Xenonauts: Crimson Dagger by Stephen Lee

Author:Stephen, Lee [Stephen, Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: goldhawk, dagger, cold war, lee, science, Fiction, crimson, xenonauts, stephen, Military, novella, soviet, action, interactive
Publisher: Stone Aside Publishing, L.L.C.
Published: 2013-05-31T16:00:00+00:00

5

1549 hours

THE CORRIDOR THAT led to the forward section of the spacecraft was angled upward, a result of the tilt of the ship. The pain that surged throughout Mikhail’s shoulder couldn’t be ignored—it could only be tolerated. With Nina at his side and both operatives making frequent glances behind them, the pair progressed up the ascension.

There was no turn to be seen ahead; the corridor simply ended at a metal door similar to those they’d passed along the way. Mikhail was fairly certain by that point that opening the door would not be an issue. It was what lay behind the door that was his concern. He needed it to be the bridge. It had to be. He was confident that it was. This felt like the right way to go, almost to a familiar degree. The feeling grew stronger with every step he took.

His palms were sweaty around the grip of his pistol, even though no hostiles were jumping out to challenge them. With droplets of sweat rolling down his temples, he glanced back briefly to survey the intersection they’d been walking away from. No aliens were there. He focused ahead.

As they drew to within ten meters of the door, Mikhail picked up his pace, trotting to the door until he was able to press his body against the wall beside it. Mirroring him, Nina’s focus shifted back to the corridor behind them. Eyeing the control panel, Mikhail placed his hand over the door mechanism. His gaze shifted to Nina, who briefly looked his way. There was no need for words—their expressions said everything. This was it. If Mikhail was right, the bridge lay on the other side of that door along with whatever forces were prepared to defend it.

Silently, Mikhail mouthed his countdown. “Three.” Nina wiped her hair back, gaze locked on him. “Two.” Mikhail’s heart rate intensified. His senses kicked in fully. It was time. Inhaling to say the inevitable, his hand pressed against the panel. “One.”

The mechanism was activated. The door slid into the wall. Simultaneously, Mikhail and Nina rushed into the room, weapons raised and ready to fire.

The moment they stepped inside, there was no doubt that this was the bridge. It was spacious—control panels were everywhere. Technology beyond their comprehension. Noise and light that had travelled across the stars. It was the heart of a technological behemoth.

Rushing into the room’s center, they spun in every direction to locate targets. There was only stillness. There were no living aliens—gray or otherwise—anywhere. Several corpses could be seen scattered across the floor, likely victims of the crash. The culmination of that crash, the American front outside, and his strike team must have dwindled the aliens’ numbers to the point where critical areas, such as the bridge, could no longer be defended. That was all Mikhail could surmise.

Alien hieroglyphics were everywhere, none of which seemed at all familiar to Mikhail, even with his echoed alien memories. “It is here. It must be.” Pointing to the door they’d entered through, Mikhail said, “Cover the exit.

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