt in her voice. He looked at the Captain, and then the First Officer. The First Officer returned the look, and then he looked at the Captain.

"Aaen," said Communications, leaning toward Aaen. "What's going on?" she whispered, appearing curious.

Aaen kept looking at the Engineering compartment as he replied, "The intruder's on its way up. We've gotta get outta here, and there's really only one viable method of escape."

"How?"

"We'll all have to use the cargo loading ramp while the intruder's trying to gain access to the bridge. If everything goes the way I think it will. . .we'll get off the ship at about the same time the intruder gets to the bridge. If it works, it'll buy us some time to get to a safe area on the station."

"Are you sure there is a safe area?"

Aaen turned his head subtly. "Maybe."

"There's that scratching sound!" said Jason, looking to the medical bay.

"Do we have any sidearms that we can use?" the Captain asked.

"Just those!"

"No! I mean, can the ship fire particle cannons on the inside?"

"No. All of the ship's cannons are on the hull."

Stupid question, Aaen thought.

"I hear it!" said the Engineer. "It's getting louder in here!"

"Let's pack up and get outta here!" Aaen yelled.

"I agree, Captain." said the First Officer.

The Captain looked at Operations. "Can you interface with the station's main computer to control the lights in the docking bay?" he asked alarmingly.

"Not with the station's main computer.—"

"It's getting louder!" said the Engineer.

"Engineer! Stop what you're doing an' get outta that section!" said the First Officer.

Aaen noticed the Engineer wasted no time following that particular order—he quickly inched his torso halfway through the crawlway into the medical bay.

"Warning: unauthorized life form detected entering Engineering Section of the main bridge." the Main Computer droned. "Engineering seal will be compromised in two-minutes.

"Operations! See if you can get any power to the docking bay lights!" said the Captain.

"I'm working on it!"

"Okay! Let's get the sidearms and other gear that we need, and get ready to move out!" said the First Officer.

Jason and Sensors rushed to carry out the order. Jason gave a sidearm to the First Officer; Jason took the second sidearm. The scratching noise was getting gradually louder. The Doctor stood in front of the main bridge hatch.

"Okay. Everyone stay together." said the Captain. "Everyone is to proceed to the aft cargo ramp. We'll set up a perimeter at the foot of the ramp, and then figure out what to do from there."

Wrong. Aaen thought. The perimeter is set up when you figure out where to make a stand! He started getting nervous for the rest of the crew about what might happen in the next few minutes.

"Everyone ready?" the Doctor asked, looking at the rest of the crew, taking out her scanner and scanning the way ahead, beyond the hatch. "I'm not detecting any life forms. I think it's okay to proceed. Captain?"

He nodded.

"Warning: bridge engineering section hatch seal compromised."

"Let's go!" the Captain whispered loudly.

"Captain, it might be a good idea to use your command codes to lock down the bridge."

"Oh. Right." the Captain said, turning around. "Computer! Lock down the bridge! Authorization code—" he stated his command authorization code.

"Authorization code confirmed. Now locking down bridge computer stations."

A chain of beeping sounds filled the bridge; Aaen looked around to the tactical and sensor stations—the screens turned black with red lining and text indicating the stations had been locked due to command override.

A metallic pop filled the bridge.

"It's on the bridge!" the Engineer whispered loudly.

Aaen looked forward. The Doctor opened the hatch, leading into the next compartment, through a second door, and then left through a maintenance hatch. Aaen was third in line behind the First Officer. Aaen looked behind him; the Captain was in front of the Engineer.

"It's coming! I can see it's shadow!" said the Engineer, frantically.

"Stay together!" said the Captain. "Where's Dimitri?"

"He's probably still on deck two." the Doctor replied, quietly. "I'm sure he'll be fine."

After a third hatch, the crew turned right to find themselves in a flat stage-like area full of variably marked crates. To the left: the ramp, raised. A red light blinked at regular two-second intervals, filling the cargo bay and glaring against the ramp.

