Chapter 2
It had been 4 years since the scheduled check up with the computer aboard the Fer'ror mining ship, the Queen Elizabeth.
"It doesn't make any sense, the Queen Elizabeth's computer is supposed to send us a check up message every year in deep space. It has been 4 years and we haven't received one of the checkups. This could be a malfunction in the computer, but that's very unlikely."
Explained Chen the head of starship management who worked for Iron Collector Corp. The ICC has sent ships to find Iron for years since earth has been depleted of it.
"Mr. Chen you are aware that these deep space mining vessels cost up to billions of dollars are you not?" Said Mr. Dronan head of ICC.
"Yes sir, I know of the costs" answered Chen.
"Then what are the chances we can find this ship?"
"The ship will come back to earth no matter what sir. Even if all the other computers are fried, the navigation computer which is protected in the very center of the ship, will bring it back here."
"That's good news Chen, I didn't want to have to fire you. I like you Chen, maybe you could get a raise." Said Mr. D
"Sir I'm more concerned about the crew" Replied Chen "You see, its highly unlikely they would have survived a computer blow out this big"
"Chen let me tell you something, the iron will survive and that's what matters" Mr. Dronan said "Look I know that sounds cold but it is the truth. This load of ore combined with the other 2 larger ships arriving from Fer'ror within the next 3 years will be enough for earth to last a long time. We need this ore, we will build them a memorial, send their families some money. That's how it goes."
"Yes sir I understand" Chen really didn't see eye to eye with Mr. D, but it wasn't wise to argue with him.
7 Months later
"Brenda, please send in Mr. Chen." Matthew Dronan said over the intercom.
"Right away sir" came the reply. "Ah Mr. Chen good day, I heard you had some news from the Queen Elizabeth?" asked Mr. D.
"Yes sir, the Queen Elizabeth moved within distance of our probes at 1100 hours yesterday." Answered Chen. "The probes downloaded the data from on board but I didn't was to risk the payload by attempting to board it from remote control."
"Good choice Mr. Chen, what did you find?"
"It was as I feared no one survived. Interestingly enough, no one entered their hyper sleep chambers either. If something was wrong they could have starved, or someone could have flipped and murdered the rest of them. The hull hasn't been breached so we know that pirates didn't board it. One last thing, the Iron is in perfect condition."
"Good, good, that's what I like to hear. How soon can we get a ship out there, I want to know what happened, I don't want to get caught up in customs. We'll need a notarized inspection before it reaches earth." Mr. Dronan said.
"I think we could have someone out there in 2 weeks, on a high speed ship."\
"Good. Mr. Chen are you up to leading an expedition?"
Of course Chen didn't want to lead an expedition, why was he sending the head of Starship management. There were plenty of others that could have sent, lower ranking officers. This must have been extremely important. Accompanying him was a marine, a scientist, a pilot and an inspection officer. Standard crew for boarding a ship where everyone inside was dead, for unknown reasons. Mandy was the scientist, a student really. Needed some field practice, she was going to study the corpses and see what had happened. The pilots name was 'T' as he liked to be called. The marine was named Rick. He was equipped with standard marine weapons. They brought him along, just in case. Parker was the inspection officer, and an android at that. Androids were reliable, they can't lie, and can't be bribed. These were the people Chen was stuck with for the last 13 days.
"We are approaching the ship" T announced over the intercom.
"Everyone get ready I want to make this as fast as possible" Chen informed his crew.
"Now, now Mr. Chen" replied Parker "We aren't in any hurry"
Chen didn't feel like arguing with an android. Chen didn't know what to expect when they got on board, and the fear started to bubble in his stomach. There was a loud thump followed by T's voice.
"Docking complete, you guys can go ahead, hope you don't mind if I wait here".
Mandy, Rick, Parker and Chen started into the dark ship.
Alien : Corporate wars.
It had been 4 years since the scheduled check up with the computer aboard the Fer'ror mining ship, the Queen Elizabeth.
"It doesn't make any sense, the Queen Elizabeth's computer is supposed to send us a check up message every year in deep space. It has been 4 years and we haven't received one of the checkups. This could be a malfunction in the computer, but that's very unlikely."
Explained Chen the head of starship management who worked for Iron Collector Corp. The ICC has sent ships to find Iron for years since earth has been depleted of it.
"Mr. Chen you are aware that these deep space mining vessels cost up to billions of dollars are you not?" Said Mr. Dronan head of ICC.
"Yes sir, I know of the costs" answered Chen.
"Then what are the chances we can find this ship?"
"The ship will come back to earth no matter what sir. Even if all the other computers are fried, the navigation computer which is protected in the very center of the ship, will bring it back here."
"That's good news Chen, I didn't want to have to fire you. I like you Chen, maybe you could get a raise." Said Mr. D
"Sir I'm more concerned about the crew" Replied Chen "You see, its highly unlikely they would have survived a computer blow out this big"
"Chen let me tell you something, the iron will survive and that's what matters" Mr. Dronan said "Look I know that sounds cold but it is the truth. This load of ore combined with the other 2 larger ships arriving from Fer'ror within the next 3 years will be enough for earth to last a long time. We need this ore, we will build them a memorial, send their families some money. That's how it goes."
"Yes sir I understand" Chen really didn't see eye to eye with Mr. D, but it wasn't wise to argue with him.
7 Months later
"Brenda, please send in Mr. Chen." Matthew Dronan said over the intercom.
"Right away sir" came the reply. "Ah Mr. Chen good day, I heard you had some news from the Queen Elizabeth?" asked Mr. D.
"Yes sir, the Queen Elizabeth moved within distance of our probes at 1100 hours yesterday." Answered Chen. "The probes downloaded the data from on board but I didn't was to risk the payload by attempting to board it from remote control."
"Good choice Mr. Chen, what did you find?"
"It was as I feared no one survived. Interestingly enough, no one entered their hyper sleep chambers either. If something was wrong they could have starved, or someone could have flipped and murdered the rest of them. The hull hasn't been breached so we know that pirates didn't board it. One last thing, the Iron is in perfect condition."
"Good, good, that's what I like to hear. How soon can we get a ship out there, I want to know what happened, I don't want to get caught up in customs. We'll need a notarized inspection before it reaches earth." Mr. Dronan said.
"I think we could have someone out there in 2 weeks, on a high speed ship."\
"Good. Mr. Chen are you up to leading an expedition?"
Of course Chen didn't want to lead an expedition, why was he sending the head of Starship management. There were plenty of others that could have sent, lower ranking officers. This must have been extremely important. Accompanying him was a marine, a scientist, a pilot and an inspection officer. Standard crew for boarding a ship where everyone inside was dead, for unknown reasons. Mandy was the scientist, a student really. Needed some field practice, she was going to study the corpses and see what had happened. The pilots name was 'T' as he liked to be called. The marine was named Rick. He was equipped with standard marine weapons. They brought him along, just in case. Parker was the inspection officer, and an android at that. Androids were reliable, they can't lie, and can't be bribed. These were the people Chen was stuck with for the last 13 days.
"We are approaching the ship" T announced over the intercom.
"Everyone get ready I want to make this as fast as possible" Chen informed his crew.
"Now, now Mr. Chen" replied Parker "We aren't in any hurry"
Chen didn't feel like arguing with an android. Chen didn't know what to expect when they got on board, and the fear started to bubble in his stomach. There was a loud thump followed by T's voice.
"Docking complete, you guys can go ahead, hope you don't mind if I wait here".
Mandy, Rick, Parker and Chen started into the dark ship.
Alien : Corporate wars.