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  A laser finally hit its mark and he was thrown out of his seat. Cursing the lack of safety belts on such an advanced ship he picked himself up and felt the glove on his hand tighten in recognition of the danger they faced.

  Punching what he hoped was the intercom, Phil yelled at Hanniman. 'We need to get down to the planet before this thing destroys us, can you beam us all down, Engineer?'

  For what felt like the longest time, there was simply no reply. Phil began to wonder if their communication systems had been damaged in the previous barrage they had withstood.

  'Captain, I'm not entirely sure what you mean by beam down. Do you have time to explain?'

  He suddenly found his palm running its way up his forehead, this wasn't an episode of Star Trek, they didn't have all the technology he expected them to.

  'Never mind Hanniman, Jones out.'

  He leaned forward as if to speak to RJ when the intercom crackled open once again. 'What is it you're out of, sir?'

  Phil punched the communications panel in the hopes that it would shut up, all he managed to do was to hurt his flabby fist.

  'RJ!' he yelled through the pain. 'Take us down into the planet's atmosphere, try and land us as near to the Scavanger as you can!'

  'Aye sir, setting shields to full reverse and high-tailing it down to the planet.'

  Annika looked over at him in wonder. 'You calculated that a vessel that size couldn't follow us into the planet's atmosphere because its primary thrusters couldn't compensate for the effect the gravitational pull would have upon its mass.'

  Phil nodded sagely, clearly this was exactly what he had been thinking.

  'I believe that you are giving Mr. Jones entirely too much credit for this manoeuvre.' Smith replied through gritted teeth. 'nevertheless it does appear to be the correct course of action.'

  The man hammered a series of buttons and the thumming of their own lasers broke through the conflagration, suddenly ceasing the onslaught they had faced up until now.

  'Judging from the trajectory I have calculated the positioning of their primary weapons systems and disabled them with what was left of our own paltry arsenal. We may now “high tail it down” as our delightful pilot suggested to us.'

  RJ scowled at him but didn't say anything in response, Smith offered a cold grin in return.

  Phil sat in his Captain's chair and pondered over the sad reality that in spite of all this technology, a transporter system had yet to be invented.

  'Won't the journey down the planet be a bumpy ride?' he asked Annika, who still seemed engrossed in button pressing on her holo-terminal.

  She offered him a warm smile and swivelled her chair away from the console, as if she had nothing better in the world to do than address him personally.

  'The journey will be a turbulent one certainly but thanks to our harnesses that shouldn't be a problem.'

  Phil gazed down at his paunch as it lay in the chair, there remained a distinct lack of any sort of harness that his eyes could spot, he looked up to find Annika giggling at him. He didn't think that was very becoming of a junior officer. 'what?' he said, irritably.

  'Oh you'll see when we cut through the planet's atmosphere.' she beamed back at him.

  The huge green globe swirled up to greet them on the view screen, leaving the sight of the vast mothership behind. There were no retaliatory shots to Smith's bombardment so for the time being it appeared as if they had got out of dodge.

  'What do our sensors say about the planet's surface?' Phil asked. 'It looks very...green.'

  Annika nodded. 'It's a verdant jungle world with a highly carnivorous population, judging from the trajectory of the Scavanger they landed in one of the less-populated clearings. Hopefully it was their communications system that was knocked out of joint and they all survived the crash.'

  Smith let out a scoff. 'Your wildly optimistic interpretation of the events that transpired is quaint and entirely unlikely. My guess is that their communication system was knocked out by that mother ship and the remnants of the Scavanger crashed on the planet. I expect no survivors as the few that made it down there will likely have met a grisly end as a result of the aforementioned proliferate carnivorous inhabitants of the planet's surface.'

  The hidden speakers crackled into life in the cockpit, apparently Hanniman had been listening. 'You honestly believe that the flagship of the entire fleet is so incapable that they can't survive crashing upon a hostile world?'

  Smith slowly lowered his face into the palm of his hand and sighed. 'My dear, misguided Engineer. You have not met the indomitable buffoon that is Captain Darwin. The man once collapsed an entire solar system into a black hole, and that was on a humanitarian mission.'

  'How could he get the position if he's so useless at his job?' RJ rounded on him.