"Lower the ramp!" the Captain said. The First Officer carried out the order using a control panel to the crews' left. The ramp gradually lowered in ten seconds; a pneumatic hiss filled the air. The atmosphere was getting thinner with each passing second. Aaen started feeling a little woozy but managed to stay upright. He noticed the rest of the crew was just trying to stay conscious but was succeeding—so far.

The First Officer raised his sidearm, stepping aside and aiming his sidearm to the rear. "Someone close that hatch. Quick!"

The Engineer was prompt in starting to carry out the order. The sound of rustling printed materials and computer equipment echoed from where the crew had come. "It's, coming!" he quickly away from the hatch.

The ramp lowered. The Doctor led the crew down the ramp to the hangar floor. The Captain gestured for the crew to assume a circular formation. The crew took a knee.

The Doctor waived her scanner around her, pausing at Odyssey. "The intruder's coming!" she whispered loudly.

The Captain gestured for sidearm to be directed toward the top of the ramp and the dorsal hull. 

Aaen looked around. Visibility was low with most of the light in the bay coming from the Odyssey's forward lights. The crew was at the mouth of the bay. Boy, the atmosphere is thin in here.

Aaen tapped the Captain on the shoulder and then pointed to a door at the front left corner of the bay. The Captain nodded.

"Everyone!—" he whispered loudly and then pointed to the door. The First Officer kept pointing his sidearm atop Odyssey, while Jason kept aiming at the top of the ramp.

That metallic scratching noise, again. . . Aaen became wide-eyed. It's getting louder, Aaen thought.

—POP! A spine-tingling metallic scream faintly, but sharply echoed.

"That was a maintenance hatch!" said the Engineer.

The Doctor looked at her scanner, waving it over Odyssey. "Looks like it's on top of the ship!" the Doctor whispered loudly. "We need to get out of here, Captain!"

Aaen kept an eye on the dorsal hull. No more talking, he thought, determinedly. The door was less than a hundred meters away. Aaen looked forward at the door, and then up and behind the crew. A shape, he squinted. What's that light?. . . More wide-eyed, he pointed to the top of the hull and loudly whispered, "First Officer! Jason! Suppression fire!"

*****

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

DANIEL STORM, a Jordan Foutin eBook, is available for $8.99 at any of these fine online retailers: 

smashwords.com (Remember to like and share!)

apple iBooks (This link is best viewed on iPhone or iPad)

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Make sure to like the official StormTeam Simulations Facebook page for the latest, including when DANIEL STORM will be available on Amazon.com for Kindle eBook and softcover! Coming soon!

Bug Hunt - Part 21

"All right, everybody, this is what we're going to do: We're going to engage the intruder on the station! Now, we only have two sidearms, and there are ten of us on the ship, including the doctor, and Dimitri. We don't know anything about the station, so we need to get it mapped out before we can leave the ship." 

Really, Aaen thought, let's not be too obvious right now. Aaen had already contemplated the next several possible moves for the crew. Of course, we wouldn't know the station, Aaen thought. Scan the station, upload the tactical readouts to the Doctor's scanner, and use the data to find an area to use as a staging ground to make a stand. Clearly, the intruder is pursuing us, not the ship. It's after something. The question is: what? Aaen started to contemplate the possibilities, but there was no way to be sure—unless. . . Aaen had an idea, but kept to himself, turning around to indulge the Captain's apparent desire to listen to his own voice. 

"We need a plan of action," the Captain said. 

"Aaen looks like he has an idea." the First Officer said. Aaen found himself raising both his eyebrows in surprise. He realized he had the rest of the bridge crew's full attention. He felt his heart skip a beat as he gathered his thoughts before speaking.

"It's true: we do need to find an area in the station where we can stage a stand against the intruder. If we just go running about the station, we're probably going to end up like the crew of Relentless. Sensors, what data do we have on the interior of the station?"

