Emerald Flight: “Star Wing” (continued)

A moment later, klaxons sounded throughout the ship, echoing across the open intercom channels. Hope looked toward the flashing beacons near the main hatch, grimacing against the noise. Reaching toward the controls on her desk, she silenced the alarms within the infirmary and reset the beacons to a steady glow. She then adjusted the intercom to filter out the sounds of the alert sirens. It decreased the clarity of the signal, but eliminated her discomfort.

Normally, she left the intraship communications network muted. She had little concern for the routine activities of most of the crew. If something of particular note was taking place, such as the surprising discovery of a derelict vessel, she might listen in on the unsecured channel used by the bridge. Under battle conditions, though, she maintained a watch on all channels. Hearing the damage reports helped her assess what kind of equipment and treatment might be needed before she received an official request for medical aid. Those seconds she saved with that foreknowledge, she knew, might be the difference between immediate life-saving surgery or a leisurely autopsy later.

Remaining carefully focused on her immediate tasks, she prepared each of the diagnostic bed bays to handle heavy trauma cases. The availability of a specific bed could not be guaranteed. Moving a gravely injured crew member or, worse yet, waiting until a properly equipped bed was available, significantly decreased their chances of survival.

Curious now, she activated one of the displays above her desk, instructing it to show her the images currently being seen on the bridge. Seeing the enormous warship emerge from slipstream, she froze, filled with memories from her Aerian past.

We knew they would return.

Her people no longer ventured into this region of space. It was forbidden, although the reasons why were not always given. The crew’s original detection of the anomalous debris field had been distant enough from that zone that Hope had not made the connection. The appearance of the Star Wing had further distracted her, preventing her from remembering the warnings even after they had entered the region.

Now they may all die for my foolishness.