Human for Hire (7) -- Cellblock Orion (Collateral Damage Included): A Novel of Human Superiority by T.R. Harris

Author:T.R. Harris [Harris, T.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Harris Creations, LLC
Published: 2023-09-14T16:00:00+00:00

It took a full hour to finally reach the starship repair yard. Being early morning, the gates were locked with mechanical devices which Adam’s ADT couldn’t access and that were too strong for his Human muscles to break. The trio had to climb over the fence, which was probably the first time in Argo’s life he had to do something like that.

The Arieel was a modest size starship about two hundred feet long by eighty wide. It was toward the rear of the field, the last vessel to land here over the past week. Adam had already accessed the side hatch mechanism with his brain interface, so he didn’t break stride at the doorway magically opened when he drew near. And if that wasn’t mysterious enough for Martinez and Argo, the ship suddenly sprang to life, with lights, life support and the pre-warmup of the chemical engines already activated.

“Martinez, come with me,” Adam ordered. “Argo, don’t touch anything.”

Adam led the other Human to the rear cargo area, moving to a storage chest where he removed a long rope ladder. Most ships had such emergency provisions in case of a crash landing, or if one had to rescue friends from a huge pond of floating shit. One had to be prepared for any circumstance.

Adam affixed the ladder to a set of clamps in the grated decking.

“When I tell you, open this hatch and lower the ladder. I’ll use the bottom cameras to position us as best I can, but I’ll have to be careful of the jet exhaust. I’ll leave the comm open so you can help guide me.”

Then Adam rushed forward to the bridge.

It would take five minutes to warm up the engines enough for liftoff. After slipping into the pilot seat, Adam pulled up the navigation screen on his monitor. He refined it to the local area, showing the city of I’klic and Malx Prison. The two large retention ponds to the north of the prison were clearly visible on the plot. Adam would fly there manually.

Argo wandered onto the bridge and found a seat.

“Buckle in,” Adam advised as he punched the liftoff jets, sending the starship skyward. He didn’t gain much altitude before making a beeline for the retention ponds.

I’m on my way, he said through his ATD, which was still channeled through the activated comm station in the warehouse.

We are still here, clinging to the stanchion, Idera said in his mind. Be advise, there are numerous aircraft circling the ponds. As horrific as it sounds, they are scooping sludge from the pits to pour on the fires in the prison.

Adam crinkled his nose at the thought of dropping raw sewage on the flames to put them out. Even if that worked, the cleanup afterward wouldn’t be worth it. Best just to plow the entire structure asunder and start anew.

Adam! Idera screamed. The scoops are crashing into the lattice of treatment lines above the pond, making it easier to access. They will soon be upon us!

Understood. Almost there.

The

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