Searching For My Brother
A Metroid OC Story
by Derald Snyder
~Chapter 14: Clone Factory~
Current Loadout:
Helmet- Federation Helmet, Combat Visor, Scan Visor
Body- Federation Armorsuit (699 energy), Hazard Shield
Arms- Grapple Swing/Voltage, Power Grip, Plasma/Charge Beam
Feet- Space Jump Boots
Recon Drone- Remote Scanner, Bombs/Cross Bomb
*In orbit above Planet Hydreion...*
"Princess, I managed to trace Craig's comm-link with Dr. Hendrik at the clone factory," Daniel radioed to the other starship. "I'm transmitting the coordinates now..."
"All right," Princess' voice responded. "...It looks like the factory is in deep space, about halfway between the clone soldiers' training base and Planet Hydreion."
"That explains the need for the storage batteries from the power plant."
"They clearly don't want to be found," Princess mused. "Did Dr. Hendrik know he was traced?"
"Unfortunately, yeah. Which means they're gonna be waiting for us, with whatever defensive measures they've got to keep us from even boarding," Daniel said grimly.
"Indeed, a frontal assault is out of the question," ADAM spoke up. "However, if we were to transmit the coordinates to the Federation, they would likely suffer several casualties attempting to bring Dr. Hendrik and his partner to justice..."
"Oh, that reminds me! I think I found out the name of the other guy. One of the clones believed his name was Rafflesian, or something close to that..."
"I will search the Federation database for any information on this man," ADAM responded. "For now, I believe our best option is to try and scout the location of the clone factory, to see what we're up against."
"All right, but I'm gonna eat some rations and try to take a nap en route," Daniel said.
"Yes, I'll likely do the same," Princess concurred. "We'll head to the factory and link up again once we arrive. Hopefully by that time ADAM will have found something about the leaders..."
"All right, it's a plan. See you later," Daniel said, before killing the link. "Computer, set a course for these coordinates, but scan for any anti-spacecraft guns in the area when we arrive."
"Acknowledged," the ship's AI replied, the ship separating from Princess' craft and jumping into hyperspace...
*A few hours later...*
An alarm went off on the ship's control panel, rousing Daniel from slumber. He barely had time to shake off his lethargy before the ship shook from anti-spacecraft fire! "Ship, evasive maneuvers!" he called out instinctively. He felt some minor whiplash as the ship pulled a sharp turn to evade more laser fire...
"Daniel! Daniel, pull back!" Princess' voice came over the comm-link.
"Don't gotta tell me twice!" the engineer shot back, taking the helm and flying away from what appeared to be a massive space station! (Stupid computer, flying me in too close! Remind me to have a word with Donny about this after I find him...) Soon, the laser fire ceased, indicating he was out of the guns' range. "Status report!"
"Shielding is down 25%. No damage to outer hull detected," the AI replied.
"Are you all right?" Princess asked worryingly.
"Yeah, shielding took a hit, but I'm fine," Danny sighed. "ADAM, you have my permission to disparage my ship's stupid AI for flying too close..."
"I decline," ADAM replied. "We have more important matters to discuss- namely, how to access the space station. On a related note, I found some information on Dr. Nergal Rafflesian. It turns out he was actually part of the engineer team for Operation Golem."
"Operation Golem?" Danny pressed.
"It was an effort by the Federation to create mech suits that could rival the capabilities of Samus Aran's unique Power Suit," Princess replied. "It was a top-secret operation, but I was working as a contractor for the Federation at the time, and had some minor involvement with their mission against Space Pirate activity in the Bermuda system. Unfortunately I walked into a trap and had to be rescued by the Federation Force... Not my finest moment."
"Getting back to Rafflesian," ADAM cut in, "after the completion of that operation, he apparently became obsessed with trying to augment human bodies with bio-linked technology... but an explosion in his lab rendered him crippled and confined to a life-support hover-chair. Unfortunately there is no further information on his actions after the accident..."
"He probably linked up with that Dr. Hendrik to continue his research," Danny suggested. "Bet you that clone factory has got his latest experiments in there..."
"It's quite likely. Anyway, I have finished my analysis of the space station's outer defenses. Markson, do you have any ammunition left for your ship's missiles?"
"Just enough for one bombing run," Daniel shook his head.
"That may be all we need," ADAM responded. "Now then, does your ship have the ability to deploy your recon drone by itself?"
"Like through a small hatch? Not to my knowledge," Danny sighed. "I'd have to depressurize the ship just to open the hatch to get it outside... and it doesn't have any propulsion systems other than it's bombs... and I don't know how reliable that would be in the vacuum of space."
"What about the ability to magnetize itself to metallic surfaces?" ADAM asked next.
