The shuttles have gone through the wormhole, but the small fleet of JSFA ships are still face to face with the Kriton warships. This part of the Battle of the Wormhole is not yet over and the action continues in this chapter written by Ben.
The Boys of Lady Lex Chapter 63 "Into the Fire" Written By Douglas DD and Benjamin T. C.
"Captain, the `Gettysburg' just took out one of the Kriton guardians," said Creevey.
"That's one down, five to go. Status of the wormhole?"
"It's gone, closed up," replied Creevey.
"And our shuttles?"
"Unknown."
Hatcher wished he knew what happened to the shuttles that entered the wormhole. Did they make it to the other end? Was Earth at the other end like they predicted, or was it open up elsewhere? Was it even in their own time? The wormholes they encountered earlier in the year sent Douglas back to the past. Could this wormhole have done the same?
"Damage report," asked Hatcher.
"Impulse engines still off line. We have hull breaches on decks 12, 13 and 14. Port weapons are still down, and our shields are at 27%. Internal communications are down," said LT Anderson.
"Captain, I just rerouted some power to our port emergency thrusters," said McDowell.
"Ensign Masters, port aft thrusters to get us into spin. McDowell, be prepared to fire on my mark," said Hatcher, as the "Lexington" took another hit from the Kriton warship.
"Aye, Captain," said Kalon. He fired the emergency thruster and the ship started to spin.
"Steady, . . .steady" said Hatcher as he watched the view screen. "Get ready to give her everything we've got Mr. McDowell...steady." Hatcher waited just a second longer, and then: "FIRE!!!"
Captain McDowell fired all his phaser blasts and torpedoes. The view screen lit up as the impact hit the Kriton vessel, and then the intensity tripled as the Kriton vessel was destroyed.
"Brilliant!!" said Kalon, as he tried to keep the spinning of the "Lexington" from getting out of control.
"We just bought us selves some time. Now let's get our impulse engines back on line," demanded Hatcher.
The "Ramses" zoomed by the other fighting shuttles and ships, trying to shake loose the two Kriton fighters on their tail, but it was no use.
"Come on Rad, I can't out run them all day. We have to go rescue Jesse," said Mark.
"I'm working on it, but locking on target isn't the easiest task you know...yes, got one." A red blip on Rad's monitor vanished. "That's nine, one more for double digits."
The "Ramses" shook violently as a phaser blast hit her. Sparks flew harshly from the science station. Rabbit covered his face with both hands and screamed horribly. He stood up and fell to the ground, rolling and screaming, covering his face.
Parker quickly got up from the engineering station and went over to Rabbit. He pulled Rabbit's hands from his face. His face was severely burned. "Oh Shit!! What do I do?" asked Parker in horror.
David quickly got up from his command chair and grabbed the first aid kit. He immediately started providing first aid that he learned at the beginning of the school year.
"It burns, it burns," cried Rabbit.
"Shhhh, relax. We got you," said David, trying to calm Rabbit down. It looked like he was starting to go into shock. The cabin was starting to fill up with smoke. David looked up at Rabbit's station and saw a small fire. "Parker, put out that fire, now!!"
Parker just stood there in shock himself. He was frozen in his tracks. David saw that Parker was too stunned to do anything. He quickly got up and grabbed a fire extinguisher and put out the small wire fire.
The "Ramses" took another severe hit. The shuttle lurched forward. David lost his footing and fell forward, hitting his head on a console. He rolled over with his back against the bulkhead. He felt something warm running down the front of his face. He could taste the mixture of blood and sweat entering his mouth. He blinked his eyes several times, trying to get the blurry image before him to clear up, but it wasn't working.
"I got the mother," said Rad. "Double digits."
Mark looked over his shoulder and saw David on the floor against the wall. He saw a big gash in his forehead with blood streaming down his face. David had an expressionless look on his face.
"David? You ok?" asked Mark.
David didn't answer. He just sat there in a daze.
"Parker, you need to put a bandage on David's head," ordered Mark, who was taking command of the "Ramses".
Parker just sat in his chair looking at Rabbit, then at David and back to Rabbit. He, too, was in shock.
"I got it," said Brandon as he got up from his station. He immediately began rendering first aid to David and Rabbit. "This wound on David's head doesn't look good. He might have a concussion."
