Our Hope
Part Two
Malone and Torres had originally received military training.
How had Aaron not realized?
To clarify; The Garrison was effectively a military. Just not in the conventional sense. It provided security and regulation for all space bound crafts. They trained pilots, communications technicians, and engineers alike, but Garrison officers were more than just those jobs. It was their responsibility to uphold martial law while in space.
But the actions of Torres and Malone spoke of experience. The calm and precision with which they executed their plan of attack was incredible.
Prior to the mystery ship's touchdown fresh ice storms were preventing communication with the two remaining crew members at the work site. This was actually rather important as the absent members were highest in command for the Ganymede mission and most actions were not taken without their approval. The pilots took this obstacle in stride.
"Alright, Here's the deal. The fact that we have two exits and a circular base works in our favor." Rorie explained. "Roger and I will remain inside the base. You Aaron, are going to find some ice dune to hide behind and be our eyes."
Roger was quick to explain. "We need you. You tell us where the ship lands. How many exit it. Which door they come in."
"And if they are just gonna shoot up the base we need to know that too. That's kind of important." Rorie added.
Roger nodded his head in agreement. "Above all we do not want to get boxed in."
After wrapping up the planning session Rorie was waving goodbye through the airlock. "See you on the other side kid."
Precious few moments found Aaron huddled behind an ice dune, binoculars in hand.
"Eyes on the craft?" Rorie's voice crackled to life over the intercom.
A silvery vehicle fell through Ganymede's atmosphere framed by the ever-present Jupiter on the horizon.
"Yes, they are coming down. It's not a traditional landing I'll give it that."
"What do you mean?"
"Well it's definitely not a Garrison craft, and it is descending oddly."
A few minutes later the craft had ended up surprisingly close to the base.
"Ship has settled about a hundred meters from the south entrance."
"Hatch opening."
"How many?"
Aaron hummed from the other end of the line. "Give it a minute."
Once satisfied that no more were on the way he gave the necessary information. "Three. Three heading toward the south door of Troy."
They wore odd suits, Aaron observed, definitely not Garrison mandate. He held his breath as the strangers paused in front of the air lock. "Wait how're they gonna get in?" The threat he had not anticipated was now readily apparent.
"Don't worry kid, we're all suited up in case they break the air seal."
Abruptly the full consequences hit Aaron. The base was life. It was their supplies, their air, and their equipment. If destroyed the Ganymede mission would be dangerously close to helpless. Thankfully, that worry was unfounded as one of the strangers proceeded to operate the airlock with practiced ease.
"They're in."
That was the cue for radio silence. Aaron listened to his communicator with bated breath. He would not be allowed to send a message again until the all clear signal. The young scientist stared across the plane, eyes locked on the mystery ship. It was like nothing he had ever seen before.
Aaron needed a closer look.
~\/~
Keith was now solidly in the 'instincts are a good thing' corner, seeing as his quick reaction time had just saved him from a blow to the head. Too bad Lance hadn't been as lucky, he lay prone on the ground a few feet away.
The remaining paladin had raised his cyan shield to block whatever blunt object his combatant had acquired. A scruffy red haired man was pulling back for a second swing.
"Stop! What are you doing!?" Keith yelled "We are not the enemy!"
The man did not give pause. Keith put his weight behind the shield and shoved. He downed his closest attacker before rushing to meet the other.
Frantic, the red clad pilot opened the radio channel. "Shiro, we've got hostiles. Requesting backup."
His first opponent did not stay down long enough for Keith to finish the communication. Danger approached fast from behind, the paladin reached to his side for his favored weapon.
With divine light the Bayard blazed to life in his hands blocking a potent strike. Weapons crashed together and the resulting tone resonated around the base. The Bayard's glow bounced off the suits of the garrison officers; it's frightening flicker disturbing to the earthlings.
Wide eyes made contact and time seemed to stand still.
In that moment of shock a yell overtook the fray. "Everybody freeze!" Lance had somehow dragged himself to a sitting position and was aiming his Bayard into the fray. "Hands in the air!"
