The Messier Fold by Nick Adams

Author:Nick Adams [Adams, Nick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781916105683
Publisher: Elliptical Publishing

25

Luzhou Space Station, Orbiting Luzhou, Messier 86 Galaxy

Spin 213, Revolution 3081, Z-6 H-12

Ed did a final visual check on Tony’s suit as they stood in the Cartella’s airlock waiting for Cleo to open the outer door.

With a slight hiss, it slid up into its housing, leaving a close-up view of an open station airlock fifty metres away.

‘Follow me,’ said Ed, as he took one step to the edge of the airlock and launched himself forwards in the direction of the beckoning doorway.

Cleo had piloted the Cartella and matched the spin of the station before opening the airlock. Ed soon learnt to keep his eyes on the station and not the planet below to avoid getting disorientated.

Unexpected movement in his peripheral vision caused his heart to skip a beat. The tiny gunship from the Gabriel slid into view, following them across the void.

‘Shit, Andy, you could have warned me you were there. I nearly soiled my suit,’ he said.

‘Quit it with them negative vibes, man, woof woof,’ said Andy, as he silently floated by.

Ed shook his head in dismay as he adjusted his trajectory with his suit jets and approached the station’s airlock door. It looked a lot safer to enter now the lights were on, but he could make out the dark staining on the walls, reminding him what had happened the last time humans went through that door.

He turned to check Tony was with him, confirmed he was and jetted through the outer airlock door. He landed on his feet, but overbalanced as the gravity took effect, dropping him down on his hands and knees.

Tony followed him in and fell backwards, landing on his back.

‘You’re definitely going to lose points for artistic impression,’ said Andy, hovering outside the airlock, watching them get back on their feet.

‘Haven’t you got some backs to watch?’ said Ed, glowering at the little ship thirty metres away.

Two large laser cannons motored out from the hull of the gunship.

‘There’s a new sheriff in town,’ said Andy, the mini-me disappearing straight up.

‘He’s one bubble off plumb, that kid,’ said Tony, checking his suit was undamaged. ‘Say, the gravity’s lower here, isn’t it?’

Ed jumped up and clunked his head on the ceiling, before dropping back to the floor.

‘I was told that’s how you got your callsign,’ said Tony, grinning.

‘Gravity about two-thirds Earth, Headbutt,’ said Cleo, in a jocular tone.

‘Thanks, Cleo,’ said Ed, looking none too pleased. ‘You could have told us before we entered.’

‘I thought I had!’

Ed peered left and right up the corridor and swung his laser rifle off his back, checking it was set to full power. Tony gave him a questioning look.

‘A stun setting won’t be very effective against any of those laser toting drones,’ he said, replying to the querying look.

‘Go right,’ said Cleo. ‘There’s only two elevators down to the core, one in each outside ring. Yours is about one and a half kilometres down, two corridors over on the left-hand side.’

Ed and Tony cautiously began the long walk towards the elevator, Tony also switching his weapon to full power.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.