***********Deep Space Log- 6th Entry**************
Yesterdays attempt had failed miserably- I was nearly killed trying to break into cargo bay. There seems to be a new security system surrounding the entire 3rd deck-
It is one of the most advanced I have ever seen. I can not think of one reason why star command should install such an expensive thing just to protect excavation machinery.
Meanwhile- the ship is independently advancing towards the unknown solar system up ahead. It is still quite far, and- as I am without my navigation computer, I can not identify it just yet.
It does look a bit familiar though.
Funny how some star systems remind you of home after such a long time away. Impossible as it may be- so far away from home on squadron, Earth- you cant help but wishing it was so.
Tomorrow I shall make another attempt at entering the 3rd deck- It will be my last attempt, for better or worse.
I will have to exit the space ship and enter from the one entrance that is not protected- and for a good reason- It will take shutting the hatch behind me in order to simulate evacuation procedures. Hopefully- the computer will shut down all proximity detectors, and I will be able to enter through the maintenance shaft- usually reserved for server droids. I will have to circle half the ship-non secured- in order to find the shaft, short-circuit the hatch and crawl through half a mile of ventilation shafts.
It almost sounds too easy
I will attempt to record as I make my way- in case I dont make it back- it will serve as evidence and perhaps supply some clues to whoever eventually finds the ship.
Technical Sergeant Grooverider signing off.
****************End Transmission******************
Yesterdays attempt had failed miserably- I was nearly killed trying to break into cargo bay. There seems to be a new security system surrounding the entire 3rd deck-
It is one of the most advanced I have ever seen. I can not think of one reason why star command should install such an expensive thing just to protect excavation machinery.
Meanwhile- the ship is independently advancing towards the unknown solar system up ahead. It is still quite far, and- as I am without my navigation computer, I can not identify it just yet.
It does look a bit familiar though.
Funny how some star systems remind you of home after such a long time away. Impossible as it may be- so far away from home on squadron, Earth- you cant help but wishing it was so.
Tomorrow I shall make another attempt at entering the 3rd deck- It will be my last attempt, for better or worse.
I will have to exit the space ship and enter from the one entrance that is not protected- and for a good reason- It will take shutting the hatch behind me in order to simulate evacuation procedures. Hopefully- the computer will shut down all proximity detectors, and I will be able to enter through the maintenance shaft- usually reserved for server droids. I will have to circle half the ship-non secured- in order to find the shaft, short-circuit the hatch and crawl through half a mile of ventilation shafts.
It almost sounds too easy
I will attempt to record as I make my way- in case I dont make it back- it will serve as evidence and perhaps supply some clues to whoever eventually finds the ship.
Technical Sergeant Grooverider signing off.
****************End Transmission******************
VIEW 5 of 5 COMMENTS
Forward command chamber, Gramerian Star Liner "Grrttyluk" one and a half minutes ago...
It took a few moments for it to soak into Holdens mind, but once it did, he knew things were far more dire than he could have ever fathomed. The Gramerian commander was basking in his victory, the rolls of skin jiggling with delight as he began to laugh.
Holden stood up, and just as he expected, the two Gramerian guards who had been standing at the entrance quickly advanced on him. Holden steadied himself for what was sure to be a jab from one of the guards tourk sticks, but a hand gesture from Commander Tilah ended any threat.
Im glad youre here really, Tilah laughed, I have long contemplated the best revenge for you and those of your kind who fought against us at Chigssa. Seeing your race destroyed before you are even born seems rather fitting, I do think.
Holden bit his lip. The frustration of the moment was too much and he felt any response he would give, would be rather undiplomatic. Generally, a casual fuck you was all he needed in his negotiations, but this time the toad was holding a royal flush to his pair of dueces.
Holden sat back down,Yeah, kind of a pity though, he sighed.
Really? Why? Tilah asked back, actually seeming intrigued.
You wont get to collect the bounty on my head.
