On the High Frontier

5. Nothing Special (part 10/10)

"Shoot!" Fee is frantic, but Kimiko still has a no-go for the designated target. It'll rotate out of range soon. Why can't it give her a clear shot at Fee's ... damn. She overrides the lockout and takes the shot. The ship is starting to move away, but the system compensates and she watches the bolt run true, hitting near the centre of the vane. There is a bright flash as the system tries and fails to absorb the extra energy, and all acceleration ceases. Even the VE will be able to get them now. "About time."

"Fee, are you possibly beyond the ship."

"Off to one side, but yes, I don't want to get in anyone's way. That'd be unhealthy."

"It also means you were designating a target on the far side, and it was reading obstructed." More experience would have allowed her to recognise what the targeting system was telling her. "Once I realised, I could clear the interlock and shoot at this side."

"Better late." She could tell this was not the last she would hear of this. "Hey, our friends have suddenly become a lot more talkative." There is a chuckle in Fee's voice. "In fact they're making all kinds of offers to the VE in return for special treatment. Apparently they're worried about their safety if they're .... "

Fee's voice is lost in a sudden burst of static as a light shines momentarily in the void. "Fee! Fee!" What's happening? The ring's rotation has carried her away again for the moment.

"Kimiko." At least James is still on the line. "The Cygne went up, it's dead. The EMP was so strong I've lost telemetry on Fee's sheath." Did she do that? Is it her fault? Has she killed her friend? "I'm sending you her last coordinates, can you examine the area?"

"I don't have mobility."

"Scan as it comes round." She moves onto the outer surface of the module, Looking up into the void she can see the VE cruiser coming into view, and beyond it the shell of the Cygne is glowing faintly. The energy released must have been massive. No sign of Ryo-Ohki, but the black costume makes it difficult. "The sheath may have drained shielding from the EMP."

"What! Are we looking for Fee's body?"

"No! After last month I rewrote the protocols. The systems maintain a reserve of at least twenty minutes minimal functionality." Kimiko feels her pulse slow again. "But there would be no comms or propulsion for about ten minutes." That was over seven revolutions. Kimiko was not sure she could take the tension.

"So am I supposed to just stand here?"

"Well." "There's always Tetris."

"Ha, ha."

"Now you know how I feel." That was a low blow. "There aren't a lot of open feeds around there, how are the VE doing?"

Kimiko waits until they come back in view. "They are being cautious. Not closing too much and no suits out."

"They were closer than Rho-Ohki, and that was a very strong discharge."

The next few minutes go very slowly, but as she is watching the VE deploy what look like automated mini-tugs there is a new signal. "...mn system, useless! What a piece of ..."

"Fee!" Alive and annoyed.

"Hi, uh, it all just all lit up again." There is a slight pause. "And it's working." Rho-Ohki's telltale is back on the system, and she's moving to rendezvous. "How much?"

"We could tell you were unamused." Kimiko can feel a broad grin splitting her face. "Good to hear you."

"Likewise. Did I miss anything?"