"As soon as we rescue Jesse, we will head back to the `Orion'." Mark started multi tasking, taking over navigation and piloting, trying to find Jesse. "Now where are you little brother?"
Dr. Daniels was in sickbay working frantically. His medical staff was performing triage and surgery as soon as casualties began rolling in. Linda Hatcher was head nurse and was in charge of triage while Dr. Daniels performed the surgeries that were required.
Two stretcher bearers came running in with a body on a stretcher. Linda immediately went over to perform triage. "Larry!!" she yelled.
Dr. Daniels quickly ran over to the stretcher. Lying in it was Chaplain David Kyle with a small silver cross clutched in his right hand. Dr. Daniels performed a quick scan. He looked over at Linda and shook his head. He then went to the next patient.
Linda knelt down and placed her hand on the Chaplain's clutched hand. She whispered a prayer and then took a sheet and pulled it over his face. With a lump in her throat, and tears in her eyes, she stopped being personal and started being professional again, then went on with her tasks.
"There you are little brother," said Mark. He locked Jesse's location. "Here we come. Just a few more minutes, Jesse, and you will be in here where it's safe, with us."
An alarm started going off and red lights started flashing.
Rad quickly pushed Parker, who was still in another world, out of the way and looked at the engineering station monitor. "Mark, our coolant system was hit. The engines are over heating."
"Damn, that means we're gonna have to shut her down. We can't afford that."
"Do it or we blow up," said Rad.
Mark let out a deep sigh. He started to shut down the engines. "They're not responding," said Mark, trying to hold back his panic.
"What do you mean, they're not responding?" said Brandon.
"The engines aren't responding. I can't shut them down."
"We're gonna die after all," said Rad.
"Not on my watch," said Mark. He quickly stood up from his station. "As I see it, it's either sink or swim. And I don't know about you guys, but I'm swimming." Mark went over to the space suit locker. "Rad, you partner up with Rabbit. Brandon, take care of Parker. I got David."
Brandon and Rad nodded in agreement. Rad, Mark and Brandon began suiting up their partners. Once their partners were suited up, they suited up themselves and made there way to the airlock.
"There's only room for two at a time in the air lock," said Mark. "So Rad, I want you and Rabbit to go first."
"Ok," said Rad. He bobbled Rabbit into the air lock and the door shut. Soon there was a large hiss and Rad clipped himself onto Rabbit so they wouldn't be separated and pushed out into the cold vacuum of space.
Once the airlock was secured again, Brandon and Parker entered and soon were out in the vacuum of space as well. Now only Mark and David were left in the "Ramses".
"Ok David, it's our turn." Mark and David got into the air lock and they joined the others in space. But Mark was in such a hurry to get out of the "Ramses", that he didn't clip himself to David.
After a few minutes in Space, Mark looked at the hurling "Ramses" turning into flame and ash. The engines had overheated and the "Ramses" was no more.
"Is everyone ok?" asked Mark.
"We're good here," said Brandon.
"Rabbit and I are ok for now," said Rad.
"I have one hell of headache," replied David who was coming to, some.
Mark wished he hadn't gotten separated from David, but there was nothing he could do now. Then Mark screamed as he bumped into something. He turned his head to see what it was. He screamed again, not expecting to see a body.
"Scared ya, didn't I?" smiled Jesse.
"Oh Jesse, you ok?" asked Mark.
"Yeah, but I'm tired of this space walking. I thought you were coming to rescue me."
"I thought so too," replied Mark.
"Some rescue you turned out to be," joked Jesse trying to hide his fright with humor.
Mark's attention was then taken over by a large explosion. The "Orion" had just blown up the Kriton warship they were battling. "Only three ships to go," said Mark. "I hope we get them."
"And if we don't?" asked Jesse.
"Then we float out here until one of two things happen; we are captured and become POWs or..."
"Or what?"
"Or we die."
Tina Hatcher stumbled against the bulkhead as she ran down the corridor that had smoke and flickering lights in it. Her clothes were smudged with ash, and she had a small cut on her arm. Cadets were running around like chickens with their heads cut off, trying to figure out what to do next.
"What are you doing down here? It's too dangerous for you," said Johnny Cooper, as he came walking in her direction, helping an injured cadet.
"There you are," said Tina, with relief in her voice. "I've been looking all over for you. Mark and Jesse are in trouble. We need to help them."