Another guffaw escaped from the Gramerian. Yes, that is too bad. But dont you worry Captain, what I have instore for you is nothing compared to that of what will happen to your friend.
Holden immediately played dumb, hoping to trick the Gramerian into tipping his hand.
Yes, it was too risky to put the device on one of own ships, but, The Hero of Candolhar, The Savior of Reval 6, The Conquerer of Jondan, The MENACE of Chigssa he, we were willing to sacrifice.
Holden could almost see the medals from those battles on Grooveriders chest as Tilah called off the old campaigns. It was Grooveriders defiance at Chigssa that had allowed Holdens squadron the time it needed to swing around the left flank of the Gramerians main flagship and blow it into oblivion. If it werent for Grooverider, Holden would be a mess of atoms and molecules floating around the void in the great ghost ship yards of Chigssa right now.
Suddenly, a smile crept across Holdens lips as it fully dawned on him. The toads had used Grooverider to test the time jump. That meant Grooverider was out there somewhere, and it meant that Holdens pair of dueces might just be all he needed to bluff the human race back from extinction.
Tilah looked at his advisary and noticed the new confident expression.
Take him back to his cell. He can listen to his race being destroyed from there.
His desire to know who was aiming a brainscrambler at his own grey matter was momentarily subdued by the desire to live. He juiced up the systems and lifted out of the parking bay.
"Where to?"
"You're a doctor, right?"
"Yeah."
'Your lucky day then. You get to go on a little housecall with us. Get out of the city and head west."
US? Obviously there was someone else, if not more, in the hovercar. His rearview was essentially useless this late at night. Tommy tried to think of a lighted way out of the city, hoping a little flash of passing light might give him an idea of who he was up against. He wondered why only the triggerman was speaking. He wondered what sort of "doctoring" he would need to do. Clearly these guys weren't fedboys, so it couldn't possibly be that bad.
He negotiated through the 4 AM traffic, still amazed that the traffic systems programmers had not formulated an algorithm that would keep all these commuters moving quicker through a rush. The monotony of the slow pace seemed to lull Mr Trigger into a lesser sense of urgency; he pulled the scrambler away from behind Tommy's ear.
The aging commando contemplated his next move. With the auto pilot engaged he could launch into the back seat with pretty good odds of disarming his hijacker. Still, the unknown variable of the remaining parties of "we" could not be ignored. Maybe it was his age or the curiosity imbedded in his pursuit to actually help people that won him over.
He melted into the seat a little and a swarm of thoughts rushed through his mind. He traced back his night, thinking about those disapperaing patients, wondering why the fedboys didn't keep him around for questioning after revealing that poor serum-sucker had vanished, wondering why he parked in the darkest part of the parking bay...
Traffic was beginning to lighten up ...fewer people commuting to the coast since the tsunami took out over half the flats along the beach, he thought. Or maybe it's just that the poor shmoes who get off work this time of night can't afford to live out there anyway.
He turned onto the expressway. The lights were still on, letting him see the sillhouette of one person bent over another one lying on the seat. The commando in him set his heart rate up, easy pickings, but the doctor in him had already decided to ride this one out. He kept his eyes glued to the rearview, the commando and doctor in him both searching for information.
Finally gone was the surrounding city and gone too were the expressway lights. The sky was turning pink in the rearview, up ahead bright stars fought against the encroching twilght. Tommy hadn't seen stars in years, seeing them in this way was almost nostalgia for his childhood rather than a memory of his last ride back from hell.
"This road starts to fork off in another few miles ,,,you have any directon in mind?"
He felt the cold metal at his ear again.
"go southwest on the old road"
"OK"
Mr Trigger went back to the business of tending to his comrade. Tommy floated off onto the old road up into the coast range. As he veered around a curve, the morning sun peeked over the horizon and through the windscreen, illuminating the cockpit and backseat. Tommy squinted against the glare and, looking up into his rearview, solved in an instant the mystery of his two missing patients.
[Edited on Feb 04, 2003]