Scission: Proximity

Beka approached the fighter and climbed up. It was empty, so she hit the door release and the fighter obligingly opened.  She swung into the cockpit and checked the controls to see that while no longer combat ready, most systems were in order. 

She hopped down the ladder a few minutes later and walked back to where the diplomats and Tyr were still barricaded behind the wall of crates.  She sat down on the deck and slumped back against a crate. 

Divine, I'm exhausted.  Her stomach growled loud enough that Tyr glanced at her from his lookout position several crates away. Ok and starving too. Tyr retrieved something from a thigh pocket and tossed it to her.  She caught it. Oh yeah another away ration.  She smiled her thanks, then ripped it open and chewed while she looked out over the open deck to the fighter.

There was only enough room for Orgo and one of the humans.  The best bet is to send Orgo and Prevor out on autopilot.  It had to be some sort of energy field that was surrounding us.  And if it isn't we're screwed anyway.  We're trying to survive an enemy on their own terrain; a civilian would only slow Tyr or me down.

"Tyr."

The Kodiak took one last survey of the door, slung the BFG over his shoulder and moved closer to the group.

"Ok.  This is the plan.  The Ambassador and the Prime-"

"I have to disagree, Captain." Tyr strode forward to loom over her.

"You haven't even heard what I was going to say."

"You are going to suggest that these two be sent out on the fighter and that we stay here.  While that is all very heroic, you are injured and nearly too exhausted too stand.  I suggest that you and Orgo take the fighter.  Prevor is injured and we do not know if she will even live.  We leave her here and I will make the escape pods on my own."

Beka was too tired to glare.  Well, nearly. "This is the point where I remind you that I am your superior officer.  And," she turned to Orgo, " I'm sorry, but even in my current state I can still out run and out gun the Ambassador. Orgo and Prevor go."

Tyr opened his mouth to say something, then closed it and turned away.

"Ok. I programmed the autopilot," she said to Orgo from where she stood on the wing of the fighter.  He approached.  "It will home in on the Andromeda.  We think that once beyond the energy field cloaking this ship you should see regular space. They should be able to follow its flight path back here." She helped the Ambassador up the ladder and buckled him into the cockpit's seat.  Hoping Orgo would catch some of what she said, Beka continued, "tell them the enemy is comatose and that they are all jacked into the ship's central computer.  That the ships are only partially shifted and aren't on full backup power." She paused, biting her lip.  "Except this one."

Tyr carried Madam Prevor up the far side of the cockpit and settled the Prime Minister across Orgo's lap. "Also, inform Captain Hunt that this ships weapons systems maybe partially active, so proceed with caution. We will try and make it to the escape pods at once."

Orgo looked out at the void and blinked.  Beka wanted to reassure him but could think of nothing that wouldn't be a lie.  "You don't have to go.  We could hide you on the ship and wait for Captain Hunt to come to us."

The Ambassador stared at her for a second then shook his head.  He clasped his hands into fists and brought his knuckles together then bowed to both of them in turn.

They watched as the fighter lifted off the deck and pulled up its landing gear. They started backing toward the far door as the ship turned and skimmed across the deck toward the shimmer of the energy barrier and the unknown.

The siren sang the inter-universal tune of 'ship leaving bay'.  In a few seconds the little ship shimmered through the force-field, and then vanished through the grey beyond.

Beka stared after it.  Brave being.  I hope his people honour him if he survives this

She turned and looked around.  They couldn't go out the main doors.  There has to be another way.  High above her head on the ceiling by the far wall was a sealed utility hatch.

"You know what I hate?"  She glared at the hatch. "Enemies that can walk up walls." 

Their best chance at escape had no ladder or any other source of access just a large hand hold on one side. She turned and ran with an uneven lope at the wall and leaped up to grab a couple of cargo fasteners. All her years of climbing the hull of the Maru had served her well as she scaled bulkhead.

She didn't spare her energy to see if the Tyr had followed her. In her weakened state it was all she could do to keep herself moving upward.  Panting with effort she reached black boots and looked up to see Tyr opening the access hatch.  Beka held tight to the wall, shaking away the sweat that was dripping into her eyes, waiting, but instead of climbing up he braced his feet against the wall and his shoulder against the large handle that hung below the open hatchway.  He offered a hand.  She took it and he half pulled her up onto his legs. 

She straddled him using him as a ramp up to the portal.  She paused, time slowing as she felt the taut muscles of his stomach under her thighs; she reached up and grabbed the handle on either side of his head and pulled herself past him into the tunnel.  Her eyes never left his face as he watched her body climb above him.

Beka made it into the access way, no longer sure if her heavy breathing was due to the climb.  Her body had heated as she slid along him as though the laws of thermal-dynamics had changed.  It was a feeling she had become used to in their daily training. Her body energized as he held her in some hold or other that she could never remember the name of and that she could rarely fight her way free from.  She spent much more time discussing technique -- laying, kneeling or standing on that training mat locked in his arms -- than was ever really necessary, just to continue that hopped-up feel he gave her.

Sighing she sat in the tunnel to catch her breath and tried to ignore the warm presence that moved in beside her.