We are now in parallel station to a very old, I'd rather say ancient battle station, that was used in the last great galactic war. It doesn't look like we may be able to go in at this time, but it does give us a little hope that we may be able to use it as our repair station. The signs of the old war are all over the station and I can tell that it was taken out of commission a long time ago, although this may suit our needs perfectly.
"Science station, give us a quick scan of the integrity of that place, I wanna be sure that we can use it." My science officer begins to quickly run a scan of the station; Well, I wonder why it was never brought up before that we could be here.
"Sir." I turn to my science officer. "I detect one point in the station still has atmospheric integrity; I think we can use that sir." I nod my thanks to my science officer and I wonder why the station was not repaired and kept on line, what happened here besides the war.
"Comms, please hale the Red Sun Star."
"Aye aye Sir."
Jahní's image appears on my screen and I can't help but smile, she's so beautiful. "We've been able to detect an area of the station that is still intact, and I'm going to lead a team down there and check it out."
She frowns a bit so I can tell she doesn't like the idea. "I don't know. It might not be a good idea; we don't know if anything has moved in there, during this long time that it has been unused."
I find her comment kind of interesting, something moved in to this place since it's been abandoned.
"Is there anything dangerous in this area of space that we should know about, that would be detrimental to my people if we go in there?"
"It's just been empty for so long and there are things that like to move into abandoned, and derelict ships or stations." The face she makes truly concerns me right now how many of my people may get hurt by going into the station. "Your recommendation is for us not to go in. We really do need a solid place we can bivouac, rest, recoup and repair."
She lets out a breath. "I understand that, but right now I'm not so sure about this place not without further investigation and scans."
Now that's really strange, her aunt said this place was good now Jahní's saying it might not be. "So what do you suggest we do I mean this is your home system, and you know your history better than we do."
She tugs viciously on her lower lip a sign that tells me that she's not confident in this move. "Allow me to send combat team into that station, since you really don't have large numbers available to replace any crewmembers that may be injured or worse."
I sit back in my chair rubbing my chin. "OK, we'll do it your way though I'm not in complete agreement with it, I will follow your counsel."
I can see the instant relief on her face, as I tell her that I will listen to what she says and do things her way. I wonder what actually happened on this station after the war; though the station is battered there was no reason why they couldn't repair it and continue to use it.
"Jahní, what exactly happened here after the war? The area that my science officer scanned reveals that it's large enough to house an entire repair crew." She looks down tugging her lower lip again and I can tell that she is uncomfortable, at answering my question. "Never mind, we'll do things your way and will get this place up and ready for us to use; Roger that."
This seems to put her more at ease; this might be a dark point in their history that she doesn't want to share or anyone to find out. I can understand that; Earth has had quite a few of them as well. One thing's for sure I don't really think anyone will believe us to be here. This place is truly a ghost town, and no one in their right mind would want to be here by choice.
I sit there watching as one of her shuttles streaks across the stars heading towards the station, it's a heavily armed shuttle as far as I can tell. It definitely looks large enough to hold at least a full platoon of heavily armed troops. It feels a bit excessive to me to be sending that many troops into a station that is supposedly completely abandoned, but something happened here in the past and she wants to make sure that it's all clear for us to enter.
The shuttle enters the landing bay and it all but disappears into the darkness, which gives me an uncomfortable feeling. "Lieutenant Ushijima." I turn to the science station. "Are you able to follow the team that was just sent in there?"
She checks her instrument panel for a second. "I believe so Sir." She begins to run her scan, while I sit there rubbing my chin feeling the stubble that I have to take care of later.
The minutes tick by, and I'm beginning to wonder if it can be done. "Sir, I have them!"
I smile nodding. "Please patch it into my screen."
"Aye Sir."
Suddenly heat signatures appear on my screen, that are definitely the Majah-tu troopers that went in.
As they move in further the image gets dimmer, and I look back at the Lieutenant. "Just a moment Sir." She works the controls for a bit adjusting the sensors, then the image sharpens up a bit.
As they get deeper into the dark, the scanner has a more limited reach to penetrate the outer hull of the station. "Sir, I think that I can patch in to the stations own systems, that seem to be partially functional."
Really? "Do it."
The troopers move cautiously through the labyrinth of the station, when a new signal appears ahead of them. "Lieutenant, are there no security cameras that you can hack into to get a true picture?"
"I'll try Sir."
It doesn't seem to be working, since it's probably more secure than the sensors inside of that place. The new signal moves rapidly toward the troopers, and they spread out tactically in the hall way.
I can see it in my minds eye the scene unfolding; the orders being given and the weapons firing, as the target gets closer to them.
Then another signal shows up on the screen coming from another direction, and the troopers reorganize their position. They begin to pull back, as the two targets close in. This is starting to look bad if you ask me, but I think the training is kicking in right about now. They hold a well organized retreat before an enemy that seems unafraid; what are these things?
More targets are showing up, and the troopers are really pulling back now. I can see some desperate moves being taken, as the first trooper is over run by a large target signal and drops off the screen. "Comms patch me through to Red Sun Star!"
"Aye aye sir." He moves guickly. "Your on Captain!"
"Jahní, what the hell is going on in there?" No response from her. "Jahní, do you read me?"
"I-I read you." Her voice is, for the first time that I can remember fearful. "I've ordered the retreat of my men for the moment."
"What is going on here Jahní? What exactly are we facing?" There's nothing but silence for a while, as the troopers finally reach the landing bay of the station. There they form a perimeter and holding... what ever they are at bay, while they board.
The shuttle's top turret gun now opens fire, at the ever increasing number of hostile targets. The last four troopers are still holding the line when the shuttle looks lifts off, leaving them behind. Those four Majah-tu volunteered to stay, so the rest could escape.
I watch helplessly as they are over taken by the mass of enemy signals. I feel the pit of my stomach drop heavily, and I... don't have any words for their sacrifice. Except that they died with great honor.
"Jahní, I'm coming over to your ship now!"
"Understood." Her voice seems tired. She is obviously not ready to say anything publicly, so she'll have to tell me privately. There can be no secrets between us if this mission is to be successful.
In fifteen minutes I'm stepping off shuttle two, as Jahní is there to greet me. But, I can see that she is disturbed by the events that unfolded on the station.
"Let's go somewhere and have a conversation." She nods leading the way.