“Fayaz, I hope this meeting is quick, I am extremely busy right now.” He spoke without focusing on the tall captain.
“Yes, Maih, Caleb, and Abdallah should be here shortly.” Fayaz said, finding a seat and clearing it of mechanical supplies and parts.
Razeal spoke up, “It looks like we are making reasonable progress along Decks 5 and 6, the worst of our damage. They are cutting away the remains of the Exrah craft now. I hope in the next eight hours it will be out of our hull and we can work on sealing the breaches. We may have issues with raw materials though. We only have so much spare hull plating, and only so much we can cannibalize after this fight.”
Before Fayaz could respond, the doors slid open and Caleb came striding in with Maih. The tall, middle-aged man nodded at Razeal before taking a seat. A few moments later, the last person they were waiting for entered, Chief of Operations, Abdallah. She was a tall woman with short cut blonde hair, and striking blue eyes. Taking their seats, Fayaz spoke to the group.
“Initial reports are grim on the ship. We have life support, but no engines, and no primary power. Our defenses lie in a single rail turret that’s left operational, but manually controlled. Decks Five and Six are open to the void, and Decks One through Four are not much better. Comms array is offline, so we have a near frequency SOS beacon broadcasting but I don’t expect help fast. The Faraway Jumpgate, and Circulars 8A and B are ruined. Rescue efforts are going to be there first, and that will take some time.”
The other officers in the room listened and nodded grimly. The loss of life they were all tallying in their heads was unimaginable. They all felt defeated that their efforts in keeping the civilian ships and facilities were a complete waste. In the end, their sacrifice was fruitless.
“I have a plan though. We are going to be utilizing the ROC and the RTF MSMC Dropship to first salvage supplies and parts from the ruined ships around us. At the same time we will be doing what we can to rescue those still on those ships.”
“Fayaz, we don’t have the medical staff or facil-” Turnus was cut off by a lethal glare from Fayaz. “Aye, we will work something out. Perhaps the hangar can be converted.”
“Much of my unit is not Zero-G qualified, so my personnel and medical staff can assist you Doctor turnus.” Maih spoke up, already tasking her Geist with pulling a list of available soldiers to help.
“Thank you, Maih and Turnus.“ Fayaz continued, ”Razeal I need a list of material we need and teams who can take on these salvaging and rescue operations. I want the first flights to leave in a few hours. We don't know exactly what we need now, but I do know there is plenty we need that we can salvage immediately. As you mentioned, sheet metal for patches.”
“Aye, I can do that.” the gray haired engineer said, nodding.
“Finally, we need the two XPR-5’s retrofitted with magnetic locking feet.”
“Brother?” Maih asked incredulously, briefly forgetting her professionalism.
“‘Aqid? Why in Allahs balls do we need magnetic Scorpions?” Caleb blurted out.
Fayaz smiled, “We don’t have salvage TAG’s, and we don’t have the manpower to look out for flying debris in the remains of the battle outside. Our armor is holding steady enough, and our thrusters are keeping us safe, but if half an Exrah craft comes towards any of our salvage teams, they are going to be added to the list of KIA. The two XPR-5’s have the sensors, weaponry, mobility, sealed atmosphere, and brute strength to be a vital asset to these teams. Pull their secondary weaponry off and equip their claws.”
Razeal nodded a bit with a grin, now seeing where the captain was going with his train of thought. Caleb smiled and stroked his beard, already beginning to make schematics in his head, “Aye, I think we can do that…perhaps some retrofitted boosters in strategic places as well…”
“I will inform Neith and Ishtar. This may be a fun new challenge for them.” Maih said.
“Good, glad we are all onboard. Get to work, let’s save some lives, and get ourselves moving again. Dismissed.” Fayaz stood up and clapped his hands.
Everyone moved quickly through the door, already drawing up plans and communications for their various tasks. The ship began to hum with activity as the hangar bay began to be cleared and opened up for medical purposes. Boxes and equipment were being moved out and stored elsewhere. As Maih walked in, inspecting the process, she saw Ein-213, the Rafiq Remote, arguing with a crew member over a box. Ein was an older model bi-pedal Rafiq Remote, and stood shoulder height to the crewman. The robot had a growing pseudo-ai that had developed over many years of fighting and working with the unit, and had the personality similar to that of a ten year old born on the battlefield.
“Don’t move it! Don’t move it! Wake her up first!” The remote was yelling, its Red Fury was wagging while it flared its multiple antenna around, trying to help get its point across.
