We watch as the Majah-tu troops move further in to the labyrinth of the station, and I begin to wonder about this structure itself. Turning I see that Jahní is watching a holographic image, of the camera view from the platoon leaders recorder. Then a second image is of the stations floor plans. "Jahní, are these plans accurate?"
She turns to me for just a second, then back to the images. "Yes they are." I try to rub my chin analyzing the floor plan through my helmet and I chuckle. "This is where we are right now right?" She nods. "That the main entrance to the docking bay, so these are maintenance doors for crews and or pilots to come and go?" I point to two doors; one on either side of the bay.
She looks at them and moves the image, which shows a passage way to the main hall, that can be accessed through the door on the right. "Great Creator." She turns to her sub commander, quickly speaking to him in their language. His eyes open wider than I thought possible. A group of troopers head to that door in order to head off any potential attack from there, but what about the other door?
I move the image and see that it actually is a staircase. This staircase goes up at least five levels and down close to ten. Jahní returns to my side and noticing that I'm studying the other door. "This staircase goes down about ten levels. What is this section here?"
She studies the image for a minute. "It leads to the first level of the engineering sections." We follow the plan that shows a passage way, which is not very wide. This is the main maintenance tube for this station, as it branches off through the engineering section.
"The core is still operational right?"
"It's difficult to say, after all this time."
I study this part of the plans for a bit. "I bet a team can get down there and get this place operational again."
Jahní shakes her head. "It's to risky." She points to the labyrinth of passages that connect to the tube.
"I never said it would be easy, but it is necessary I think." I look again; yep that is the way to go.
I can see the doubt in her face. "Who would lead this mission to the core.?" I give her a sheepish grin.
"Absolutely not! You are the mission commander and you will not put your life at risk!" Her fierce response makes me blink a couple of times.
I look down for a bit considering her words. "Who else do we have that can do this job?" She looks around at the men around her. "Face it my love; I'm the only one who can go, since I serve no purpose at this moment."
She is angry and frustrated. "You promised you wouldn't take any chances!"
"Jahní." She looks right at me with those silver eyes, which could make most quake in their boots. "If it wasn't me; would you be as resistant to my going?"
She opens her mouth to come back at me, but instead she turns away from me. "No, I wouldn't question it. In fact I would expect it of you."
A young Majah-tu trooper hurriedly comes up to Jahní. "My Lady Princess!" She turns her attention towards him and he backs up a bit bowing. "Forgive the intrusion, but our men have made contact with the enemy." She walks quickly to the holographic screens and a battle is raging on somewhere down that hallway.
"What is there current location?"
The young trooper moves the floor plan showing the location of the troops. "This junction my Lady Princess, just as before." The junction has five different hallways that meet up there; it must be a major intersection here.
She glances at me. "It's called the wheel junction."
I nod in thanks for the info. "Captain Maltah - nahe, can you hear me?" There's a lot of static that on the line.
The young trooper checks the system. " perhaps his com unit took some damage." Jahní looks at the situation, and I can almost feel her ordering a pull back. "Trooper..."
"Jahní." She looks at me like a dear caught in a head light. She is a great warrior, but this is not her specialty. "Why don't you pull your men to this smaller intersection here." I point to a spot about one hundred meters back. "It's a four way, which is easier to control. You can send reinforcements there since you control this whole point here." I point out the main bay and hallways.
She nods understanding my thought. "Trooper, send word that they should pull back to this intersection. Then we send ten more troops as reinforcement to hold this point." She looks at the trooper who seems a bit shocked that she is following my suggestions. "Is there a problem with my instructions?"
He bows apologetically. "No my Lady Princess. It will be done!" He turns running to get her orders executed. Jahní faces me now that we are somewhat alone. "Why did you do that?"
I'm taken aback by her question. "Do what."
"You interrupted me while I was issuing an order, which is unacceptable." Jahní doesn't look angry, but the implication of her statement is one of lack of protocol. She is after all the ranking person here.
I stand at attention remembering my position here. "I'm sorry my Princess. It was not my intention to embarrass you in front of your subordinate."
Nodding she locks eyes with me. "Why did you do it?"
I don't want to make her feel bad, but I'm not sure how to say it except with the truth. " I got the feeling that you were about to order your men to pull all the way here. Endangering our position in the bay."
She looks down shaking her head. "You were right; I was about to give that order. You felt that intention and surmised the folly of it, and came up with a better alternative." She looks around the landing bay folding her arms. "I would have made a tactical error, that you saw through. So therefore you have my permission to interrupt me any time you get that feeling."
I smile at her. I can't help it. "Yes my Princess." She smiles at me as the word comes back to us that the troops are holding that intersection, and doing a good job. "Now what do we do?"
She looks at me coming to the same conclusion I have. "Some one has go and get the core operational once again to secure the doors." She looks away from me, since I have already pointed that out to her. "Shall I send my love to go and risk his life to complete such a task?"
"I am the logical choice to lead this team down there." She closes her eyes not wanting to answer her question, though she knows it's the only road to follow. "I will get down there, but I need a team. I'll take two of my Marines and two of your engineers, and a squad of your best."
She turns to me grabbing my arms putting the visor of her helmet to mine. "Promise me you'll come back."
"I always come back." She smiles sadly, but nodding her approval for the mission. I put my arms around her holding her closely, as I gaze into her eyes. "You'll have the power you need to shut those doors down, and you better have a nice drink waiting for me."
Lovingly smiling she looks at me. "I will. The best drink aboard my ship." She try's to sound confident, as she says it.
I nod. "I'm off then." I continue to hold her in my arms longer than I thought I would, but I can't help it. "I love you." I let go but she holds on.
"I'm afraid."
"Don't be
"I can't help it; you are my life."
"You are mine, and I will come back."
**************************************
We head down the stairwell cautiously; checking every corner, nook, crack and shadow. However, it's rather quiet over here. I give a hand signal for one of my Marines to come to me.
"Yes sir."
I point to an open door on the next landing. "Set up a trip mine at that door just to keep it secure." He nods and starts to head there, but I grab his shoulder. "Take a Majah-tu trooper with you as back up." He nods heading off. I turn to look behind us; I can't shake the feeling that we are being observed somehow. We are in deep into the stairwell, so there's no going back now; we have to move forward.