Wildfire (Book 1) by David Mack

Author:David Mack [Mack, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Fiction
ISBN: 9780743456784
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2003-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

* * *

Stevens reached the aft end of the Orion’s secondary hull, looked up at the underside of the starboard nacelle, and shook his head in disappointment as he keyed the comm. “Starboard nacelle’s got multiple fractures where it meets the engineering section,” he said. “Any luck on port side?”

“Negative,” P8 Blue said. “Massive damage along the entire port nacelle assembly. I do not think this will work.”

“Want to do one more sweep forward before we—”

“Gomez to Work Bugs. We’ve lost contact with Corsi. Can you confirm all channels clear?”

Stevens tried not to think of worst-case scenarios while he checked his Work Bug’s comm relay circuits. Because the Orion’s main computers were offline, the away team’s communications were boosted through the Work Bugs’ onboard systems.

“Bug Two, all channels clear.”

“Work Bug One, all channels clear.”

“All right. I need visual confirmation that the forward torpedo compartment is still intact.”

“On our way,” Stevens said.

“Acknowledged,” P8 Blue said. “Reversing heading now.”

Stevens could just barely see Work Bug One, up above the Orion, as he rotated Work Bug Two for the return trip along the Orion’s underside. As he completed his rotation maneuver, he saw an incandescent, narrow double helix of energy that emerged from the deepest layers of the atmosphere and extended upward, disappearing into the underside of the Orion’s saucer section.

“Pattie, do you see that?”

“Affirmative.”

“Stevens, report,” Gomez ordered.

“Some kind of energy beam, Commander. Coming up from the planet and penetrating the ship’s saucer.”

“I am unable to lock scanners onto the phenomenon,” P8 Blue added, “but it appears to be entering the Orion ’s hull directly beneath the forward torpedo compartment.”

“Gomez to all away team personnel. Corsi might be in trouble. Who’s closest to the forward torpedo compartment?”

“This is Duffy. I’m on deck five, section twelve. I can reach her in two minutes.”

“I’ll meet you there,” Gomez said through the increasing static on the comm. “Everyone else, get to the emergency rendezvous point. Stevens, tell the da Vinci we might need to abort.”

“Acknowledged.” Stevens stared at the shimmering ribbon of light piercing the Orion’s hull, thought of Domenica Corsi being on the receiving end of it, and again tried not to imagine the worst as he activated his Work Bug’s emergency channel. “Stevens to da Vinci, priority one.”

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