Gabatrix: the Batrice Crisis
Copyright© 2025 by CMed TheUniverseofCMed
Chapter 10: Operation Night Scion Part 2
Science Fiction Sex Story: Chapter 10: Operation Night Scion Part 2 - Set after the events of Gabatrix: The Last Tank, resentment in the UWA grows in the colony of Batrice, one of the most essential worlds of the human race. Anger, confusion, and misinformation have reached an all-time high. A 24th-century Civil War is all but inevitable. It will be up to Shira, Javier, Stone, and the countless characters of past stories to find a solution before the UWA falls apart. Story Includes: Human/Anthro, M/F, M/FF, War, Sex, Action, Drama, Pregnant, Birth, Scalie, Alien
Caution: This Science Fiction Sex Story contains strong sexual content, including Ma/Fa Consensual Romantic Fiction Science Fiction Aliens Robot Space Furry Lactation Oral Sex Pregnancy Size
Over an hour had passed.
The shuttle door ramp had retracted, and the door slid closed once Mizu stepped inside the old shuttle. For a brief moment, the pilot was reminded of his time of flying the shuttles back on Fort Batrice. Dean was already climbing up the small ladder well, reaching the main cockpit.
“An old Mark 11B,” Mizu remarked.
“Yep,” Dean said. “Like ... I never really flew one of these before.”
“You flew everything else that was newer, right?”
“Yep, good ol Marky 12 and 13 shuttles.”
Mizu looked at the interior. The ancient 50-year-old shuttle was well past its prime. A former military craft that had long been converted for civilian service. The seats were worn down, and old pipes and devices were strewn over the bulkheads.
“Let’s hope she gets us home,” Mizu remarked as he tapped the side panel of his helmet, establishing an audio-only channel to the main operation room. “Mizu to Kiet, what’s the status of the hangar?”
“We’re about to flush out the air from the hangar,” Kiet reported. “Your... ‘Stealth-Bro’ and ‘Silent-Bro’ ships have been set on AI operation. They’ll depart first and head out to their objectives. We’ve used the gate probes you gave us and set up the gate probe ring by the main door. Once the stealth ships depart, we’ll try to engage the gate ring ... but, I’ve never heard of a ‘Snap Jump’ before.”
“We didn’t know either,” Mizu said. “We’ll try to use the gate probes first, and if that fails, we’ll just try to make a run for it the old-fashioned way.”
“I certainly hope it doesn’t come to that ... This procedure isn’t going to explode on our faces, right?”
“Either route we take is dangerous. But, if our shuttle gets ripped to pieces, do us a favor and give us a good burial.”
“I would almost offer to have you take some of the kids with you,” Kiet explained. “Get them off Batrice and to safety, but ... let’s just say that ... no.”
“Trust me, Kiet. I almost wish there was another way...”
“Don’t you worry, Mizu-Bro,” Dean said as Mizu went and climbed up the ladder well. “‘Old Marky-Bro’ will get us to Captain Shiry in like ... no time.”
“Old Marky-Bro...,” Mizu briefly said under his breath, looking at the shuttle cockpit.
“What did you say?” Kiet asked.
“Nothing...”
Surprisingly, the interior was similar to the shuttles he had flown before. There were two seats, where Dean sat in the right chair. Mizu walked around and sat down in the left chair. He began to look at the controls. There was a flight control wheel and stick. Many of the other controls appeared outdated, with peeling paint, yet they remained in acceptable condition for use. Dean was already taping a few of the controls, checking the computer system onboard.
“Flushing out the air,” Kiet replied. “Give us a minute and we’ll have everything set for launch...”
“Whoa...,” Dean said. “Old Marky-Bro has the Kira-Pro operating system ... That’s like ... really old.”
“I’m sorry if we couldn’t get you anything better,” Kiet told Mizu.
“Nah, it’s alright, “Mizu replied.
“Thanks again for everything, Mizu ... that includes Dean as well. We’ll establish contact with those other rebel groups ... get something coordinated. I know a few freighter captains that might be able to help the UHN ... whatever you need.”
“That’s the idea, Kiet. You make sure you treat your people safe.”
“Same goes with you, Mizu. I pray that you find your family. May Batrice shine upon you.”
“ ... May Batrice shine upon you as well...”
“I’m going to switch over to have my lead engineer, Sokun. He’ll take over for the rest of everything else. Kiet, out...”
