The other two pods came down with reasonable control, although
it looked as if the pilot of one of them had done a remarkable job getting it
down through the atmosphere, as it had its side burnt away almost to the
insulation. They could see that it would not float. Fritz finally managed to
make contact with it and had it hover over the remaining Marlins as the twelve
or so crew dropped from the hatch. Its pilot was the last to jump as the pod
accelerated away and exploded into flame, small pieces of wreckage landing on
the Marlins.
The remaining pod had dropped
right beside the Sunfish and held station sufficiently long for the survivors
to quickly walk across to the cargo hatch of the sub. Once emptied, it too
drifted off, although Marko could see it slowly sinking towards the water’s
surface. The senior surviving member went forwards to talk with the captain.
‘Marko, hang tight where you are
and keep an eye out for the returning Marlins. We are going to grab the
survivors off them before this wind gets up any more. Jan, I have control.’
Captain Michael Longbow carefully
turned the Sunfish about its centre, lowered and gently backed up on the outer
edge of the Marlin raft, holding precise station while placing the main bay
ramp exactly where it was needed and then maintaining it there as the raft
started to drift in the increasing wind. Jan watched from the other pilot’s
seat and silently admired his graceful actions in controlling the large
machine.
The survivors quickly moved up
into the craft and, when directed, the captain moved off, gained some altitude
and distance then swung the ship around to watch the raft.
‘Jan, move aft and lend any
assistance that you can. Harry, hop in her seat, mate.’
Twenty minutes later, Marlins
surfaced below them with the remains of the first pod and, staying underneath
it, pushed it as high as they could with water and debris cascading out of the
numerous gashes in its spherical hull. One of the Marlin pilots climbed down
into it and moments later four survivors, looking battered, slowly emerged,
assisted by the Marlin pilots.
‘Just had a message from Marlin
Alpha commander. Only four survivors; others perished.’
‘OK, Fritz. We go for a pick-up
of those as well. Jan, grab an oversuit and go check those survival capsules
per extinction-of-life protocols please. Also take down the emergency flotation
devices and a location beacon. When you’re finished, deploy them on the wreck.’
The remainder were confirmed dead
by Jan and another medic, a survivor of the crashed pods.
The captain spoke. ‘Right, crew
section, make everyone as comfortable as possible and let’s get back to shore
before anything else has a go at us. Fritz, send a message to the Marlins
thanking them for their work and telling them to hold station and await a
pick-up. Have we any better comms with Orbital Command yet?’
‘Patchy.’
‘OK, do your best and get a
weather forecast and give that to Alpha as well. Looks like it’s turning to
rubbish.’
The survivors were made as
comfortable as possible. The engineers cleared out their remaining stores of
food and drinks, passing them around. Marko watched the fuel usage closely, as
they were heavily overloaded.
‘Boss, deploying the aerial water
gatherers and bringing the standby oxygen/hydrogen cracker online. Fuel is
getting low.’
‘OK, thanks. I’ll compensate.’
‘Can I get you anything, Marko?’
‘Anything wet and hot would be
nice thanks, Jan. Who is the guy who went down into the wrecked pod with you?
Pilot and medico is still regarded as a rare mix.’
‘None other than Flight Officer Demetre
Garland. Seems that he is not just a medico but a field surgeon to boot.’
‘The prick who likes to scare
people with his flying?’
‘Yup. I like him!’
Marko laughed and went back to
his monitoring board.
~ * ~
Harry
was
it looked as if the pilot of one of them had done a remarkable job getting it
down through the atmosphere, as it had its side burnt away almost to the
insulation. They could see that it would not float. Fritz finally managed to
make contact with it and had it hover over the remaining Marlins as the twelve
or so crew dropped from the hatch. Its pilot was the last to jump as the pod
accelerated away and exploded into flame, small pieces of wreckage landing on
the Marlins.
The remaining pod had dropped
right beside the Sunfish and held station sufficiently long for the survivors
to quickly walk across to the cargo hatch of the sub. Once emptied, it too
drifted off, although Marko could see it slowly sinking towards the water’s
surface. The senior surviving member went forwards to talk with the captain.
‘Marko, hang tight where you are
and keep an eye out for the returning Marlins. We are going to grab the
survivors off them before this wind gets up any more. Jan, I have control.’
Captain Michael Longbow carefully
turned the Sunfish about its centre, lowered and gently backed up on the outer
edge of the Marlin raft, holding precise station while placing the main bay
ramp exactly where it was needed and then maintaining it there as the raft
started to drift in the increasing wind. Jan watched from the other pilot’s
seat and silently admired his graceful actions in controlling the large
machine.
The survivors quickly moved up
into the craft and, when directed, the captain moved off, gained some altitude
and distance then swung the ship around to watch the raft.
‘Jan, move aft and lend any
assistance that you can. Harry, hop in her seat, mate.’
Twenty minutes later, Marlins
surfaced below them with the remains of the first pod and, staying underneath
it, pushed it as high as they could with water and debris cascading out of the
numerous gashes in its spherical hull. One of the Marlin pilots climbed down
into it and moments later four survivors, looking battered, slowly emerged,
assisted by the Marlin pilots.
‘Just had a message from Marlin
Alpha commander. Only four survivors; others perished.’
‘OK, Fritz. We go for a pick-up
of those as well. Jan, grab an oversuit and go check those survival capsules
per extinction-of-life protocols please. Also take down the emergency flotation
devices and a location beacon. When you’re finished, deploy them on the wreck.’
The remainder were confirmed dead
by Jan and another medic, a survivor of the crashed pods.
The captain spoke. ‘Right, crew
section, make everyone as comfortable as possible and let’s get back to shore
before anything else has a go at us. Fritz, send a message to the Marlins
thanking them for their work and telling them to hold station and await a
pick-up. Have we any better comms with Orbital Command yet?’
‘Patchy.’
‘OK, do your best and get a
weather forecast and give that to Alpha as well. Looks like it’s turning to
rubbish.’
The survivors were made as
comfortable as possible. The engineers cleared out their remaining stores of
food and drinks, passing them around. Marko watched the fuel usage closely, as
they were heavily overloaded.
‘Boss, deploying the aerial water
gatherers and bringing the standby oxygen/hydrogen cracker online. Fuel is
getting low.’
‘OK, thanks. I’ll compensate.’
‘Can I get you anything, Marko?’
‘Anything wet and hot would be
nice thanks, Jan. Who is the guy who went down into the wrecked pod with you?
Pilot and medico is still regarded as a rare mix.’
‘None other than Flight Officer Demetre
Garland. Seems that he is not just a medico but a field surgeon to boot.’
‘The prick who likes to scare
people with his flying?’
‘Yup. I like him!’
Marko laughed and went back to
his monitoring board.
~ * ~
Harry
was
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