Transmission Lost Read Online Free Page A

protected inside the main engine block, and hyperspace travel wouldn't be any worry at all. Parts to make the repairs he did need to worry about, however, was the big problem.
    Jack's head jerked around as he heard a low, loud roar somewhere off in the distance. “Damn...Guess I should have expected there might be some big wildlife here.” He looked back at the ship again. “At least I have plenty of supplies. The cargo compartments are packed with guns, ammo, and preserved food.”
    With darkness falling, Jack knew he needed to take shelter. He didn't feel much like going back into the wrecked ship, though, so he opened an exterior hatch into the cargo hold. Most of the cargo he'd been carrying was still intact, surprisingly enough. He rummaged around until he got to the general military supplies, and dug around in them until he found what he was looking for: encamping materials. Grabbing one of the crates, he pulled it out of the ship and into the clearing the crash had created. Jack knew he had precious little daylight left, so he had to work fast.
    A rustle in the trees nearby, however, made him pause and straighten up to look around. Whatever had made the noise had seemed very close, and larger than a bird. Jack peered into the trees, waiting for the noise to repeat itself, but he heard nothing else. Neither did he see any movement. He shrugged and turned back to the supply crate, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching him. He told himself that the very next thing he would do after setting up camp was to grab a rifle out of the cargo hold.
     
    ******
     
    Hours later, darkness had completely fallen over the alien forest, and stars twinkled in the sky overhead as Jack sat in his encampment. He'd been able to dig a fire pit, and there was plenty of wood scattered about for him to build a fire with and keep it going for a while. He'd also managed to set up a fairly large tent that had plenty of room inside for a bedroll and a store of preserved food. True to his promise to himself, Jack had gone back into the cargo hold and retrieved an automatic rifle, along with a hefty supply of ammunition.
    Jack sat next to the fire, shivering a little despite the warmth from the flames. This planet was a little chilly at night. At least he'd been able to eat a meal, though it had only been canned meat and dried fruits, cooked over the fire. That was better than nothing, but not much better. He still couldn't shake the feeling of unease, the paranoid sense that someone or something was watching him from the trees. In the hours since he'd heard that strange noise, though, he hadn't been able to spot anything in his surroundings. But still...
    “Fuck it,” he said suddenly. He stood up, grabbing the rifle from where it lay beside him. He yanked the charging handle, slamming a round into the chamber and taking the safety off. Taking the flashlight from his belt, he clipped it onto a holder on the side of the rifle and switched it on. “If I don't have a look around, I won't be able to sleep, anyway.”
    Jack walked to the edge of his encampment, directing the rifle and the light into the trees around the clearing. He searched more or less methodically, creeping around the perimeter of the crash site, peering into the forest for any signs of movement. After getting back around to where his tent was set up, he hadn't found anything. Jack felt better, even though he did feel a little foolish for being so paranoid. He walked back to the fire, setting his rifle down.
    His head jerked around as he heard the snap of a breaking twig. Suddenly frantic, his hands went down to grab for the weapon again, but he stopped at a sound that hissed through the night air.
    “ Sala! ”
    Jack froze, his hands mere inches away from the rifle on the ground, bent over as he looked through the darkness towards the source of the familiar voice. Leaves rustled as it moved closer, and finally the speaker emerged from the trees into the