With that, the comms were put on mute. Mizu felt a mix of readiness and apprehension. He looked over to the main door as he began to switch on a few buttons. The main power drive of the shuttle was powering up. The lights inside the shuttle had activated. Dean was in the process of turning a dial, matching the operational procedures of shuttle departure.
There was a pause. With the air flushed out of the hangar, the main doors slowly lifted open. Mizu lay back on his chair while he looked through the main cockpit window ahead. It was difficult to see from the angle of the cavern, but Mizu could make out the brief outline of the gate probes, mounted into the stone walls. They all remained offline, but there was life that erupted from the two stealth shuttles.
Dean reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, smoke-pipe-like device. He held it out and seemed ready to take a hit. Mizu looked over at him.
“Dean, please,” Mizu called out to him, gesturing for him not to smoke.
“You know...,” Dean replied. “I’m going to miss Stealth-Bro and Silent-Bro...”
Mizu sighed. “You think they’re going to make it?”
“I spoke to Silent-Bro. He like ... says he will, but only if Stealth-Bro does it.”
With the outside door fully opened, both stealth shuttles’ engines had activated. They were in the mid-process of lifting off slowly from the ground. For Mizu, it was odd seeing the ships take off under their own independent operation. The volume level inside the hangar grew. Finally, Dean gestured his smoke pipe outward to the shuttle.
“To Stealth-Bro and Silent-Bro...,” Dean said. “Give the bad guys like ... a hard time or something...”
Mizu actually felt a sense of empathy towards the two vessels. He watched ahead as the first stealth craft, the Silent-Bro, was the first to hover out of the hangar and out through the main door, disappearing from sight. He didn’t look over the side to notice that Dean had briefly taken his helmet off to inhale deeply from his pipe. The seemingly stoned pilot was prepared to take one more hit as the next shuttle began to depart.
“Goodbye, Silent-Bro,” Mizu finally relented. He turned to the side to see a puff of smoke being exhaled from Dean, but quickly put his helmet back on and put his pipe away.
“Well...,” Mizu said, looking forward again. “We wouldn’t have made it far without you, Dean ... I guess whatever you’re taking, it’s always been helping.”
The last stealth ship left, leaving the civilian shuttle ready to depart. Mizu wasn’t going to fret over the two ships. He began to tap a few other buttons.
“Alright,” Mizu said. “Now that the shuttles have departed on schedule, we need to wait 30 minutes for them to reach their target location safely ... Now we wait...”
Over half an hour had elapsed. A new voice would interrupt Mizu’s thoughts.
“Pilot Mizu, respond,” a light male voice could be heard from the comms. “This is Sokun. I’ll be giving you a brief rundown on what’s going to happen.”
Mizu tapped his helmet. “This is Mizu, I hear you, Sokun.”
“The shuttles are en route to their target destination. My engineering team has set up the gate ring in preparation for this Snap Jump. I’m pretty sure your Lifen engineers have already told you the risks involved in doing something like this.”
“Yep, we’re prepared to jump.”
“Very well. You’re aware of the dangers. Normally, I wouldn’t allow this, but Kiet has given the complete order that you finish your mission. I’ve added additional power modules to the gate probes to help boost their power. Setting up a gate ring this small puts enormous stress on their arrays. I’m hoping the additional power might give the extra seconds needed to maintain the fissure. Standby for gate initiation. Estimated seven minutes to wormhole stabilization ... assuming it happens.”
“Understood,” Mizu replied.
“I’ll notify you of anything. In the meantime, prepare for lift-off. We’ll try to coordinate your jump with the shortest reaction time possible.”
“Roger that, Sokun...”
Ahead of the main door, Mizu could see the gate probes activate in unison. The very thought of this seemed like madness. From the start, a low-intensity screeching sound could be heard emanating from the ring. Tremendous amounts of energy were being poured into that entrance. It was the first time Mizu or many others would witness such an event. Pure desperation led to scientific adventure.
“Well, Dean,” Mizu said. “If you and I survive this, we’ll be put into the history books...”
“I know, right?” Dean replied. “Nah, us and Old-Marky-Bro, we’ll make it.”
“Double-check those engine feeds. ‘Old-Marky-Bro’ might not have been well taken care of during his prime.”
“Yep...”
Dean was looking at his display, overlooking the readout provided. Mizu did the same, ensuring that the shuttle was fully operational. So far, nothing seemed out of alignment. Only the hints of worn gear and levers gave any indication of age in the craft.
The low-intensity screech was only gaining in volume. From the cockpit window, Mizu could see the hint of a subspace rupture forming in the ring. From the light was darkness. A vortex was forming, made of pure black. It almost seemed like a violation of nature itself. The rules were being broken, and it was letting everyone know.
