He straightened up, hooked a legaround the antenna, pulled up the slack in the lifeline and fastened it to thecentral cylinder.
Once he regained his equilibrium,he let himself float. He moved with the ease of a swimmer, propelling himselfwith his hands and feet against the framework.
Floating freely in front of onewing, he prodded a few places with a gloved hand as he ran a scanner over it.
“You like it out there, don’tyou?” McReidy asked.
“It’s awesome!” He couldn’t keepthe delight out of his voice. “Hang on, I think I’ve found something.” He pulledon the lifeline, the change in momentum drawing him closer to the wing. “Oneof the relays has come adrift. It looks… I don’t know… looks like an overloadshort. I’m going to have to take out the whole section. Tell the captain –”
Kowalski was cut off as the ship joltedto one side. McReidy and Gillespie were thrown forward. She slid off thewall, grappling at the floor for a grip and managed to stop as her boots tippedover the edge. Gillespie swore as metal clanged and the toolbox slid off theplatform and plummeted to the depths below as the lights went out, leaving themin complete darkness.
The lights flickered on withinseconds as the ship steadied. Gillespie was hanging off the ladder, clingingtightly with both hands while his boots fumbled for a rung.
“I’m okay,” he nodded.
McReidy threw herself at thewindow. The lifeline floated aimlessly about on its own.
“Sam!” she cried out as shecaught a glimpse of Kowalski, well clear of the ship and floating furtheraway. She tapped her communicator. “Transporter room, lock onto Kowalski andbring him back.”
“Sorry, but we can’t do it,” camethe reply. “The transporter’s been down all morning.”
“Captain –”
There was nothing but static comingthrough from the bridge.
It was then they heard the battlestations alert filtering up from below. Gillespie scrambled down the ladder. McReidywas right behind him. As his feet hit the floor, he sidestepped quickly. Shedropped beside him and they raced to the bridge.
The bridge door opened as theyreached it. Its programming automatically identifying and admitting the twobridge officers.
“Captain, we’ve lost Kowalski,”McReidy burst in. “His line broke –” She skidded to a halt, silenced by theimage on the main screen in front of her.
Gillespie went to his right andtook his place at communications. The officer who was already there movedimmediately and took a position elsewhere. Captain Barrett sat stubbornly inhis chair. He heard the arrival of the two crewmembers but failed toacknowledge them. His attention was concentrated on the Betelian who waspictured on screen.
The large, dark eyes set in theflat, lizard-shaped head stared unblinkingly. The nose and jaw protrudedbeneath them, flat nostrils flaring. The skin had a scaly pattern, the headand neck disappearing beneath a uniform that looked like armour plating. Therewas no friendliness in his appearance.
It was obvious to McReidy, as sheslipped behind the nearest console, that communications had just beenestablished. She recognised the Betelian and knew his intentions were notgood. She dropped her head, before he recognised her, and keyed a message tothe captain, too fearful to actually approach him.
“How dare you attack my ship!”the captain thundered.
“You have something I want.”
“There are proper channels –”
“I have no time for yourformalities. You will give me what I want.”
Barrett was on his feet by now,having taken a few steps forward. “Like hell I will!”
The ship rocked again. Thoseseated grabbed at anything they could. Barrett found himself unable to stay onhis feet and grabbed his chair for support. The few seconds enabled him tothrow a glance of acknowledgement to McReidy.
“Sir, Kowalski,” she whispered.
He lifted a hand to silence her. The ship steadied. He straightened up, regaining his composure, and spun backto the screen. His eyes showed a look of rage that hid the calmness beneath.
“You have no weapons. Now youhave no engines,” the Betelian continued. “You will give me what I want.”
Barrett turned his back and beganpacing slowly, his eyes flicked to Gillespie. As he reached McReidy, hestopped and turned back to the screen, blocking her from view. “Or else?”
“Or else I will destroy your ship.” The Betelian rolled his eyes, frustrated at having to state the obvious.
There was a moment of silencebefore the screen went static. Barrett was not surprised. “Are you sure it’shim?” he asked McReidy.
“I know it is. It’s Rache.” They both knew the tyrannical dictator whose empire had been overthrown at thetime of the Betelgeuse supernova.
“What could he want?”
“Revenge?”
“No, he could have alreadydestroyed us.”
“He still might.”
The thought struck the captain asa very real possibility.
“Sir, Kowalski’s out there. Hislifeline broke and –”
“Make preparations to evacuate. I’ll stall. Kowalski will have to take his chances.”
The hurried conversation tookonly seconds. Gillespie cleared the screen as easily as he had jammed it.
“It appears we havecommunications problems also,” Barrett bluffed. “Try to keep a clear channelwhile we discuss this situation, Mister Gillespie.”
“Yes, sir.”
“There is nothing to discuss.” The menacing look in Rache’s eyes met an equal one from Barrett. “You are theMagellan.”
“If you know that, then you alsoknow we are an explorer –”
“Magellan is Madison’s ship. Iwant him.”
Barrett’s mind ticked overrapidly. Obviously Rache knew nothing of transfers and that the former firstofficer was no longer aboard. McReidy was right. Rache was after revenge andwould probably destroy the ship even if he got what he wanted.
“I don’t go around handing overmy officers to anyone.” A sudden possessiveness showed his determination. “You can’t have him.” The words were slow and defiant.
Rache lost his temper. “Then Iwill destroy you!”
“Go to hell!”
Gillespie severed thecommunication. The screen showed into space in front of them where a huge shipbegan firing on them.
The captain barked out ordersthat were already being followed. “Keep the shields up to maximum. Fire allweapons when ready. Let’s get out of here.”
“Engines are offline, sir,” camethe reply from the engine room.
The pilot swore as the helmfailed to respond to generator power.
“Evacuate. Get those shuttles outof here.”
The ship rocked as it was hitagain, blacking out momentarily with
