The Black Box

“There’s something small ahead, sir.”1

The Commander leaned over the console scanner.2

“Steer a course, it looks like the black box of one of our cruisers.” The Commander said,3

“Sir.” The crewman replied.4

They steered toward it, and used one of the ships probe arms to pick it up.5

“Teleport it to the Bridge, please.” The Commander said.6

“Sir.”7

It appeared on the deck in front of the Commander.8

“Link up with the main screen.” He said.9

An image flickered in front of him.10

* * * *11

“Sorry for the quick-thaw, ma’am, but you’re required on the Command Deck.”12

She opened her eyes and saw Tech Officer Mike by the console placed on the left of her Cryo Tube.13

The translucent lid hissed and popped open as the pressure inside the pod equalized with the pressure in the bay.14

She pushed herself to a semi-standing position and stepped out. She turned and from the side of her pod unclipped her T9 ZM Sniper Rifle. She glanced at the 30, fully armoured, frozen corpses around her.15

“Why isn’t the rest of my squad awake?” She asked.16

“Captain Hanse specifically requested that only you were to be woken.” TO Mike replied. “You might want to double-time it up there. It’s not such a wise move to keep the Cap’n waiting.”17

“Thankyou, Tech Officer. I’ll do just that.” She turned toward the door that led from the bay to the Command Deck, and as she exited, slung her rifle over her shoulder.18

It had been quite some time since she had walked through the confined spaces of the Bullembek, so she had to periodically check the navigation arrows painted on the floor to be sure she was heading in the right direction.19

Finally, she arrived at the Command deck. She walked up to where Captain Hanse was standing. She snapped to attention and said, “Reporting as ordered, Sir!”20

He turned around and saluted back. He looked older, the tell tale grey skin suggesting that time had taken its toll. “At ease. Good to see you again, my dear, but it seems that we have gotten ourselves into a spot of bother. Aft camera on screen, please,”21

“Yes, Sir!” one of the Command Crew replied.22

A picture flashed on the screen in front of her and Hanse.23

“What do you make of this?” Hanse asked her.24

She pondered and looked at the screen for a moment, then replied, “They look like Grygorgon Cruisers, sir.”25

“Right you are, my dear.” He said. “I need you and your team up and operational within the next half-hour to repel boarders.”26

“I’ll have it done ASAP, Sir!” I said as she snapped to attention and saluted.27

“Good. Dismissed.”28

She turned and ran back to Cryo.29

On the way, she keyed her COM and linked up with TO Mike. “Tech Officer, start the wake up cycle for the rest of my squad. Captain Hanse wants them operational within the hour.”30

“Yes, ma’am! Right away, ma’am!” he replied.31

‘I hate it when they respond in that way, I’ve told them before not to do it.’ She thought.32

As she ran back into the bay, Josephine jumped out, saluted and said, “What’s the rush, Amanda? Are we under attack?”33

“We’re about to be,” Amanda replied. “When the others are awake, tell them to meet at the weaponry lockers.”34

“Yes, ma’am!” she replied.35

They arrived at the lockers, and hands immediately reached for magazines, and, with satisfying clicks, attached them to their belts, along with a handful of always handy grenades, and a few extra close quarters weapons.36

“Get a move on, eta 10 minutes to contact!” Captain Hanse said to Amanda over her COM.37

“Yes sir!” she replied, and keyed her COM to her squad, “Let’s move it, people! Form two squads. Mike, take six with you to the Command Deck. Protect Captain Hanse and the crew at all costs. The rest of you, with me to the life pod bays.”38

‘Yes ma’am.” They all replied.39

They spilt, and the main body of the squad, with Amanda in the lead, headed down to the bays.40

On the way, she split the squad again.41

“John, take half and cover the starboard bay. The rest of you, with me, port side.”42

“Yes, ma’am.” They replied, and split into two distinct groups.’43

They got to the port bay a few minutes later. Amanda pulled out her Optic Probe, attached it to her helmet, and fed it round the corner.44

The bay wasn’t as full as she thought it would be. It only had a couple of dozen of the Grygorgon’s weakest troops, not the most ideal troops to use when taking a cruiser.45

Amanda relayed the pictures to the rest of the squad.46

‘Josephine, take half and head round the other side of the bay, let me know when you’re in position.” She said.47

“Yes ma’am.” She replied, and they left.48

A few moments later, she keyed Amanda, letting her know that they were in position.49

“Right, we need to do this as quickly and as quietly…”50

BOOM!51

‘Shit. She threw four grenades. Four fricken grenades.’52

“What the HELL was that?” Josh yelled.53

“WEEEEEEEEE!” Josephine called.54

“JO!!” Amanda yelled.55

BOOM!56

“Right, who was it?!” Amanda yelled.57

“Me.” Sam answered.58

“Don’t you start!!” Amanda yelled at him.59

BOOM!60

“Right!” Amanda yelled.61

“Me again.” Josephine said. Then giggled.62

‘Well there goes the element of surprise.” Josh said, and then sighed.63

“Oh well, let’s get the rest of them, if there are any left…” Amanda said, and advanced round the corner.64

“Oh shit.” She said as she stared at a rather large cylindrical metal object in the middle of the port bay.65

Tick tick tick, BOOM!!66

* * * *67

After a few minutes, he sighed, and turned around.68

“Well, at least we finally know what happened to that cruiser that failed to meet up with us.”69

“Sir?”70

“The Grygorgon got them en-route to the planet.” The Commander replied, and sighed. “Put it with the rest.”