“Subspace fissure is unstable,” Sokun reported on the comms. “But it’s forming. Power energy levels are stable. Raising energy by 110%. I’ve set the exit aperture to its farthest range point possible. We have no means of determining where you’ll exit from. Gate is at 12%.”
“I don’t suppose you know how busy the traffic is at the ECG,” Mizu asked.
“Nope...”
Mizu tapped his comms with Sokun on mute and turned to the right. “Go ahead and turn everything on, Dean...”
The civilian shuttle’s engines gave a gentle hum the moment it was turned on. Every outside light gave a glow to it. Both men began to strap themselves to their respective seats. Regardless of the shuttle’s age, it seemed to work fine. Dean tapped a few more toggle switches. The increase in power to the probe emitters was helping only to a certain extent. Thankfully, the screeching sound decreased in volume as if the environment near it was trying to accept this altered form of reality. How long it would remain this way was uncertain.
“Yep, we’re like ... totally good,” Dean said. “You want me to fly him, Mizu-Bro?”
Mizu thought about it, but seemed unsure. “Didn’t you crash a shuttle one time? A normal shuttlecraft, I mean?”
“Ah, yeah, you’re talking about that 4-67 incident thingy. Like ... that was totally not my fault.”
“Uh huh, sure...”
“I swear, Mizu-Bro. I didn’t crash into anybody. There was this whole... ‘Dean was stoned, he can’t fly,’ bid when others were like, ‘Yeah, but the other shuttle he almost hit had bad thrusters.’ It wasn’t my fault that the shuttle I almost ran into crashed into that freighter. Nobody got hurt ... Well, I mean, somebody’s pet cat got a broken leg and a companion bot got destroyed, but nobody else got hurt hurt, you know?”
“You trying to say that the whole incident they blamed you for wasn’t entirely your fault?”
“I mean ... I don’t remember it all too well,” Dean explained. “I was trying this new type of weed. It was really good, but ... I ended up blacking out ... I think. I just remember that they were ready to kick me out for the whole thing. Apparently, I fell asleep on the panel, and the shuttle did this whole incredible move, avoiding the other shuttle, but the other shuttle pilot panicked and activated his thrusters when it malfunctioned. There was some sort of bribe going on with the shuttles ... maybe? ... like some faulty design that appeared when the UHN ordered them.”
“Was that the Mark 12A Recall?”
“Yep.”
“Holy shit, I had no idea that you were the whole cause of that. They spent years having to replace those thrusters. Even that incident over Europa was due to Genisen always fucking up the thruster pack designs. You’re telling me that there was a whole scandal involved?”
“Well, I don’t know, Mizu-Bro. Like ... I think I was supposed to be in a lot of trouble, but they just said, ‘Dean, don’t you ever do that again,’ and I was like, ‘ok.’ Sure, there was the whole incident story that spread around, but I think if I got written up, somebody else would have gotten in even worse trouble ... whoa ... that’s just deep...”
“Yeah, it makes sense now. They tried to place the blame on you, but it only got so far. You made such a stir that they had to recall most of the shuttles produced by Genisen, along with whole new procedures on how to properly fly a shuttle. How did you know it was a bribe, though?”
“A pig lady told me...”
Mizu gave a confused look at him. “A ... what?”
“When I blacked out, this pig woman told me everything ... I think she was a pig lady. All I saw was this black silhouette of her, but she told me about the thruster going bad and what I needed to do. When they questioned me, I quoted about the thruster pack, as they looked into it. I remember the pig lady telling me earlier, ‘Make sure to threaten them,’ which I did. I was like ‘If you fire me ... then, like ... I tell the UWA what happened here.’ And they said ‘Sure thing, Dean’... ‘“
“So you were unconscious, but you were dreaming? And the dream told you to say all that?”
“Yep. It wasn’t the best weed. Zalika’s was so much better, though. Even the animal buddies seemed easier to see.”
“ ... Okay ... well, at least you managed to expose all that. I can’t say for what goes on in that mind of yours, though.”
“I think you’d be surprised, Mizu-Bro. Like ... I just learned to fly everything else that the UHN had. For years, Doper Dean never mistreated his shuttles, you know?”
Mizu smiled at him. “Well, to get back to the question you asked ... I think I’ll fly us out.”
