Chapter 6
Calling this the lower depths of Hell was kind. It was bad, really bad. As the hatch opened smoke and ash from the fires boiled into the shuttle. With smoke rolling around the bay we could see scorched and burned crewmen trying to put out one of the fires. My suit sensors said that oxygen was down to 18% and falling. We had to move fast. Our XO grabbed the nearest ship’s crewman, and they started talking. A makeshift hospital had been set up, and our med team sprang into action.
My team looked to me for guidance. On the flight over I had made crewman Bartleby a temporary Midshipman, by the XO’s orders. “Bartleby, take half the group and make your way to Engineering. Shut down that fusion engine. Short of ejecting it, stop it any way you can. Call me if you run into trouble. The
