Read Online Deep Space Dead by Edward Chilvers - Free Book Online Page A

get it over and done with. He turned to his fellow rangers. “Come along everyone,” he called cheerily. “We’re going to have a look inside. One hour tops and then we’ll have some dinner.”
    The rangers came quickly, as anxious as their leader to be away from this place. Wal led the way, flashlight straight in front of him. He stepped past the cave threshold and into the inky blackness beyond.
     
    “What the hell were they thinking going into that cave without authorisation?” Demanded Admiral Kalp angrily, and although she would never admit it Arianna did not doubt she deeply regretted her decision not to send Jak out on the mission instead.
    “The consequences of going inside a cave in the middle of an unfamiliar fault line have the potential to be very dire indeed,” said Bratten Jorg. “If they all went inside it might have collapsed in on them, trapping them inside or worse.”
    “Why weren’t they stopped?” Demanded Col Gayze haughtily. “Why are we only hearing these transmissions now?”
    “Because they were one way broadcasts intended as a record only,” replied the communications man Barra Herr irritably. “If they wanted something from us they could have called us up on another channel. Had they not gone missing we probably wouldn’t have listened to these transmissions until well after they got back.”
    “So whatever went wrong clearly took them by surprise,” mused Magnuj Bol. “Had they anticipated the problem they would surely have called on us for assistance.”
    Sol fidgeted uncomfortably in his chair. “Let’s not be too hasty,” he cautioned. “Yes, they’ve breached protocol but it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve come to harm. We’re still picking up the signals from the rovers. That means they must still be intact out there.”
    “The rovers have been in the same spot for twenty-four hours now,” replied Bratten Jorg. “If you ask me that gives us even more cause for concern.”
    “We must keep this to ourselves,” stated Kalp simply. “Morale is high at the moment and I want to keep it that way. Most likely Wal and his rangers have simply gone and gotten themselves trapped. If so we’ll go over there, blast them out and they can carry on with the mission as though nothing has happened.” She turned to Jak. “Looks like you’ll get your tour of duty after all,” she said wryly.
    “I’ll go too,” said Arianna suddenly.
    “You’re not a geologist,” objected Jak.
    “I can operate the on board computers,” replied Arianna. “And I can analyse data too. This isn’t a research mission, Jak. I’m as good a navigator as anyone.”
     
    “Why did you volunteer?” Demanded Jak angrily when they were back at their apartment after the meeting. “You’ve got no experience with stuff like this and it isn’t as if we’re entering a safe situation here what with the place being a fault line and right next to a volcano.”
    “It’s like I said in the Council meeting,” replied Arianna flippantly.
    “You know that’s not why you stepped forward.”
    “I want to be out there,” said Arianna. “I want to explore, just like you.”
    “Now is hardly the time,” said Jak. “We don’t know what might have happened to them.”
    “You’re going to have to come back regardless,” laughed Arianna. “They’ll be pretty stuck if they lose all their rangers and that means you won’t take any chances. And I’m hoping that with me along this will be even more the case.”
    Jak nodded. He thought he was beginning to understand.
    “You know as well as I do what will have happened if there’s been a landslide inside that cave,” muttered Arianna. “I don’t know why Kalp keeps trying to fool us.”
    “More like she’s looking to fool herself,” replied Jak perceptively. “Things have been going so well lately it’s hard for her to accept something might have gone seriously wrong. After all, if we’ve lost Wal and his party it means we’ve lost