After about 5 minutes of travel time, the Lucy approached the Lethe’s shuttle doors, which were on the starboard side of the base section of the ship. As the Lucy neared the doors, Samuelson transmitted an override code to open the doors. Nothing happened. Samuelson tried again, with the same result. As the Lucy drew close to the doors, Skylar brought the shuttle to halt relative to the doors to prevent an unfortunate encounter with the Lethe.
“Suggestions?” Dobbins asked.
“Aside from the override code, about our only other option is to blast the doors open,” Samuelson said, “and this shuttle doesn’t have that kind of firepower.”
“Isn’t there some other way we could get the doors open?” Skylar asked.
Silence followed as everyone thought. Finally, Zhang spoke, “What about trying to trick the Lethe’s computer into opening the doors?”
“How do you propose we do that, Lieutenant?” Dobbins asked.
“If we can convince the computer that one of the shuttles inside the bay is about to explode, it would push the shuttle off and open the doors to minimize the damage.”
“Can you do it?” Dobbins demanded.
“I think so, sir. Give me a couple of minutes.” Zhang’s hands flew over the control panel as he worked to access the Lethe’s shuttle bay systems. After two minutes, he announced, “I think I’ve got it, sir. Here it goes.” He pushed a button on the console.
For a few seconds that seemed go on forever, nothing happened. Then, the Lethe’s shuttle bay door began to open.
“Good work, Mr.Zhang!” Dobbins exclaimed. “Can you make sure that the Lethe will let us dock?”
“Shouldn’t be hard, sir.” Zhang responded. “It’s pushed away a shuttle. We should be able to dock at that port by tricking the Lethe into thinking that we’re that shuttle.”
The Lucy flew to the docking port, and, thanks to a little bit more computer magic from Lieutenant Zhang, successfully docked with the Lethe. The team grabbed all of its gear and headed to the exit.
As they left the shuttle, Captain Dobbins activated a security code that prevented anyone, except for one of the Hyperion’s team, from boarding the shuttle or releasing it from its docking port, even in an emergency.
They emerged from the docking port into a hallway that looked very similar to the Hyperion’s, only smaller and less brightly lit. No sign of anyone could be seen.
Dobbins pulled out his small, portable hyperwave radio and called back to the ship. “Hyperion,” he said, “we’ve safely made it on board the Lethe. We’re going to try to find our way to the main level and see if we can work out a meeting with Captain Loman.”
“Very good, sir,” replied Commander Brackers. “Be careful. Hyperion out.”
The team began to work their way towards the stairway that led to the main level where the giant dome-covered passenger quarters lay. As they neared the main stairwell, they could hear footsteps coming at them from farther down the hallway, blocking their route to the stairs.
“Retreat? Or meet them?” asked Samuelson quietly, hand on his blaster.
“Let’s find out who else might be down here.” Dobbins replied. “If it’s some of the crew, then perhaps they can fill us in on what’s going on. We’ll wait here for them.”
The team stood in the hallway and waited as the footsteps drew nearer. Soon, from around a bend in the hallway, two men of identical height and build appeared, each wearing an old version of the security duty uniform. One had brown hair and the other blond; otherwise, they looked like identical twins. Upon seeing the Hyperion team, they stopped in their tracks and drew their blasters.
“Hold, citizens!” the brown-haired one said. “What are you doing below ground? You are supposed to stay on the surface! It is dangerous down here!”
“I am Captain Dobbins of the Earth Ship Hyperion. We are here to assist you on your journey to Elysion. We tried to contact Captain Loman, but we were unable to reach him. We’ve come to meet with him.”
“Cover them” said the guard to his blond compatriot. He walked over to an intercom panel. “Police Station; Enforcer Madden.”
“Police station,” came the reply. “What is it Enforcer? What is the status of the shuttle that the computer reported as exploding?”
“Sir, we have not yet reached the shuttle. We are 10 m from the main surface access point Delta, and we have encountered five citizens dressed in strange clothing and carrying strange equipment.”
“Bring them in, immediately, Enforcer,” ordered the voice. “Use Station Access Point Two.”
“Yes, sir.” Madden replied stiffly. Turning to the team, he ordered, “You heard the Chief. Move!” He pointed his blaster at the team to emphasize his point.
Dobbins nodded at the others to tell them that they should comply. As they began to walk, he glanced at each of the Enforcer’s faces and nearly did a double take.
“What are you looking at?” demanded the blond Enforcer.
“Nothing.” Dobbins said. “Where are you taking us?”
“As if you did not already know,” replied the Enforcer. “You are going to the Police Station, where we will find out why you ventured below ground and how it is you obtained this unusual equipment.”
“I’ve already told you,” Dobbins countered. “We’re from the Hyperion, and we’re here to help. You have nothing to fear from us. The weapons are unnecessary. Just take us to Captain Loman. He will know what’s going on and can tell you.”
“You know too much, Citizen Dobbins,” said Madden from the back of the group. “We will have to make sure that your knowledge does not endanger the town. Now, no more talking!”
They walked on in silence, Madden at the rear, the other Enforcer in the lead. Soon, they came to a small elevator. As they crowded in to the elevator, the Enforcers relived Samuleson and Dobbins of their weapons.
“There will be no tricks in the elevator,” Madden said.
They elevator slowly ascended. After about a minute, it stopped and the doors opened. Bright light that looked just like sunlight exploded into the elevator. The Enforcers escorted the team out into a broad hallway that was covered with doorways. Above the doorways stood numerous large windows that let in the bright light that bathed the hallway.
The Enforcers had the team turn left after exiting the elevator and into a different hallway. This one was lit by artificial lights that seemed pale in comparison to the bright light outside. They stopped in front of a large, heavy-looking door that the blond Enforcer opened.
“Leave your equipment here in the hall,” ordered Madden, “and then get into the cell. We will come for you when it is time for you to be questioned.”
Reluctantly, the team laid all of its equipment on the floor outside of the door and then entered the cell. Once they were all inside, the door closed behind them with a loud, ominous clang.
No comments:
Post a Comment