"Trouble? How?"
"I was watching the dog fights from the windows in my quarters and monitoring the radio transmissions as well. The Savoy Special' had problems and Jesse did a space walk, but he ended up floating off to nowhere. The Savoy Special' then was swallowed up by the wormhole, and the `Ramses' was going to rescue Jesse. But the ship exploded right after everyone ejected. We need to help them."
"There's nothing we can do Tina. Someone will help them. I'm sure of it."
"Look Johnny, they are my brothers. And I am NOT going to let them float around in space waiting for Kriton fighters to start knocking them off like clay pigeons. We need to do something. And if anyone can do something, it's you."
Johnny let out a disgruntled sigh. He thought for a minute. He then passed the injured cadet over to another cadet. He took Tina's hand, and said, "Come on, I have an idea."
"Captain Linyu-Wang, the fires in the engineering department are out of control. We lost our shields and our weapon systems are down." Captain Linyu-Wang looked at the junior officer who was filling in after the XO was killed. "Sir, the `Monitor' is sinking."
"Status of impulse engines?"
"They're down to 23%."
"Very well ensign." A saddened looked covered Captain Linyu-Wang's face. He had to give an order that no captain wanted to give. "Ensign, prepare to abandon ship."
"Sir?"
"That's an order ensign. Let me know when all the escape pods are manned and ready. And ensure medical gets all the help they need to evacuate sickbay."
"Yes sir." The ensign went to work on the task given to him.
Mark and Jesse grabbed onto each other as a Kriton fighter zoomed past them. They watched it as it turned itself around and headed back towards them. They could see the gun barrels targeting on them. They both clung to each other and closed their eyes. Then they felt themselves being pushed as a pressure wave swept them along like a piece of drift wood. They opened their eyes to see that the Kriton fighter was no more. But coming at them now was another shuttle. Jesse smiled when he saw the name of the shuttle. Lady Hawke.
The "Lady Hawke" slowed down. They waited patiently to be rescued. They had no means to project themselves to the shuttlecraft and it was too dangerous for the Lady Hawke to bump into them. So they had to wait until someone came out of the shuttle to get them.
"Look!" pointed Jesse. "The hatch is opening."
"Thank God. We just might get out of this yet, little brother."
A figure connected to a tending line emerged out of the hatch. He had a booster pack on that gave him thrust. The person wearing the suit showed signs that he wasn't quite sure how to work the thing. But he made his way to Mark and Jesse.
"Honestly you two. What would you guys do if your big sister didn't rescue your asses every time you get in trouble?"
"Tina?" said Jesse and Mark in unison.
"Who were you expecting? The tooth fairy?"
"What are you doing out here?" asked Mark, as Tina approached them.
"Someone had to rescue you. And since everyone else was too busy with important matters, I ended up getting stuck with the job. Now strap on to me so we can get back inside. I really don't like this space walk stuff."
The two boys smiled. They strapped onto Tina's suit and she reeled them into the safety of the "Lady Hawke". Once inside, they took off their suits. Jesse looked at his oxygen level. He let out a deep breath when he saw that he was on empty.
"Hey Jesse," said Johnny who was sitting in the pilot's seat.
"Johnny? Thanks!!" replied Jesse.
"No problem. Now let's get back to the Lady Lex," said Johnny, as he started to put the "Lady Hawke" back into gear.
"No!" said Mark. "My crew is still floating out there. We need to rescue them. I'm not leaving them behind."
"Look, we don't have time to sight see," said Johnny. "I didn't exactly ask permission to take this shuttle out you know."
"Tina?" said Mark with a look of concern on his face. "We have to rescue them. I can't leave them behind. I know you guys don't like them, but they are my friends and my crewmates. Plus, some of them are injured and need medical attention."
"Johnny, let's find them," ordering Tina.
Johnny let out another disgruntled sigh but did as he was told.
"Are you ready to piss your pants, Richie?" Todd said with an amused smile. The two boys were riding on the shuttle "Hiawatha". The adult crew had taken over the bridge of the "Orion", leaving the cadet crew with virtually nothing to do. Todd, with the permission of the shuttle commander, Aaron Nichols, dragged Rich behind him and on to the shuttle knowing that, in the heat of battle, any commander would welcome the extra help.
