The Gabriel’s bridge, Dasos, Prasinos system
The Gabriel had jumped out in six directions so far, to one hundred, two hundred and fifty and five hundred light years distant, then done a full far-reaching scan.
‘Right,’ said Linda, the boredom beginning to grate. ‘He’s not back here. Phil, prepare the next direction on the grid and jump when ready.’
‘Oh…that’s peculiar,’ said Pol, staring at both her screen and up at the holomap.
‘What is?’ Linda asked, half-heartedly, not bothering to look up.
Pol zoomed the holomap in and pointed at a small freighter.
‘That is,’ she said.
‘It’s just a dirty old freighter,’ said Phil, staring at it closely. ‘Very old too.’
‘Yeah,’ but it just jumped into the system right there,’ she said. ‘A long way from any of the designated jump zones, it’s absolutely stationary and the weirdest thing about it is, its jump drive is shut down and cold.’
‘What?…You’re kidding,’ blurted Linda, furrowing her brow and becoming interested.
‘Four life signs on board but none on the bridge,’ said Callon, giving Linda a weird look. ‘Oh…hang on, make that one life sign now.’
‘It’s him,’ said Cleo, appearing on the bridge.
‘Who?’ asked Linda.
‘Edward, I’ve detected his DOVI,’ she said, staring into space as if she was thinking. ‘Hang on…it’s not operating as it should though.’
‘His mini-me’s in the ship’s hangar too,’ said Pol, grinning.
‘Call from the admiral,’ said Callon.
Linda pointed up at the holomap.
‘Good day, Gabriel,’ he said. ‘I seem to have had three very annoyed, scruffy and mildly smelly individuals appear in my brig. Anything to do with you?’
‘Hello, Admiral,’ said Linda. ‘Erm…possibly, I think the explanation may be aboard that old freighter that’s just planted itself in the middle of the system.’
‘Edward, I presume?’
‘It seems so.’
‘Right, they won’t be very happy but we’ll keep them secure for the time being, I’ll have their identities checked and I await an update from your captain, admiral out.’
Linda sniggered and shook her head.
‘Get us over there, Phil,’ she said, waving her hand at the holomap. ‘What have you been up to this time, Virr?’
As Ed passed the junction in the passageway, he had a change of plan and turned towards the freighter’s bridge. Once there, he activated the communications suite.
‘Gabriel, do you copy?’
‘Where the hell have you been?’ Linda asked, trying to sound annoyed, but coming across more relieved than anything else.
‘Having a beach holiday,’ he replied, cheerfully.
‘Did you build sand castles?’ Phil asked.
‘Don’t encourage him, Phillip,’ Linda growled back.
‘Will this ship fit in one of our hangars?’ Ed asked.
‘Do we really want that dirty old thing in one of our nice clean hangars is more the question,’ said Linda. ‘Have you actually seen it?’
‘Believe me, it’s no better in here, but I have a possible use for it.’
‘Are you claiming it as salvage?’ Phil said.
‘Yeah, the three crew are on Bache’s ship. Responsible for more crime and murders than you can throw a stick at.’
‘Best let him know that,’ Linda said. ‘He’s already questioned us about them.’
‘Is Andy with you?’
Linda spent several minutes filling Ed in on the last few hours and that Andy was now back inside the Arena with a group of fighters aiding Conor in clearing the bugs out.
‘I’d better get in there and help,’ he said. ‘Where’s this maintenance passage?’