Chapter 30

Sirens were heard from Small Craft Bay 2 and the announcement blared, "Clear the bay, ready the crash crew!"

Personnel in the bay scrambled from the bay and rushed to nearby lockers to don their crash gear.

The noise of tons of metal-on-metal when the shuttle's starboard side impacted the shuttle bay hatch was deafening. Her seat stayed bolted to the deck, but the backrest collapsed. She found herself lying horizontally, and was shocked when she saw the shuttle split open on the starboard side, like cracking an egg. A flash fire erupted from the starboard engine and she felt the shock wave of heat. She wore a skin suit, but it was still agonizingly hot. She tried to sit up as the wreckage spun and impacted the bay's bulkhead, and she felt an impact on her right shoulder and abdomen. The paralyzing pain hit, and she shrieked through gritted teeth, tasting blood she was spitting up. She was trapped on the seat, now lying upside-down on the broken seat, her right side impaled by a metal shard. The pain and heat was overwhelming and she drifted into unconsciousness as the wreckage came to a rest.

The rescue crew streamed through the opening where the shuttle split open and sprayed the space with fire foam. They noted the armsman holding his jacket on the wound on her side around the metal shard. His left arm was broken and both of his arms up to the elbows were bloody and burned. They saw the person lying awkwardly trapped on the seat and hurried that way. Blood dripped from under the helmet's chin area, and they noted the name tape of Goodson. A physician stepped closer, held a diagnostic and monitoring instrument above her chest, and nodded. The patient's breathing was shallow and the heartbeat was slowing.

"Get her out of here in a hurry, but carefully," he instructed. "Cut the seat belts away, leave the helmet on, and cut that shard away close to the skin. I'll remove both in med bay."

A stretcher was brought forward and the corpsmen waited while crewmen extricated the patient.

#

Natalie was alarmed when Hipper, perched on her desk, hissed, growled, and crouched low with his ears back.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

He wrapped his tail around his crouched form and m-rowed sorrowfully. Others in the shop came to the desk, wondering if the 'cat was sick or hurt. He m-rowed repeatedly and sounded so pitiful that Natalie scooped him up, trying her best to comfort him. Hipper buried his face in the crook of her arm.

What they didn't know was that Hipper felt the moment Rachel's heart stopped beating as they rushed her to the station med bay.

#

"Get that scanner over here!" the physician barked as Rachel's stretcher was brought into the med bay. "Prep for surgery, I'll do it on this stretcher, I don't want to jostle her anymore. Bates, you stay on that monitor, I was fortunate to get her breathing again."

He swiped a bloody finger on a scanner to type her blood. "Fetch two bags of B positive, quickly now."

"Aye sir."

Cordell's stretcher was brought in adjacent to Rachel's and his team started on his treatment.

#

Commander Kimbrell stepped from his office, his face pale and eyes teary. "D&P, gather around."

His division gathered around and he took a shaky breath. "There was an accident with the test shuttle on approach to the station. It crashed when it entered the bay… Lieutenant Goodson and Ensign Cordell are in emergency surgery. If any of you are B positive or A negative blood types, donations would be appreciated at the hospital here on base."

"What of Lieutenant Hardin?" Lt. Macleod asked.

"He didn't make it," Commander Kimbrell replied. "Those of you who want, you can go ahead to the chapel for intercessory prayer for our team mates. Please ask comfort for the family of Lieutenant Hardin."

The D&P personnel streamed from the building and Commander Kimbrell remained to break bad news to the Goodson, Cordell, and Hardin families.

#

At lunch, Matt had a cup of coffee to his mouth when his uni-link sounded. He saw that the caller was Kimbrell, Commander, GSN and answered.

"Hello?"

"Am I speaking with Matthew Goodson?"

"Yes sir."

"I'm Commander Kimbrell, Lieutenant Goodson's commanding officer. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there was an accident on the shuttle this morning carrying our officers and your wife's armsman."

"She mentioned a test flight at breakfast this morning. Go on, please."

"Lieutenant Goodson was injured and taken to the station med bay for emergency surgery. She's in our prayers. I'll notify you with any further developments."

Matt stood and gathered his belongings. "I'll let her family know. Thank you, sir."

"What's wrong?" Lew asked when Matt ended the call.

"There was an accident with Rachel's shuttle," Matt replied. "I'm going to the Palace to let the family know."

#

As it turned out, Benjamin had already been notified, and he waited at the Palace spaceport for Matt so they could travel to the station together. During a somber 30-minute pinnace passage, Matt felt Ben squeeze his shoulder.

"Thank Tester for modern medicine. She's the toughest young woman I know, and I don't think she's ready to leave us yet," Ben said.

Matt nodded, ran his hands through his hair, and let out a breath.

Upon arrival, Matt, Ben and the retinue of armsman and Palace chaplain were brought to med bay. Robert sat in a chair adjacent the draped-off bed area, and he stood slowly when he saw the arrivals.

"Rob, please sit back down," Matt stated and looked at his sling and bandages on his hands, arms and neck. "How are you?"

"Better than her," Robert said somberly and nodded to the bed.

The physician cleared his throat and spoke. "I'm Lieutenant Commander Palmer, the chief physician here at the station. The sight of her might startle you, but she's stable. Critical, but stable."

He pulled the drape back and Matt felt weak in the knees. She had a breathing tube down her throat, a brace and bandages wrapped around her right shoulder, a back brace, and surgical bandages around her midsection. The physician took a breath and began his report.

"The breathing tube will be removed when her blood pressure returns to normal; she gave us a scare when she stopped breathing after the extraction. She lost a lot of blood when that shard of metal impaled the right side. The broken ribs were set, the slipped vertebrae discs put back in place, and lacerated liver made whole again."

