War for the Iron Planet

Chapter 26: The Fate of the Ferryman

Much to the delight of the chefs, Vanbrook dropped the fresh crane off in the galley on the way to Jasken's quarters, and was the last member of Talon Squad to arrive at the meeting. Drixen, Kaihla, a female Dromean pilot Vanbrook didn't recognize, and Chief Engineering Officer Dekken were there, as well. The third pilot was a response to Trikac's death when they had gone to find the cylinder. Jasken wouldn't risk undermanning an expedition again.

"Well, that's everyone," said Jasken. He walked over to the desk and tapped the display to reveal a map of the main continent of Hittania.

"This is us," he said, pointing to a blue pip on the map. He drew his finger far over to the west, saying. "This is the crash site. It appears to be at the other side of the basin created by the mountains just east of our position and those just west of the crash site.

"The comm division was able to identify the site just a few hours ago while combing through satellite images flagged by the computer, and when I say they were looking for a needle in a haystack, I am woefully underselling it.

"I'm sending an engineering team, alongside Talon Squad, to the crash site in a cargo shuttle to search for survivors. While there, your second priority is to retrieve the spare parts needed for repairing our ripmed drive, assuming they are still intact. Your third priority is to retrieve any parts that might aid our new allies, a splinter group from the Ramshackle Collective calling themselves the Free Revolutionary Fleet." He paused and looked around at the questioning glances that filled the room.

"This group gave us intel on the great eye that we destroyed. We would have been dead before we knew anything about it otherwise, so we're playing nice." His tone brooked no argument.

"We have no idea what kind of situation you'll face when you get to the crash site, but the terrain appears hilly," said Jasken. "We should be able to land here," he noted as he indicated a flat stretch of land, "and the crash site is just a few miles away, here, on these hills." He pointed to a series of small foothills that jutted up just below the western mountain range.

"Our geologists are curious about the formation of the hills, but collecting that sort of data is our lowest priority. Try to snap a few pictures for them, of course.

"The shuttle leaves in eight hours. Any questions?" Jasken looked around and saw only resolute faces. "Good. Dismissed."

The next eight hours were a blur of packing, checking gear and trying to find time to scarf down a meal or two. During all the bustle, one of the chefs managed to get a hold of Vanbrook and slip him a single roasted crane as an in-flight meal. He smiled at them gratefully and headed into the shuttle.

Once the flight got underway, the biological members of Talon Squad, as well as Dekken and his four engineers, headed off to the cramped cabins to rest. Drixen and Kaihla piloted the craft through the darkening sky while D'Jarric and Doc passed the time with a card game.

The next morning Vanbrook pulled the roast crane from the food storage bin and made an announcement over the shuttle's public comm.

"If everyone with a mouth and stomach, or stomachs, as the case may be, would direct their attention to the tiny counter that serves as our banquet table," announced Vanbrook, "they will see a delectable platter of freshly roasted Hittanian red crane." Vanbrook felt a strange mix of smug self-satisfaction and true altruistic happiness when Reclan scrambled over to see for herself, followed closely by Raivyn, the Dromean pilot, and the engineering team.

In the cockpit, Kaihla looked over her shoulder back towards the promise of fresh game and smiled at Drixen, saying, "I think you can handle this stretch without me." Drixen smiled and kept his eyes on the dials and flight path.