Andromeda's Gates: The story of Yseult Brenneaux

Chapter 18: Speedy Owl

Flight Engineer Elliana Seyka was in her element. The Forwarder had not misled them about the ship; it was in good condition, even though the flight-hours had put the expected wear and tear on it. The starboard engine coolant system had all but fallen off due to some failed parts, some of the sensor equipment mounted on the dorsal beam had been lost altogether, as had the ladder to the access hatch. She obviously hadn't been maintained for a while. But these problems were all fixable... "She'll fly." Ellie had told Yseult and Riddaeon with a fun smile on her face. "Needs a bit of work... But she'll fly." So for the next few days Ellie had done what she does best and the moment of truth was near.

She had fixed the coolant system first. It was the most difficult of the jobs that needed doing but she was reluctant to test the engine until they had more fuel. That, it turned out, The Forwarder could have explained better. The T-420 B had been drained long ago and fuel was not only not in the price, it wasn't even an extra. They were out in the middle of nowhere and the nearby fuel reservoir was also empty. Ellie had wondered how it might have ended up out here, a hastily built platform and no leads to the fuel tank. Yseult had told her the owner was probably hiding it. Octan had spread so quickly; could locals really be blamed for wanting to keep what was so precious to them away from the gaze of a mighty corporation. So here it sat, somewhere deep in the Northern Andreas flats where the 'seasonal lakes' of New California amounted to vast areas of ground seepage that turned it a muddy grey.