CHAPTER 6

HARD CHOICES

U.P.N. Kanto - Bridge

Samantha reflected about what they knew so far. It wasn't that much. The light security measures were making her confident that this wasn't any sort of para-military base. The base was also clearly human. Both these factors together spelled bad news for the base if they had a Lobster pilot on the loose.

'Victor, any thoughts on this wireless network?'

'We're only just in range. There's not enough signal strength to establish any connection, but Ise is right, either the rock on this planetoid isn't very substantial, or that's one heck of a network for us to pick it up at all.'

'Ise, any sign of recent activity?' Sam asked over the communication link.

'No captain. It doesn't look like this entrance has been used in some time. No sign of the Lobster either.'

Sam nodded to herself, 'He must have gone to the other entrance building. Alright gang, what's our options? I want your perspectives.'

'I say we head back and let someone else deal with this. A base not on the charts in the middle of nowhere is no one's idea of a vacation spot. Whoever is out here probably didn't want to be found.' John said from the helm.

Sam nodded.

'We can't just leave them with an enemy pilot running amok in their facility. We're here to protect people from the Linkal!' Jing said over the Comm.

'We're here looking for a Linkal base. This isn't one,' Victor said, 'But they do have a piece of old military hardware. We should investigate.'

'Ise? Any thoughts?' Sam asked.

'I'll follow your orders, but I think Dan's medical care should take precedence.'

There was a noise from the back of the Bridge. Sam turned around in her seat and saw Daniel leaning in the doorway, wearing the lower half of his flight suit and some bandages.

'I'll be fine, thank you. Lenny said I'll be okay provided I don't do anything strenuous.' Daniel said.

Sam frowned at him. 'And you thought going for a walk in your condition didn't qualify?'

'Captain, I've heard what's going on. If a Lobster pilot is down there and it's a human base then they are in danger. We need to check out the situation in there. I can wait. They might not be able to.'

'What harm can one pilot do?' John asked from his station.

'A lot. Don't you remember the New Harvest shipyard raid? After we drove off the Linkal task force, a single remaining enemy pilot breached the shipyard facility and effectively disabled it,' Daniel said.

'This isn't exactly a point of strategic value,' Victor pointed out.

'That's not the point. I'm fine. I'll live. Provided I don't get into any fistfights or anything rough, I'll stay fine. We don't know if this place will stay fine.' Dan said.

Samantha stood up and walked over to Dan, 'Can I talk to you in the medical bay for a moment Daniel?'

'Yes, Captain.' Dan said, stepping out of the bridge.

John, you have the bridge. Get Jing and Ise to investigate as much as they can.'

'Yes, Captain.' John said.

***

Daniel and Samantha walked back into the Medical Bay. Daniel sat down on the medical bed and winced as he did.

'You're not okay Daniel. You're injured and obviously in pain,' Sam said.

'I'm well enough. We have to do this.'

'Any other time and I'd agree with you, but our fighter craft is destroyed. If another ship shows up, and it comes down to a fight, we're at a disadvantage,' Sam pointed out.

'If we all go down, Lenny can keep the ship at power level zero. The only thing he'll keep on is himself and his wireless systems. Unless a ship scrapes the hull, it'll be almost impossible for them to detect the Kanto.'

'Wait a minute Dan; you're not going anywhere,' Sam countered.

'Captain, there's a good chance this base has medical facilities. Besides, I'll pace myself.'

Samantha gave him a stern look, 'I know what you consider pacing yourself Lt Higgins, but you might not get around to it. You'll have to do better than that.'

Dan grinned. 'Roger that Captain.'

Samantha turned around to leave and heard Daniel moving to follow, she stopped and looked at him. 'You stay put Lt Higgins. I'll fill you in on what we decide.'

'Yes Ma'am,' he said, before lowering himself back onto the medical bed. He winced in pain from the effort.

Samantha stood outside the medical bay in the short hallway that connected the few rooms of the ship. She thought about their situation. Neither option was ideal in her books, but she agreed with Daniel, however much she didn't want to. Whoever was in that base could be in trouble, but it was clear that whoever they were, they didn't want to be found.

***

Samantha returned to the bridge.

'Anything to report Victor?'

'Jing accessed the door control panel and found an international space agency badge on the case.'

Sam frowned, 'I.S.A.? If this is one of their facilities, then this should be on our charts. The U.P.N. has the locations of all government facilities.'

'There's more though; while examining the filtration system, they found another serial number. We ran it past Lenny, and he said it was originally part of a Kimball Logistics bulk freighter that went missing twenty years ago.'

'Another lost ship's equipment shows up here. Pirates seem increasingly likely,' Sam observed.

'Lenny thinks it's unlikely. If it were, we'd have seen some activity by now. They'd either be evacuating or trying to drive us off.'

'I've made my choice. We've got a mystery here, and it seems like it's a mystery that's somehow tied to ship disappearances. We've also got a rogue Lobster pilot on the loose. We will investigate. John, Victor, suit up and grab weapons, we're going down to the surface.'

'All of us? What about the ship?' John asked

'Lenny will take it to power level zero and stay back. It'll be invisible for all intents and purposes.'

'Yeah, but if someone finds it, it's a long way back to friendly space. Even longer without a ship.' John said.

'I am aware of that Lt Cmd. Macce. Now let's go.'