"Right now, it looks like the station is just full of a lot of empty rooms. I've checked for life signs. Haven't detected any. It looks like between all of us and the intruder; we're alone on the station."

"Captain, if the crew's really alone on the station, then we need to search the station for anything that we can use to our advantage against the intruder. I would strongly recommend that we make sure that the station is pressurized as much as we need, and then use hand signals to talk to each other. At this point, the sooner we can get to the staging area, the better."

"How do you know that the intruder won't try to steal Odyssey?" the Captain asked.

"That's a good question." the First Officer said looking at Aaen with a straight face.

"Dmitri is on deck two, with the main computer. If the intruder was that interested – or even that motivated – to take over the ship, regardless of whether or not the rest of us are still on board, it could've done that by now, without coming up to the bridge." Aaen replied. "That's why I'm thinking it's coming after us: it thinks we have what it wants. If it destroys the ship or takes over Odyssey, then it risks losing what it wants. If the intruder takes over the ship, then we will not cooperate, and it would have reasoned the same. If it destroys the ship, then it loses what it's after, and it dies." 

"But by staging a stand on the station. . ." The First Officer said, with a tone that Aaen read as an indication of an indirect question to him. 

"If the intruder wants to fight us, for whatever reason, then we'll have more room to engage it." 

"But the intruder hasn't really been affected by any of our weapons, so far, Aaen. What makes you think staging a stand on the station is going to help?" Sensors asked.

"I have a hunch that our weapons do affect the intruder. I think there's—" Aaen paused to gather his thoughts. "I think it's a question of timing, not necessarily all about power output." 

"You're not making any sense, Aaen." the Captain said. 

"Actually I think he is making sense." the First Officer said, looking at the Captain directly. 

"Well, I don't get it." The Captain said skeptically, throwing his hands in the air. 

The First Officer took two minutes explaining to he Captain what Aaen had tried to say. After an exchange of puzzling questions and answers, the captain looked at Aaen directly with a straight face. 

"The intruder is moving again!" said Sensors. "I'm showing it's moving towards the bridge!" 

"Somehow, I seriously doubt it's coming up here to just look around, again," Aaen said determinedly. "Sir, we all need to move out – we need to move out, now!" Aaen said. "For all we know—the intruder may be listening to everything we're saying and doing, right now." 

"Then it would already know our plan." the Captain said, doubtfully.

"How do we know any of our weapons would do any damage at all?" Jason asked, looking toward the forward bridge.

"Yeah! How do we know that we don't need bigger and stronger weapons to protect ourselves?" Communications asked.

"Well, there's only one way to find out. The intruder is coming up here. Are we going to stay here—knowing that we are basically seemingly defenseless as it is?" Aaen said, looking at the captain directly. 

The First Officer looked at the Captain. "He's got a point!" he said sharply.

"Everyone! Get ready to move out on my order!" the Captain said aloud. 

It's about time! Aaen thought enthusiastically. He felt much more energetic, and he had a butterfly-like gut feeling that the station might be equipped with heavier weapons than Odyssey was equipped with, by default. He quietly mused about having access to a particle rifle, versus a sidearm. He reasoned, there must be for such a space station to exist in a remote area of Federation space. He checked his computer's navigational charts—particularly and especially when such a station is not on any navigational charts? He guessed that was deliberate, to prevent anyone merely passing by—Federation or otherwise—from finding the station. But why? He squinted at his computer screen. Could that have something to do with why the intruder is so intent on taking the entire crew hostage? He wondered, looking up at the docking bay on the main viewscreen with curiosity, and determination. Time to find out. 

Aaen looked slightly right at the operations officer. Quote is the aft cargo ramp still operational?"

She looked at her computer screen, scanned a few details, and then looked toward the forward bridge. "Yeah! Why?" 

Aaen looked at the Captain, and then quickly reasoned that he and the Captain were thinking the same thing. . .

