Emerald Flight: “Star Wing” (continued)

The thought only slightly eased her desire to dash from the bridge.

A loud surge of static burst from the main speakers. Elizabeth tried to discern words through it and saw Devereux also listening with furrowed intensity.

“Hawkes?” Devereux turned to Elizabeth inquisitively.

Elizabeth fought back the urge to shrug. She glanced down at the console, hoping for an answer. The Lieutenant’s locator beacon had stopped transmitting. Or rather, she realized, it was probably now as blocked from the interference as the others were.

Words and voices popped tantalizingly through the harsh waves of interference. Elizabeth tried to tease meaning out of them, but almost every sentence her mind assembled for her seemed ridiculous.

Iron teapot over bulkhead nacelle?

“Turn it down,” Devereux conceded irritably.

The Captain turned and paced the narrow space between the command deck and secondary stations. She was clearly deep in thought; Elizabeth wished she had some advice to offer her.

Send another Security team down there?

No, she decided. It’s probably crowded enough down there. The last thing they need is more people in the crossfire.

An EVA approach was out of the question, she knew. The infirmary was safely nestled within the interior of the ship. There was no way to reach it directly from the outside of the ship, except through a complex series of passageways and conduits. It had been deliberately re-designed to be a completely isolated system, if necessary.

Devereux stopped. Something in her expression told Elizabeth that she had made a decision. The Captain began to open her mouth to announce it, but was interrupted by Hawke’s voice, sharp and clear over the background interference.

“Lieutenant Hawkes to the bridge,” he reported. “The situation has been contained.”

Elizabeth felt her muscles relax with relief. She saw the Captain’s posture ease as well.

“Captain,” Hawkes’ voice continued. “I recommend that you do not arrive in the area until we have secured necessary repairs.”

Elizabeth almost giggled aloud at the Captain’s expression and then watched it grew more serious.

“Any chance of a hull breach?”

“None, Captain,” Hawkes reported. “But there is considerable damage to several of the bulkheads. A large quantity of medical supplies have also been compromised.”

Devereux mouth formed a tight-lipped frown. “All right,” she said. “Keep me posted.”

“Yes, Captain.”

There was a subtle shift in the background of the comm channel that told Elizabeth that Hawkes had ended contact.

“Well, Commander,” Devereux said, turning to Elizabeth with a tense smile. “I guess we wait.”