C-12

We cannot leave the ship, Guide said to a crazily running Jacob coming towards him down the hall.

Jacob replied, most of it drowning in his breath.

The security level is permanent. There is no way we can leave the ship. Erdeenf sealed the ship as soon as the last shuttle left.

So that's it, then, Jacob said, managing to stop before running into the wall. We're dying here.

The Steelbox had an open channel to the Arpeggio, something Tomb was hogging. Listen, I want those two off that ship. Is there any way to get in?

Not likely, Falcon replied, having gone through some quarentine protocol. Kolantekor, all I can come up with is to cut through the hull and that way create an escape route. But they need your authorization for it, and I can't suggest it without your consent.

I will not risk it, Kiolran said.

Kotek, that might be their only chance to leave the ship, the navigator, Yusuf Akiils, an elterei, basically a human with white stripes, said. That particular elterei had quite dark hair and skin for an elterei, yet not abnorm. Also, he was somewhat tall for an elterei.

I will not risk it, kolantekor Kiolran repeated.

There was a bright spark, and the kolantekor fell apart in the captain's chair. Falcon held a gun, fortunately set to stun and not to kill or harm. That action wasn't uncommon for tleorei, they were generally thought of as sociopathic, something Falcon's senior security commander didn't care about, it seemed. Akiils, you're the highest ranking officer conscious, will you authorize it? Falcon asked.

Yes. Kenna, tell him.

Mr. Tomb, you're authorized to cut through the hull of the ship. We'll alert Guide.

Tomb replied, and prepared his ship to drill through. But the Arpeggio will have keep the shields less than what they are now. I had trouble enough keeping the ship still enough for the people outside to jump in.

Falcon, that's your department, she said to the tleorei, then switched channel to inform Guide. Mr. Guide, the Steelbox will drill a hole for you to get through, but it might not be completely airtight. You better get your spacesuits on and keep an eye out for where the hole comes.

Guide replied over comm.

They're going to cut the hull up, he told Jacob. The worms were getting close, but the Steelbox was in position. They had decided to drill through near a window, quite close to where the two survivors were. Get the spacesuit on, I'll cover you.

Guide started shooting worms to all directions. When there were no worms threateningly close to them, he fired shots into the subtransporter or the vents, just in case. Soon enough, he turned over the shooting to Jacob.

However, Jacob was slower, and one of the worms got dangerously close. Worms, worms... wormlike semihumanoid beings, with claws, teeth, head, arms, legs, and so on. That particular wormbeing ripped up a bit of Guide's spacesuit. The arm, fortunately.

Jacob quickly took it, and the remaining ones nearby out. The rest seemed now only to be waiting for them to get tired. Guide, are you all right? Jacob asked.

The tybon's firearm fell off. It was compeltely robotic. He had released it from by his shoulder. No problem, he said. He then tied the spacesuit's loose arm together, leaving the ripped up area on the outside. He struggled to get it on, but didn't dare ask Jacob for help, in case the worms would use the opportuntity to attack.

Soon enough, they were ready, and not long after that, the wall fell down a bit to their left. They two slowly moved towards the opening, and Guide soon enough threw Jacob through, right into the awaiting ship. Having the worms after hjim, he quickly jumped after Jacob, and over comm alerted the ship's command to take off. He could communicate from his system access at the Nefertiti.

Having closed the docking hatch, the ship exploded backwards, propelled by the air emerging from within the Nefertiti. Some worms flew by, but they were scorched to dust when they tried to cross the shields.

Namely, some shields deflected energy fire, some repelled asteroids and projectiles. The effects from within the shield were different. This shield barbequed anything unshielded trying to get out. The Steelbox was shielded. The worms were not.

The Steelbox safely made it's way to the safe zone near the Arpeggio before the Nefertiti exploded. Then they were forced to wait for a khrone, until any potential worm growths would have emerged. They did not. There were none.

...Professor, if your want to explore the planet, it's fine, Norman told his superior, the redheaded somewhat elderly professor, Julia Seviis, an elterei, and an experienced archeologist. She was the First Generation expert. Not a First Generation expert, but the First Generation expert. Unchallanged. But you'll have to do it without me. This was a khrone of sleep after everyone had gotten aboard the Arpeggio. Everyone except the unfortunate shuttle that had been infected. They had been destroyed.

No, Norman, I don't, she replied. Not after this. I have less riskful planets to examine, Rex V's moon Hangman is said to have a First Generation emergency station, for both military emergencies as well as technical or medical. I expect to find a whole deal of information about the threats they expected, the emergencies they were and weren't prepared for. Perhaps you'd want to join me?

No, I do not. I'll return to the academy. I talked to David Cross he seemed to be planning a vacation. Really, you won't get anyone from our science team to come with you. At least not in a while.

It's understandable, Seviis said. You're free to take a vacation too. We won't force you to return to lecturing right after this.

Thanks, but I need something to keep myself together. Teaching is that for me.

She thought for a few seconds. Cross finished his analysis on their language and went over some of the inscitpions found in the construction. According to them...

Professor, I'm not interested. I'll look it up later.

You can't. The military deemed it classified. Or at least, they will, once they've processed your reports.

Still... Wait, the ice samples the academy got, before the mission, contained several lifeforms.

Yes, you're right. I'll contact the Saltstar authorities, then the academy. They will be needing all the help they can get, if the beings have developed there too.

Fortunately, academy protocol will force them to keep the samples in cold storage, but those beings survioved in the ice on the planet, they might as well be able to break free at the academy.

Alert the kolantekor, Seviis said. Have the crew set a course for Saltstar, but before we go, arrange for a sample of the beings' DNA. You might be able to manefacture a vaccine, or maybe even a poison that only affects them. If anyone can, it'd be you, doctor. Get going.

Yes ma'm, Norman said, and took off towards the bridge. Quickly.