"Override manual release protocol."
Malcolm jammed his b****y hands into the recessed emergency access panel beside the airlock. He gripped the locking lever and pulled downward with every remaining ounce of strength in his battered body.
The frozen mechanical gears groaned in protest. Ice cracked and splintered around the titanium frame. The doors hissed and slid apart just wide enough to permit entry.
Malcolm did not hesitate. He grabbed the tow cable and leaned backward. He dragged the fusion core over the icy threshold. The cylinder scraped against the floorboards with a loud screech.
He crossed into the dark corridor of the Leviathan. He slammed his shoulder against the manual close button. The titanium doors slid shut and sealed the howling blizzard outside.
The interior of the
