Read Online AwayTeam by Mark Alders - Free Book Online
Authors: Mark Alders
Tags: GLBT, Sci-fi, Romance
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the shuttle's sensors, made more useful by the fact that they weren't deep within the energy field, to help gain more information for the captain. "That's really quite brilliant."
"I'm glad you think so," Emerson said, not looking at Ely. But for the first time since he had seen him after their first date, the man cracked a smile. "Now get a move on and do what you have to. We've got less than a minute."
The next few moments were the tensest in all of Ely's life. He had never worked with so much urgency, so much determination to make sure the job was done and with as little time spent on it as possible. Having his life hang by a thread probably had something to do with it.
Emerson also worked like a man possessed.
"I've enhanced the forward shields and stabilised the inertial dampeners." Ely said, his fingers a blur across the control panel. "Can you ask Kale to get the shuttle into position? I won't be able to adjust the engine fuel mix to a less volatile one until I know the exact composition of the Mandrake's emissions."
Emerson didn't delay. He punched the hail icon for the cockpit. "Kale, I need you to do exactly as I say and without any hesitation or questions. You'll just have to trust us, all right?"
"I'm open to anything right about now," Kale replied.
"Good. Set a course for the wake of the Mandrake's exhaust emissions," Emerson barked into the comm. Ely kept on working, fine tuning the shield harmonics and strengthening or relaxing the inertial dampeners as the shuttle came about and headed toward the rear of the starship. "I know it sounds crazy, but the only way we're going to keep up with the Mandrake and buy us some sensor time is to ride the wake."
"No argument from me," Kale said.
Within seconds the shuttle was in position, helped by the fact that the energy field was pushing it toward the back of the ship anyway. Ely just hoped that Kale was a good enough pilot to get into the exhaust wake before being shot out into space from the forces at play.
The shuttle shuddered and more groans and weird noises could be heard. In fact, at one stage, Ely thought the engineering compartment would rattle to pieces. The seat he was upon was shaken from the bolts that secured it to the floor. Thankfully, Ely was quick to pull the chair back into position before his arse found the steel grating.
The schematic of the shuttle in front of Ely was flashing red all over. The shields weren't strong enough for the onslaught of the Mandrake's exhaust. Ely had no choice but to divert all available power to the shields and patch energy into them as best he could. He even resorted to using the energy usually reserved for minor systems, such as door opening and auto latrine flushing, to assist in strengthening them.
Thankfully, the shuttle was in position anyway, riding on the wake, just as Emerson had predicted it would. At least no excess engine expenditure would be needed to keep it there. They were basically getting a free ride. The trick now was making sure they survived in such a hostile environment.
"This is going to be tricky," Ely said, more to himself than Emerson.
After another tense moment or two, and plenty of sweat on the brow, the shield situation was under control. The shuttle was safe, for now.
Ely sighed relief. He had done the best he could under the circumstances, but now wasn't the time to rest. Now he needed to work on the problem of the shuttle's exhaust mixing with the Mandrake's and possibly causing a reaction. Even though space was a vacuum, this close to the exhaust was like being in an atmosphere. What with all that energy surrounding them, and volatile emission gasses, too, even the slightest upset could spark a reaction. Ely had to make sure the shuttle's emissions weren't going to exasperate an already difficult situation. Shuttles weren't meant to fly in exhaust, simple as that.
"Perhaps if we only use the ion engines and stand down the main reactor, that might solve two problems in one
"I'm glad you think so," Emerson said, not looking at Ely. But for the first time since he had seen him after their first date, the man cracked a smile. "Now get a move on and do what you have to. We've got less than a minute."
The next few moments were the tensest in all of Ely's life. He had never worked with so much urgency, so much determination to make sure the job was done and with as little time spent on it as possible. Having his life hang by a thread probably had something to do with it.
Emerson also worked like a man possessed.
"I've enhanced the forward shields and stabilised the inertial dampeners." Ely said, his fingers a blur across the control panel. "Can you ask Kale to get the shuttle into position? I won't be able to adjust the engine fuel mix to a less volatile one until I know the exact composition of the Mandrake's emissions."
Emerson didn't delay. He punched the hail icon for the cockpit. "Kale, I need you to do exactly as I say and without any hesitation or questions. You'll just have to trust us, all right?"
"I'm open to anything right about now," Kale replied.
"Good. Set a course for the wake of the Mandrake's exhaust emissions," Emerson barked into the comm. Ely kept on working, fine tuning the shield harmonics and strengthening or relaxing the inertial dampeners as the shuttle came about and headed toward the rear of the starship. "I know it sounds crazy, but the only way we're going to keep up with the Mandrake and buy us some sensor time is to ride the wake."
"No argument from me," Kale said.
Within seconds the shuttle was in position, helped by the fact that the energy field was pushing it toward the back of the ship anyway. Ely just hoped that Kale was a good enough pilot to get into the exhaust wake before being shot out into space from the forces at play.
The shuttle shuddered and more groans and weird noises could be heard. In fact, at one stage, Ely thought the engineering compartment would rattle to pieces. The seat he was upon was shaken from the bolts that secured it to the floor. Thankfully, Ely was quick to pull the chair back into position before his arse found the steel grating.
The schematic of the shuttle in front of Ely was flashing red all over. The shields weren't strong enough for the onslaught of the Mandrake's exhaust. Ely had no choice but to divert all available power to the shields and patch energy into them as best he could. He even resorted to using the energy usually reserved for minor systems, such as door opening and auto latrine flushing, to assist in strengthening them.
Thankfully, the shuttle was in position anyway, riding on the wake, just as Emerson had predicted it would. At least no excess engine expenditure would be needed to keep it there. They were basically getting a free ride. The trick now was making sure they survived in such a hostile environment.
"This is going to be tricky," Ely said, more to himself than Emerson.
After another tense moment or two, and plenty of sweat on the brow, the shield situation was under control. The shuttle was safe, for now.
Ely sighed relief. He had done the best he could under the circumstances, but now wasn't the time to rest. Now he needed to work on the problem of the shuttle's exhaust mixing with the Mandrake's and possibly causing a reaction. Even though space was a vacuum, this close to the exhaust was like being in an atmosphere. What with all that energy surrounding them, and volatile emission gasses, too, even the slightest upset could spark a reaction. Ely had to make sure the shuttle's emissions weren't going to exasperate an already difficult situation. Shuttles weren't meant to fly in exhaust, simple as that.
"Perhaps if we only use the ion engines and stand down the main reactor, that might solve two problems in one
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