"Launch Bay say again" Wilma said.
"Deering there has been an accident in bay, the survey ship is stuck in the ship transport carrier and can't be moved. Captain Rogers ship is behind it. There is no way to move the ships out of the way for you to land. Suggest you continue on to Station Zebra, we can meet you there when we arrive for needed repairs" came the reply from Col. Bauer.
"Won't that leave the Searcher unprotected? What if the Hackett fighters return" asked the Admiral from the bridge?
"Well yes but we should be okay for the time it will take the Searcher to get to the station. Personally, I don't think those guys will try another raid." Replied Bauer
Buck was standing in the launch control area during this exchange watching all the people. He couldn't put his finger on what was off key, but he definitely felt that something wasn't right.
"I am not sure I like the idea of not having any escort ships available,' said Asimov
"I agree but it can't be helped at this point" replied Bauer
While this exchange was going on, Wilma was considering her options, she wasn't sure she wanted to go on to Station Zebra. After a moment of two she interrupted the two men.
"Deering to navigation, please transmit the Searcher's exact co-ordinates, heading and speed to my ship" she said. "Thank you, launch bay please prepare for manual operation, open outer door."
Wilma moved her ship to right in front of the Searcher's open launch bay door. Setting her throttle to idle and using just her four maneuvering thrusters simultaneously she held her position while she carefully positioned her fighter right in front of the open outer door. The large ship moved forward around her.
"Dang, I wish this thing had reverse. Come on guys just a little bit more. Hang in there we're almost here." Wilma coaxed her ship as she watched it's progress in her rear-view vid screen. Once she was within the outer door, she carefully lowered the ship until it was on the transport conveyer.
While Wilma was maneuvering her ship everyone on the launch bay was watching her progress on the monitors. Buck however wasn't. He was well aware of her prowess and took the opportunity while everyone was focused on the monitor to slip into the hanger below to assess the damage for himself.
"Please close outer door;" and then once it was closed, "open inner door and manually retract launch conveyor" Wilma instructed.
Buck heard the cheer that went up from the crew as Wilma successfully completed the landing.
As she walked to the control area to finish logging the end of her mission Col Bauer told her "Nice flying there"
"Thanks" she replied. "But it's hard on the maneuvering jets, they may need to be serviced"
Buck joined her as she exited the launch bay.
Later in Buck's cabin they had finished a meal. Buck was in the galley area cleaning up while Wilma was reading on her device.
"So, what are we going to do" he asked
"About what?'
"About whatever is going on aboard ship here"
"I don't know that there is anything for us to do."
"Oh, come on Wilma, you and I both know that something is going on and I even bet you know who is at the bottom of it"
"Buck I am not in security anymore and even if I do think I know who I have no idea what. I can't just walk up to someone and tell them not to do whatever it is they were planning."
"We at least agree that those weren't really Hackett fighters, right?"
"I am not willing to go that far, I didn't really get a good look at them, but I will agree that the pilots were not trained Hackett pilots. They didn't maneuver or fight like Draconians at all" Wilma said
"So, what are we going to do about this?" Buck asked again.
"Oh, all right. We can at least get a timeline of the issue.
First Col. Bauer left on a scheduled survey flight. Next Major Harper arrived at sick bay. Then the squad of fighters were spotted, and Col Bauer's com link was found to be inoperable." Said Wilma
"But it was working when he landed. I saw his communications on the log when I signed in" Buck said
"Well, that could have been a range issue, once he was closer to the Searcher it may have worked"
"True" Buck replied
"Once we had scared off the marauders and you landed the launch bay was damaged"
"Well, we don't know when the damage was done, it was discovered when they tried to move the survey ship out of the way. It could have been done anytime between when he landed and then. Which means anybody could have done it since people were in and out of the control area the entire time."
"You saw the damage; did it require any special knowledge or tools?" she asked
"No not really anybody could have done it, but I would bet anything it was not accidental."
"So, the end result is that the Searcher has to call in at Station Zebra for repairs"
"Right. What do we know about Zebra?" Buck asked
"Not the nicest place in the universe. It is officially neutral. And with their everybody welcome policy there are lots of pirates and mercenaries. Plenty of people there to trade in contraband and sell stolen goods. Lots of people hiding from something. Not a lot of security forces, just enough to keep the peace"
"Wonderful. Now all we need to figure out is why someone wants us to call there"
"Well, I can check the intel chatter since I still have my access" replied Wilma with a sigh as she sat down with her device.
Buck walked into the galley poured a couple of drinks and handed one to Wilma. She took the tumbler somewhat absently as she was absorbed in the information on her device. It wasn't long before Buck heard her say under her breath "now that's interesting."
A few minutes later she said. "I bet that's it"
She got up and walked over to the large vid screen on the wall and punched in some information and up popped a picture of a round shiny globe.
"What is that?" Buck asked. "Looks like a bowling ball"
"That is the Orb of Odin" she replied. She ignored the bowling ball part since she had no idea what he was referring to.
"Odin, never heard of that"
"Odin is a colony in the 12th sector. The Indigenous people there put great store in this orb, almost worshipping it. They claim it controls their entire world. It was stolen about 6 weeks ago" Wilma told him.
"So, what's that thing worth?"
"The actual orb, probably not much. But the elder counsel of Odin would pay quite a bit to get it back I am sure"
"So, a ransom in other words. What are the details of the theft?"
"Not a lot is known. It wasn't discovered missing for several hours at least. Once they determined that it was gone, they shut down the entire colony and searched everything and everybody but turned up nothing. It must have been spirited out of the colony in the time before the theft was discovered.
And the Searcher was in the area at the same time. Remember when we had the large resupply from Rule colony? Well, the Rule colony is just on the other side of the stargate from Odin."
Buck let out a whistle. "So, you think it was smuggled aboard the Searcher in that resupply?"
"It's a distinct possibility."
"How big is this orb thing?" Buck asked
"Well about so big" said Wilma as she spread her hands apart about 8-10 inches.
"So much too big to carry around personally. It would need to be hidden on the ship. And most likely in a personal cabin since there aren't any places onboard that are not open to everyone. Which means an officer."
"I agree. And I have a fairly good idea which officer. But it would mean we would have to search a cabin to make sure"
"Oh, that's easy," said Buck
"Glad you think so, how we are going to do that?" replied Wilma
Buck had turned toward the sleeping area of his cabin and came back holding a very vibrant shirt, what he called his Hawaiian shirt. "With this. Can you get me an invite to your status meeting from the conference room?"