Hearing that caused Danny to recall something. "Hey, now that you mention it... I had been thinking of doing just that. Lemme check what I've got on board and see if I can add that function to my drone's systems..."
*About an hour later...*
"This is Daniel, I'm in position for the bombing run," Danny radioed, now clad in his armor suit. "The package is ready to be delivered."
"Roger that," Princess replied. "On my mark, Daniel... GO!"
"Going!" Danny said as he surged forward, the space station's defenses firing on the ship weaving to dodge most of the barrage... (And... now!) he fired off his missiles, sharply banking and flying away, seeing the light of the explosion out of the corner of his eye! "Well, I definitely hit something!"
On the other side of the station, Princess' ship flew forward, the woman herself focusing her gaze on the targeting reticule imposed over her front windshield, indicating the location of Daniel's drone floating in space. "3... 2... 1... Contact!" The ship collided with the drone, not hard enough to damage it, but with enough momentum to send it flying toward the station on inertia alone! That done, she quickly pulled back before the anti-starship guns could target her. "This is Princess, the package is on it's way!"
"Roger, I'm out of the station's gun range!" Daniel radioed back. "Engaging cloaking device!" Pressing a button, his ship suddenly seemed to vanish from view, the engineer then slowly flying around to the rear end... a reticule popped up when he got close enough, showing his drone drifting closer and closer to the station... when it was about to hit the wall, it turned to make contact legs first, minor sparks around said legs as the magnetic force activated.
(Spider Magnet acquired! Now your drone can stick to any metallic surface, be it walls or the ceiling.)
"Confirmed, package delivered," Danny reported. "Now to find an opening for it to slip through..." Zooming in on his drone, he used a remote to move it about, keeping his eyes peeled...
"There appears to be an accessible exhaust vent approximately 3 meters to the upper left of your drone's position," ADAM advised.
"Copy that," Danny grunted, moving his drone in that direction... seeing the vent in question, the drone promptly dropped bombs to blow it open, before slipping inside! "It's in... let's hope it can find the terminal to open the bay doors without being destroyed..."
*Inside...*
The drone quickly skittered through the vent tunnel, bombing open the vent to emerge into the interior of the station proper, dropping to the floor and skittering to a corner as an alarm sounded. An emergency shield slid over the breached vent as a few clone soldiers ran in to assess the situation...
"What the heck breached the vent?" one soldier asked.
"Must've been a drone of some sort! Split up and look for it!" the other said. So they began searching the room, their guns at the ready... but then the first soldier saw something small fleeing through the door they had entered through! "There it is!" So he and his partner ran into the adjacent room, looking about... "Wha... where'd it go?!"
"You sure you something?" his partner asked.
"I coulda sworn...!" Unbeknownst to them, the drone was used it's Spider Magnet to stick to the wall above the door, right over their heads... fortunately neither of them got the idea to look straight up, going back into the other room to double-check... the drone then walked back to the floor, skittering quickly to the other side and into a hallway.
Another drone, shaped like a box on wheels came rolling down the hall, Danny's drone crawling up the wall to evade its sensors... once it had passed, it dropped back down and skittered in the opposite direction, coming across a closed door, which the drone scanned the nearby panel to access, walking through as soon as the door opened. It then began to scan the room, but failed to discover anything like bay door controls... moving to the next room, it detected a life form, retreating and hiding behind the door frame...
"Damn that Craig... why did I think it was a good idea to trust him with running the power plant..." the man grumbled to himself as he walked by, not even glancing in the drone's direction. Once he was a few feet away, the drone again skittered in the opposite direction, soon finding itself in another hallway, scanning for any signs that would show where the bay doors were at... it had nearly walked to the far end before finding what it was looking for, making a left turn and skittering down another hall, soon entering a larger chamber that could comfortably fit a few ships. Moving along the wall to try and avoid detection, the drone continued to scan for any terminals that would accomplish it's objective...
*Back outside...*
Danny had flown back to the front end of the space station, his ship still cloaked, waiting and hoping, with a little prayer thrown in for good measure... then an alert popped up on the helm! 'Bay door controls found. Open?'
"Yes! Pay dirt!" Daniel pumped his arms in triumph, before keying back "YES" and sending it... not long after, the bay doors began to open! "Daniel to Princess! Going in the front door, wish me luck!"
"Don't get in over your head!" Princess advised.
"I'll try not to!" Danny radioed back, before uncloaking and engaging the thrusters, flying towards the station... a few guns began firing, but most had been taken out by the earlier missile barrage, meaning Danny could easily evade the remaining shots... (Hold on, Donny! I'm coming!) he thought to himself.
*To be continued...*