*****

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

DANIEL STORM, a Jordan Foutin eBook, is available for $8.99 at any of these fine online retailers: 

smashwords.com (Remember to like and share!)

apple iBooks (This link is best viewed on iPhone or iPad)

barnesandnoble.com 

scribd.com 

kobo.com

blio.com

Make sure to buy your copy today, and like and share!

Make sure to like the official StormTeam Simulations Facebook page for the latest, including when DANIEL STORM will be available on Amazon.com for Kindle eBook and softcover! Coming soon!

Bug Hunt - Part 20

The Doctor leaned forward to look at Aaen. "How are you feeling?"

Aaen just nodded he was fine; he suspected the Doctor picked up on the same hint. The Doctor nodded back. "Okay. You can go back to your station," she cooed.

Aaen wasted no time. His uniform was completely repaired, and his shoulder felt fine. He started scanning the readings on his screen.

"Warp drive is almost back online, Captain!" said the Engineer. Aaen grinned wryly, liking the announcement just broadcasted through the bridge. 

"There's enough power for three-quarter impulse." said Operations. 

"Confirmed!" Aaen acknowledged. 

"Aaen, do you have any suggestions as to how we should proceed?" the Captain asked humbly. 

Aaen turned around sharply. "Get the welding tools out from the equipment locker, and seal the hatch in the Engineering compartment. We should keep the main hatch open, but covered just in case the intruder decides to come back up. Without Dimitri, we'll have no warning should it try to come up to the bridge again."

"What else?"

"We need to find some place to either land or dock to make repairs. Odyssey's badly damaged from that little skirmish with the Relentless. Sauce for the goose. If we are engaged in combat again, we have no way of protecting or defending ourselves."

"I agree, Captain." the First Officer said directly.

"But we destroyed the Relentless." the Captain asked skeptically.

"That ship passed into the planet's terminator into night as it was entering the atmosphere. We have no definitive sensor data confirming the neutralization of the threat, nor visual confirmation that the Relentless was destroyed."

The Captain looked at the First Officer who nodded agreement. The Captain turned around.

"Okay! Here's what we're goin' to do: we're gonna find some place to dock the ship long enough to make repairs. Sensors: are there any planets nearby that we could land on?"

"None that I can detect—but—"

"What?" the First Officer asked.

"There is something at long-range at our three-o'clock."

"What is it?" the Captain asked. The First Officer stood behind Sensors.

"Not sure. But it's big."

"Another ship?" Jason asked.

"No idea. Long-range sensors haven't offered definitive readings since we left space dock."

"Engineer!" said the Captain.

"I know. I'm working on the long-range sensors." the Engineer replied with a slight shortage of enthusiasm.

"Okay. Good. Hurry." the Captain said directly.

"What are the coordinates of the sensor contact?" Aaen asked aloud.

"Hold on! I didn't say to calculate a course." the Captain interjected.

"It's a good question." the First Officer asked. "That might be where we're headed next."

The Captain released a stern gasp. "Fine." he returned to his chair.

"Should I scan for the coordinates?" Sensors asked.

"Do it." said the First Officer. "Read them out to Aaen when you have them."

"Yes, sir." Sensors said with determined enthusiasm. Ten seconds later, Aaen entered the 'X.' 'Y,' and 'Z' coordinates into his computer's controls, and then looked at the First Officer.

"Lieutenant. Enter the coordinates when ready and then standby to engage engines."

"Aye, sir. What speed?" Aaen replied.

"Best possible speed."

"Aye," Aaen replied with enthusiasm. "Warp drive is still offline. . . I can go as fast as three-quarter impulse."

"At that speed, we'll get there in about three to four days." Sensors said skeptically.

"There's just no power in the warp drive, right now. I'll take the power in the impulse engines and put that into warp engines." Operations said.

The Captain remained silent.

Five seconds later— "Aaen, try warp engines now!"

"Engaging: warp factor six."

"We should get there in about five seconds at that speed." Sensor said. The bridge crew had a laugh.

"Get ready to stop us, Aaen. Don't crash the ship." the Captain said.