Dean nodded his head. Mizu turned to look back at the gate ring. A vortex was trying to spin, throwing brief blue particles in the air that quickly disappeared into nothingness. But the lightning erupting from it was intense. A bright flash hit the edge of the hangar entrance, cracking the air and blasting rock and debris. The screeching sound was intensifying each second. By the time Mizu finished his conversation with Dean, the volume was loud, even with the shuttle’s hull trying to ensure it.
“Mizu, are you there?” Sokun’s voice could be heard.
Mizu tapped his helmet comms back on. “Yes, I read,” Mizu replied.
“We’re at maximum power output. The generators are overheating. We can’t maintain this! The gate is unstable ... collapse is imminent. Gate formation is at 79% but still climbing.”
“Dean, initiate lift-off...”
The entire shuttle was ready. The powerful vectoring engines were active, pushing the vessel to hover five feet from the ground. Mizu could feel his adrenaline surge. The vortex was a violent tempest, throwing energy surges into the cavern. What was harmless in space had become deadly energy bolts that would occasionally snap the air and ground. The screeching sound was constant, like metal rubbing against metal, deafening any person who was near it. There would be brief occurrences where the vortex would almost cease in its spinning. The dangers of placing this gate, especially in the mountain itself, were great. Gravity was threatening to rip it apart, assuming that the wormhole didn’t tear the cavern apart in the process.
It was becoming a race against time. Mizu took firm hold of the controls ahead of his seat, preparing himself for the jump. He had to prepare for the possibility that he and Dean weren’t going to make it. He had to imagine the idea that he could fly the shuttle towards a gate that would collapse, forcing the two pilots to make a deadly run through Batrice’s atmosphere.
Meanwhile, inside Fort Batrice’s CIC, Fleet Admiral Baxton entered the room, swagger stick tucked to his armpit. Commander Sreyleak, standing near the center console, saw the man enter.
“Fleet Admiral on deck,” Sreyleak stated.
“Commander...,” Baxton addressed her. “You wished for my presence. What is it?”
“Sir, you wanted us to report any further unusual anomalies. We got another. Do you remember the radar blips we picked up near the atmosphere of the South Pole a few hours ago?”
“Yes. The Mikuma found nothing. You also believed it was simply background radiation from Batrice’s VEI.”
“We have an update, sir.” Sreyleak pointed at the radar map layout of Batrice. “Satellite 12-82 just picked up another radar anomaly approximately seven minutes ago. It was on track for approximately one second, most likely heading north above the atmosphere.”
“For one second? The satellite picked up nothing else?”
“Whatever it was, it’s gone. None of the other satellites registered anything else.”
“What other data can you provide on the contact?”
“Unknown, sir. There were no other ships in the area to investigate it.”
“Hmmm...,” Baxton remarked, looking at the map data feed. “Satellite 12-82 is located along the VEI range of Batrice. It might be another VEI reflection. What’s the status of probe 9?”
“There’s been no further activity from the probe. It investigated the region where the two supposed contacts were destroyed, but it hasn’t verified any wreckage. I still believe its perceived contacts have been obliterated, sir.”
“Show me the pictures the probe transmitted to the Naresuan. I would like to reanalyze those recordings again.”
“Those recordings are not in good quality, sir,” Sreyleak replied. “The storms in the area have been...”
“Sir!” One of the crew members called out on the CIC, interrupting the CO and XO. “Registering new contact, bearing 2N-75.”
“Confirmed,” Sreyleak added. “Sensors are registering a wormhole aperture.”
Baxton looked at the camera feed provided. He saw a wormhole vortex that was opening. However, it appeared to be in poor condition. It caused the fleet admiral to give a confused look.
“Status?” Baxton asked.
“It’s located in our ECG, sir,” Sreyleak explained. “Checking for scheduled departures from Batrice...”
“The gate is unstable,” Baxton replied. “What’s going on?...”
“Confirmed, no scheduled departures. Wormhole is located at the edge of our weapon ranges.”
“ ... Something is amiss. Set to Condition 2. Arm all weapons...”
“Aye, sir. Set to Condition 2.”
Baxton held his swagger stick, lightly bending it. “ ... Contact the cruiser Indonesia and all available ships at the ECG ... warn them about our... ‘unexpected visitors’...”
“Aye...”
From far outside Fort Batrice, two stealth craft slowly approached the great space station. Both stealth shuttles crept at a present course, maintaining a parallel heading spaced far apart from one another. Moving in almost perfect unison, the AI cores did their job, coasting the pair of vessels toward their intended destination. Despite the space station activating its weapon array, it didn’t appear that the ships were detected. In the darkness, they remained hidden, invisible to almost all sensors.