~\/~
Aaron could not believe what he was doing. As soon as he had moved from his icy hiding spot he was walking out in the open. Approaching an enemy spacecraft without any cover. Rorie and Roger would be screaming in his ears right now if they could see him.
Recon he rationalized. The ship is empty now, what better time to glean information?
It was beautiful and strange. So different in design and function it took his breath away. Aaron was no engineer, but that did not prevent him from being awestruck by the alien craft. If he didn't know better he would say it was the work of minds which had never lain eyes upon garrison tech themselves. Surely a ship so magnificent would contain something that could contact earth.
Its entrance was located at the rear of the craft. The airlock though foreign in nature was easy enough to figure out with a little trial and error.
Just as Aaron began to silently celebrate his discreet entrance he abruptly changed his mind. This was a bad idea after all.
The air lock had opened directly into the main cabin, and there poised over the control panel was proof that the spacecraft was indeed still manned.
Said person was Pidge, whom upon hearing the airlock turned in greeting.
"Oh, you're back! That was—" not what Pidge had expected.
Standing in the doorframe was a garrison astronaut looking very much like a child caught mid mischievous action. The green Paladin paused. Seeing a new human being was a marvel after such a long time in space.
Pidge made a quick recovery. "Uh, hi there. Did they send you ahead?"
Space suit clad man continued to stand stock still by the entrance.
"Ok, so… I'm gonna take that as a no."
Still no response. Time to try the pleasantries.
"It is really nice to meet you. I mean it. My name is Pidge. What's yours?"
That worked; sort of.
"You're the voice from the radio."
"Yeah uh." Pidge nodded a bit startled. His voice had been filled with fear.
The man was slowly backpedaling toward the air lock.
"Woah hey there, I get it. You're probably really creeped out right now."
Hands were searching blindly for the air lock switch. He refused to remove his eyes from the stranger before him.
"Um. Wait!" the paladin held both hands up in surrender. "Ask me something! Anything!" Pidge was grasping at straws. "You don't even have to ask! I can just talk."
Aaron listened in confusion as the green clad stranger suddenly spewed a string of words. "I guess I should start where I left off. I mean you clearly heard me on the radio and I didn't give a Garrison ID so… No, this isn't a garrison craft but we are friendly." Then after a pause the strange green one tugged the helmet off their head. "And yes we are human." The child struck a satisfied grin.
She placed her helmet on the dash, seemingly proud to have made that clarification. But something that was so important to Pidge and her fellow Paladins was a bizarre statement for Aaron to hear. The young scientist stared at this Pidge person incredulously, his body ready to collapse.
The child's brow furrowed in worry when the newcomers' disposition seemed to worsen.
"We are friendly…" was repeated "And uh, I wasn't lying when I said we were coming in for a rescue."
~\/~
Everyone froze, the scene was almost comical. Keith held both Bayard and riot shield in the air poised to defend against attackers on either side. The two burly garrison pilots had paused weapons in mid swing, unsure of this new addition to the fray.
Perhaps they were thinking 'Where did that gun come from?' or 'How could he have hidden that thing?'.
Somehow in all the chaos they had missed the sound of the air lock because now the most immediate door to their left had burst open.
"Lance! Keith!" The standoff was cut short by the arrival of their superior. "We do not raise our Bayards against innocents! Put away your weapons."
"They started it!" whined Lance pathetically from the floor.
"Hate to agree with a five year old's logic, but he's right." Keith gave in dangerous tones. "They snuck up behind him-knocked him out."
At this Shiro gave pause surveying the scene. Concern dressed his brow. "This is so messed up." The black paladin removed his helmet to reveal his face. "I'm sorry for the confusion. My name is Shirogane Takashi. I previously worked as a pilot for the Galaxy Garrison."
The two officers were taken aback. The face and name both undeniably familiar to them.
"This has been a complete misunderstanding. We came here on a rescue mission."
"Keith please stow the Bayard. You too Lance."
"Fine" Keith complied, "But I'm keeping the riot shield."
Just then the blue paladin's Bayard deactivated and clattered to the ground. Lance weakly shifted, eyes dazed.