Aaen nodded acknowledgment. The warp drive powered up, the bridge filled with subtle rolling thunder as the stars became streaks across the main viewscreen.

"Our heading isn't stable! She's struggling to maintain her course! She's shifting on the 'Y' and "Z' axis.' I might have to perform an emergency full stop!" The bridge began to shiver. The apex of the cone of fine white streaks started gradually shifting randomly around the center of the main viewscreen.

"Get ready!" said the First Officer.

Aaen nodded, bracing against his station with his left hand while trying to use the manual thrusters to stabilize the ship before it tumbled uncontrollably into the vast darkness.

"We're about to start losing some more hull plating!" the Engineer yelled through the bridge.

"Destination ahead!" Sensors said.

"Full stop!" the First Officer said. Aaen was quick to comply.

"Warning: Warp core breach: Imminent. Recommend—" the Main Computer Announced. The stern hum of the warp engines gradually became louder, quickly turning into a groan. 

Aaen clicked the control. "Full stop!" he watched the yellow bar quickly inch across the top of the screen from right to left. "The helm answers!"

The stars soon became still.

"The intruder's moving!" Sensors said.

"Where?" the Captain asked directly.

"I don't know; it's just moving. I'm showing it's moving towards the bow."

We've gotta dock, Aaen thought, looking up at the main viewscreen. "What is that? A space station?"

"Computer: activate forward lights!" the Captain said. The Main Computer chimed acknowledgment as twin spotlights blared against the metallic hulk ahead and seemingly slightly above Odyssey. The station featured a bulbous upper section with two square gaps he assumed were for landing and docking, and peripheral landing platforms extending from the central connecting lotus, which Aaen guessed must be the station's power reactor or computer core.

"Looks Federation, by design. Abandoned." Aaen said.

"Sensors: scan the station for life signs!"

Seconds later, "—None detected, Captain."

"Why would there be an abandoned space station way out here." the First Officer asked. Aaen guessed the question was rhetorical, but still came up with multiple possibilities, but none that he could prove. He kept to himself.

"Doesn't looked damaged," Aaen noted. Something else must have happened, Aaen reasoned. A station like that way out here . . . ?

"I've detected a docking port on the station where I think we can dock." Sensors said.

"Do it!" the Captain said aloud.

"Scan for the coordinates." said the First Officer.

"I've got the coordinates. 'See main viewscreen for navigational instructions.'" Sensors said.

The bridge filled with an original sequence of beeping sounds, and then manual thruster instructions appeared on the main viewscreen. Aaen followed the instructions precisely, which brought the ship down about fifty meters, right for a hundred, up for twenty-five, and then forward for a hundred.

"Easy. . . Easy. . ." the Captain said determinedly. "Now, down thrusters."

I can read the screen, Aaen thought annoyed but kept to himself. The forward lights were the only light source in the dark square cavity in the station. The distance indicator on his computer screen turned green, indicating Odyssey was now within docking range. 

"Engaging docking clamps," Aaen said. A repetitious, hissing alarm built for five rounds as a series of metallic clashes echoed through the bridge, followed by a sequence of subtle rhythmic alerts, immediately followed by loud pneumatic hums. The bridge briefly rattled. 

"We have soft dock." Aaen said.

Sensors snapped. "The intruder's coming back to deck one!" 

"Is there atmosphere on the station?" the Captain asked Sensors, alarmed. 

"In most of it, yes—but it's pretty thin."

"If we could go on the station, would we survive?" the First Officer asked directly.

"Yeah. We'd be fine."

"Okay! All hands: prepare to leave the ship!" the Captain said to the main viewscreen. 

We're gonna fight the intruder on the station. Aaen reasoned. 

*****

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

DANIEL STORM, a Jordan Foutin eBook, is available for $8.99 at any of these fine online retailers: 

smashwords.com (Remember to like and share!)

apple iBooks (This link is best viewed on iPhone or iPad)

barnesandnoble.com 

scribd.com 

kobo.com

blio.com

Make sure to buy your copy today, and like and share!

