Space Rescue One (46 page)

      "Uh, yes. Ceriga and I will make our entry near where the comet left contact with the hull. Shelly, you take the rear most entrance," Isaac replied.

      "You don't have anyone in charge near the bow. I'll start from that end," Richard said.

      "You're not going to be our backup?" Isaac asked.

      "I've thought about that since you mentioned it, Chief. There's no way I can reach anyone in time to back them up if the passengers panic. We're more likely to stop or prevent a panic if we show up in as much force as possible. What they need is leadership to keep the situation under control. With you and Shelly in the stern area where many of the passengers may have fled, we'll have a reasonable chance of maintaining control. I'll provide the necessary control at the bow," replied Richard.

      Shelly stated, "Isaac, he's right. He won't be able to reach any of us in time to be of much use. Besides, he can't back us all up if more than one pair gets into trouble. I think we should enter the
Liberty
with the understanding that we're all operating on our own."

      "Okay, everyone. Much as I hate to admit it, they're right about this. We're all entering on our own. None of us will have any backup. You'll have to deal with the situations you encounter according to your own estimates and judgments of what's required. The best I can promise anyone is that if you can contact someone else by radio, we might be able to give you some suggestions or advice," Isaac said.

      "What do we do with the passengers when we reach them?" Amanda asked.

      "Try to lead them to the life pods first. Go for the nearest pod and get it filled before you permit it to launch. Once they're in a pod, they should be relatively safe," Richard answered.

      "You're going to have problems with families that are separated. Don't accept no from them unless it means a fight. Try to avoid a fight whenever possible. Unfortunately that means we might not save everyone. Remember, it's not your fault that some people act like idiots once they panic. Just do your best and let the chips fall where they may," Isaac said.

      "Space tugs are nearly there! They're reporting a visual sighting on the
Liberty!"
Jimmy exclaimed.

      "Okay, we just received one more factor in our favor. At least there's going to be someone there to retrieve the life pods," Isaac said.

      "We might be able to get some of them near enough to the entrances to use their Air Links for refilling air tanks," Richard said.

      "Are we going to sneak up on the
Liberty,
Richard?" Isaac asked.

      "It depends on the
Liberty
's hull condition. The views we're getting right now seem to preclude that. There's too much jagged metal sticking out blocking any chance of slipping our ship around theirs properly. As well, they still have some engines running, probably for life support. One slip and we could find ourselves getting roasted. Based on these facts, I have to state that I don't think we'll attempt to sneak up on them to connect our ship to theirs," Richard answered.

      "Okay, that means space leaps. Everyone will need full jet packs as well. Unfortunately, that means we'll be moving slower once we get inside," Isaac said.

      "Can't we take off the jet packs once we get inside?" Amanda asked.

      "Use your own judgment on that. We've seen incidents before where there were open places inside exposed to space that we used the jet packs to cross quickly. Since you'll be near the stern, you're not likely to encounter those. You probably can remove your jet packs if you want. Those of us up front will probably keep ours on," Richard said.

      "There's also the chance that you might be in a section that ruptures. The air pressure alone can toss you far from the ship. Without your jet pack, you'll be nearly helpless to return on your own. If that happens to anyone, get on your radio immediately or flash your suit lights to attract one of the space tugs so we can get you back in one piece. No matter what the circumstances, don't remove your helmet for anything!" Isaac said.

Richard activated his jet pack breaking his contact with the hull. He angled himself expertly toward the bow of the
Liberty.
For him, it was an easy hundred meters as he approached the area where the "titan i c." was visible. His own words echoed in his mind that the disaster would soon take on a mystique of its own that would somehow live on and on far beyond his own lifetime. As he crossed the distance, he took in the panorama of freighters and space tugs surrounding the doomed ship, most of them helpless to do much more than stand by in hopes of being useful. He was glad that one ship succeeded in taking on a single life pod with two people on board. However, he didn't want to be in the shoes of either of the two survivors who were both crewmen from the
Liberty.
Unless evidence surfaced to exonerate them, they'd likely be charged later with desertion and dereliction of duty.

      He glided to a smooth halt on the hull of the
Liberty.
Richard glanced around first to see that the team pairs were reaching the hull as well. So far, the rescue effort was proceeding as planned. However, he knew the rest of the mission wouldn't be nearly so kind as to fit into their plans. He raised his arm to signal that he was fine rather than tie up the radio channel with useless chatter. Richard then glanced at the opening in the hull and selected his entry location. He pointed down with one arm to indicate that he was entering.

      The opening was large. Most of the hull was peeled away and probably stuck on the comet, already long gone from the scene.
Chaser One
was after both pieces of the comet and would inspect the chunk that collided with the
Liberty
to recover any bodies that might be with it. Richard didn't envy them at all. He'd seen too many torn apart bodies in his years in space. He actually hoped for their sakes that there weren't any bodies in the wreckage attached to the comet. They deserved a break. After all, it wasn't their fault that the comet unexpectedly broke in two and escaped.

      He broke his grip on the hull with a short burst from his jet pack and maneuvered himself into the wide opening. Dead faces greeted him as he touched down on the deck. He consoled himself with the thought that they got it fast and probably never felt much pain while dying. The condition of their bodies convinced him of that as he surveyed the scene before walking deeper into the ship in search of an airlock between compartments. He could do nothing for the dead. He could for the living whom he had to find.

