Voltron: Defender of the Universe
Running Out of Time
By: Sapphire
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Chapter Four
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"Are you the one Coran sent?" Pidge called, jogging across the rocky terrain of the mine to meet the newcomer.
"Pol Triar," the man said with a nod. He turned his eyes to the wall of the mine, where Hunk and a half dozen others stood. "So that's the tunnel that collapsed," Pol said. "Hmm. I know that one. It was the best built tunnel out here." His words were not a comfort, nor had they been intended to be, Pidge realized. He swallowed.
"We brought in some miners from the Helena mines," Pidge said. "They aren't sure what's under the surface of the sand rock. Since you're the expert on this place, they're wondering if you know." Pol just nodded, then started toward the others.
"A Melchior drill," Pol noted, as they made their way around a large piece of heavy drilling equipment.
"We brought that and some other stuff from Helena, too," Pidge explained. Pol nodded.
"That him?" Hunk called when Pidge and Pol were within hearing distance.
"Yeah," Pidge called back.
"I was just asking these guys if taking Yellow Lion and digging Keith and Lance out would be a good idea," Hunk said, catching the newcomers up to speed as they joined the group.
"It depends," one of the miners said. He pointed at the walls of the open mine. "This is sand rock, mostly made of compressed sands. It's full of rifts and cracks. This area in particular is riddled with ore deposits. Not the best stuff to work in if you're unfamiliar with it. Especially when you're not familiar with the equipment." He shot an intrigued look at Yellow Lion.
"Sergeant Garret is right, though," another miner put in. "Yellow Lion could do the job much faster than any of our equipment, and we don't have a lot of time."
"Then we test it," Pol said shortly. He pointed across the canyon to the opposite wall. "Start a tunnel there, where the digging won't do any damage over here, and see if Yellow Lion is a viable option." The miners just looked at him uncertainly. Pol scowled. "That yellow section over there has the same composition as the rock here," he explained patiently. The miners looked to Pidge uncertainly.
"This is Pol Triar," he said. "He's mined this area for years." The name garnered instant recognition in the miners.
"So, what do you suggest?" one of the miners asked Pol, setting off an intense discussion on how best to go about the test dig.
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vvVvv
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"You've been awfully quiet, Lieutenant Hadrian," Allura said, leaning back in her chair. Keith and Lance were quiet, giving her little to focus on, giving all her uncertainties room to surface. She needed a distraction. "Is there any news on Planet Doom?" Lieutenant Hadrian turned his chair to face her.
"No, Princess," he reported. "Everything is quiet in that sector. I picked up a passing Doom command ship a little while ago when you were busy, but it's moved off, away from Arus. I've got my eye out for a sudden return."
"Good," Allura said with a nod. Just then Coran made his return to castle control.
"How are Keith and Lance?" Coran asked. Allura smiled faintly. For all his lectures to her about propriety, bad influences, and maintaining an appropriate distance from the boys, he did care about them very much.
"They spent some time clearing an area and setting up a kind of camp. Lance is resting, and Keith is on watch," Allura updated him. "They're worried about a possible second cave-in."
"As am I," Coran agreed as he resumed his seat at the main console.
"I wish there was something more I could do," Allura said, frustrated.
"Everything that can be done is being done," Coran assured her.
"I know," Allura sighed, turning back to her console. "There is nothing I can do at the mine for the moment. Pidge and Hunk are sure to keep me updated. For now, I will have to remain here on standby. Just because Keith is trapped underground doesn't mean he won't expect me to follow orders." Allura let out a slow, silent sigh, and settled in to listen to the transmission from Lance's com unit, not seeing Coran's approving smile.
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vvVvv
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Hunk was optimistic as he climbed back up into Yellow. He and Yellow Lion had already dug two test tunnels. Pol and the miners had gone over both of them in meticulous detail and found them sound. Now to dig the third and final test tunnel, and arguably the most important. Pol explained that the sand rock in this region was riddled with ore deposits- the reason the mine existed there in the first place. There was a high chance they would have to drill through the dense ore to reach Keith and Lance, and that was no easy task.
"Ready," Hunk announced as he fired up Yellow at the new test dig site.
"Then start digging," Pidge relayed orders over the live feed from Green's cockpit. "Everyone's clear." Hunk did as told, starting Yellow's digging claws rotating. The entire lion ship vibrated as the claws started cutting into the ore lying just feet beyond the sand rock façade of the mine's wall.
"Whoa," Hunk said, adjusting the digging settings. "This stuff is tough." It was quickly apparent that this would be very slow going.
A half hour later the tunnel was barely deep enough for Yellow's shoulders to fit inside, less than half the distance he'd been able to dig the other tunnels in the same amount of time. Hunk had tried using Yellow's flame throwers to soften the ore, which worked, but found that if he didn't dig through the heated ore fast enough, it hardened upon cooling, making digging more difficult. Unfortunately, the flames were really the only way to get Yellow's digging claws through the tough stuff efficiently.
"Okay, Hunk," Pidge called through the live feed. "The miners say that's enough." Hunk complied, powering down Yellow's digging claws, and backing Yellow Lion out of the shallow cave he'd managed to hollow out. Hunk settled Yellow away from the wall, next to Green Lion, and powered him down into standby. Then he exited the cockpit to join the others on the ground. Pol and the miners were already inside the shallow tunnel, examining it to determine its integrity. Hunk joined Pidge, watching from the entrance.
"We can't use Yellow Lion on this stuff," Pol declared after a few short minutes. "Feel the heat radiating from the ore. It'll turn the cave with the survivors into an oven." Every one of the miners were nodding in agreement.
"The Melchior drill is built to go through denser rock than this," one of the miners said, contemplating the situation. "Yellow Lion can dig through the sand rock, then we pull Yellow Lion and send in the Melchior when we hit ore deposits."
"The Melchior will get through all right," another said, "but it's slow going. Their air supply might run out before we can reach them."
"Then we figure out which side of the cavern has the least amount of ore to dig through and come in that way," Pol said. "If you can get a Lyell sensor up on the ridge, we can send a pulse down through the ground and see where the deposits lie."
"Will that knock out the transmitter on a com unit?" Hunk asked seriously.
"It shouldn't," Pol said. "It doesn't work that way."
"We brought a Lyell sensor," one of the miners told Pol. "Thought it might be useful." Pol nodded.
"Green and I'll take it and some men up to the top of the canyon," Pidge volunteered.
"The rest of us will do a test drill with the Melchior," another of the miners said. "Make sure we're right about Melchior's capabilities."
"I'll help with that," Hunk said, and the miner nodded. They divided up, each group intent on their tasks. Time was ticking.
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vvVvv
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"I have good news, my prince," Haggar announced, entering the observation room where Lotor waited with food and wine to occupy him.
"The data from my probe has been analyzed?" Lotor guessed, setting his cup down and leaning forward eagerly.
"The analysis is still incomplete," Haggar cautioned, "however, traces of multiple minerals have been isolated, and there will potentially be more. It is only a matter of time before each trace is identified. We know the ore was once mined there, my Prince. There is a very good chance one will be the ore. All signs point toward the outcome you desire."
"That is good news," Lotor agreed, settling back in his chair, pleased. "Very good news, indeed." Lotor picked up his glass once again, raising it to Haggar, and then brought it to his lips. "I eagerly await more good news," he said by way of dismissing the witch. She got the message, and bowed her way out of the room.
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vvVvv
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To Be Continued…
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