Robotech: Rise of the Shadow
Chapter 2: Salvage Detail
Lieutenant Commander Maia Sterling exited the conference room with the other senior officers on the Ark Angel. She, like the others, have been given specific tasks to prepare for their mission to locate the SDF-3 and her crew.
For the half-Zentradi officer, this was of extreme importance. Yet, for her, the assignment she drew did little to quiet her growing despair. She was tasked with Doctor Louis Nichols to proceed to Point "K" and salvage enough mecha to field three additional veritech squadrons and a landward battalion consisting of destroids and cyclones.
The idea of salvaging mecha from Point "K" was originally that of Commander Scott Bernard. He cited an instance where his team of freedom fighters was able to salvage two Alphas and a Beta with minimal effort. Based upon his assessment, Captain Grant agreed that there may be enough mecha that can be salvaged and be used against the Haydonites. According to Bernard's report, none of the mecha at Point "K" was equipped with shadow technology and thus free of the Achilles Heel that Haydonites will try to exploit.
It was a sound assessment, she admitted. But, she had hoped that she did not draw the duty. However, Captain Grant's desire of wanting his best pilot there to help assess the veritechs and to provide security was reason enough for her accomplish her mission.
"Commander Sterling," she heard a voice call. As she turned to face the person calling her, she realized Doctor Nichols was approaching. His cape framed his figure well, she mused, though it made him look a bit flamboyant in her opinion.
"Yes, Doctor?" she answered as he approached.
The doctor seemed to be as exhausted as the rest of the senior officers after the all night meeting to discuss everything from logistics to personnel to strategies. His shoulders were slumped as he asked, "When do you want to start this salvage mission?"
Sterling sighed, knowing she was equally as tired as he. Most of her pilots were, she knew. "Give us about five hours of rest time, Doctor. We all need it and we can start then. I don't think Captain Grant will be too upset with the delay," she answered.
Doctor Nichols nodded in agreement. "I need some sleep as well," he admitted. "Five hours on the flight deck."
Sterling agreed, turned and left the doctor standing in the corridor next to the conference room. Her eyes were burning as she knew sleep was really needed.
She did not pay much attention to her surroundings as she walked toward the elevator to bring her to the deck that was identified to hold her quarters. Almost absently, she proceeded to her assigned quarters to find the bed was made and the coffee was ready to be brewed at a touch of a button.
When the young officer approached her bed, she saw a piece of paper folded in half resting on her pillow. She opened it and read it carefully: Commander, I took the opportunity to get your quarters ready. Marcus
Maia Sterling smiled as she looked around the Spartan quarters she was assigned and noticed that her uniforms have been stowed in the closet and a single box of personal affects remained unopened. At least he did not snoop, she thought. That is an admirable quality.
The young woman allowed herself a brief smile as she fell backwards onto her bed, closing her eyes.
"I'll thank you a few hours," she said softly. "When I tell you to get to work."
---
A brown haired young man was leaning against the gray steel bulkhead of corridor that housed the veritech pilots of Skull Squadron. Eyes closed, he was waiting for his commander to exit her quarters and to inform her that the squadron were assembled in their ready room, awaiting her orders.
The door opened in a near quiet swish, common to the sliding doors of their ship. Opening his brown eyes, Lieutenant Marcus Rush quickly stood at attention and saluted the female officer exiting her quarters.
"Skull Squadron is assembled in the ready room, Ma'am," he reported in a tone that he hoped displayed his professionalism for the woman he knew he was developing feelings for.
The pink haired half-Zentradi smiled and with a nod, "Very well, Lieutenant. Lead the way. We have a long few days of work ahead of us."
"Yes, Ma'am," Rush agreed as he began to lead his commanding officer at the end of the corridor that concealed Skull Squadron's ready room.
As the two officers entered, the chatter that filled the room only moments before immediately ceased. All the pilots stood next to the seats that were in rows of four, four deep, facing the podium at what was considered the front of the room.
Marcus Rush took great pains to ensure that the squadron's symbol was clearly affixed to the podium for his fellow pilots' morale. It was also meant to a token of gratitude to his commander for becoming his friend as he dealt with the pain of all that he has lost in the battles over the past years.
It was this woman who shared her own pain with him and allowed him to realize there was someone he could confide in. Sure he knew he could not remain at Scott Bernard forever. He could not blame Scott for Marlene's death, he knew it was ridiculous.
Then there was Ariel, the Invid princess who saved his life even as he made it known how much he hated her kind. She was mysterious woman who captured Scott's heart.
"Alright," Maia Sterling began to speak. "We have our orders. We are going to accompany a maintenance-salvage team led by Doctor Louis Nichols to Point 'K' where we are going go through the wrecked ships and see what we can salvage. All the mecha located at that point does not have any shadow technology, thus the Haydonites cannot use our own weapons against us.
"We are taking shuttles to the location, ferrying the crews and four fighters to act as security for this operation. There is little expectation to any hostilities in the area. Our most recent report has revealed there are no settlements within a one hundred kilometer radius of the site. Also, we know that a group of freedom fighters led by Commander Scott Bernard was able to salvage two Alphas and a Beta at the site with minimal maintenance and repairs. Our goal is to salvage enough veritechs to create two or more additional squadrons and enough ground mecha to field at a minimum a battalion," Maia ended her briefing. "Rush, Stravinsky, and Collins have are airborne security with me. The rest of you, pair up and take a shuttle. Let's move."
Marcus looked over to his commanding officer, immediately realizing the importance of the mission, though the routine nature of it. Captain Grant was hoping to piece together enough fighting mecha to contend with any threat the Haydonites may pose in any future confrontations. No sooner than we ended the war with the Invid, we are at war with the Haydonites, he thought. Now I am beginning to understand why the older soldiers are growing tired of all the fighting.
---
On the flight deck of the Ark Angel, Maia Sterling, dressed in her CVR-3 body armor, had just completed her pre-flight checks of her fighter when she caught a glimpse of Louie Nichols and Janice out of the corner of her eye. They were standing together, near stairway to one of the shuttles.
Maia watched the duo from a position underneath the wing of her veritech, near the intake. Nichols appeared to be providing the android with tasks that he needed to be completed while he was on the salvage mission.
The doctor, Captain Grant's chief engineer, was an intelligent man who was able to provide quick solutions to difficult problems. She knew Captain Grant was fortunate to have Doctor Nichols on his team. If anyone was able to find any mecha that was salvageable, it was going to be this man.
"Commander Sterling," she heard a familiar voice from the nose of her veritech. "You are fully armed and ready to go. I also took the liberty last night to put a fresh coat of paint on her. Pink is still your color, correct?"
The pilot turned to see her crew chief patting the nose cone of the craft. It was not a secret that crew chiefs loved the craft in their care almost as much, if not more, than the pilots of those craft.
"Thanks, Sergeant Ironhorse," she replied as the crew chief lowered the ladder to allow her to climb into the cockpit.
"Safe flying, ma'am," he said with a salute before returning the ladder back into the recess of the mighty veritech's skin.
Now, Maia Sterling was ready. A quick communications check with her other pilots and the bridge of the Ark Angel, she was ready to lead the team of pilots and engineers on a soujourn to find additional mecha to aid them in finding the SDF-3 and bring the fight to the Haydonites.