Their present course was bringing them closer to their targets. The Widado and Rama both sat in their respective places, safeguarding the mighty space station, their bows pointed to Batrice’s northern pole.
It wouldn’t be much longer. Both shuttles made a slight adjustment heading in unison, doing a 90-degree roll. Like a perfect mirror, the stealth craft crept forward together, maintaining a similar distance in length between their targets.
All remained in silence. Riding on inertia, the stealth shuttles’ flat nose, low profile, and cut-out engines made them perfect for their roles. In less than 20 seconds, the shuttles would be close enough to pass by the battleships.
So far, there has been no reaction. Despite the high alert status, the shuttles continued to zero in. By now, both shuttles had flown in locked formation with the giant space station placed between them.
Ten seconds remained. There was still no reaction from the battleships. Only the most seasoned of crewmen might have seen it. Perhaps it was possible to see it now, but by then, it was too late.
With great precision, the computer cores made one last command: Lock and Fire. When the front nose of the stealth craft was just about to pass by the underside of the battleship, the middle portion of the prow opened its missile door and unleashed a pair of missiles into space. It had to be fast. Ejected into the vacuum of nothingness, the two warheads spun quickly and flew upward straight into the underside armor of the ships’ reactor core.
Everything happened in less than two seconds. Immediately, the ships’ AIO gun turrets spun downward, detecting the immediate launch of the missiles. The Rama’s ventral gun was just about to turn toward the incoming warhead when the first missile struck.
An explosion rippled the ship. While nothing enormous by any means, the tiny blast blew outward, shattering the armor. The second missile followed close behind it, hitting the open hole and flying into it. Another explosion occurred, this time causing far more damage.
If anything, the results were incredible.
The blast was funneled, sending the energy directly in and out of the tiny burning hole. Internal mechanisms were being incinerated. Pipes and conduits were shredded apart. Within less than two seconds, all the lights on the Widado suddenly cut out, followed by the Rama, one second later. A heavy fire erupted from the ventral underside of the Rama as an oxygen line ruptured.
Both ships were disabled and almost sent adrift in space. Emergency lights on both ships kicked in, but there were no other signs of life.
Back inside Fort Batrice’s CIC, the news became obvious.
“Sir!” one of the bridge crew called out. “The Rama and Widado have been attacked!”
Baxton’s attention grew shocked and tense the moment he heard it. “Sreyleak,” he said. “Immediate report now!”
“Weapons Officer!” Sreyleak replied, reading the data report on her screen. “Identify the targets responsible ... Fleet Admiral, sensors have picked four missile launches in our proximity ... almost pinpoint range ... both the Rama and Widado’s power reactors took a direct hit.”
“Sir,” the same bridge crew member responded. “The Rama is reporting cascade power failure ... emergency power not responding. The Widado is reporting similar failure...”
“Understood, petty officer,” Baxton replied with a hint of anger, confirming the report on his screen. “Instruct the crews to prepare for evacuation ... We’ll have the ships towed to the dockyards. Sreyleak, where’s the enemy?”
Two dots slowly appeared on the digital map. “There...,” Sreyleak pointed her finger at it. “Two Stealth craft ... bearing 1N-04. Detection locked. Acquiring firing solution in 3, 2, 1...”
“Destroy them...”
“Weapons officer, open fire!”
Outside of the great space station, one of the ring’s sets of powerful turreted railguns turned and pointed at the shuttles’ location. At least ten cannons erupted, firing a spray of blue and purple particles into space. It would take less than two seconds before the Stealh-Bro and the Silent-Bro were impacted by the heavy hypervelocity shells. The tungsten shells slammed into the hulls with such quick intensity that they tore into the vessels. In less than a microsecond, both of the small craft cracked apart and gently crumbled apart in space. Their journey and task had reached their stoic end...
From inside Fort Batrice CIC, Baxton reacted quickly, assessing his situation. He could hear emergency transponder messages coming from the frantic crews of the Widado and the Rama. The fleet admiral slapped his swagger stick onto his hand hard, knowing that the enemy had outmaneuvered him, at least on this account. The damage had been done. Both the Rama and Widado appeared to be dead in space, gently floating in their crippled states.
“Targets destroyed, Fleet Admiral,” Sreyleak replied. “Evacuation of both battleships in progress ... No further enemy vessels detected.”
“I expect a full report, XO,” Baxton said to her. “The composites match our stealth cruisers. UHN sabotage ... Dispatch our shuttles and emergency teams to assist the Rama and the Widado. Contact tugs Alpha and Bravo, dispatch immediately. Continue monitoring that wormhole at the ECG. Prime Minister Chanvatey will need to be notified soon as to our current setbacks...”
