Chapter 36. Rescue operation begins
"About a hundred and fifty or so signs of life," Devon reported, monitoring the sensor data. "Due to the radiation levels on board, a more precise figure is not known." He looked stern. In fact, he has had this expression since he was scratched on the face by the opponent's knife during a one-on-one duel with a Nascan man. Although he escaped death at the time, the deep scar is still clearly visible to this day. He was lucky because the Naskans usually fought to the death.
Captain Razor blew softly. The regular crew of such a Federation ship would usually be more than four hundred people. That there were so few people on such a damaged ship could only mean that they had been attacked not too long ago.
"It will make it easier for us to board the ship," muttered the Klingon Spin Turtle, clearly coming to the same conclusion.
"We wouldn't do such a thing," Reiser replied flatly. He didn't want to attack any Starfleet ships. On the one hand, because he himself was once a Starfleet cadet. And what you learn is not so easy to forget. But the main reason is that he doesn't want to antagonize Starfleet. They are so powerful and so smart that if Starfleet starts searching for them, their days may be over. As long as they don't fight Starfleet, maybe the pirates won't even notice them. Or at least not taking it too seriously.
The Spin Turtle didn't think that far ahead. He just wants to rob. "This ship is a fragile target." The Spin Turtle had turned to the captain and looked at him angrily. "We should try to get everything we can get." He looked at the captain with high spirits. It is a tradition among the Klingons to challenge a superior with weak leadership and then kill them in combat to replace them. And here, like everyone else, the Spin Turtle is a lawless man.
Anger arose in Lei Ze's heart. The Spin Turtles have been causing trouble ever since they hijacked the ship and became its companions. Sooner or later they would clash, and Razor wasn't sure who would win, since the Klingon was at least as strong as himself. But now he had no time to waste with these bickerings.
The spinning turtle is not far from the command chair. On this stolen ship, only the captain has a seat and the crew must stand. This underlines the special status of the captain. Razer didn't like this because he believed that on the Pirates team, everyone was equal.
Lei Ze stood up slowly and turned his attention to the Spin Turtle. "I think it's time for you to return to your duties," he said slowly but firmly, glaring at the Spin Turtle.
"In its current condition, this ship is easily compromised," the Klingon replied, indicating his opinion of the captain. His nostrils were quivering, and his black leather breastplate, studded with metal, typical of Klingon warrior garb, rose and fell on his chest.
"If it's an easy battle, then where's the honor?" Reese asked defiantly, and the Spin Turtle visibly shuddered. To the Klingons, nothing is more important than honor.
"This ship is a scrap," the captain continued quickly, not giving the Tortoise a chance to draw his sword. Spin Turtle always carries a dagger, which he conceals on his traditional Klingon uniform. "It has no value to us anymore. The computers and machines should all be destroyed. How is the situation in the warehouse?" He turned to Dewen, deliberately ignoring the Spin Turtle, but glancing at it from the corner of his eye. He must not be allowed to turn around now.
"According to our sensor data, their warehouse is empty," Devon replied quickly. Almost a little too fast, but Razer was glad that Dewen was thoughtful enough to prepare the right answer. Dewen is one of the few people on the ship who can be completely trusted. Because Dewen worked with the Klingons, but he didn't have much interest in honor and power. If he says the hold is full, then he'll provide the Spin Turtle with more ammunition for his fight against the captain.
"It's all clear," Razer said loud and clear. "We're not going to do anything." He deliberately sat down again and stared at the ship on the screen.
Spin Turtle was furious, but he also knew that the captain had once again demonstrated his courage and understanding of the situation to the entire crew. He shows his courage by confronting the Spin Turtle and then ignoring him. And his analysis and decision-making of the situation also showed that there was nothing to grab here. After all, what thief would risk everything to attack if there was nothing to grab? And on this ship, everyone is a thief and a pirate. So the Spin Turtle roared again and then fell silent.
Lei Ze knew that there would soon be another conflict. But for now it's over. He stared at the ship on the screen. "It's surprising what the Demon Flame did to the ship. And I have a feeling we'll encounter this ship again soon," Raze muttered softly. Then he quickly stood up and walked towards Dewen. "What's the condition of the ship? Can they repair it?" he said as quietly as possible.
