“Activated, Subcommander.”
“Engineering, cut all power to the engines and nonessential systems. Life support and Medical are the priority. Security units, evacuate and seal off all areas that are on fire. Division Five, check the crew’s quarters level for injuries. Let me know which levels lost gravity.” He relaxed the smallest bit as the reports came in: gravity failure had been contained to the bridge. That meant Tina and Yorso were probably safe, since no blazes were in their area.
Simdow crouched over Tranis, tying tourniquets as fast as he could. An ensign stood at the helm, wide-eyed as he scrambled to carry out Tukui’s continuous stream of instructions to maintain the vessel’s stability.
Degorsk and three other medics swarmed the bridge. Simdow stepped aside from the captain, listening to Commander Lidon on the com as he did so.
“Acting Captain Simdow, I recommend you send all weapons crew to the Earther transport. Only minor damage has been sustained over here. We’ll stand guard while you make repairs.”
Normally Osopa would have cut off his arm rather than naysay his superior. However, his computer showed new problems cropping up on the crippled vessel, and he was needed to handle them.
There was also Tina. It was unprofessional as hell, but he couldn’t leave her.
“Commander Simdow, I request to remain on board to oversee the ongoing security issues. You need at least one command staff officer to assist you.”
Simdow, off the com with Lidon, was hurrying to the helm to check on the ensign bravely but ineffectually trying to maintain the vessel’s attitude. “Request granted. Advise Commander Lidon.”
Osopa noticed movement from the captain, still surrounded by medics. Was Tranis, who looked on the brink of death, actually trying to stand?
Degorsk yelled, “The threat is over. Stop shoving me. Fine, fuck this. Orderly, sedate him while I get this stasis field going. Stay down, you stubborn, cracked skulled—”
A new alert lit Osopa’s board. As he texted a message to Engineering, he listened to Simdow with one ear as the acting captain said, “Ensign, this is no time for you to learn how to fly without helm control. If gravity fails again, we’ll be pitched all over the place. Tukui?”
“Yes, Commander?”
“You have more helm experience than anyone outside of myself. Can you hold us here?”
“If you route helm commands to my station so I can keep an eye on these navigational readings, yes.”
“Transferring helm to your station.”
Simdow straightened after sending the ensign off to help in areas he was more suited for. He drew a deep breath and noticed Osopa scowling at his readouts. “Anything else to report, Subcommander?”
“A thruster is redlining. The engineering crew can’t cut power leaking to it because the controls are fried. They’re having difficulty jettisoning it, but the danger isn’t immediate.”
“How long do they have?”
“As long as the thruster can be uncoupled in the next half hour, we’ll be fine. Everything else is locked down and secure. I’ll go to Engineering and assist with the situation.”
“I’ll hold down the fort here. If immediate evac is called for, send out the order. You don’t need my approval.”
Osopa motioned a low-level security officer to monitor his station, then headed for the door. He slowed as he neared Tukui’s podium, admiring the complicated dance his Dramok’s fingers performed on his controls. Competence in the midst of cataclysm was a beautiful thing.
Never taking his eyes off his work, Tukui murmured, “Have you heard if—?”
“Grav held on the rest of the ship, and they weren’t on the preliminary casualty list. I’ll com them on my way to Engineering. If you don’t hear from me, they’re fine.”
“Thanks.”
Osopa hurried off the bridge. He didn’t com Yorso to check on his or Tina’s welfare. It required a detour to go to his quarters before Engineering, but Osopa didn’t hesitate to take it. Commander Lidon would have had his head if he knew Osopa had put clan before his duty to the crew, and he’d be correct to do so. Especially since the reports Osopa had received showed no harm had come to his clanmates.
He had to see them for himself. He had to know beyond a shadow of a doubt his Imdiko and Matara had weathered the battle intact.
The crew quarters’ portion of the ship was untouched by the events. Its usual orderly corridor accused him of neglecting his duty, telling him he should be in Engineering instead, helping its crew jettison the overheating thruster. Osopa ignored the guilt that arose.
Tina and Yorso jumped up from the bed where they’d been sitting when he burst in, glad cries ringing out. He grabbed both and held them close, his heart pounding harder than it had during the worst of the fight with the Tragooms.
“I won’t let anything happen to either of you. Or Tukui. No matter what, I’ll keep you safe. Always. Forever.”
Osopa gave them no chance to reply. He had work to do. He let them go and ran out, heading to where he was supposed to be.
Before the door shut behind him, he heard Tina say, “You were right, Yorso. He is sweet underneath all that toughness.”
Sweet? Osopa winced as he jogged down the corridor. It was replaced by a near-smile as he raced to Engineering.
Chapter Eleven
Tina was amused by her clanmates. Despite the dire situation following the devastating Tragoom attack, a sense of high spirits had arrived with the new day. The spyship was useless, and they were transferring to the Earther transport. She would have thought they’d have been sad to leave their home.
Instead, Tukui and Yorso joked as they packed their few belongings. Osopa was quiet as usual, but he seemed more content than distant as he packed his hand-carved weapons. Some pieces were too delicate to have actually functioned in a fight, and he was taking his time to make sure they were properly cushioned for transfer to their new quarters.
There was good reason for their moods. From what she understood, the Kalquorians had figured out some codes that allowed them to complete their mission. Since it had to do with the coming invasion of Earth, Tina had asked they keep the particulars to themselves. It was cowardly to remain ignorant of what was about to transpire, but she’d decided to wait until the final verdict was in. Then she’d press to see her family and hear of their well-being for herself.
The clan was cheerful for another reason. The vessel’s captain was recovering despite what had been described as ‘horrific injuries’ by Tukui. From the manner in which her Dramok spoke, Tina gathered there was an element of hero worship when it came to Captain Tranis. Tukui kept repeating, “Thank the ancestors he’s okay.”
“Speaking of the captain, I overheard a choice bit of conversation in a com between him and Simdow,” Osopa said, wrapping a sheet around a wooden implement with fragile spines on its ball end.
“Oh?”
“The first officer was telling him how you dealt with the emergency. Your patience with Ensign Hov, then maintaining our attitude on your own for several hours until helm control was re-established. Simdow was generous with his praise.”
“That was decent of him. I did my job, as we all did.” Despite his modesty, Tukui beamed. Tina could tell he was delighted with the approval.