The "Hiawatha" performed an evasive maneuver as a Kriton shuttle came within weapons range. Todd was backing up the science officer by acting as an observer. Rich, who had been a shuttle weapons expert as an underclassman, was helping the weapons officer. Rich and Todd sat at two extra consoles in the rear of the shuttle, which, like the "Lady Hawke", was larger than an average cadet shuttle.
"Shut up, Todd," Rich said, sweat pouring down his face as he aligned his weapons with the fighter. "Locked in," Rich said.
"Then fire away," Cal Everett, the weapons officer, said.
The two cadets pressed FIRE simultaneously, scoring a direct hit on the overconfident fighter, turning it into a ball of flame and debris.
"Does that answer your question?" Rich said, with a slight smirk.
"Nice shooting," Todd said sincerely.
"Just as accurate as what you did with Mark Hatcher," Rich said, his smirk turning into a leer.
"Richie, you actually had a horny moment here. The heat of battle must do it to you."
Todd checked his monitor, looking for Kriton targets and knowing it was their job to keep the pressure off the opening of the wormhole.
"So, do you admit it?" Rich asked.
"You pick a strange time to go into my sexual life, Richie. "I will say this. Mark Hatcher's heart is pure."
"What does that mean?"
"Kriton fighter at nine o'clock, moving away from us," Todd reported. "I will leave it all to your imagination, Richie."
Todd issued another report, then looked at Rich and said, "Richie, you can't command your ass to fart, but I will say this. You are one hell of a weapons officer and very cool under fire. It's a pleasure being in battle with you."
Rich grunted. It was the first time in a year that Todd had complimented him on anything. And it was, maybe, the first time Rich truly understood that Todd had spent a year resenting the fact he had taken the position he had wanted so badly.
"Entering weapons range," Todd reported.
Rich checked his weapons and, for the first time as seniors, Todd and Rich worked as a real team.
"Captain Linyu-Wang, all escape pods are manned and ready for launch. The Gettysburg' and Orion' took out two more Kriton warships. There is only one left."
"Yes, the one that is about to take us out, but not if I have anything to do with it." The Asian captain then turned his attention to the few officers working at their stations on the bridge. "Crew, it's time. Go to the pod."
The crewmembers looked a little sad, but they obeyed their captain's orders. The young ensign started to leave, but saw the captain staying behind. "Captain, you coming?"
"My job isn't finished yet."
"You're planning on going down with your ship, are you Sir?"
"Ensign, go to your pod."
"But Sir!!"
"Don't but your captain!" snapped Linyu-Wang. "I gave you an order; now go."
The ensign nodded and left. Captain Linyu-Wang sat down in his command chair for the final time. He converted all controls of the ship to his chair. He saw on his monitor that the escape pods were launching.
"Ok old girl. It's time for your last lap around the block."
Captain Hatcher watched the view screen as the "Monitor" proceeded toward the last Kriton warship. The bridge was humid with tension. Then it happened. The "Monitor" collided into the Kriton Warship. The view screen turned bright white as both ships perished.
"That's the last of them," said McDowell. "The remaining fighters are retreating."
"Very well. Bring our shuttles in. The battle is over."
"Aye, Sir."
"Amanda, you have the bridge. I am going to sickbay and then assess the damage."
"Aye, Sir," said Commander Creevey.
Captain Hatcher walked through his ship. Cadets were working hard, putting out small fires and working on damage control. Hatcher was pleased that Ely had taught these cadets well.
Hatcher finally made his way to sickbay. He was about knocked over when the odor of charred skin, blood, and death hit him. There were cadets strewn about, moaning and groaning. He closed his eyes in hopes that the image before him would disappear, but to his dismay, it didn't.
"Oh, Steve," said Linda who had tears in her eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"It's Ely."
Hatcher's stomach did a summersault. And he turned white. "Where is he?"
"He's in there," said Linda as she pointed to a small private room.
Hatcher went inside. Dr. Daniels was standing by the bed taking vitals. He looked worn and tired. Hatcher's eyes went from Daniels to the figure on the bed. It was Ely. He was severely burned and he had other injuries.
Hatcher looked backed at Dr. Daniels silently asking him with his eyes "Is he going to be ok?"
Dr. Daniels shook his head. "I'm sorry Steve. I've done all I can for him. He has internal injuries, he's lost a lot of blood, and he is severely burned. I just gave him some pain killers. That is about all I can do."