***

Richard inspected the internal safety airlock carefully and knocked on it lightly to determine if anyone was inside before he activated the first hatch. It opened only three-quarters causing him to shake his head. He pressed the override to close it back. He knew that it was too risky to use. He didn't want to kill whoever might be alive on the other side of the second hatch of the airlock. The airlock would likely collapse once he opened the second hatch even with the first hatch closed. He had no doubts in his mind about that. His side was too badly damaged to stand up to any pressure. He'd have to find another entrance. Before he left, he opened a panel to disable the airlock from being used. He left the panel open in case someone followed in his footsteps later while the rescue effort was still under way. They'd understand the meaning of what he did.

***

Richard found the next nearest internal airlock. As before, he surveyed the airlock from his side carefully and knocked before he activated the hatch to open. It refused to open. Immediately he suspected that the other side was compromised in some way. He overrode the system and switched it back to closed. As soon as he felt it was secure, he once more opened a panel and disabled the airlock leaving it so that others would know not to use it.

      He muttered as he went in search of another airlock, "Batting zero today, Richard. Well, keep your hopes up. There's plenty more entrances to try before you give up."

***

Richard approached the third airlock. As he did, he muttered to himself, "Well, here's hoping that the third time's the charm."

      He carefully appraised the airlock's condition from his side and knocked before he reached for the switch to open the hatch facing him. He felt lucky as he overheard another radio report of survivors between the two members of a rescue pair.

      The hatch opened all the way before him. He stood there for a moment before he stepped inside and turned to close the hatch. He was grateful that no one was unconscious in it seeking refuge from what might have been damaged sections on both sides. Had there been, he would have unknowingly killed the person before he could stop the hatch from opening. The hatch closed as he turned to face the other hatch. The green light came on. He activated the next hatch. He stepped out to face a sea of people staring at him as though he was some alien monster.

      Richard switched on his outside speaker. "I'm Captain Richard Saberhagen from
Space Rescue One.
We'll be getting all of you out as soon as we get suits to you. Is anyone here in charge of this group?"

      The crowd stood stunned momentarily before it reached the conclusion that rescue was actually at hand. Slowly, they realized that they had the famous Captain Saberhagen in their midst as cheers broke out amidst the hugging and tears. A few moved close and hugged him undeterred by his armor suit.

      A tiny woman made her way over to him, drifting carefully through the crowd, a gun in her hand. Richard drew his laser weapon as he spotted the gun in anticipation of a possible threat.

      "I was in charge, more or less. You are now, thank God," she said.

      "May I have the gun?" Richard asked.

      "Sure. I don't need it anymore now that you're here," she said as she handed it over.

      It was only then that he noticed her dress was torn badly and tied to keep it in place about her body.

      "What happened?"

      "We had a lot of people go crazy after the collision. I had to kill one man when he went berserk and raped one woman. Then someone tried to take the gun away from me and I shot him. After that, most folks decided that I meant business and settled down," she answered.

      "How many people are in here?"

      "Alive? There are forty-two alive in here, not counting you," she answered.

      "Have any of you tried for the life pods?" Richard asked.

      "We don't know where they are. No one wants to look for them outside of this room without a suit to protect them," she answered.

      "Okay, I'll find out if the way is clear to the nearest life pods. If they are, I'll lead you all to them. You'll be safe soon at any rate," Richard said.

      She asked, "What if the way isn't clear?"

      Richard replied, "Then we'll get suits for you and bring them here the same way I got in."

      At that moment, a man clutching his arm shot into the airlock behind Richard and pressed the switch to close the hatch.

      Too late, Richard shouted, "Don't! The other side is a vacuum!"

      He watched with tears blurring his vision as the light changed to double red from green.

      The woman said, "Uh, forty-one alive now."

      Richard went to the airlock and opened the panel to override the other hatch and close it. The double red lights remained on, indicating to him that the other hatch was blocked. Richard said nothing as he contemplated the situation change. He knew he couldn't retreat through the same airlock to retrieve suits if those were needed as long as the other side was open.

      The woman asked, "Is anything wrong?"

      "Not yet. I was hoping to use this airlock again in case I have to bring in suits. I'll find another airlock. I better get started on checking if the way is clear to the life pods," he answered.

      She asked, "Mind if I tag along? I have a feeling that some of these people don't like me anymore."

      "Sure, you can tag along," Richard replied.

***

 Isaac motioned to Ceriga to break contact with the hull after he saw her finish connecting the Air Link hose. He activated the airlock entrance. Then he pulled on the tether and shoved her inside the open airlock. She made contact with the deck and gripped the tether to pull him in as soon as he broke his own contact with the hull. He smiled at her as she pulled him in. He felt his feet make contact and moved inside fully out of the way of the airlock hatch which he closed. The double red lights changed to a single red light as the airlock cycled in air. They both waited patiently for it to be replaced by a single green light.

      Ceriga pressed the switch opening the inner hatch. Double red lights appeared once more to indicate an open hatch as she and Isaac got their first view of the insides of the ship. A few space-suited bodies floated listlessly about.

      "Check each person for life signs. They probably suited up too soon and used up most of their air. I'll hook up the Air Link hose to charge their tanks with. Shove them my way so we won't have to tangle the hose," Isaac said.

      "Right, Chief."

***

Ceriga shoved the last of the unconscious passengers toward Isaac. He snagged the body expertly without letting it collide with the bulkhead. Moments later, he watched the air gauge on the tank as he refilled it while bracing himself for any sudden reaction from the person inside the suit. Twice before, the person inside jerked about in reaction to the fresh air he provided causing him to have to restrain them. Near him floated several survivors who waited for him and Ceriga to finish finding people who were still alive so that the rescuers could lead them to safety.