Rescue Mission (16.1)

LAURIE WAS SITTING IN HER ROOM READING OVER the Star Traveler's walkthrough files. Being a fairly fast reader, she was nearly done when a preset alarm in her MTD beeped. Right on schedule, a loud alarm also went off all over the ship. They were nearing Platonia.

Laurie made her way to the front of the ship. Meeting her mom in front of the double doors of the main deck, Laurie gave her a short hug, and then followed her into the main deck.

"Ship's Status Report," Laurie commanded, taking a deep breath.

"All systems are responsive and standing by --" The computer responded.

"Acknowledged,"

Her parents and Gorioshi took their seats before turning to look back at Laurie still standing in the doorway. Laurie took a deep breath as she realized everyone was waiting on her. She headed to the front of the ship but stopped short. Standing behind the Captain's chair she suddenly felt quite small. Laurie turned to look at what remained of the Star Traveler crew. It was in that moment that the fact of her command position sunk home. These people, even her parents, depended on her.

How did this happen? Laurie wondered, I will gladly hand over the Star Traveler to Captain Mitchell when we get him back. I'm not sure I like being in command of people older than me, but drastic times call for drastic measures. I'm the only one left on this ship who knows the most about it, and this mission -- Ach, well --.time to get going.

Laurie turned back around and sat in the main control chair. Running her fingers over the main console, she tapped the button to connect the inter-ship communications network.

"All ships report and form up."

With those few words, the fleet flew in to a triangular formation with the Star Traveler at their leading point. Planet Platonia spun lazily below them, evidently unaware of the ships in its orbit.

"Turn all devices to control frequency 30.4A mark. Switch intercom frequency to 49/80.9. "

Laurie proceeded to call Droselphine.

"Hi Laurie! My brother has disabled the electric field, so you should be able to pass through and land without it disabling your ship. We'll watch for you!"

"Thanks, Droselphine!"

Laurie took one last look over her shoulder at Gorioshi and her parents. After a nod from her father, Laurie turned around and pressed the Star Traveler's intercom button.

"Tarpin, Euclid, prepare for landing."

"To all ships -- remain on alert status --Star Traveler out."

Turning off the inter-ship intercom, Laurie began the landing sequence. Descending through the Platonian clouds, Laurie gained her bearings by watching the cliff-carved coastline on the horizon. As the shore came closer and then finally disappeared under the ship, Laurie turned on the landing thrusters, causing the ship to hover and then descend. The Star Traveler landed in a grassy flat area stretching as far as Laurie could see. The only noticeable land markers were boulders scattered here and there.

Laurie, Gorioshi, Eli and Dr. Kingston headed toward the exit hatch. Tarpin and Euclid met them in the hallway. Laurie stepped toward the hatch.

"Checking outside atmosphere pressure and elements -- exit granted," the Computer intoned.

This is it, Laurie took one last look at her team.

The exit hatch released its seals with a hiss of air and sheathed open, allowing the bright Platonian sun to flood in. The Star Traveler crew, not knowing where exactly on the planet they were, glanced around at their surroundings. Laurie and Tarpin nodded to Euclid, who then began to go through a series of calculating gestures. While the rest of the crew watched in confusion, Euclid worked to figure out the location of Droselphine and the Platonian minorities' underground city. Euclid felt the air for wind patterns with his paw, crouched low and listened to the ground, and even looked off into the distance, following the rise and fall of the horizon with his eyes.

"We should find them this way," Euclid stated, turning towards Laurie and pointing in the opposite direction.

"Lead on," Laurie answered with a nod.

*****

After climbing the stairs from the underground city, Gorioshi looked around at the surroundings, dazed by the bright light and totally lost. Laurie was the last out of the underground as she tarried a moment longer to thank Droselphine for assisting them in their mission.

"So now what do we do?" Gorioshi asked as Tarpin, Euclid, and the Star Traveler crew made their way through the grass.

"Well according to Droselphine's brother, Captain Mitchell and Dr. Smith are currently on a transfer ship coming from Fendol and should be arriving in about half an hour," Laurie replied.

"It's a good thing that we came slightly early," Tarpin answered.

"Yes, Chris and I came back here about a week ago to advise Droselphine of our intended plan. She suggested that we come no later than today because apparently the repair work was scheduled to be finished today. It's best to get Captain Mitchell and Dr. Smith out of enemy hands before the Guild decides they don't need them anymore. We will also need to regain control of the three captured ships because we have some good insider information that the Guild was planning to use them against us," Laurie explained.

"How did the Platonians acquire three ships?" Tarpin asked.

"The two that Captain Mitchell and Dr. Smith were captured in and one that had to be left on Fendol because it was damaged so badly," Eli answered.

"I don't think anyone expected that the Guild would try to repair it," Dr. Kingston stated, looking into the clear blue Platonian sky.

"May I venture to ask who the Guild is?" Euclid asked from the front of the group.

"It's short for Platonian Military Guild," Laurie answered, coming up to walk beside Euclid and calling back to Gorioshi, "Mr. Higashi, we are going to attempt to rescue Captain Mitchell and Dr. Smith while the Hawks and the Laskonians attempt to recapture our ships,"

Laurie stopped and frowned momentarily. "Hold on a minute, everyone --"

She took out her beeping MTD.

"Laurie here --," Laurie spoke into her MTD which was receiving an audio only transmission.

"It's Chris."

"Status Report?"

"We are all currently sitting in the shadows of Platonia's two moons, out of the range of radar -- a group of Platonian ships is coming into the system," Chris said.

"Right on time -- you know the plan Chris -- Let's let the ship that's carrying Captain Mitchell and Dr. Smith make its way down unto the planet to land. Then, before any more of the ships get down here, either find a way to regain control of our ships or destroy the carrier ship. The carrier ship is remotely piloted so there will be no casualties. We can't let them keep our ships. The rest of us will infiltrate the base and rescue Captain Mitchell and Dr. Smith. Delay as long as you can, we don't want them alerted to our presence too soon."

"Roger -- We'll do our job -- you do yours!"

"Very funny. Keep in touch -- we're heading to the base now. Over and out."