Make sure to like the official StormTeam Simulations Facebook page for the latest, including when DANIEL STORM will be available on Amazon.com for Kindle eBook and softcover! Coming soon!

Bug Hunt - Part 19

"I don't know; I can't see it!" Jason whispered loudly.

After many dark fearful gasps, Aaen looked down and right toward the front of the bridge. The Captain stood up and looked over the top of his chair.

"Okay, everyone back to your stations. Now."

The rest of the forward and central bridge crew complied. Aaen was frozen where he was, in the position he was in, which was hardly the most comfortable, considering he had an up step to the medical area of the bridge pressed against his lower back, and the edge of the ventilation cover against the base of his shoulders. His head rested against the edge of the bunk he'd been laying in a minute ago.

"Sensors, help me get Aaen back in his bunk." the Doctor said, crawling out of the bottom bunk where she was hiding opposite.

"That was a good shot, Aaen." Sensors said sincerely and quietly. The Doctor hummed agreement. "You probably wounded the intruder."

Aaen looked at Sensors and managed to nod acknowledgment as Sensors and the Doctor each lifted him under his arms and gradually inched him into his bunk. Aaen managed to turn his head to see the front of the bridge.

"Dimitri! Are you okay?" the Captain yelled at the main viewscreen. "—Dimitri! Hello?"

What the heck? Aaen thought, surprised at the silence from the bridge speakers, and lowering his eyebrows as the Doctor started scanning him again with her tricorder.

"Mmmm. . . ." she hummed. "Level-two particle burns to the upper torso. Eat these and then wait three minutes before getting up." the Doctor patted her orange vial a few times and then handed him two more multi-colored m's, and then replaced the vial.

"Okay, I want a full systems check of all main systems. What's broken, what's not."

"Working on it!" Operations said.

"Mostly everything's working, Captain!" said the Engineer, through the crawlway.

"Okay, Sensors. Have you found the intruder?" the Captain said. Sensors remained silent. 

"I'm wondering why, exactly, we can't detect the intruder." said the First Officer.

"I don' know." said the Captain sharply and uncertainly.

"Maybe it's got some kind of jamming device that fools Odyssey's internal sensors?" said Sensors.

"Wouldn't we have detected the jamming signal?" said Operations. 

"Communications," the Doctor said calmly. "You can return to your station."

She crawled out of her bunk, and then rushed back to her station.

"See if you can get a message to Command." the Captain said.

"Okay. I'll try." Communications responded.

"Captain! I've got something!" said Sensors.

"What?" the Captain asked sharply, standing behind Sensors.

One minute, Aaen thought.

". . .The intruder is back on Deck Two—moving aft. . . Looks like it's going to the engines!"

"Why would it do that?" the Captain asked, puzzled.

Why don't you go down there and ask it? Aaen thought sarcastically. It could have captured or killed us all by now if it wanted to, but it didn't—therefore, it's obviously looking for something. But what? Aaen wondered.

"Ke–Keptin!" a loud whisper echoed through the bridge.

"Dimitri!" said the First Officer.

"I'm here!" the Captain said, returning to his chair. "What's going on down there!"

"Keptin!—I'm about twenty feet behind the intruder. It's trying to git into de engin' comparltment! We need to find a place to dolck, fest!"

"Why?"

"Because it looks like it's getting ready to vire a bomb to ze main reactor after it breaks in!"

"It's going to blow up the ship with it still on board?" Communications asked.

"I don't understand, either," Dimitri said. "Uh oh!"

"What?"

"It heard me! It's looking right at me! IT'S COMING!"

"Dimitri! RUN!" the First Officer yelled.

"KEPTIIIIN!—"

"COME 'ERE!" a growling voice yelled.

The bridge filled with a blood-curdling scream, and then the sound was replaced with subtle, high-pitched static—and then hard breathing.

The bridge became silent for five seconds—man down, Aaen thought, stiffly, looking at the Captain.