  The tactical officer didn't deign to look at the pilot, instead he had eyes only for Phil. 'It seems that Star Command lets any idiot sit in the Captain's chair these days.'

  Phil ignored him, he'd deal with Smith's rampant insubordination later. Their main priority was landing on this strange jungle planet and discovering if there were any survivors left. Or at least that was what the glove seemed to be telling him, he didn't know where his thoughts ended and the glove's began when it came to sitting in the big chair.

  Regardless of the legitimacy of his command, the entire crew with the exception of Smith seemed impressed with his orders thus far. Perhaps if he just continued to give them out he may find a way back to Earth without being blown to smithereens by the Voravians.

  The first jolt of the planet's atmosphere nearly threw him out of his chair, the computer sounded over the intercom in response. 'Warning, entering planetary atmosphere, engaging harnesses.'

  A faint blue beam that looked like a flourescent tube of toothpaste shot out from underneath the arm of his chair and prodded him none-too-gently.

  'Compensating.' the sweet voice of the computer rang out over the intercom, jabbing him once more with the beam. 'Compensating.' again the beam poked him in the stomach, causing it to grumble in dissatisfaction. 'Compensating.'

  Finally the beam arced over his bulge and secured itself to the other side of the command chair with a little chime of approval as it reached its destination. It didn't come a moment too soon, as they were buffeted by the entry into the planet.

  'Hang tight Captain, looks like this is going to be a bumpy one, the gravitational pull is playing havoc with the systems.'

  'I fully understand the gravity of the situation, RJ.' Phil replied, waiting for him to crack a smile. Instead Smith groaned at him.

  'Is it necessary for all Captains to use such facile humour?'

  Phil smiled back at him, refusing to give in to his jibes. 'I find facile humour the easiest to work with, number one.'

  The ship shot forward through numerous puffy clouds and soon their descent eased somewhat, apparently with RJ at the helm there was no such thing as a crash landing.

  'Scanning for the Scavanger now with visual sensors, Captain.' Annika supplied, treating Phil to a dizzying view on a screen that popped up from his command chair.

  Finally the wreck of the ship also popped up, looking like a metallic cigar that had seen one too many magnets. Annika gasped in dismay and in spite of his being right about this frightful sight being brought to light, Smith did not goad what was presumably the Lieutenant about her previous misconceptions.

  RJ angled them down toward the craft with calm skill now that he no longer needed to wrestle against the controls, it would appear that the landing would probably be the safest part of this whole mission.

  The roaring engines slowed significantly as Phil began to pick out details of the surrounding foliage.

  'Extending landing thruster pads.' RJ said, as if expecting Phil to know what landing thruster pads were.

  There was a slight bump, no more than an average commercial jet touching down, then the engines cut out completely. They had arrived, and Vardell VIII awaited them.


  Chapter 14

  Armoury! Crowbar! Gravimetric!

  The strange harnesses slowly disengaged with the reverse of the noise they had previously made, Phil stood abruptly and waited for the rest of the crew to file out of the ship.

  Except none of them moved, even though they were no longer impeded by the safety devices.

  'Are we not heading out to the planet to begin a rescue operation?' Phil asked. 'there could still be survivors out there.'

  Annika tapped at her console a few times and waited patiently. 'I'm just running some final checks on the atmosphere and doing a heat signature scan before we leave, there's no telling what's out there.'

  It seemed that Smith's correct assessment of the crash landing of the Scavenger had caused her to rethink some of her misconceptions. Phil couldn't afford to have what he assumed was his Lieutenant second guessing herself on account of that sneering idiot he regretfully called his number one.

  'Annika is correct in her caution, Mr... Captain Jones.' Smith said, closing down his own console and then making his way to the exit of the cockpit. 'There is no telling what manner of ferocious beings lie outside in wait for us.'

  Since nobody else seemed to be actively disagreeing with Smith, Phil assumed that the Agent was correct. He may not like the man but he had been terribly efficient so far and he had no reason to doubt that, considering it was also his life on the line as well as the rest of the crew.

  'How long will the scans take, Annika?'

  'They'll be complete in a matter of minutes, Captain. In the meantime you should pick a search party and head to the armoury to equip yourselves.'

