By the Fire: Issue 3 by Stewart Felkel Read Free Book Online

Commander” she said with a smile.
    “Captain. Are you ready?”
    “Absolutely. Where to first?”
    “I thought we’d start with the atrium” he replied.
    “Isn’t that where you first captured us? I’ve kinda already seen that place.”
    It was his turn to smile. “You haven’t seen anything yet. Come on.”
    They walked through the double hatch into the atrium. Despite having seen it before she still gasped at the sight. “It’s just so green. It’s weird to see so much plant life in space.”
    “Not as weird as you think. Everything has a purpose. We grow fruits and vegetables to help with food stores. The trees and moss help replenish our oxygen. You might have noticed all the plants in your room.”
    “Yeah, I wondered what was up with that.”
    “Every room has several plants, everything from peace lilies to small rubber trees. It’s each crewmember’s responsibility to keep up with them. We even have a small botany staff on board to tend to this atrium and the hydroponic bays.”
    “There can’t be enough to support everyone on board though” Alicia interjected.
    “No, but they help take some of the load off of the atmospheric systems. And they have a certain psychological effect. They’re very calming.”
    She looked around again. “I can see how that might be important on a long term mission.”
    “Oh, just watch.” He walked over to a control panel on the wall and hit a button. The roof began to retract. Alicia gasped and turned to run.
    Delaney laughed. “Relax. We’re still enclosed. That is a clear polymer. Just have a seat and enjoy the stars.”
    She followed him over to a bench and sat down absentmindedly. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the sight over her head.
    “It’s beautiful.”
    They sat that way for close to an hour before a call came from the flight deck. “Commander Delaney?”
    Delaney sighed and touched his watch. “Delaney, what is it?”
    “We’ve got something up here that you need to see.”
    “I’ll be right there.” He turned back to Alicia. “Sorry Captain, we’re going to have to cut this short I’m afraid. Duty calls.”
    “It’s fine. Mind if I join you?”
    He smiled and offered a hand to help her up.
    ****
    The first thing she looked for when they stepped onto the flight deck was the holo-imager. Anything that was happening would be represented there. All that was projected however was a swarm of black specks.
    “What is that” she asked.
    Jones glanced to Delaney and at his nod answered her. “It’s debris ma’am.”
    “Debris? Debris from what?”
    “We suspect it is debris from a force of at least two dozen Sol Confederation ships.”
    Alicia gasped. “What could destroy two dozen ships like the Morrigan?”
    Delaney shook his head. “God knows. Let’s see if we can collect some of that debris for further study.”
    She shook her head again. Her mind spun while she tried to imagine what must have happened. From the way Delaney was rubbing his chin and staring at the imager he was likely wondering the same thing.
    Several hours later a technician came to the flight deck to report. Delaney wasted no time on formalities. Taking the tech by the arm he led him to the captain’s ready room. Alicia wasn’t invited but she followed anyway.
    “Report” Delaney said abruptly.
    “The debris shows signs of high yield energy weapons as well as heightened radiation levels possibly from nukes. Carbon dating reveals that this particular battle took place over five hundred years ago.”
    “Anything else?”
    “Yes sir. Roughly ten percent of the debris was found to have a non-terrestrial origin.”
    Alicia and Delaney exchanged a glance. “Non-terrestrial” she asked.
    He shook his head. “Whoever attacked us at the edge of the system must not have been from around here. At least we apparently got some licks in before they wiped us out.”
    He looked back at the technician. “Have we recovered any fragments large enough to give us