“The box needs to move and it’s too heavy for me, just help me out here. You can drag it.” The crew member argued holding a length of cargo strap, obviously getting annoyed.
“Caleb! Caleb! Wake her up! Wake her up!” The remote yelled again.
Maih walked over, raising a hand to try and calm the erratic remote, “Ein, what's the matter?”
“Ra’id! We need Caleb! Nema is not waking up! She hit a wall hard.”
Looking at the box, Maih sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, “Nema-3, I swear by Allah, if you don’t stop playing and get to work you WILL be parts.”
Lights suddenly ran across the front of the box as it broke apart along hidden seams. The Sunduqbot unfolded itself swiftly, and began waving its tiny arms erratically, as the crewman suddenly jumped back in surprise. A high pitched voice emanated from it, “It was a joke, Ra’id! A joke! I will get to work now!”
“We have dozens of wounded, we don't have time for jokes, Nema.”
“They're just humans, you still have enough. Just have Doctor Turner make them stop leaking.” Nema responded flatly.
“That's not…ugh, just get to your assignment. Ein, you’re babysitting.” Maih waved the pair off.
“Ein in charge!” The Rafiq screamed, waggling its antennas in excitement, as Maih turned away to review the rest of her unit.
As the hours passed, the hangar bay filled with beds and patients. The Muhktar unit Doctor, Kalim Amari, and the Khawarij Doctor Khadim Seif worked together bandaging, setting broken bones, closing wounds, and checking head injuries. The large bulk of Khadim belied his gentle and agile touch. There were a few crew members who could not be saved, and were devoted Haqqislamites without cubes. These members of the crew were watched over and given last rites by him, as Khadim always had a physical copy of the New Quran in his coat, and performed the Salat al-Janazah. These souls were quickly placed in vacuum sealed boxes, and he sprinkled a handful of dirt from Bourak onto their bodies in a simulation of burial. Unfortunately in the void of space, burial could not be performed quickly, so he made do with what he could to ensure their spiritual health.
As Khadim finished Salat over the last body, Maih joined him, “Thank you Khadim.”
The large Khawarij smiled sadly and nodded, holding the book to his chest, “It is a work that must be done, for all of us. This is not the end of it either. A number of poor souls are in the void, and before we depart we will need to ensure we perform the Salat al-Janazah before leaving the system for those we cannot recover.
The two stood there quietly for a moment, heads bowed in contemplation before the large man slid the book back into his coat and nodded to Maih, grabbing his medical bag and slinging it back over his shoulder. “The souls of the dead are now cared for, the souls of the living are now in need. Stay safe Ra’id.”
The engineers working on the MSMC dropship stomped onto the deck through the plasma shielding of the hangar bay. All three flopping onto the deck by the wall, and pulled off their helmets, wiping sweat off their faces. Maihs commlog pinged as Fayaz called her, “The dropship is repaired and passed checks, do you have a team ready?”
“Aye, flag the ship to the hangar, we will be ready.” She responded. —---------------------------------------- The dropship flew silently through the still void. Many pieces of debris floated through space and the craft had to maneuver to dodge them as it made its way to the wreck of the Yu Jing vessel Dahlian. Initial scans showed possible life still in the hull. The large dropship slowed down, with its belly to the hull of the hulk. With a thump, the magnetic pads engaged and secured it in place. The crew checked their EXO suits again before Tegmen Sadik, NCO of the Sekban unit, lowered the ramp. Sadik was a veteran Sekban officer, and of countless zero-g operations. He pushed himself out of the dropship before letting the magnetic boots pull him to the hull of the wreck. Checking his wrist mounted display, tied to the dropships sensors, he confirmed no debris was nearby and called to the rest of the unit.
“All clear for now. Let’s get moving.”
The Akrep Scorpion TAG moved silently out of the dropship, its heavy magnetic feet stomping silently on the hull plating sending vibrations through Sadiks boots, as its turret began twirling around slowly, its geist passively searching for targets. Following the TAG came a couple of kameel remotes, and two other Sekban, Thomas Sheffield, and Feray Sadik. Both men had their rifles magnetically slung as their hands were full, one carrying salvaging tools, and Thomas carrying a medical box, being the unit doctor. The last two to come out of the dropship were two Burtuk Naval Engineers, Ahmet, and Emre.
The group moved slowly over the hull, slowed by the TAG who normally could move at speed, but in the vacuum of space, had to rely on its magnetic clamps. After a hundred yards, they came to where the cruiser's sensors spied an access hatch. Checking the doors integrity, Ahmet found it devoid of power. Taking a metal tool out of his belt, he held his hand to the metal door and slammed it hard several times with the tool, then several times again in a rhythm. After a few moments he nodded to Sadik and keyed his radio, “I feel rhythmic vibrations in response. I think it's safe to say there may be people inside. I will attach the auxiliary battery to the door and see if some power helps us get in.”