Without answering, Dewen quickly entered some instructions and then pointed at the screen. Razer studied the data and smiled. According to the data, a small spacecraft is flying, heading towards the Republic. He hoped it was aid. Death in the universe is cruel and no one should have to suffer it. Even his victims. Not to mention other people’s victims.
Lei Ze was still smiling and said softly, "It's finally here." However, his smile disappeared immediately because he saw the worry wrinkles on Devin's forehead. "Any questions?"
"They had too few dilute crystals," Devin found. "There are no more on the Republic. The demonic flames must have taken them away. And the crystals on the ship may not be enough."
Razor lowered his head briefly. Diluting the crystals is necessary to extract energy from the fusion core. They are used to control the fusion of matter and antimatter. Without this control, either not enough drive energy would be generated, or all the energy would be released at once, destroying the spacecraft. He thought for a moment, then looked directly into Devin's eyes and shook his head. Dewen nodded. He got it. He quickly changed the sensor data and the ship disappeared from the display.
An idea suddenly occurred to the captain, but he had no time to explain it now. He quickly walked to the technical station and pushed the technician Irma out of the way. She was also one of the people he trusted, so she didn't mind following him and watching.
He remembered that the last ship they hijacked had dilute crystals on it. The crystals are still in the Negro's cargo bay. Now it's time to transfer them to the shuttle on the ship (the Republic's shuttle). But he must be careful not to be discovered, either by a Federation crew member or one of his own, or his life will be in danger. Normally, he would not give things to others for nothing. He is definitely not a modern-day Robin Hood, taking from the rich and giving to the poor. His goal is to amass as much wealth as possible so that he can one day retire and live the life of an aristocrat. But he wasn't sure if that day would ever come, because pirate life was just too much fun. Move freely in the universe, do not surrender to anyone, and can do whatever you want. Occasionally raid a ship, enjoy the shocked look on your victim's face, and take away something of value. It is important to minimize the risk and not to rob at all costs. He plans to live for a while longer. And, if his hunch about the Starfleet crew is correct, then he has plans to conspire with them for something bigger. They will help him get more and more valuable things. For this reason, it’s worth giving something away once in a while. He saw it as an investment with potential for growth.
He quickly teleported and deleted the teleporter log. To ensure security, he locked the day's delivery log with a personal code. Now only he has access to the data.
He stared nervously at the columns of data scrolling on the screen. There was no reaction from the tender, and his crew didn't seem to notice. He breathed a sigh of relief. "Get out of here, helmsman," he ordered immediately. Now is the time to leave before your own crew notices the tender. He sat on the command chair on the bridge with a serious expression. But deep down, he was smiling. If his plan succeeds, they'll soon have no one to fear.
"Commander Carol!" Daisy shouted happily. "We have detected the signal from the Republic. It is about 1.3 light-years away from us. I have confirmed the coordinates."
"Finally, it's been long enough." Carol responded, sitting next to the engineer and controlling the spacecraft. She was equally relieved.
"What could possibly have happened that caused them to stray from the location of the mine?" Daisy muttered to herself. "The coordinates of the mine are completely different."
"We'll find out in a few minutes. I'll initiate the jump." Carol said confidently.
For hours they had been searching for the Republic. They flew to the coordinates of the mine mentioned in Noah's report, which should be the place where the demonic flames were imprisoned. They approached cautiously so as not to be suddenly spotted by enemy ships. They need to have the possibility of escape in case their opponent becomes too powerful. As they get closer to their destination, they become more alert. Especially since the sensor data didn't change despite getting closer. When they finally arrived at the coordinates, they discovered that there was no mine at all. In fact, there is nothing. There are no planets, no asteroids, and no galaxies. They seemed to be in an endless void.
At first, they pondered what might have happened. But they couldn't explain it all. If the Republic had continued forward, they should have sent out another transmission. And such messages would be intercepted by Starfleet. But they didn't do this, which can only mean that the Republic no longer has this ability. Either it was forced to continue sailing, or it was attacked. But there is nothing here to indicate that the ship was destroyed.
