Title: Rescue Run

Author: Lady Rheena

Genres: Alternate Universe, Action/Adventure, Romance

Rating: R

Disclaimer: If you recognise it from a fandom, I probably don't own it. That includes the world of The Matrix, all its characters and the concepts it entails. The idea of the Fleet and the Planetary Coalition are technically my own, but you'll probably recognise bits and pieces from various sci-fi media.

Chapter notes: Er…

Part 18- Contact

Three hours and fourteen minutes later there was still nothing. The cockpit had fallen quiet in the ensuing time as Ghost, Niobe and Sparks just sat drinking in the sight around them and Dena fell to frantically going over the situation in her mind.

The Prospector should still be within sensor range. They should still be making sweep scans, adhering to Fleet protocol when passing any planet, inhabited or otherwise. This all taken, it would only be a matter of time before they detected the unusual orbiting object and, also according to Fleet protocol, came to investigate.

Unless she'd miscalculated, or a chronometer malfunction meant that an error in timing had caused them to miss the Prospector altogether. Mifune's words drifted back to haunt her as she'd feared they would.

Training kids to prove green land rather than fighting for their lives…find me those green lands, Captain.

'I'm sorry,' she heard herself whisper, causing Niobe to look over at her sharply.

'What is it?'

Dena shook her head and was about to say it again when Ghost suddenly leaned forward and pointed.

'Look at that!'

They all followed his finger.

'A shooting star,' Niobe murmured. Dena narrowed her eyes and then felt them widen in shock.

'That's no star, Niobe. Sparks! Feed power through to the communications equipment.'

He hastily complied as Dena pulled her headset back into the proper position.

'Is that it?' Niobe exclaimed. 'That's the Prospector?'

'Whatever it is it's going to find out we're here if I have to climb onto the roof and flag it down by hand,' Dena muttered. 'Sparks!'

'Com's online.'

'Set to broadcast to the widest range possible.'

'Done.' By now all of them had tuned in their headsets to listen, although so far there was nothing but vague static. Dena took a deep breath.

'Unknown vessel, this is the Logos in orbit around Terra. Do you read? Over.'

Nothing.

'Repeat, this is the Logos to unknown vessel on course toward Mars, do you read? Over.'

There was a long silence, then a burst of static and a high-pitched whine. A faint voice cackled through.

'Logos, this is the Prospector IV. We read you but there is a lot of interference on the band. Repeat, we read you but there is high interference on your band.'

Ghost, Niobe and Sparks erupted into whoops of triumph. Dena wanted to join them but forced herself to keep her voice steady.

'Prospector, we are running on maximum power available. Can you provide extra boost at your end? Over.'

There was more static, then the voice came through louder and much clearer.

'Affirmative to that Logos. We're reading you in orbit around Terra bearing three-two-one mark zero-four-six. May I ask what you're doing there? Over.'

'As a matter of fact, Prospector, we're looking for you. Thought you weren't going to show for a while there but it's damn good to hear you,' Dena replied. 'Over.'

'Glad we didn't disappoint. All right, we have you on sensors.' A pause. 'Great Maker, what sort of heap of shit are you, Logos? Over.'

'Tell him not to call my ship a heap of shit,' Niobe said with mock venom, but luckily only Dena's headset was currently set to transmit.

'She's a bit of a jury rig, Prospector, but she's done us all right. Over.'

'That's a polite way to put it. Can we know who we're addressing please? Over.'

'Affirmative. This is Captain Dena Reese of the HSS Gormenghast along with some friends I made planetside. Over.' Chew on that, Dena thought.

'Captain Reese?' There was a brief pause and then a different voice came on.

'Captain Reese, this is Captain Benjamin Kennedy of the Prospector IV. You were presumed dead over six months ago, Captain. Care to explain to me how in hell you're still breathing? Over.'

'I would indeed, Captain Kennedy, but unfortunately we have slightly less than forty minutes of air left and so if you don't mind perhaps the small talk can wait until later. Over.'

'Shit, Reese, you're running on tanks? Stand by, we're relaying your signal to base.'

'Acknowledged, Prospector, standing by.' Dena waited with her heart in her mouth until there was another burst of static which vanished as the mining ship boosted the relayed signal from Phobos with their own equipment.

'Logos, this is Phobos Base, please identify.'

'Yessir, this is Captain Dena Reese attached to HSS Gormenghast-' she stopped when there were sounds of a scuffle at the other end. 'Are you reading, Phobos Base? Over.'

'DENA?'

The voice made her break into a grin.

'Yes sir, Commander. It's me. Over.'

'Great Maker! We thought you were dead! What's your current position, Captain? Over.'

'Sitting,' she replied with a wink at Niobe. 'Currently in orbit around Terra, Commander. And we're on tanked air running a little low right now, so a pickup would be much appreciated. Over.'

'How long do you have? Over.'

Ghost mouthed the figure at her.

'Thirty eight minutes, sir. Over.'

Pryce evidently had the mouthpiece of his comset covered since there was a short delay before he replied.

'Acknowledged, Logos. Pickup is on its way. The Prospector will remain in her current position for further communications if they're required. Did you say we, Captain? Over.'

'Yes sir. We the plural, not the royal. I've got three crewmates with me. Over.'

'Where in the hell did you find three other people? Over.'

'A long story, Commander. Most of it's in my report but I think you'll be very eager to meet them when you find out. They're certainly eager to meet you, sir. Over.'

'I'm intrigued, Captain. Pickup is three minutes from your position. I'll see you soon. Over.'

'I hope so sir. Logos out.'

'My god,' Niobe said, a grin of almost childish excitement splitting her face. 'We're really going to Mars?'

Dena laughed, joyously, at her.

'Blue on that, Niobe. Definitely blue on that.'