He paused to scroll the screen up, and to give the visitors a chance to take a breath.

"Unfortunately, the right kidney had to be removed, but I've already put an artificial one on order back at Alvarez Field. I know who's performing the replacement, and he's the best surgeon I know. I did a quick fuse of the broken scapula and collarbone, as the breaks were causing more injury to the muscles, nerves, and skin. The ortho surgeon at Alvarez Field will determine additional treatment."

"So what's next, sir?" Ben asked and Matt lightly held her left hand.

"Alvarez Field Hospital is sending a medical evac shuttle, and once I'm confident that she's stable enough for travel, she'll be transferred there. From there, it'll be up to the physicians. Thank tester for modern medicine."

Ben extended his hand. "Thank you, commander, for your diligent efforts."

"Yes sir, thank you," Matt said. "What of the others in the shuttle?"

"Ensign Cordell is over there in stable condition," the commander replied and nodded at an adjacent draped off area. "Lieutenant Hardin didn't survive the crash."

The chaplain entered med bay and surveyed the scene. "Shall we pray?"

With a kiss to his daughter's forehead, Ben said that he would return to the Palace to let the family know of Rachel's prognosis. Matt insisted on accompanying Rachel in the evac shuttle to the hospital. He sat next to Robert and listened to the armsman tell of the crash, and read the medical report of her injuries and treatment. He was grateful for his young wife's strength and stubbornness, which many would consider unladylike, that contributed to her survival.

"Commander, the shuttle has arrived," a sick bay tech reported.

"Very well, let's prep for transfer," the commander stated.

"Can I help, sir?" Matt requested. "I'm a Grade One EMT and for what it matters, a Navy reservist attending medical school."

The commander gave a him a once over. "Well, you won't be useless then."

February 15, 1926 P.D.

Five days later, Rachel came to awareness that her body felt heavy, yet had a floating sensation. She was aware of beeping and a soft buzzing sound. She tried to open her eyes, but found it difficult to do so. Matt, reading from an e-reader, saw Rachel's feet move and her eyelids flutter. Crouched at her hip, Hipper purred even louder.

"Thank the Intercessor," Nate murmured.

He set aside his device, stood, and gently took her hand. "Slowly, sweetheart."

She took a deep breath, noting the discomfort when she did so.

"Rrr…" she mumbled and opened her eyes.

Everything was blurred and sounds were muffled. She felt wetness on her lips and squinted to see Matt's face above hers.

"Robert?" she croaked.

"He's just over there, he's safe."

She blinked to clear her vision and looked to the opposite side of the room, where Robert and Nate got to their feet. Robert had his left arm in a sling and both hands were bandaged.

"I thought we were goners," she said to Robert.

"I admit I thought that m'self," Robert replied.

She looked around the room. "Is this the station med bay?"

"No, this is an ICU room at Alvarez Field hospital. You were transferred here three days ago," Matt answered. "How do you feel?"

"Tired, and I feel odd."

"Odd, indeed. You had surgery to remove the piece of metal from your side. After that, repair your liver, then fix your right shoulder, and replace your right kidney. The cracked ribs and slipped discs were the easy part."

"Replace?" she asked.

He nodded. "You don't regenerate, remember?"

"What's the replacement made of?" she asked.

He grinned and kissed her hand. "I'm not sure, but I can find out."

He glanced at the monitors on the wall, relieved at the improved readings. "You're on the mend."

"What about the others?" she asked.

"Cordell is in the next room, and I'm so sorry to have to tell you that Lieutenant Hardin didn't make it. His funeral and placement in the Prestwick Garden of Memory was today. Your father and division attended."

Her tears started to flow, and she cried out when she tried to lift her right hand to wipe the tears. Hipper nudged her chin and rubbed his face against her cheek. Matt used a tissue to wipe her tears and gave her a gentle kiss.

"That arm is out of commission for a while," he said.

Late that afternoon, Rachel expressed that she was hungry. The attending ICU physician, Lieutenant Commander Mills, approved of a cup of broth. He took care to elevate her bed to ensure she experienced no pain and Matt helped her take a drink of the broth. There was a knock on the door of her room and Nate answered it. Ben and Katherine walked in and Rachel smiled at them in welcome. Ben bowed his head, took in a shuddered breath, and cleared his throat before he spoke.

"It's wonderful to see your recovery. Three days ago they weren't sure you would live."

"As I sit here with this broth, I realize that this is the second time I've been in a flaming craft that came apart around me."

Katherine chuckled and straightened the blanket at her feet. "As always, your perspective is entertaining."

Rachel took a sip of broth and choked a bit, causing her to wince.

"Lieutenant, let's have you finish that so you can lay back down," the physician suggested.

Rachel nodded and sipped again from the cup. It wasn't at all filling, but it was better than nothing. At least there would be something on her stomach.

#

That evening, Matt inquired about Rachel's comfort before he left. So that patients would get enough rest, no visitors were allowed overnight. Nate posted in a chair in the hallway outside of her room, and a sick bay tech would come into the room every two hours to take monitor readings and check on the patient.

"I'll be back in the morning. I know you're bored, but try and get some rest," Matt requested and gave her a soft kiss. "At least he's here with you," he said and gave Hipper a scratch behind his ears.

"Aren't you supposed to be in class?" she asked.

"I applied to put my classes on hold until you're released from hospital," he replied and put a finger over her lips to quell her protest. "There's no way I can sit in class while you're here recovering. You don't realize just how close it was with you."

"Will you fall far behind?" she asked around his finger and playfully nipped at it.

"My professors gave me all the reading and assignments for my current classes," he confirmed. "I'll miss some practicals, but as long as I submit some essays and quizzes, I won't fall far behind. Don't worry."