Ep.#6 - "Head of the Dragon" (The Frontiers Saga) Read Online Free
Author: Ryk Brown
not they know we’re coming,” Nathan commented.
“We’ll know in a moment,” Cameron stated.
The Corinari technician rapidly ascended the ladder through the shuttle’s topside hatch into the breaching box, the hatch closing behind him after he passed. As he peered through the small windows on either side of the breaching box’s main hatch, he could see the hull of the Loranoi passing by less than a meter away. A moment later, the shuttle’s maneuvering thrusters fired once more, and the shuttle came to a stop. Another small blast and it moved closer to the Loranoi, the apron of the breaching box bumping against the Loranoi’s hull.
The shuttle rocked slightly with the contact, despite the pilot’s best attempt to be gentle. The hydraulics hissed as the walls of the breaching box’s sealing apron adjusted their shape to conform to the minor variations of the enemy frigate’s outer hull. A few moments later, a green light came on next to the hatch. “Good seal,” the technician reported. “Opening the hatch.” The hatch split down the middle and slid to the sides, disappearing into the walls to reveal the outer surface of the Loranoi’s topside, midship EVA hatch. It was considerably smaller than the breaching box hatch, but more than adequate in size to allow them to pass through with ease.
The technician immediately attached an electronic device over the digital control pad for the Loranoi’s hatch. “Attempting to override hatch controls now.” The technician began furiously punching buttons, his brow furrowing as he concentrated on his task. If he failed to open the doors electronically, they would have to either cut them open or blast them open, both of which carried significant risks as well as delays which might allow the crew of the Loranoi to prepare for the assault. “The entire system is down,” he reported happily. “The control system doesn’t even have backup power.”
“Maybe they didn’t think it was necessary on an EVA hatch,” Lieutenant Waddell’s voice commented over the suit comms. “Or maybe they have a manual activation system inside.”
“Who cares,” the technician stated. “All I know is that this is going to be easy.”
“ Maybe the other hatches will be just as easy, ” Jessica wondered aloud.
“Doubtful,” the technician disagreed. “The aft hatch, maybe, since it is just a maintenance hatch. But team one is going through the main forward boarding hatch. That one is bound to have its own backup power, not to mention a much better encryption on the control system.”
“ Why is that? ” Jessica asked over the suit comms.
“That’s the hatch used when they’re in port or when ships dock with them,” Lieutenant Waddell answered.
“That’s it,” the technician reported. “I’ve got control of both the inner and outer hatches here.”
“ Great, ” Waddell stated. “Rig it so I can pop them both at the same time with a single button.”
“Already on it, sir,” the technician promised. A moment later, he was done and coming down out of the breaching box and back into the shuttle. Despite the fact that the breaching box was securely sealed to the hull of the Loranoi using extremely powerful electromagnets as well as negative pressure seals, until the box was hard-fastened to the enemy frigate’s hull, it could still dislodge.
As soon as the technician was down, the first two Corinari troops went up the ladder, followed by two more.
“Remember,” the lieutenant reminded them, “as soon as you cross the threshold, the direction of gravity will change and will be Takaran standard, so make sure your feet are oriented in the right direction.”
The lieutenant moved into the breach box, squeezing past his four men to get to the control panel next to the hatch. He looked back at his men to ensure they were all in position. “Charge weapons. Safeties off,” he ordered. A moment later, all four of his men had their weapons fully charged and
“We’ll know in a moment,” Cameron stated.
The Corinari technician rapidly ascended the ladder through the shuttle’s topside hatch into the breaching box, the hatch closing behind him after he passed. As he peered through the small windows on either side of the breaching box’s main hatch, he could see the hull of the Loranoi passing by less than a meter away. A moment later, the shuttle’s maneuvering thrusters fired once more, and the shuttle came to a stop. Another small blast and it moved closer to the Loranoi, the apron of the breaching box bumping against the Loranoi’s hull.
The shuttle rocked slightly with the contact, despite the pilot’s best attempt to be gentle. The hydraulics hissed as the walls of the breaching box’s sealing apron adjusted their shape to conform to the minor variations of the enemy frigate’s outer hull. A few moments later, a green light came on next to the hatch. “Good seal,” the technician reported. “Opening the hatch.” The hatch split down the middle and slid to the sides, disappearing into the walls to reveal the outer surface of the Loranoi’s topside, midship EVA hatch. It was considerably smaller than the breaching box hatch, but more than adequate in size to allow them to pass through with ease.
The technician immediately attached an electronic device over the digital control pad for the Loranoi’s hatch. “Attempting to override hatch controls now.” The technician began furiously punching buttons, his brow furrowing as he concentrated on his task. If he failed to open the doors electronically, they would have to either cut them open or blast them open, both of which carried significant risks as well as delays which might allow the crew of the Loranoi to prepare for the assault. “The entire system is down,” he reported happily. “The control system doesn’t even have backup power.”
“Maybe they didn’t think it was necessary on an EVA hatch,” Lieutenant Waddell’s voice commented over the suit comms. “Or maybe they have a manual activation system inside.”
“Who cares,” the technician stated. “All I know is that this is going to be easy.”
“ Maybe the other hatches will be just as easy, ” Jessica wondered aloud.
“Doubtful,” the technician disagreed. “The aft hatch, maybe, since it is just a maintenance hatch. But team one is going through the main forward boarding hatch. That one is bound to have its own backup power, not to mention a much better encryption on the control system.”
“ Why is that? ” Jessica asked over the suit comms.
“That’s the hatch used when they’re in port or when ships dock with them,” Lieutenant Waddell answered.
“That’s it,” the technician reported. “I’ve got control of both the inner and outer hatches here.”
“ Great, ” Waddell stated. “Rig it so I can pop them both at the same time with a single button.”
“Already on it, sir,” the technician promised. A moment later, he was done and coming down out of the breaching box and back into the shuttle. Despite the fact that the breaching box was securely sealed to the hull of the Loranoi using extremely powerful electromagnets as well as negative pressure seals, until the box was hard-fastened to the enemy frigate’s hull, it could still dislodge.
As soon as the technician was down, the first two Corinari troops went up the ladder, followed by two more.
“Remember,” the lieutenant reminded them, “as soon as you cross the threshold, the direction of gravity will change and will be Takaran standard, so make sure your feet are oriented in the right direction.”
The lieutenant moved into the breach box, squeezing past his four men to get to the control panel next to the hatch. He looked back at his men to ensure they were all in position. “Charge weapons. Safeties off,” he ordered. A moment later, all four of his men had their weapons fully charged and
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