Wilma looked up as the door to the bridge opened and Major Devlin entered.
"Right on time Major."
"Anything I should know about before you go off duty? I am hoping for a nice quiet shift." Devlin asked
"No, everything should be incredibly quiet for you. I don't think there's anything to worry about... We will not be in range of Space Station Zebra for a number of hours yet" Wilma relied
"We are not stopping at Zebra, are we? It has such a dubious reputation?"
"I doubt it, someone suggested it, but I doubt the Admiral thinks it's necessary or even desirable. We can pass it by on our way to the Delta Quadrant" said Wilma as she closed out her communication console and prepared to leave the bridge. "Hopefully, Quartermaster division has sent me their information and I can get the updated duty schedules out to everybody" she added.
"That would be nice," said Devlin. "Have good evening"
Wilma left the bridge and took the lift down to the crew area. Her cabin was at the end of a long corridor. As she entered her cabin, she was grabbed from behind by someone extraordinarily strong.
"Buck Rogers what are you doing here, aren't you supposed to be on patrol right now?" she asked with a smile.
"I have some time before I need to be on the launch bay so I thought I would come say hello. I haven't seen you all day you know and…" but Buck was interrupted by the communications vid screen alerting Wilma that Delvin was calling from the bridge. Wilma slipped away from Buck and walked over to the screen for the incoming call.
"Sorry to contact you so soon after you left the bridge, but Admiral wanted me to call you." Said Devlin when he came into view. He took a huge breath and continued. "Col. Bauer left the ship over an hour ago for a recon flight and we cannot raise him on the communications link. And Major Harper is still in sick bay right now. But the radar has picked up what looks like a squadron of Hatchet fighters coming our way. They should be here in about 15 minutes."
Wilma felt more than saw Buck leave her cabin. "Okay, tell the launch bay to prepare 2-star fighters. Also have them tell Buck I will be there shortly. Out." She turned and went to her bedroom.
The launch bay was a of swarm of activity when Wilma arrived. She received several curious looks as she walked to the launch track; she was after all wearing a Security Directorate flight suit. Buck was standing by the first of the two Star fighters that were in launch position. The launch bay could accommodate three ships and the second star fighter in the middle position had just been raised up by the elevator from the hanger below. The two pilots could be seen conversing for just a minute or two, Buck gesturing, obviously discussing strategy. Then they both jumped into their ships.
"Launch sequence initiated, ship one on conveyer, door open and Launch" and Buck was away followed shortly by Wilma in the second ship.
Buck took his ship up and away from the Searcher towards the incoming Hatchet fighters while Wilma circled around to below the Searcher and stayed in a ready position.
Buck opened the com-link and Wilma heard "Rogers here, we will know shortly if these guys are friend or foe." Just as he said it a laser cannon blast shot past him. "Definitely not friendly!" Buck's shields held and the blast slid off his fighter. He pulled his fighter up and over in a roll to the right and soon was out of sight of the Hatchets. Next thing they knew he was above them firing down on the lead two ships. He caught them both in the vulnerable area, right behind the cockpit. Those two didn't stand a chance. But while Buck was maneuvering away from the hostile squad two of the Hatchets broke away from the formation and headed directly for the Searcher.
"Two incoming," said Buck
"Right, I have them on my view screen" replied Wilma
The two hostile ships were apparently caught off guard when Wilma's Star Fighter appeared from the other side of the Searcher above them.
"Thank you for flying so close together guys, makes it much easier" Wilma said. And with one laser cannon shot she hit the right ship which exploded taking out the left one as well.
Meanwhile Buck was dealing with the rest of the Hatchet fighters. He was lining up to take out one of the lead ships, when it banked off to the right, Buck who was below and to the left when it banks right causing his shot to clip the Hatchet's propulsion pod. It didn't destroy the ship, but it was knocked out of the fight. He was next focusing on the second ship in the lead when Wilma joined him. The Hacket pilots saw the reinforcements coming and decided to give up the fight, they all banked away and scattered in the opposite direction.
"No sense in trying to follow them I guess," said Wilma
"Nay, it would be like trying to chase ghosts" replied Buck.
Wilma wasn't sure exactly what ghost were, but she understood his meaning.
"Bridge to Star Fighters" the comm link announced. "Asimov here, well done guys, well done! I Bridge out
Buck and Wilma turned their ships back towards the Searcher.
"Ladies first Wilma" Buck said. Usually, this comment from Buck would get a rise out of Wilma, something about 20th Century life but not this time.
"No, you go ahead, I want to make a pass around the Searcher and make sure there's no damage first" she replied
"Okay then. Searcher Buck Rogers requesting landing clearance."
"Launch bay to Rogers. Landing sequence initiated, outer door opening, tracking beam locked on"
Wilma turned her star fighter back towards the Searcher and completed several passes along the length of the big ship surveying all sides.
"Deering to bridge. Appears that Searcher incurred no damage at all."
"Bridge to Deering, that great news" replied the Admiral. "We'll see you soon"
As Wilma maneuvered the star fighter toward the landing area of the Searcher her com=link opened, and she
"Launch bay to Deering, this is Col. Bauers. There's been an accident on the landing area of the launch bay. You can't land"