Emerald Flight: "Rules of Engagement" (continued)

Devereux watches Rusty as he sits down. Hawkes watches him with subtle, but definite disapproval.

Devereux

Okay, Chief, let’s hear it.

Rusty
(shrugs)

We’re a mess.

Devereux stares back at him, waiting.

Rusty (cont’d)

We’ve sealed off the hull breaches in the critical areas. Some of the sections, crew quarters and auxiliary storage mostly, are still sealed behind emergency bulkheads until we can get to them.

Devereux

The engines? Life support? Main power?

Rusty

As I told you before, the main engines are fine. But where do you want to go? There’s nothing but enemy forces between us and home . . . unless you want to take the long way around--which I don’t recommend, ‘cuz I don’t think she’ll hold together.

Silent glances are exchanged among the gathered officers.

Rusty (cont’d)

As for the rest . . . Life support is online in the sections where we have power.

Hawkes

And where is that?

Rusty
(with weary annoyance)

We’ve shunted power to key areas: Main Engineering, Bridge, Infirmary. (beat) Sensors and weapons have partial power, but it’s erratic. (toward Elizabeth) That’s probably part of why you can’t read far into the asteroid field.

Elizabeth stares at Rusty for moment thoughtfully before nodding her understanding.

Devereux

How long before they’ll be more stable?

Rusty
(after a moment’s thought)

A few days, probably. (sees reactions of the others) We’ve lost seals in critical sections all over the ship. If any more of those blow, we’ll have bigger problems than being able to see how big the rocks out there are.

Devereux consider this for a moment before turning toward Hope.

Devereux

Casualties?

Hope

Three critical. Seven under observation. Nine returned to duty. No deaths.

Devereux is visibly relieved at the news.

Devereux

Some good news at last. (beat) Keep me posted.

Hope

Yes.

Devereux suppresses a slight smile. She turns toward Hawkes.

Devereux

I’m almost afraid to ask about our weapons status.

Hawkes

Our situation is critical. We are ill-prepared to defend ourselves.

Devereux

Let me have it.

Hawkes stares evenly at Devereux for a moment before speaking.

Hawkes

We have two high-yield torpedoes left, but I suspect that the guidance system in one is compromised. There are twelve counter-measure missiles reported in the inventory, but we cannot confirm since they are in a currently inaccessible area.

Hawkes glances pointedly at Rusty and then back at Devereux.

Rusty

Look, you old fossil, my folks have enough to do without worrying about whether or not you can count your precious missiles.

Devereux silences him with a glance. She turns her attention back to Hawkes.

Hawkes

Targeting systems, like the main sensors, are behaving erratically.

Devereux

Then we’d better hope the Udossians don’t come looking for us.

Rusty

Yeah, just what we needed: the Orions finding some new allies.

Devereux
(firmly)

We made it out alive.

Rusty
(loud murmur)

Barely.

Devereux stares at Rusty as if she wants to say something else to him, but ends up remaining silent.

Devereux

I’ll work on the bridge systems. Elizabeth, you’re with Engineering for now.

Elizabeth
(nods, ignoring Rusty’s smile)

Yes, Captain.

Devereux
(to Hawkes)

I’ll assign Pyrafox to help with the sensors and targeting systems. There’s not much for him to do while we’re just floating out here among the rocks. (to Rusty) He’s available to you though, Chief, to pilot the shuttle if you need to send someone out for ore or other raw materials.

Rusty
(nods)

Good idea.

Devereux

Hope, you’ve got the Infirmary. (beat) Hopefully we won’t be sending any more people your way.

Hope says nothing, but inclines in her head slightly in acknowledgement of her orders.

Devereux

All right, everybody. I want status reports every two hours. (beat) Dismissed.

Devereux remains seated while the officers rise and exit the conference room. For a moment, she reveals the strain and fatigue that she tried to keep masked during the meeting.

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