"Alright. Everybody calm now?" Shiro asked tentatively. The burly officers were slowly backing up, giving red and blue more room.
"Keith? Can you please keep Lance propped up?" Said party quickly moved to close ground between himself and his injured team mate. In that moment the two standing paladins were both startled when radio silence was broken with a message left unheard by the garrison officers. The older paladin acted first; "I'll call it in." His attention suddenly shifted. "Pidge, I need a med evac for Lance stat. Bring a stretcher-"
Slurred words spanned the room interrupting the call. "Space Cops is brought to you by the brave men and women of l-law enforcement" Lance murmured heavy lidded before slumping over
Keith lifted a limp Lance by the shoulders and gave a cry of disbelief "Seriously! You see what they did to him! You're just going to let them get away with that?"
The offending party recoiled.
Shiro disconcerted continued the call"-he is unconscious, possible concussion. Contact the bridge; have them ready a med pod. Keep yellow on standby". Finished with the call, he then knelt down besides the blue paladin checking his vitals.
"Shiro" Keith gritted.
Said person responded in even tones "Now is not the time to place blame." He removed Lance's helmet gently checking the back of his skull.
~\/~
A few moments prior there was still a stalemate happening aboard the rescue vehicle. It had devolved into a strange silence. The green Paladin liked to believe they had come to an agreement of sorts but knew that to be an optimistic outlook. He- the garrison space suit clad one- had absolutely freaked out when she tried to walk towards him. In response she had given him his space, returning to the communications chair, but this was getting nowhere fast. Pidge couldn't help but wonder about the others. "Hey, do you mind?" The sandy haired individual motioned to their helmet. "I haven't made contact with my team in a while."
Once the helmet was again cradling her skull she opened the ship's communication line so that the Garrison guy could hear as well. "Hey guys? What's with the radio silence? You've got me really worried here."
Shiro's voice finally sounded over the ship's intercom. "Pidge I need a med-evac for Lance stat. Bring a stretcher -". The transmission cut out for a minute and then "-he is unconscious, possible concussion. Contact the bridge; have them ready a med pod. Keep yellow on standby."
The two occupants of the cockpit stared at each other.
"So…" Pidge held the word out longer than necessary. "I know I've done nothing to earn your trust in the last five minutes, but would you like to help me get the stretcher?"
~\/~
Something had the pilots spooked. This did not bode well.
Two command ranked individuals followed Malone and Torres through the base.
Their hurried pace was slowed as they neared the control room. A trickle of red adorned the floor plating of their shelter. "Is that blood?" the grey flecked commander observed.
"That was us" Torres' breath hitched slightly. "I mean, that's not our blood. None of ours. But we did that-"an elbow collided with his side and he promptly shut up. The adjacent red head dropped him a look of contempt.
Their two superior officers were beginning to amass some serious unease. There was a disquieting ambiance about the party as they made to open the remaining door.
A diminutive form was perched upon stacked cargo crates. Bordered by a helmet the young cherubic face peered down at them curiously. Their legs swung back and forth a moment before acknowledging the new company. "Commander Cooper! And you must be Mission Specialist Dr. Sergeyev!" The outsider dropped down from the container smoothly, "Pleasure to meet you."
Said heroes stood rooted in the door frame quite unnerved. They made no move toward the strangely dressed newcomer. After all, people do not just 'show up' on one's doorstep in the depths of space.
Offset by their hesitance, the green pilot jumped to routine. "Cadet Gunderson at your service sir!" the aforementioned offered a smile and casual salute.
Sergeyev frowned at the cadet's lackluster decorum. "We are to believe the Garrison sent us a cadet?" Cooper raised an eyebrow. "I must agree with my colleague. This seems to be a rather disingenuous situation."
"I am sorry sirs." The sandy haired cadet intoned respectfully "These are abnormal circumstances. My crew will return before long to give a full explanation."
Pidge's smile faded.
Now that the euphoria of meeting more humans had worn off, the bleak reality set in again. The paladin dreaded what news they would have to deliver. Her cheer wore down and green shoulders slumped. Brown eyes stared into those of her superiors "I truly am sorry."
~\/~