Bruce Bethke - Maverick

“The gym?” Derec blanched. “Where’s Ariel?”

“Locked in the Deck 3 Personal,” Ariel’s voice came over the intercom. “I was taking a shower when the attack started. I’m okay, but I’m afraid that the trainer robot is a total loss. ”

“If we get out of this, I’ll build you another one. ” Derec broke off the conversation and turned to Wolruf. “Okay, I’ll take over now. ”

Wolruf flattened her ears, let go of the joystick, and growled at Derec. “ ‘ V a combat pilot?”

“No, but the automatics will be helping me, not fighting you. ”

Wolruf grabbed the joystick again and threw it hard over, just as another blast grazed the hull. “No offense,” she said around the control, “but I’m willin’ t’ bet ‘at me on crippled manual is still a better pilot’ an ‘ u with full automatics. ” A second later she went flying across the cabin as a massive explosion rocked the ship. The viewing screen flickered and went dead. The cabin lights went out and stayed out.

“ ‘Course,” Wolruf whined, somewhere in the dark, “I could be wrong. ”

What seemed an eternity later, dim red emergency lighting came up slowly and a pleasant little bell chimed. “I’m sorry,” the ship said in a soft, feminine voice of the sort usually reserved for elevators and recorded phone messages, “but all main power feeds have been severed. Repairs are in progress, and I expect to restore full function in about five minutes. Sorry for the inconvenience. “ The bell chimed again, and the speakers went silent.

For some time, there was utter silence on the bridge. No reassuring hum or robotic activity; no soft whirring of ventilation fans. The air recirculation system had gone out with the lights, and already the atmosphere on the bridge was growing thick and fetid. There were no sounds at all, save for Avery’s heavy breathing, Wolruf’s frightened whine, and the occasional thud of a low-power hit on the hull.

“What’s he waiting for?” Avery whispered, as if afraid that his voice would carry through the vacuum to the Erani ship. “Why isn’t he hitting us with everything he’s got?”

“I don’t know,” Derec whispered back. “He didn’t stop firing on the asteroid until it was a smoking mass of gravel. Do you know, Wolruf?” Her only answer was a frightened whine. “Come on. You do know, don’t you?”

“Old Erani slaving technique,” she said through a whimper. “Suppression fire. Make ‘u keep ‘ur ‘ead down while th’ boarding party jets across. ”

Avery’s head jerked up. “Boarding party?”

. Derec leapt to his feet. “Viewscreens are still out. I’m going to activate my internal commlink and see if I can tap an optic feed. ” He closed his eyes in concentration, but the moment he did so a deafening barrage erupted on the surface of the hull.

“Stop it, Derec!” Derec broke concentration, and the barrage stopped.

“Your internal commlink,” Avery whispered. “You said the Erani know a lot more about hyperwave than we do. They must be able to monitor your commlink!”

. Derec’s face sank. “Oh, great. Now what do we do?”

Avery rolled over so that he was facing Wolruf. “Wolruf, you were part of his crew. Will he fire on us if the boarding party is on the hull?”

Wolruf gave it some thought. “Depends on ‘oo’s in the boarding party. Probably won’t use ‘is ‘eavy guns. ”

“ And how far are we from the jump point?”

Wolruf brought a hind foot up and gave her right ear a scratch. “, Ard to tell. We lost propulsion, rem’mber?”

Avery patted her on the head. “But we haven’t lost our momentum. We’re still on course and drifting towards the jump point at 2,000 kilometers per second. ”

“’At’s right!” Wolruf got to her feet and staggered over to the control panel. The panel clock had its own backup power cell and was still running. “J minus three minutes an’ fifteen seconds,” she read off. “If we can let th’ boarders land on the ‘ull but keep ‘em outside for about three minutes, we ‘ave a chance. ”

“Provided we can get jump power back in time,” Avery added. He got to his feet and joined Wolruf before the control console. “Ship, what is the status of the hyperdrive?”

“Main power will be reconnected in four minutes,” the ship answered in a soothing, feminine voice. “Repairs to the control systems are being hampered by continuing hostile fire. ”

“Frost! That’s not soon enough. ” Then Avery had another thought. “Ship? What happens if we divert all repair resources to the hyperdrive?”

The ship considered it a moment. “Main power can be restored in approximately two minutes. Repairs to the control systems are still contingent on the cessation of hostile fire. ”

“Divert all resources to the hyperdrive,” Avery ordered. He turned to Derec. “Now, how do we persuade them to stop shooting at us?” Derec shrugged.

Hesitantly, tentatively, Wolruf stepped forward. “Among my people we ‘ave an old tradition,” she said. “Roll over an’ play dead. ”

. Derec gave a frustrated snort and sneered at the little alien. “What kind of idea is that?”

“A good one,” Avery said, twirling his moustache. “Maybe even a very good one. ” He stepped over to the control console and raised his voice. “Ship, do you still retain shape-changing ability?”

“Certain sections of the hull have been rendered temporarily inoperative,” the ship said pleasantly. “However, I have full control over 80% of the exterior hull. ”

“Excellent. ” Avery looked at Wolruf. “Get on the jump controls. I want to jump the instant we’re ready. ” Turning back to the console, he said, “Ship, continue to effect hyperdrive repairs, but prepare to simulate a massive explosion. The next time we sustain a hit on a non-essential portion of the hull, jettison plating and other materials and adopt the appearance of severe damage. Do not, repeat, do not conduct self-repairs in that area. Do you understand?”

“I understand,” the ship said politely. “Simulation program prepared. ” A few moments later, the soft thud of a weapons hit was immediately followed by a massive concussion and a rapid drop in cabin pressure. Wolruf, more sensitive to air pressure changes than the others, let out a sharp, painful yelp and fell to the floor.

. Derec dashed to her side, but she waved him off. “ ‘S okay. ” Shaking her head, she got back to her hind feet. “More surprised ‘an ‘urt. ”

“Section 17D has been explosively decompressed,” the ship announced courteously. “Cabin pressure now stabilized. ” After a short pause, the ship politely added, “Hostile fire has ceased. The boarding party is moving forward. ”

“Forty-five secon’s t’ jump,” Wolruf whispered.

“Contact imminent,” the ship said. “Shall I prepare a welcoming message?”

“No!” Avery hissed. “And, frost it, keep your voice down!”

“Yes, master,” the ship whispered sweetly. “Hyperdrive power restored. Hyperdrive control circuits still out. ”

Avery turned to Wolruf. “How big is our jump window?”

“Five seconds, seven max-” She shuddered as a deep clang echoed through the hull. The sound was followed by the groan of creaking metal and an erratic series of hollow pokking sounds.

“Induction limpet,” Wolrufexplained in a frightened whine. “Magnetic boots. They’ll walk ‘roun’ th’ hull, try t’ figurr out where th’ live ‘uns are. Hard t’ sell dead slaves. ” She checked the clock again and tucked her tail between her legs. “Thirty seconds t’ jump. ”

The sounds changed now to the rhythmic clacking of metal boots and the grating screech of something heavy being dragged across the outer surface of the hull. This was followed by the deep whump! and rising whine of a power pile being engaged.