Civilization

Cold Hand Of Death

"There" a fading voice said," the signal originated from this point". Kluzor realized it was Teika who made that remark as the fog in his mind started to clear up. "Captain it's a ship" Teika continued," the radiation is causing havoc on the system but if I am reading this correctly..." "Survivors!!" Kluzor rudely interrupted Teika. As he was coming out of his meltdown after witnessing the nuclear detonations Kluzor, realized the ship's location and the signal that triggered the series of nuclear detonations are one and the same.

Silence can be a chilling a sensation, which Amelia and her crew felt after Klu's outburst. Amelia started to track every signal surrounding ground zero to better understand the situation not wanting to jump to conclusions. Tracking the signals though were proving to be difficult due to the malfunctioning navigational array.

Breaking the silence Amelia started issuing orders in a calm but sure voice, "Klu, can we start repairing the navigational array?" without a pause she continued, "what does the diagnostic report say?" She still continued," we need to fix the array until that we are dead in Space. Secondly we must ensure our presence remain hidden. We need more information people, let's find some answers."

The crew, as if like magic, came out of their dazed state and started working like a well cogged/oiled machine.

"Cap, I am trying to chart the system with all the data we collected so far but the radiation from the fifth and sixth planet is distorting most of our signals." Rahza said while smacking his tongue in irritation." Here, this is the best I can do" letting a sigh out he looked at his captain who knew the reason behind Rahza's sigh. Emm knew what she has to do to get more information and at the sametime wants to be sure. " The ship's trajectory has changed, and it is heading for one of the smaller colonies." Teika said, "That's an asteroid colony if these reading are accurate. Why would they go there? Why not the space station?" Emm looking at the reading said," Let's not go looking for reasons when we don't even know what we are looking at and what we are interpreting are even same." Emm was hoping Klu could help her with a better understanding of what she was looking at but none came as Amelia realized Klu was busy running various diagnosis. "Captain, if we launch a probe we can scan the system better..." said Revin the engineer. "The probes signal will trace the moment it starts transmitting revealing both it's and our location." Klu cutting Rev midsentence" We need to get out buddy there are two array panels has been blown or burned away. Either way we need those droids programmed and ready, so we have the ship fixed before Emm comes back."

The crew realized what Klu meant, the captain will have to do a scouting mission which meant a suitable location to scout from and remain undetected. The shuttle has been used for sensitive missions like this due it's size and speed. While Klu and Rev prepared the droid for diagnostic first and repair next, Rahza came with a plan which was laid out to collect information from the station located between the asteroids and fifth planet. Emm dismissed the plan as the radiation from the planet will render the same readings as they are getting. Teika suggested the asteroids as the location seeing how the radiation levels are lower, they can hide on one of the floating ball of rock as an added bonus the ship is heading for a colony on one of the asteroid.

Amelia was consumed with the thought of that ship carrying all those people and may also cause the destruction of the third planet. The planet which was the start of her royal mission, the planet which made them pirates, the planet which was supposed to be her people's salvation but became the cause of war and uncountable deaths. Now it's gone, and she must find out why. Not for the sake of her orders nor for her people but for herself and for her crew.

The espionage location was an asteroid closest to the mining colony and has a perfect place to hide as it is on the dark side of the asteroid.

Kluzor grudgingly agreed Teika to be the best choice for the mission as she is the best combat pilot. " Our system's best pilot not this one though" thought Kluzor. Interrupting his thought Amelia said, "I know you want to be on this mission but Klu I need you here to fix the ship and look afte..." " After the crew and in the event I am captured or dead then it's job to complete the mission and report to the King. Yes yes I know the speech Emm." Interrupting Emm and acting smug to defuse some tension. "Alright I will do it, but you have to promise me not to leave me in charge of these Assholes again." said Kluzor with a familiar smile as he knows the protocol makes second in command the captain which was him. Softly touching Emm's fingers with his own he tried to give a comforting smile but failed miserably. Amelia grabbed his finger and whispered," I love you too".

The repair droids diagnostic report was both mysterious and irritating as it indicates that two of the arrays panels are completely ripped off from the ship's hull. Mysterious because previous system checks show no problems with the panels and irritating because those were the panels he bought from a freighter merchant(more like pirate) only few cycles ago. "That low life pirate, I should have known hr gave us faulty panels" Revin shouted looking at the report. "Or sabotaged. Hmm?" added Kluzor. With a puzzled look Revin asked," Deliberately?" "Yes Rev sabotaged by definition means that" Kluzor tried not to insult the big burly oaf of a man and continue, "let's not get bogged down on the reason for our missing panels but concentrate on how to fix them". Kluzor could see the cloud of confusion in Revin's eye as he was not sure if he should be insulted or not. Suddenly he exclaimed," The original panels! We have the original panels which I have been repairing and almost done with it." Genuinely surprised by Revin's suggestion, which was the perfect solution for all their troubles.