"Captain?" the voice called.

The Captain stepped past his chair, closer to the main viewscreen. "Who are you?" the Captain asked determinedly.

The voice turned to mocking laughter.

"What do you want?" the First Officer asked.

The line filled with static, and then went silent. Great. Aaen thought. 

"The intruder disconnected, Captain," said Communications.

Sensors turned towards Aaen with a concerned look, and then looked up at the Doctor standing in front of the bunks opposite Aaen. "Is he dead?" 

"No. He's got about another minute left before he can return to his station."

The First Officer gestured for the Captain to listen closely to what he was saying. Aaen couldn't hear, and, judging by the look from Communications, neither could she. The Captain nodded and then turned to the back of the bridge. 

"Good, cause we need 'im at his station." said the Captain.

Aaen detected a strong hint of desperation in the Captain's voice. 

*****

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

DANIEL STORM, a Jordan Foutin eBook, is available for $8.99 at any of these fine online retailers: 

smashwords.com (Remember to like and share!)

apple iBooks (This link is best viewed on iPhone or iPad)

barnesandnoble.com 

scribd.com 

kobo.com

blio.com

Make sure to buy your copy today, and like and share!

Make sure to like the official StormTeam Simulations Facebook page for the latest, including when DANIEL STORM will be available on Amazon.com for Kindle eBook and softcover! Coming soon!

Bug Hunt - Part 18

"Okay, stay calm, everybody!" said the First Officer. Yeah, easier said than done. Aaen thought, dismissively. "Operations, get the flashlights in that storage compartment behind you."

"Yes, sir." moments later, two soft white lights appeared on the bunks opposite Aaen. 

"Give one to Sensors, and then—"

"Did you hear that?" Jason asked the First Officer.

"What?" the Captain asked.

"—Listen!" Jason said.

"—I hear it, too!" said the First Officer.

"That scratching noise. It's getting louder!" Jason whispered loudly, turning to the main bridge hatch. 

I hear it, too. Aaen thought. 

"Is that door locked!" Operations said.

"Computer: seal the main bridge door!" the Captain whispered loudly. 

The Main Computer chimed acknowledgment, and then a short series of mechanical clicks from the door confirmed the Captain's order had been carried out.

"Sensors, where is the intruder?" the Captain asked quietly.

"I don't know. I can't see it using the internal sensors for some reason. I'm doing everything I know how to try to detect it!" 

"Okay, try–"  the Captain whispered.

The scratching got even louder . . . 

"Keptin! Is ev'lryone alright up der! I can't see or hear de intruder anymore!" 

"Everyone to the front of the bridge! Hurry!" said the First Officer, waving everyone sharply forward. "Engineer! Hurry!" the First Officer whispered loudly and frantically. There was only silence from the Engineering compartment. Aaen reasoned the Engineer was choosing to stay his ground and hide. 

"So far!" the Captain whispered. "We think the intruder is—"

BANG

The main bridge hatch lining crackled under immense pressure; thunder rolled through the bridge. The bridge filled with startled jumps of human silhouettes and subtle screams from under quivering palms over terrified mouths. . .then an eerie silence. 

In the transporter room! Aaen thought. 

BANG—

The main hatch's lining crackled more loudly than before. That scratching sound, again, Aaen listened . . .

BANG

"Warning: main bridge hatch seal, compromised." the Main Computer droned. The forward bridge filled with terrified gasps.

A muffled pat sounded from behind the hatch, and then Aaen looked toward the forward bridge—the hatch lining hissed and crackled.

—The hatch was inching open. Aaen heard the forward bridge fill with erratic, terrified gasps.

 Oh no. Aaen thought, biting his lower lip, focusing on the main bridge hatch swinging over the central bridge. He could feel his heart rate jumping . . . It doesn't end like this, Aaen decided. His heart was beating, hard from the sudden surge of adrenaline coursing through him. But. . .what can I do? There was barely enough light coming from the tactical and sensor stations to see the central and aft bridge sections up to the engineering compartment. Aaen peeked around the corner of the foot of the bunk—most of the bridge crew were using the captain chair as a barrier between them. . .and whatever was coming in.

