Battlecruiser Alamo: Tip of the Spear (Battlecruiser Alamo Series Book 4) by Richard Tongue

Author:Richard Tongue [Tongue, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2013-11-27T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The monitor was showing the live feed from the helmet cameras of the crew working on the moon as they cleared away the last of the rockfall. Caine watched eagerly; they'd managed to break through twenty-four hours earlier than had been hoped, the approaching spacecraft – presumed approaching spacecraft, she corrected at the back of her mind – proving a spur to faster work. Two days were gone, only six remaining, and while Quinn was still working miracles, there was only so much that even he could do.

"Don't forget you have a radio, Chief," Ryder said from her shift commander's chair.

"Sorry, Sub," Washington said in between grunts. "Scans have us with just a few meters to go, we're clearing the last of the rubble by hand. I'm pretty sure that they're working the other side, but I haven't heard anything yet."

Turning to Weitzman at the communications station, she asked, "Anything from the Captain?"

"Heading for Yreka, the scenic way. Apparently he's putting on a show for some local dignitary, but he just called us. He'll be on the deck in about twenty minutes.

"Keep listening out." She heard a faint crackle over the speakers. "What was that?"

"Didn't come from us," Washington said, "but I heard it a lot louder."

"*****tre****edic***ergency," rattled over the speaker.

Caine leapt to her feet, "I got that last word."

Preempting her next order, Washington said, "We're going as fast as we can...I think...yes, I can see their helmet lights. Lieutenant Dietz?"

Coming though clearer now, Caine could hear the voice – but it wasn't Dietz, it was Spaceman Prentis, one of the technicians who had accompanied him. Suddenly she had a very bad feeling in the pit of her stomach, as if a black cloud was beginning to descend upon her.

"Chief! Thank God," he said, a desperate raggedness to his voice. "Thank God."

"Alamo here, Spaceman. What's happened to Dietz?"

"Lieutenant?" Prentis seemed distant, his voice almost lost, "He's back down in the caves. Olsen is with him. I came up to try and clear the fall."

"What happened?" Caine leaned forward in her chair.

"He saw...something. We reached the artifact, and he went into the chamber first," the words babbled across the channel, almost incoherent, "There was something down there. I only caught a glimpse of it, but he staggered out and collapsed. We can't wake him."

"Damn," Caine muttered. She turned to Weitzman, "Get Duquesne up here now. I don't care what she is doing, we need her up on Alamo. Tell her we have one serious xenopsychosis case, long exposure."

"On it, ma'am."

"Washington, you'd better get the others back as fast as you can. And collapse that damn tunnel behind you again."

"Ma'am?"

"I don't want anyone going down there without proper safeguards. Collapse the damn tunnel!" she shouted into the speaker, all eyes on the bridge focused on her. She remembered her own case of xenopsychosis, a few months ago. She still had nightmares of those moments, still woke up screaming sometimes. Likely she always would. Looking around at the bridge, she turned to Ryder.

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