The outer airlock hatch cycles open, revealing Maxim and Wil standing shoulder to shoulder in the cramped space. Wil nods to Max. “We’re EVA.” They both step out of the airlock, the EVA thrusters in their suits jetting them across the distance between the Ghost and the dreadnought.
The moment they’re away, the outer hatch closes and the airlock cycles back, letting Gabe, Xan and Prathea enter. It’s a tight fit. Inside the airlock, Gabe looks at the two scientists. “I can control our flight, you will not need to engage your suit thrusters.” The outer door opens, and both scientists take a step back, bumping into Gabe. With his smaller set of arms, he grabs a handle on the back of each of their suits and uses the EVA jets attached to his arms, legs and torso to leave the airlock.
Last out of the airlock are Jor’ Lu, Murta and Zephyr. Thankfully, Murta had had the foresight to pack EVA suits in sizes that would fit all his charges, otherwise Xan and Jor’ Lu would have been forced to stay behind on the Ghost with Bennie.
It turns out getting scientists unaccustomed to space walks, from one ship to another takes a really long time. Even with Gabe handling them, the scientists are a handful, and it takes time to cycle them through the alien airlock.
Over the comms channel, Bennie complains, “It’s not my fault! If I was over there, I could have directly interfaced with the airlock control computer, or something...” His voice trails off on the last few words.
“Or something,” Wil says, looking down at the wristcomm built into the suit he’s wearing to check air quality. “Nothing breathable, at least not for any of us. Keep your suits sealed.” He turns and heads down the corridor.
“This looks like any other ship,” comments Maxim, running a hand along the wall of the corridor they’re walking down. He looks up. “Whoever lived here, they weren’t much taller than us.”
Jor’ Lu clears her throat. “Yes, I’ve noticed that.”
Zephyr glances from the tall Burzzad to Wil. “He’s right, this isn’t that different from the Ghost or a Peacekeeper ship…” She trails off, looking down the corridor. “Though these are a bit odd…” Her hand finds what looks like a ladder rung, except it’s built directly into the wall. There’s a rung every half meter or so along each wall, and in the ceiling and floor.
“There is gravity though, that seems weird,” Xan observes.
“Big or tall, short or squat. Only one way to find out.” Wil looks down at his wristcomm again, and points to the left, toward what they assume is where engineering is located. “Maxim, Jor’ Lu, Prathea and Gabe, head that way. You guys are ‘Team Two.’” All of their wristcomm units beep, indicating a new shared comms channel. Wil points toward the right. “Zephyr, Xan, and Murta, with me. We’re ‘Team One.’ Let’s go.”
Team Two heads off in their assigned direction. Wil looks over at Murta. “Having fun?”
The Harrith man glares and shakes his head. “Still thinking of selling this to the highest bidder, pirate?”
Before Wil can answer, Zephyr smoothly glides between the two of them. “We’re just looking around for now. Decisions later.” She moves on ahead, rifle at the ready, to side-step around a corner and point her weapon down the next corridor. “Clear.”
Murta makes a growling noise, but moves past Zephyr down the corridor toward the next intersection. “Clear.”
Wil consults his wristcomm. “Thoughts on finding the bridge?”
Murta comes up beside him and reaches over to Wil’s wristcomm, where he presses a button. From the back of his armor, four small spheres detach.
Wil jumps. “I didn’t know it did that!”
“Read the manual,” Murta replies. The spheres take off in opposite directions. Zephyr stifles a laugh as Wil glares at her.
Murta looks at the map of the ship that is slowly forming on Wil’s wristcomm screen. “Remind me why Prathea wanted you along?”
Xan grabs Wil’s arm and pulls it down so she can see the screen, then lets go. “This way,” she announces.
Wil looks down at his wristcomm. I really gotta get my hands on that manual, he thinks.