Chapter 2 The Andromeda Ascendant pulled out of the docking bay of Hakfuren drift after buying supplies. The crew, except Harper who was out putting the new supplies away, were all on command deck watching the drift pull away. "Brace for Slipstream" stated Beka as she piloted, and the ship was pulled into the void. Captain Dylan Hunt stood on the command deck planning their next destination. "Why don't we go somewhere fun?" suggested Beka as the ship pulled out of the Slipstream. "Yeah, I mean not that flying around saving other people's butt's for them isn't fun," Harper said as he walked in, "but we could always go, lets say, surfing?" Dylan chuckled to himself. "I was thinking of doing some exploring, maybe finding someone else who wants to join the Commonwealth?" The crew groaned jokingly "Oh, not that again. You already have 50, isn't that enough? Come on, we deserve at least a little time off for ourselves." Beka said, but just then the Andromeda's image came up on the main viewscreen "There appears to be a slipfighter up ahead shooting at a damaged cargo ship Captain." she stated "Or not" sighed Beka "Put it up on the viewscreen" ordered Dylan The slip was just circling around at the cargoship for another attack "Captain, the cargoeship has no means of protecting itself and its life support systems are barely functioning. There are faint signs of life onboard. Do you have any orders?" "Yes. Try and contact the slipfighter. See if we can find out what's going on" The image of Andromeda disappeared for a moment and then reappeared "They refuse to contact us but there is an incoming message from the cargoeship" "Bring it up." Ordered Dylan. A picture of a damaged interior came up. Sparks were flying everywhere and there was a faint orange glow in the background as though there was a fire somewhere. A woman with brown hair and a face streaked with blood was standing there. She started to speak in a choking voice "Our life support is malfunctioning. We can't last much longer. Please help. I repeat. please help us. We have done no harm to deserve this. We..." Static replaced the image as an explosion engulfed the camera on the other ship. "Andromeda, Try contacting the slipfighter again." Said Dylan. His face was grim. "They have gone into slipstream captain" the Andromeda informed them "They ran when they saw us coming." "Dammit. Tyr, Rommie, Beka, I want you to come with me onto the ship. See if we can find any survivors and find out what's going on. " The three ran to get into spacesuits. ---------------------- The Maru attached itself to the Cargoship with a clang. Slowly the doors opened to reveal the same sparking and orange interior they had seen on the viewscreen. Dylan indicated he wanted them to split up. "Meet here in half an hour and contact me if you find something" Beka, Rommie and Tyr nodded and went their separate ways. Beka headed toward the cargo bays. She picked her way past pieces of burning debris and came to the bay door. It was partly closed. She tried to force it open but it was jammed. "Tyr, Dylan, Rommie, I might need someone here to help me get this door opened." She said through her commlink. Tyr answered "I think I found someone alive here," "Where are you?" asked Dylan "the Med bay," he answered. Rommie and Beka abandoned their searches to join Tyr and Dylan who had already reached the bay. Tyr held in his arms a girl with long dark brown hair and hazel eyes. Her mouth had an oxygen mask over it. She was wearing only tatters of burnt clothing that looked have once been blue, but was now a charred black. The skin they could see through the rips in the clothing was red in places and yellow oozing and blistered in others. There were many other bodies in the room, but hers was the only one breathing. "Quick, get her onto the Maru. Rommie, are there any other life signs on board?" Asked Dylan "No, only us and her." "Then we should get back. She needs medical attention quickly. Maybe she can tell us about the attack." said Dylan, and they all trooped out with Tyr in front carrying the body that seemed tiny in comparison to his size.