They don't have much choice. They no longer have enough energy to return and can only continue searching. It's like finding a needle in a haystack. The ship could have departed in any direction and may have traveled light-years away. After all, the Republic should have arrived here seven days ago. Now it may be well beyond the range of the small spacecraft. However, they cannot wait to die in this spaceship.
Daisy dropped the blame. At first she wasn't enthusiastic about setting off on the small spaceship. She could have stayed on Kuafu IV to await the Republic's return. There are enough reserves there to last several months even in an emergency. That planet also provides water and fruits, so they will never go hungry. But in outer space, things are different. Still, criticism is inappropriate. First of all, they decide to set off together because it's a hierarchy. Moreover, Starfleet itself is a military organization. Secondly, criticism does them no favors in this case either. They either succeed together or die together.
Now, they finally found the ship. After they recovered from the jump state, the spacecraft hovered next to the majestic Republic, but the spacecraft had lost much of its majesty. The holes in the hull were like huge wounds, and the oxygen spurted out from them ignited certain parts of the hull under the impact, turning the originally white shell into black. In addition to the weapons-damaged parts, the hull also had three circular holes that looked like they had been cut out. Most of the ship's position lights were broken, and the lights behind the ship's windows were almost off. The spacecraft is spinning, making it appear as if it is slowly moving across the universe. The Republic looks like a proud white swan, its once majestic figure has been destroyed by fire.
"Oh my God," Daisy said in horror. She thought of the crew, and of Noah. Judging from the condition of the ship, they could not expect to find anyone on board. However, the hatches of the rescue cabin are still tightly closed. At least the crew didn't leave this way. "Is anyone alive?" she asked skeptically. She regretted it a little late, realizing that it was better to think about it in her own mind if she was so discouraged.
"We'll find out soon enough," Carol replied. She wasted no time and immediately activated the communication device. "Hello, Republic. This is Commander Carol of the Independence. Is anyone on board? Can you hear me?"
On board the space shuttle Independence, everyone was eagerly awaiting a response. The engineers sitting in the back of the boat stood up and crowded into the cockpit. Everyone wants to see that ship. Everyone felt the same fear when they saw the ship.
There was only noise and the sound of sparks coming from the speakers, putting the nerves on edge of those waiting. And as the noise lasted longer and longer, their uneasiness became more and more unbearable. Are they the last survivors? This problem is almost inevitable. Of course, there is also the question of whether they can wait on the damaged spacecraft until rescue arrives. If the ship is too damaged, it will also become their tomb.
Chapter 37
"Call the Republic..." Carol repeated her message, but her voice was noticeably less hopeful. She was already worried that no one would survive the disaster.
As they continued to wait for a response, listening to the background noise from the speakers, their spaceship moved closer and closer to the ship. There are obvious signs of a fierce battle. The hull was torn apart in several places and the inside could be seen. You can see the layout of some cabins and the corridors inside the ship. Some cracks are deep enough to reveal cross-sections of two or three decks. If anyone had been inside the hull when it was damaged, they could have been swept out into space by the sudden drop in air pressure, with no chance of catching anything. Across the universe, cold, air-starved environments can cause lungs to collapse quickly, leading to a painful death.
"Maybe it's just that the communication link on the ship is down," Daisy said, trying to sound hopeful.
"I think we need to try to board the ship," Carol finally said. She tried hard not to let her sadness and frustration show. "We can only hope that the boathouse door is still open. Otherwise, we will have to try to dock." In such an emergency, there is a corresponding docking port on the top of the spacecraft. Also, the Republic is equipped with several airlock doors, so this is doable. However, it's not an easy task, and Carol isn't sure her flying skills are enough. But what choice do they have?
The spacecraft flew around the astrolabe section and returned to the stern. On the side of the hull is where the shuttle ramp rests, right at the end of the ship.
"What's that?" shouted one engineer, pointing wildly ahead. "There's something moving inside the ship."
"Where?" Daisy asked excitedly.
"Behind a window." The man was extremely excited. "We've been through it. We have to go back."
"Are you sure?" Carol wanted to know.
"Yes." The man was a little impatient. "Yes, I'm sure. Please fly back."
"It should be okay to go take a look." Daisy said.