Aaen could feel his adrenaline level had nearly doubled in a mere few seconds as he scanned the bridge for an option. The light from the sensor station revealed a hand full of claws had fiercely gripped the edge of the hatch. Whatever was coming in, each step it took echoed through the bridge. Aaen's shoulder was burning from the wound caused by the electrical overload that had struck him. He looked down at the deck at the sidearm Jason had tossed over—the Doctor was taking cover inside of the bunk below Communications.

Aaen cringed as he rolled to his right, pulling his feet out of the medical bunk, and then gradually stood up. His left forearm felt cold but had surprisingly minimal feeling otherwise. 

The intruder had slowly started for the forward bridge. Aaen crouched to pick up the type-II sidearm with his right hand, and then stopped to catch his breath. His shoulder wound caused him to feel dazed—he realized staying upright was going to be more difficult than he thought. The light coming from the tactical station was shining against Aaen's face and torso.

"What are you doing?" the Doctor whispered to Aaen suddenly. Aaen didn't feel obliged to answer immediately.

Aaen squinted, briefly, to try to get a look at the intruder. He doubted there would be another opportunity to visually identify the life form. The light from the sensor station was helping . . . Five-foot-nothing, bipedal, crouched, wearing a dark cloak of some kind. 

Aaen took a deep breath. "HEY!" Aaen yelled sharply. 

The intruder snapped— 

Woah, ugly! Aaen smirked. A sharp, cold chill ran up and down his spine multiple times as the intruder's bright, sharp yellow plus-shaped irises glared at him coldly, bearing its inch-long teeth, it's mouth slightly open at the end of its long face. He could see the intruder's irises adjusting to look at him.

It started slowly walking toward Aaen. He sensed danger and he struggled to keep his thoughts straight and to stay calm as his legs started to weaken under him from fear and adrenaline. His grip on the sidearm started to tingle as he felt the light weight of the tool. 

Aaen noticed the tool was already set to stun. He slowly took aim, forcing his left hand up to support his right on the sidearm's grip. Center-of-mass—Aaen thought. His hands were starting to tremble from the pain from his shoulder. He clenched his jaws.

He fired. A bolt of white-yellow lightning rippled against the intruder for five seconds. 

The intruder continued to advance.

Aaen was wide-eyed, checking the tool's setting, increasing the power output to maximum stun.

Aaen looked at the intruder. The intruder lifted a long-barrel sidearm from a holster under its cloak, casually pointing the weapon at Aaen.

The weapon lit up as Aaen felt a bolt of energy strike him in the chest, knocking him back-first against the ventilation cover, the bridge became a blur.

"Man down!" the Doctor yelled disturbingly.

Aaen felt almost completely numb from the chin down. There was no hope of standing up, he realized. He tried to lift his head to see the rest of the bridge—the best he could do was to throw his weight left and lean his head against the edge of the bunk. The blurry, dark figure kept looking at Aaen—almost looking into his very soul, darkly—as it returned to the transporter room, closing the hatch behind it. Aaen did his best to look back at the intruder with a look of this ISN'T over, physically relaxing once the intruder was out of sight. A loud hiss filled the bridge as the hatch closed. 

"Is it gone?" the Doctor asked. 

*****

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

DANIEL STORM, a Jordan Foutin eBook, is available for $8.99 at any of these fine online retailers: 

smashwords.com (Remember to like and share!)

apple iBooks (This link is best viewed on iPhone or iPad)

barnesandnoble.com 

scribd.com 

kobo.com

blio.com

Make sure to buy your copy today, and like and share!

Make sure to like the official StormTeam Simulations Facebook page for the latest, including when DANIEL STORM will be available on Amazon.com for Kindle eBook and softcover! Coming soon!