The Broken Cage (Solstice 31 Saga Book 2) by Martin Wilsey Read Free Book Online Page B

closely, it would look like someone camped there last night and there were a few coals still smoldering. A plan began to form.

CHAPTER SIX
     
    The Moon Base
     
     
    “I don't think we could have survived without that specific crew. Everything seemed to be trying to kill us. Everywhere we went, we were only one step away from death.”
    -- Solstice 31 Incident Investigation Testimony Transcript: Captain James Worthington, senior surviving member of the Ventura's command crew.
     
    <<<>>>
     
    Lieutenant Hume, Ensign Weston, and Dr. Brian Perry put on pressure suits and exited the pinnace via airlock number three. Hume secretly smiled.
    It was a three-meter drop to the tarmac, but in the lighter gravity it was easy.
    “Comms check, Hume. Vid on,” Valerie said, as she reported into Tyrrell.
    “Comms check, Weston. Vid on,” Weston followed.
    “Ummm...Comms check. Brian Perry here. How do I turn vid on?” Perry asked.
    “Just say it. I thought scientists were smart,” Hume kidded.
    Perry appreciated the jab. He was very nervous.
    “You’re good to go, Hume. We will maintain an open channel, Muir is on tactical.”
    Their Heads-Up Displays showed Tyrrell and Muir what each of the team's helmet cams saw.
    “Brian, relax. Try not to breathe so fast. You will end up hyperventilating.”
    Hume stopped and let him settle down, a little. He was carrying two large cases that he set down on the tarmac, for a minute, while he took a few deep breaths.
    Weston just stood there, staring at the base access hatch and control panel.
    Hume checked her weapons, again.
    “Weston, did I ever tell you about the time I had to jump off the dock apron of the Ventura from orbit and grav-chute to the surface of the Gourley colony?”
    Weston looked at her like she had a shrunken head. He had never met her before today. She was command crew, he was an ensign in the docking bay. Then, he realized, it was for Perry's benefit.
    She winked at him.
    “I was convinced I would hit the atmo at 7,000 kph and burn to a cinder. Except the chute-suit I was wearing was designed by geeks like you. It had a grav-plate in it.”
    “I never got over 300 kph. It was beautiful, man. Did you design that thing, Perry?”
    Hume was distracting him.
    “Ummm...No. It wasn't me. I can see how it could be done though.” Perry was thinking about it now.
    “I still pissed myself, I was so scared. Way more scared than this,” she said to Weston. “Are we good?”
    Perry nodded.
    “Good. Oh, and try to communicate out loud. Nodding does no good to our friends on the bridge. I don't want them to feel left out.” She smiled.
    “Yes, sir,” Perry said.
    “Call me Hume. If you call me sir again, I’ll kick you in the nuts.”
    He chuckled and realized his panic was gone. “Thanks, Hume.” He picked up his cases and moved toward the hatch.
    ***
    Worthington slid out of the autoDoc as Dr. Shea spoke. “Take it easy on that break for a few days. The nanites will work as fast as they can, but don't make their job harder. Don't worry about the low-grade fever. That's just the nanites.”
    “Thanks, Doc,” Jim said.
    “I’ll get everyone else through here as soon as possible,” Duncan Shea said.
    Just then, the main lights blinked off, on and off, then came up and stayed on.
    “Commander, power has been restored,” Tyrrell reported. The gravity came back to 1G, to Worthington's great relief. His nose always got stuffy in lower G.
    “Elkin here, Commander. Reactor number three is back up. It should stay up, for now. I’ll need to run a full set of diagnostics to ensure it stays up. I might be able to get reactor number one back online, if I use parts from reactor number two.” Elkin coughed.
    “How are you feeling, Elkin? As soon as it's safe I want you back in the autoDoc for a full scan,” Worthington said.
    “Dr. Shaw is with me and is saying the same. Let me just get a few things started and I will head up.”
    “Do you have any idea regarding the