Distortion Night Owls 5: A Moon Colony Sci-fi Adventure by Stephen Gay

Author:Stephen Gay [Gay, Stephen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-06-02T00:00:00+00:00

14

RECONNAISANCE

“Desi, you said we know the schedule of the cargo pods, right?”

“Ya,” she confirms.

“And they have no personnel onboard and no defenses?”

“Right.”

Nico pauses, then lifts two fingers and raises his other hand shoulder height, palm up. “If we can’t break into the orbital station and the Titan Industry’s ground operations have high security, why don’t we catch a lift on one of the cargo pods?”

“Are you suggesting we intercept a cargo pod in transit?” asks Taylor. Her arms cross tighter over her chest.

“Grand, I say!” Sean bellows, though at this point I think he would agree to anything that got us in. “Unreal thinking, lad.”

Taylor doesn’t seem as enthusiastic. “Is it doable?”

“I can match the cargo pod’s velocity on the Cascade,” Nico replies.

The owner of the Cell Block turns to her girlfriend, whose head is bent over her PAD. “Desi?”

“Technically, it’s feasible,” my friend says slowly. “We have a small window from the launch to when the orbital station might see us.”

“How do we get inside?” I ask. The familiar thrill of doing something crazy stirs inside.

“There’s a cargo loading hatch on the side. I should be able to open it up from the outside.”

Taylor inches closer to her. “Are you sure?”

Desi meets her concerned expression. “Yes,” she says, adding under her breath as Taylor frowns, “I think so.”

“If we do this,” Aysha speaks up, “who’s going? We can’t all go; the rest of us should wait on the Cascade.”

Nico holds up his hands, then curls the fingers into fists. “Hang on. There’s one more issue.”

“We don’t know how to get off the orbital platform,” Taylor says, to which the Martian Marine nods.

“Exactly. The only extraction idea I have right now is the Cascade.”

“That’s not totally safe,” I say as disappointment falls over the group. “Sofia knows we’re here, and she knows what ship we have. I bet anything she’ll be looking out for us.”

“None of the resistance ships would be available so quickly,” Sean adds.

Desi taps her lips, then pulls on one end of her hair. “We might be able to steal a ship?” she suggests.

“And risk it with the EA?” snorts Sean. “I’d rather not make a right bag of this.”

“It’s our only option,” Aysha snaps back. “You wanted to get on to the station, so either get alright with the idea or don’t go at all.”

The ex-military man crosses his arms over his chest, arms bulging as he considers her. I take a tiny step closer, ready to jump in if he suddenly loses it, but just as unexpectedly, an enormous smile overtakes his face and his bright green eyes dance with delight.

“Aye, you’ve got a fine mot there, Ethan,” he cries, slapping himself in the chest. “Lucky lad.”

Aysha gives me a you’re welcome nod and turns back to Nico. “So what are you proposing?”

“A small group goes on the Cascade to minimize our risk,” the captain fires off. “The cargo pods vary in size, but I don’t think more than four should go. Obviously, one has to be Desi—”

“I’m going too,” Taylor says, and no one objects.

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