Carol considered it, then reversed course. The spaceship came to a stop before they looked toward the window indicated by the engineer. Then they all stared nervously. Behind the window is a dark room. There was no sign that anyone had been there just now. There was no movement either. After the initial glimmer of hope, disappointment grew stronger.
"Sorry," the engineer whispered.
"It's okay," Carol whispered back. Just as she was about to activate the thrusters again, Daisy suddenly screamed.
"There! There's someone there!" She pointed to the window again. Indeed. A man in a Starfleet uniform stood waving wildly. He looked as excited as a kid seeing Santa Claus. He kept waving and shouting something that of course they didn't understand.
"What does he want to tell us?" asked Alva Daisy, confused.
"I don't know," Carol shrugged. She was relieved that someone was on board. "But we should go up there and take a look."
"I think that's what he meant," Daisy frowned, pointing at the man's posture. He was no longer waving, but making obvious gestures. "I think he was pointing in the direction of the shuttle ramp."
"Okay, let's go quickly." Carol started the thruster and headed towards the back of the spacecraft.
Ted receives the shuttle in the hangar. He immediately learned the gratifying news and hurried here to receive the officers in person. Next to him stood a dark-haired woman holding a data tablet. According to her rank, she is an assistant in the engine room.
When the shuttle landed safely and the air pressure returned to normal, the passengers got off the shuttle. They looked around in horror because things in the hangar were no longer neatly arranged. They walked quickly towards Ted, Carol and Daisy leading the way.
"What happened here?" Carol immediately asked the security director.
"The demonic flames attacked us," Ted replied, briefly explaining what happened. The newcomers heard the shocking news. Their fear seemed to grow with every word. They didn't want to believe what they were hearing, but the condition of the ship clearly confirmed Ted's words.
"We've been trying to get the ship operational again since then," Ted concluded his report. "But the situation is more difficult. The demonic flames took away all the engineers. We still have three computer room assistants, but their knowledge is far from enough. The only thing that is working reliably at the moment is the life support system. The rest of the situation is pretty bad."
"Okay," Carol interrupted. "I understand. Give the list to Ms. Daisy. She will be in charge of coordination now. We have some engineers now, after all."
Ted looked at Daisy suspiciously. Not that he didn't believe in her abilities, but compared to the chief engineer, there were only six engineers and technicians on board right now. They would need at least ten times the manpower to make progress.
"We can do it," Daisy said encouragingly, looking at him.
"And half the crew..." Carol began, but stopped short.
"...Capture or death," Ted added. After a week, he no longer hesitated about the obvious. "Yes. We have thought that if we can restart the spacecraft, we will carry out a rescue operation. This is our top priority. We know that the demon flames are traffickers and they treat slaves particularly cruelly. We must rescue the crew as soon as possible ." He sounded determined, but also very tired.
"Good job," Carol nodded approvingly. "But we have a lot of work to do to free the crew." She wasn't even sure it would succeed, even though she desperately wanted it.
"You have evacuated the outer area of the hull," Daisy pointed out, already studying the status report Li Weiwei gave her.
Ted nodded. "We thought this would save time and resources. We didn't have enough material to repair all the damage. The areas were not critical, where the damage was most severe," he explains his thinking.
"That's good," Daisy confirmed. "It's really good. Because all the damage is listed here, we can start repair work immediately," she explained to Carol.
"You did a great job, Mr. Ted," Carol praised the security chief.
"The whole crew did a great job. Mrs. Levi and I just coordinated a little," Ted replied modestly.
Carol just nodded. There is no time for trivial chit-chat now. "How's the navigation system?"
"It failed," Ted said.
"What's the status of the teleporter?"
"It failed," Li Weiwei replied.
"Where's the sensor?"
"The internal sensors are offline. The external proximity sensors are still functioning."
"Well, at least it still has some functions." Carol was already satisfied with the little things. "What about the communications system?" This was the most important in her opinion, because through it they could send messages to Starfleet. Although she didn't expect help. Because it takes too long for other ships to get here. But it's a reassuring feeling when Starfleet knows what's going on.
"The communications system is still offline. There's nothing we can do to fix it."
"Okay. There's still a lot to do then." She nodded to Daisy. "Get to work. If we keep working as hard as we have over the past few days, we'll be back to normal in no time. And then we'll get our crew back," she said seriously.
