Chapter 45 (Catherine Sakai)
Safe in orbit high above her latest exploratory mission to the Class-2 Planetoid in the Grid Epsilon system, Catherine studied the mineral readouts on her control board. She wondered how much money she could gain from such a find and what she would discover once she set foot on the planet.
Her main goal was to find a planet rich in Quantium 40 that could be used in the construction of Jump gates and to fuel the generators while hyperspace cities were built in the asteroid complexes. It was a rare material and contracts to find the richest sources were given a Priority One reading for transport and Vanguard support.
The planet wasn't much to look at; she stared through the windows in her canopy. Its dusty, thin clouds rolled around the globe with huge disturbances of volcanic activity and earthquakes. Its iron-laced ground had proved to be anything but habitable. It had a minimal atmosphere and she assumed the mining team would have to build domed structures just to live.
The Minbari would often attack mining colonies such as these and it made the job of living in safety difficult. Attacks happened all the time with mining facilities and she knew all too well the risks of staying in orbit for too long. Minbari had a knack for detecting Earth ships. It was not the main cruisers she was worried about, it was the smaller fighters that would spring out of nowhere and begin attacking with deadly weapons. Her small vessel could not withstand a direct assault and she often ended up in a cat and mouse race with the Minbari. So far she had developed the skill to stay one step ahead. She always had her picture of Sinclair to give her good luck.
Glued to the frame above the control readouts, a printed image of Sinclair always reminded her of how strong she would have to be to return to the man she loved. They might have split up after the destruction of Earth all those years ago, but recent events and loneliness had begun to change her views. Her latest quest would be a quick one and she could finally allocate her time to find the man and hopefully rekindle any flame he might still have.
She had received some up-to-date information from a passing Vanguard that Sinclair was now in charge of a Hyperspace city, a fact that surprised her profoundly. She vowed to finish up her exploration and finally see the man.
As readouts continued to download from the probes on the surface of the planet, proximity alarms began to screech throughout her cockpit to indicate the presence of an incoming ship.
Activating her engines to the max and heading to the nearest safe zone, a technique she used in dire situations like this, she surmised the incoming vessel to be Minbari and knew the asteroid belt near the outer fringes of the planet's orbit would be an ideal hiding place for her small craft. But there was a risk.
Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she manoeuvred her vessel in and around house-sized rocks and spinning debris. She knew one hit would rupture her hull and her body would explode in decompression. The thought sent a shiver up her spine.
Ice crystals spun perilously close to her ship and a few small fragments ricocheted on her canopy, causing Catherine to jump back in her chair, "Wow, that was close. Hold it together, baby, we're almost at the safe zone."
The safe zone was a marked location the Vanguards had discovered while they escorted Catherine to this system. As with all exploratory craft, the Vanguards would calculate the most secure place for a small craft of her design to hide in the event of an emergency. A small communicator could then be used to signal for help in the event of something going wrong. Catherine knew the enemy vessel was out there and the random trajectories of the asteroids and reflective properties of the frozen ice would make it that much harder to find her.
"I only hope those bastards don't discover the raw material on that plant. It would be such a shame to lose the score of a lifetime."
After reaching the safe zone, she looked through the cloudy window and watched, as the unknown vessel, a shiny dot of quartz crystal, grew larger as it came closer.
What looked like a small dot slowly turned into mix of green-brown, a cylindrical object marked out by indentations, nothing like a Minbari craft.
Intrigued, Catherine activated her scanners and attempted to scan the mysterious object coming within range of the planet. But as expected, if the Vanguards found a place to hide her ship, it would make sense that she could not scan out. The age-old saying still stood: If you can see the enemy, the enemy can see you.
Unable to obtain a readout of the ship, or to penetrate the dense rock formation of the asteroids, Catherine had to rely on recording cameras and her own eyes. It was old school, but she felt confident the unknown vessel had not seen her, despite the obvious fact she could still see it.
"What are you? What are you up to?" were the only words she could think. Then she had an idea.
Reaching to her wrist COM, she activated its recording function and began logging her latest discovery. "Approximately 14:25 an unidentified vessel entered the Grid Epsilon system and is currently in orbit around a Class-2 Planetoid at co-ordinates 471-18-25. It doesn't seem to be doing anything at the moment, just hovering, waiting. I'll continue to record and document everything as it happens."
As if the unknown vessel heard her commands, it began to open up and point in her general direction. "Umm, something's happening. The alien vessel is now facing me. It's opening up, it's…Beautiful, like a flower…"
Completely transfixed and in a trancelike state, Catherine stared at the front of the vessel as it began to glow with energy. It only took a second for it to register, but after the awe wore off, she realised that her ship was now staring down the barrel of a huge weapon.
Shit!HowcouldIhavebeensofoolish,typicalwoman,mesmerisedbyflowers! She cursed herself. With her hands on the controls, she attempted to move her vessel.
Too late.
A radiant stream of hot fire careened towards her vessel. There was little she could do but steer her vessel behind the nearest rock. The large asteroid filled her canopy and blocked the beams path. With a blinding roar, the asteroid shattered into bits and blew past her vessel, segments shattering all around her ship's framework and causing a rain of rock all around her.
Mouth agape in shock, she could not comprehend the luck needed to save her from that monstrous energy beam. But before she could breathe a sigh of relief, the gap between her vessel and the alien craft was completely cleared of all asteroids and she was now exposed.
Catherine clutched the uniform of the company she was working for and leaned back in the chair. She knew the alien vessel had a clear line of fire and the shrapnel from the asteroid had disabled her engines and shut down her main power. Alarms sounded and a crack in her canopy grew longer by the second. Catherine knew she was moments away from death and looked up at the only image of the only man she really loved. Perhaps her vow to see Jeffrey Sinclair was too much to keep.
A voice billowed out through her mind, a telepathic link; CatherineSakai,yourdestinywithJeffreySinclairwaits,youmustreturnwithhimtokeepthetimelinestable. Yourdestinyawaits.