“The UHN will pay for this outrage, sir.” Sreyleak showed a strong form of disdain on her face.
“ ... Indeed they will, Commander ... them and all the bloody wankers responsible for this attack. Save it for that moment. However...,” he put his swagger stick to his armpit. “Somebody knew about the weaknesses of our defending warships ... and that somebody may be coming soon to our doorstep. Until then, I’ll be in the CIC office. You have your orders...”
“Understood, sir,” Sreyleak responded. She could see that Baxton gave a firm look. His anger was present but well-controlled. He walked away from the main bridge, leaving Sreyleak to continue commanding the space station...
“Gate Formation at 90%!” Sokun said on the comms. “We can’t maintain the vortex! You have one chance, Mizu. You have fifteen seconds before the array completes the gate. It can collapse any second...”
It was now or never. Mizu looked at the maelstrom that lay ahead. The timing had to be perfect. If he jumped the gun and flew into it now, the vortex could shred the shuttle to pieces. If he took too long, the gate would collapse, possibly with him and Dean in it. The pilot took a deep breath, knowing that there was only one chance. Fate would have to decide if he and Dean would make it.
The seconds ticked down. Mizu slowly moved the shuttle forward when it reached five seconds. A flash of lightning hit the hangar deck again, nearly smacking the shuttle in the process. Gut instinct kicked in. Before Sokun said anything else, Mizu floored it.
Both Dean and Mizu were pressed to their seats. The shuttle leaped forward, driving its main thrusters hard. Three seconds remained. The vessel reached the edge of the hangar deck. Two seconds remained. The shuttle turned its nose upward, pointed toward the gate array. One second, the shuttle was nearly upon it.
There was a hard flash. The wormhole momentarily stabilized. A vacuum was generated as air and basic atmosphere began to be sucked into the hole in space. It helped pull the shuttle into its forsaken maw.
Before Mizu and Dean could say anything, the shuttle flew into it. Within two seconds, the gate array emitted a powerful energy discharge, sending a tiny concussive shockwave in all directions. The wormhole instantly collapsed, causing the rift to return to its normal environment. Batrice’s nature finally won the battle.
Mizu briefly saw a tunnel of light, but it was different this time. It wasn’t blue, but yellow, pink, and red. The terrifying prospect was that such an action should have never occurred. It was a violation of gate dynamics. Before he knew it, the shuttle had flown through the gate and emerged on the other side. A powerful crack erupted as the vortex collapsed behind him. If it had been any longer, it would have likely snapped the shuttle in two.
An energy discharge erupted in the shuttle. The power inside the cabin went out. The shuttle was in space, drifting, sent hurtling outward.
“No power!” Mizu replied, regathering his bearings. “Dean, you alive?”
“Whoa...,” Dean remarked. “Like ... those were new colors...”
“Yep ... Dean, help me get power back on.”
Dean started tapping buttons and flipping switches off and back on. The energy surge was momentous. The shuttle was in a slow downward right spin, dead in space. However, inside the cabin, both pilots worked frantically to get the vessel up and running again.
It took ten seconds for the main computer to turn back on. Dean flipped an engine switch, causing the rear thruster packs to power on again.
“Running on emergency power,” Mizu replied, thankful to be alive. “That was a hell of an energy surge ... never going to do that ever again. Regaining control ... Dean, give me a readout of where we are.”
Mizu took the controls and began to steer the shuttle. It didn’t take long before Mizu noted the stars. The lack of gravity was present. A rear display showed Planet Batrice’s surface behind him.
“Umm ... ok,” Dean explained. “We’re like ... far from Batrice... 48,000 kilometers. I think we’re in the ECG thingy. There’s this like ... transport ship called the ‘Asian Shiny’ 300 kilometers to port.”
“The... ‘Asia Sunshine’ a CC-3 Box Transport. It’s the only ship in the jump corridor. That’s our guide out of here.”
A new beep sound erupted from the screen, causing Mizu to look at it.
“New anomaly appearing 200 kilometers away ... bearing 4S-10ECG. It’s a gate aperture ... Looks like the coordinates were almost on the mark. Heading there now...”
Mizu steered the shuttle to the new set of coordinates. The rear thrusters activated, sending a blue flame outward. The man looked at his status. The shuttle’s condition could be better. The main reactor was offline, running on emergency batteries. Only the cabin lights, computer, and engines remained active.
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.