Home Run by Nathan Lowell

Author:Nathan Lowell [Lowell, Nathan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Durandus Ltd.
Published: 2018-07-26T06:00:00+00:00

Natalya found her suit at the foot of the ladder in engineering and lugged it up to the boat deck. Fries had the emergency suit locker open and a suit almost on. By the time Natalya geared up, Fries was standing beside the shuttle’s bow, her helmet flung back.

“You know where the latch is on this model?” Natalya asked.

Fries pushed the release to pull the canopy open. “Ms. Usoko called it. Her grandfather is a creature of habit.”

Natalya walked around to the passenger side. “Well, let’s get the preflight done and get moving. Ahokas is out there waiting.”

Fries nodded and began the walk around.

Natalya smiled and settled into the cockpit. Fries clearly knew what she was doing.

Fries clambered into the ship and started flipping through the controls, closing the canopy, running down the checklist, and putting the engine on standby. “Do we have somebody to handle the lock?” she asked, glancing at Natalya.

Natalya laughed. “It’s always the simple things that trip me up.”

A movement out of the corner of her eye made her turn her head.

Madigan stood just outside the ship.

“Somebody’s on the ball,” Fries said. She smiled at Madigan and held up two fingers.

He nodded and settled back on his heels.

Fries finished the preflight checklist and looked at Madigan with a thumbs up sign.

He nodded again and trotted off the boat deck. Less than a tick later, the big lock began cycling, the amber warning light washing the boat deck in a sickly yellow. It changed to green as the outer door began sliding open.

“Where are we going?” Fries asked, lifting the shuttle off the deck and easing it into space.

Natalya craned her neck and looked off to port. “Right there.”

The Peregrine gleamed in the dim light, her cockpit a dull red. Compared to the Barbell, it looked like a toy.

“You fly that?” Fries asked, rotating the shuttle to face the scout.

“Yeah. I’ve been flying her since I was a kid. Gift from my father on my eighteenth birthday.”

Fries spared a glance for her. “Your old man gave you a jump-capable ship for your birthday?”

“Yeah. Well. Long story.”

“I bet it is.” Fries didn’t bother with the main engine, using only the attitude thrusters to ease the shuttle alongside.

“The lock is amidships, port side.” Natalya pointed it out. “If you can get within ten meters, that would be great.”

Fries squinted and nodded. “Sure. Button up. We should start depressurizing.”

Natalya nodded. “Once I’m in, button up and follow my lead.”

They latched their helmets down and Fries started the process.

It took longer than a regular airlock but by the time Fries had the shuttle aligned with Peregrine’s lock, the shuttle had sucked the air out of the cockpit.

Fries opened the cockpit and Natalya clicked a safety line to her seat belt before releasing the catch. A light touch lifted her out of her seat. She pulled herself forward over the bow of the small craft and launched herself at the lock, catching the grab handle on the first try. She tapped the keycode and the telltale turned amber.

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