Taking one of the boxes from a kameel, Ahmet clamped it next to the door and attached a cord from it to a port next to the doors access panel. After a few moments, some lights on the access panel lit up, and a button glowed. The Burtuk gave a thumbs up to the rest and pressed the button. The door slid open, into the glow of an airlock, and Sadik pointed out Ahmet, Thomas, and a kameel to enter. The remote was carrying a box of 40 emergency unrollable space suits, enough to get people to the dropship but not much more. Joining them inside, the Sekban officer closed the hatch. The pressure equalized and the interior door slid open into low lit gloom.
“Lights on. Thomas, atmosphere?” Sadik asked.
“High CO2 levels, but not lethal yet. I see lights on at the end of the hallway there though.” Thomas pointed down the hallway, where they saw shapes and lights moving.
Moving towards the group huddled in the dark, several raised rifles, but the Sekban quickly put his arms up and clicked on his external translator, “We are Sekban from the HNS adh-Dhi’b here to offer support and evacuate you. How many do you number and can we review your injuries?”
The rifles lowered as one man in an orange jumpsuit stepped forward, his Yu Jingese translated by Sadiks commlog, “I am Engineer First Class Guin, thank you for coming for us, there's twenty of us, no major injuries.”
Thomas began opening a box on the kameel and pulling out the compressed emergency suits, passing them out as Sadik continued, “Salam Guin, please have your crew put on these suits. We have a drop ship on the outer hull. I do apologize, but we need to salvage some of your ship. Ours is in better shape but not by much.”
“Help yourself, we don’t seem to be using it anymore.”
“Tegmen Sadik, I am going to blow the airlock for easier access, is everyone checked and ready?” Ahmet asked, pulling out a demolition charge.
The Sekban took a moment to check the readings from his Geist to ensure everyone was suited and ready, before nodding. “You are good to go.”
Turning, Ahmet jammed the interior airlock door with a quick tack weld, and then set the d-charge on the outer door along its hinges. Radioing to his counterpart on the other side to stand clear, he ran back into the corridor and down a few yards. With the flick of a button, a resounding crunch could be heard as the door buckled and blew out. Decompression pulled on everyone, making them hold tight to handles along the wall for a few seconds before the entire section was voided. The group clipped cords onto each other and walked out onto the hull of the ship in a long line, heading for the MSMC dropship.
“Debris looks to be inbound, engaging with an HE round.” Neiths voice came over the commlog before a bright flash from the TAG’s barrel briefly bathed the deck in yellow light. The round sailed through the void for a few seconds before impacting a flying piece of metal with a small detonation. “Debris trajectory changed, no longer a threat.”
The dropship filled up quickly, and both kameel remotes were ladened with parts and materials. Before loading, Neith in the Akrep and both Ahmet and Emre worked to cut away several pieces of non-armored sheet metal. The two Burtuks cut them away while the large pneumatic claws carried the pieces of metal to the dropships loading bay. The Yu Jing crew and Thomas waited in the pressurized crew compartment of the dropship while the team worked. After an hour the TAG brought the last piece of sheet metal onboard and the ship sealed itself. Releasing from the Yu Jing cruiser, the dropship glided through space back to the adh-Dhi’b, docking and unloading the survivors and salvage into the hangar bay where doctors and engineers were waiting. This operation would go on for the next three days as crews rotated around the clock, the ROC working purely as a lifeboat for other wrecks in the area finding safe areas to dock or cut into hulls to rescue people.
The adh-Dhi’b slowly regained functionality, and atmosphere as salvaged material were bolted and welded into place, Panoceanian, and Yu Jing electronics integrated into the systems of the ship. The pool of survivors living and working on the ship slowly grew as Panoceanian machinists, Yu Jing hardware specialists, Haqqislam engineers, and Nomad spacers worked together to revive the small cruiser. After those 3 days, the primary generator for the ship came back to life restoring additional non-critical, crew comfort systems. The next large task was in restoring the primary impulse engines. The multinational engineering team devoted themselves to the problem, cutting away destroyed engine modules and splicing in Yu Jing, and Panoceanian parts, Nomads being especially adept at this. Nationalities faded away while everyone worked to raise the HNS adh-Dhi’b, and in a small corner of space, in the wake of a disaster, some semblance of cooperation and unity evolved.
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