Empire's Legacy

Chapter 4: Breaking in to History

Amy stood behind the Sophia's access port and peered through the window at the chute making its way towards the other ship. "So that's how we're boarding my Apollo?"

Grey clicked his oxygen tube into place and glanced up. "Ever been in a connecter chute before?"

"They're a bit retro," she replied. "And I'm pretty sure they were recalled about fifty years ago."

"That would be a no, then."

"I've got her up and running just fine," Taz said, ducking through the door. "Nothing to worry about." He pressed the wall comm and snapped his braces up over his shoulders. "Benji, how's she looking?"

"We're almost to the Apollo. Give me a minute or two and we'll be locked tight. You ready to go?"

"Give us a minute or two and we'll be waiting on you," Grey said. "You want us to wait for you to kit up or you gonna join us on the other side?"

"Go ahead and slide once she's locked," Benji said. "I need to pick up a few things and then I'll head over."

"Got it." Grey nodded to Taz, who flicked the comm off and pulled a suit out of the lockers.

Amy double-checked her air tank and settled her helmet over her head. "Do you guys have anything that's less than a decade old?" she asked, flipping the visor up.

"Unlike the Commies, we don't exactly have extra credits floating around," Grey said. He reached behind her and secured the helmet. "These do the job and are easy to repair." He nudged Taz in the ribs. "What would you do with extra credits?"

Taz whistled. "Thanksgiving burger and fries like my mom used to make."

The comm crackled. "Sign me up for a new mattress," Kate's voice said. "My back is killing me."

"Least you have an actual mattress," Benji said cheerfully. "Someone's the captain's favorite."

The sound of scuffling came over the comm. "Sorry about that, guys," Kate said momentarily. "Chute's locked and the Sophia's in position, Captain. Any time you're ready, slide away."

Grinning, Grey locked his helmet into place and switched on the internal comm. "Jones, you reading me?"

Amy winced as his voice squealed through a burst of static and then cleared out. "Yeah, you sound peachy."

"Taz?"

Taz tipped an imaginary hat. "Got you both loud and clear."

"Benji, Kate, we're headed over," Grey said. "Ramina, you up there?"

"I'm monitoring each of you," de Sara said. "Kate and I will track the data you send back. It would be appreciated if you could avoid any emergencies this time."

Laughing, Grey said, "Not sure last time really qualifies as an emergency, but we'll do our best."

Amy looked from one man to the other as the access port door opened, hissing as the pressure equalized and revealing the entrance to the chute. "What happened last time?"

Grey stepped past her and peered down the shaft. "There was a minor accident with a pole."

"There may have been some blood involved," Taz admitted, coming up behind them. He handed Amy a plastic case and a canister. "Your supplies, An—Amy." He winced at the slip-up, but Grey wasn't paying attention. "Hold on tight and keep your elbows tucked in."

"Sorry?"

Taz ducked his head and pointed down the tube. "The Sophia is currently attached to your Apollo by the connector chute. Kate's positioned us above relative to the other ship and Benji's pressurized the chute, so when you sit on the edge and slide forward, you'll slide from this end all the way to the bottom, right down at the Apollo's access port. It's quick and efficient and pretty safe." Amy gave him a look, which he ignored. "The chute has built-in inertia dampers that will help to slow your motion so you don't pick up too much speed on the way down. Like brakes on a bike."