"Can you leave us for a minute?"
Dr. Daniels nodded and then left the room, shutting the door behind him.
"Steve? Is that you?" said Ely very weakly.
For the first time in his life, Hatcher had a hard time being strong. He had a lump in his throat that just wouldn't go down. The imagery of seeing his apartment blow up when he was a kid, with his parents inside, surfaced. The image of the explosion that he caused, when his best friend Jay Hood died, also surfaced. At the time of their deaths, his parents and Jay Hood meant the world to him. And he always regretted that he couldn't say good bye to them. But now, a very dear friend, a mentor, a brother, was on his death bed, and Hatcher didn't like the thought at all about saying goodbye.
"I'm here," said Hatcher, trying not to let his voice crack.
"Did we win?"
"The battle is over. We lost the `Monitor' though."
"The science vessel?"
"I...I...I don't know Ely. She went through the wormhole. But eight of our shuttles went after it."
"They will get it." Ely then went through a bad coughing spell, coughing up blood. "You taught them well."
"Ely, I'm so sorry I dragged you into this." That was the only thing Hatcher had left in him to say.
"Sorry?" Ely coughed heavily again. "Steve you gave me the best retirement gift anyone could have given me."
"I did? What?"
"The chance to work on the `Lexington'. She's a fine gal and she did well." Ely then coughed again. Steve took his hand. Ely squeezed hard as pain shot through his body. Then, even weaker then before, Ely said "Steve, promise me one thing?"
"Anything, what is it?"
"My grandson..." Ely coughed heavily again. "I promised him I would take him fishing after the Olympics. I have a new lure I want him to try."
"And you will, my dear friend, you will."
"Steve, don't..." Ely coughed again. "I know I'm done. Please will you take him for me?"
"I will..." And those were the last words Ely heard. His monitor went flat line. "Good night dear friend," said Hatcher, as tears rolled down his tired cheeks. Hatcher knelt down by the bed and rested his head on the cushion. With his hand still in Ely's hand, Hatcher wept. He wept for Ely. He wept for his parents. He wept for Jay Hood.
Hatcher walked into his ready room. It was a shambles. Things were scattered about and wires were hanging down from the overhead. He went over to a cabinet that was on one wall. He heaved it up. He opened it up and was relieved that one bottle of scotch remained unbroken. He filtered through the debris in his room and found an unbroken glass as well. He opened up the bottle and poured himself a stiff drink.
"Since you're pouring,"
Hatcher looked up toward the entrance. Standing in the doorway was Captain Linyu-Wang.
"Good. I don't have to drink alone."
Captain Linyu-Wang came in and joined his counterpart. Hatcher handed him the glass that he originally poured for himself. He then found another glass and poured himself a drink.
"I heard about Captain Storm. I'm sorry. I worked with him once, and he was one great man."
"Yes, he was." Hatcher took a drink of his scotch. "So what happened out there?"
"The `Monitor' met her match. There was nothing I could do. So I set her on auto pilot on a road to destruction and bailed. Part of me wanted to go down with her, but I don't think my job here is quite finished yet."
"How many lives did you lose?" asked Hatcher.
"Too many. I don't know the exact numbers. I won't until all the escape pods and shuttles are accounted for. You?"
"Forty as of now, but it will keep climbing."
"You're sons weren't any of them, were they?"
"No, thank God. They did run into some trouble, but they are on the "Lady Hawk"e right now, picking up cadets who had to eject from various shuttles. My XO reported the news to me just before I came in here."
"You've got fine boys. You should be proud of them."
"I am. Both of them."
"So what do you think is happening on Earth right now?"
"I wish I knew, Michio. I like to think that Lady Luck was on the side of the eight shuttles that went through the wormhole, but eight shuttles are no match for two Kriton Warships and a science vessel. I suspect that Earth as we know it has ceased to exist." Hatcher downed the remaining contents in his glass and poured himself another drink.
"We're at war, Steve and you and I both know that miracles happen most often when the odds are bad. History is crowded with miracles like that."
"That's what those boys are going to need, Michio." Hatcher silently walked over to his window. He stared off to the spot where the wormhole had been. His body was on the "Lexington", but his thoughts and spirit were with those boys who entered the wormhole. "But the question was, are there any miracles left to be had?"
To Be Continued...