Goliath by James C.P

Author:James, C.P. [James, C.P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-03-15T22:00:00+00:00

Lieutenant Souller, AMS 1706502 Singleship XS106 DBE

14:15 17/09/1875 ce (13 pce)

Untitled

“I cannot use video. I cannot risk the bandwidth. You’ll need to give me a running commentary of what you’re doing.”

“I’m trying to concentrate.”

“This is important. I cannot assist you if I don’t know what you are doing.”

“Ok. So, I’m doing as you instructed. I’m using the torch to defrost the door mechanism so I can get it open. I still think we should be using the same door our visitor did.”

“As I have mentioned, it may be monitored. Safer to use an alternate entrance.”

Pause.

“There ... I think that’s got it. Hang on. I’m engaging the suit’s servomotors.”

“You can put a lot of pressure on it. Those systems are robust, you won’t break them.”

“If I do there’s always other doors to try. It’s moving. I think I got it.”

Pause.

“There. It’s open. It’s dark inside.”

“I’m not reading electromagnetic activity in any of the surface facilities. Remember, this station is stealthed—“

“Yeah, thanks.”

“—so there wouldn’t be much activity on the surface anyway. You may get a better reading further in.”

“I hope the well’s working. I’m not walking all the way to the core.”

“According to my records the gravity well was removed fifteen years ago. It was replaced by a mechanical elevator system. Mechanicals are easier to mask from surveillance. The only produce vibration and heat. Both of which can be soaked up by the surrounding strata.”

“As long as there’s something there. How far is it?”

“Turn left here. Then two hundred metres straight on. Describe what you see. If you remember, I’m not using any active sensor systems. You have to tell me where you are and what you’re looking at.”

“Yeah, yeah. It’s a passage. Bare metal. There’s no air pressure.”

“That’s wrong. You should have passed through an air lock.”

“Yeah. The inner door was open when I opened the outer one. There wasn’t a blowout, so this whole area must already be depressurised. Well, it is. I’m here and I can tell.”

“What’s the gravity like?”

“As we expected, it’s pretty much nonexistent. I’m floating here. First time I've had to do that since flight school.”

“That will be the ambient microgravity. I’m reading it as zero point zero two g.”

“So, why did you ask? I’m there now. There’s a door. This’ll be for personnel only. That won’t do us any good. We need to get you inside so the manufactory can repair the defect. There must be a vehicle entry here somewhere.”

“There is. But you need to scout the facility first. We cannot commit until we know it’s safe.”

“Hey. I’m already committed. Damn, this thing makes a lot of noise. I can feel the vibration through my gloves.”

“The elevator?”

“Yeah.”

“That can’t be good. It will alert whoever’s here.”

“They’ll know we’re here anyway. I’m sure their ship would have alerted them.”

“I have detected no signals emanating from it. It appears to be dormant. It is possible its crew abandoned it here. They could be seeking refuge inside.”

Pause.

“I think it’s getting closer. I’m going to seek shelter around a corner, in case it’s occupied.

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