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.“Are there backup systems to provide life support if I do?”“Yes, of course there are,” Smetlurge said.“It would have been dumb to build something this large without them.”“Master Chief, Lieutenant Commander Hobbs,” Calvin commed, “I need you to detonate the explosives on the main engines, right now! All hands, brace for shock and prepare for dark!”“Roger that, sir, I’d be happy to,” Master Chief replied, ducking a flechette round as he pulled out the remote detonator.“Going dark in three, two, one, boom.” He pushed the button, and a massive jolt was felt through the asteroid, knocking several of the aliens and a couple of the Terrans off their feet.They had to pick themselves up in the dark as all of the lights went out.It also got quiet as the life support systems cut out, eliminating the background noise of the air handlers.After five or six seconds, emergency lighting kicked on in the passageways, and the sound of air moving could again be heard.“Exit, Calvin,” Calvin commed, “did that kill the doors?”“Yes it did,” the pilot confirmed.“The doors are still open far enough for us to get out.The bad news is that the Drakul that was waving at us just left, so I’m guessing it went to go get help.I’d sure appreciate it if you could get here before he comes back.”Task Force Night, Asteroid Weapons Platform, Gliese 876, February 19, 2021“Captain, Wraith, I just met up with BTO.We’re at the airlock.”“Great,” commed Night; “be right there.” He jogged up to the front to find Calvin waiting for him.“Hi, sir,” said Night.“Funny thing happened on the way to our ride home.”“No kidding,” Calvin replied.“Did you get everything set up?”“Yeah, we’re good,” Night said.“Thanks for turning out the lights.They were about to pin us down, and it let us break contact.We’ve already lost Hoppy; we need to get moving before they regroup.”“Master Chief!” commed Calvin.“Get ‘em moving to the hangar bay.You’ve got combat ops.Master Gunnery Sergeant Kinkead, you’re our shepherd; make sure our guests make it in one group.”“You heard the man,” Master Chief said, “let’s get moving.Wraith, you’ve got point with Yokaze.Get us there as quick as you can.Wall, you’re in the middle to provide fire support for the aliens if we get jumped.Randolph, Zoromski and the Gordons, you’ve got rear guard; keep ‘em off us.As the boss would say, the liberal use of high explosives is authorized.Move out!”Shuttle 02, Asteroid Weapons Platform, Gliese 876, February 19, 2021“Shit!” said Exit, and Foxy felt the ship come off the ground.“They’re trying to sneak around behind us.” He spun the shuttle around in time to see three Drakuls setting up a crew-served weapon.It was the biggest weapon Foxy had ever seen.“Master Arm is on, laser’s hot,” he called.He brought the anti-missile laser to bear, but the Drakuls were faster, and a shot went just over the cockpit glass.“Holy shit!” Exit said.“That laser’s huge! Shoot ‘em! Shoot ‘em now!”Foxy fired, hitting the ammunition bearer in the chest.He blew backward in several pieces.The gun fired again, hitting the poly-glass right in front of Exit.He could see the bolt drilled a hole part of the way through it.“No, shoot the gunner! Shoot the gunner!”Foxy retargeted and fired, hitting the gunner in the head.The Drakul fell backward as his head exploded in a spray of blue.The Drakul gun fired again, but its aim was off as the gunner fell backward.The assistant gunner pushed the gunner’s body out of the way and grabbed the firing mechanism, but he was not fast enough; Foxy shot him in the chest.Foxy fired several more times into the gun, hoping to render it inoperable.As he ceased, they heard a noise from the top of the shuttle.“You don’t suppose there’s one on the roof, do you?” asked Foxy.“I thought I originally saw four of them,” Exit replied.“How many did you kill?”“Three.Shit.”“Yeah, shit,” said Exit.“Flip you for who goes out to try and shoot him off?”“No,” Foxy replied, “we need you to fly this tub.I’ll go.” He unbuckled his harness and got up to go to the back.“Wait a sec,” said Exit, “I’ve got an idea.Besides, we need to check out the hole that they almost put in the window.”Foxy slid back into his seat and began strapping in as Exit flew the shuttle out of the bay
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