Solar Warden

Consequences Part 42

"It works. Thanks Kelsey." Samuel drove with the lift a level up then back down. Even the damaged door opened. He went at once to SW-2

"Major Freeman. The lift works now," Samuel reported.

"Perfect. Team get Anderson to the spacecraft. I check how we do it with Ryan and Caine. Anderson should better use the helm now," Freeman gave the command, then radioed, "Commander how we move Ryan and Caine we got no helm and top suit parts."

One of the SW-2 members went out with Anderson who now had is helm on. He was a bit slow because of the pain he had with his movement. But he insisted to walk.

"SW-7 is bringing them suits. They are only needed for the space travel in the alien ship. But we have another option, too. In here the air is clear. They must filter it as our tests showed. So transporting without helm is not a problem," Knight informed. The combat suits had limited vacuum capabilities that secured the travel in space a bit. The shuttles have simpler emergency space suits with filtered air or oxygen supply.

"I inform you when they are on board of the alien ship." Freeman went back to give orders. "OK. We carry now Ryan and Caine to the spacecraft. The rest of the squad including Freeman carried them to the lift. They used standard military stretchers. The lift was coming down as they arrived. Samuel was at the control. There was enough space for everyone. They went in and moved up. Samuel left with them the lift, but send it down. Then he headed to Commander Knight. While the others went for the alien ship.

"Commander what do you need?" Samuel asked.

"Newman told me you can make a second encryption path for our communication. We think with the missing helms we cannot be sure it's safe," the Commander informed him what he wanted.

"Yes, no problem I will do it at once and start here. We can then switch when everyone has it. That would mean you have to talk over the communication relay to the Icarus or wait till Newman arrived if you want to use the secure connection. Also you know we cannot say if encryption protects our communication at all," Samuel replied.

"Yes, I know. It also would be unlikely that they got the information from the helms. As we know that Anderson's helm electronic is shrewd. But we have to do what we can." Knight was more worried about the retreat.

"I will start with you in a minute." Samuel was now making the preparations on the laptop. After finishing that, he removed a USB stick and turned the write protection on.

"Commander. I'm ready now."

"Go on." The commander entered a command through his gesture interface.

Samuel connected the stick to the mini port of the helm which now was unlocked. He waited till a green light showed up then removed the stick. "Done, you should see now the diagnostics and then the second encryption path."

"Yes. Test successful. The path is there."

"Good, I guess that will take about an hour." Samuel went to the next nearby.