  'We have an armoury?' Phil asked.

  Smith smiled coldly, as if acknowledging a small child. 'That is correct, every Star Command vessel comes fully equipped with a small selection of weaponry and appropriate attire for potentially hostile environments. I shall give you the tour as soon as you're finished picking your crew.'

  Phil gazed out over the potential choices, in truth he had no idea who to select. The glove gave him a faint squeeze and suddenly the question came to his lips unbidden. 'How many of you have experience on hostile worlds?'

  They all raised their hands, then the crackling of the communications system interrupted. 'I have no practical experience in hostile situations Captain, perhaps it would be best if I stayed with the ship.'

  Well, that made his choice easy enough.

  'RJ, Annika and Smith, you're with me. Hanniman, you stay and guard the ship.'

  'Aye Captain.' came the assenting voices of everyone but Smith.

  A faint chime came from Annika's holo-terminal and she nodded at Phil. 'The planet checks out as suitable for boarding. Only standard hostile environment attire will be needed and there are no large heat signals within range of the ship's sensors.'

  Phil nodded at her, not knowing exactly what to say to that and feeling like events were unfolding that he seemed to have no control over. Personally he didn't like how they all kept referring to it as a hostile planet.

  'If you'd like to follow me, Captain Jones. We shall make our way to the armoury and equip ourselves suitably for the task at hand.'

  Phil had seen enough sci-fi action movies to know that being properly equipped was the perfect way to get yourself killed. Nevertheless he had also seen enough sci-fi movies to know that being without equipment was also a tremendous way of getting yourself killed. The thought of trusting the suspect Agent Smith with his life seemed a foolish one at best.

  Smith led the rest of the crew as they filed down into a room just off the main corridor of the ship. Phil hadn't known what to expect at the mention of this armoury but considering the ship's size it couldn't be overly extensive.

  A large rack stood in the middle of the room with several lockers behind it. On the rack were mounted a series of what looked to be rifles and pistols.

  'Standard issue.' Smith remarked, picking one of the pistols up and twirling it nonchalantly. 'It has a two mile range and is accurate to within six millimetres per blast. There are no rounds and the battery life gives you about eight hundred shots before needing recharged. The solar panels mounted near the base can also be used in an emergency.'

  He proceeded to hand a pistol to everyone but Phil before hefting one of the rifles. 'The plasma rifle is a much more dangerous device, only to be used in the most severe of circumstances and with the most deadly of foes. It had a shorter range and will only contain thirty blasts before being expended.'

  Phil had to give it to the man, as snide and demeaning as he had been in the cockpit, he seemed much more animated and had taken control of the situation now that he was in more familiar territory.

  'Inside each of the lockers is a durasteel fibre hazard vest, it should protect you against all but the most corrosive of materials and may deflect projectiles if they are sent from a suitable distance.'

  He tapped a small keypad beside the lockers and they swung open, revealing what looked like white plastic armour with matching helmets in a uniform size and style.

  'The rest of you have already been in hazardous environments before so suit up and get ready. I shall coach Mr. Jones... our Captain, on the finer points of his equipment.'

  Phil watched the others as they donned the equipment over their uniforms and clipped rifles and pistols in place with a strange sucking click, then Smith promptly obscured his view.

  'Your crew are capable enough that they won't blow their arms off with the weaponry they've been given. I have no such qualms about your capability of doing so... Captain.'

  For once, Phil didn't argue with him. If the time came to use the plasma rifle he fully expected to blow himself into pieces long before any threat could.

  'That is why I shall be taking command of the rescue mission and also appropriating your plasma rifle.' he handed him the pistol only after touching a number of buttons on it. 'The safety on this pistol has been engaged to protect the livelihood of those around you. Should you need to arm the device simply call for me and I shall do so.'

  Phil nodded, there had been no tightening of the glove in warning, apparently this was a sound decision from his security officer. Given his track record with every mechanical device outside of his own computer, Phil felt inclined to agree with this assessment.

  'The durasteel fibre hazard vest will swell to accommodate a man of your... girth. If you ask Annika politely she will make sure it fits you appropriately.'

  Phil nodded once again, not really knowing what else to say to the man. He knew what he was talking about, there was no question of that.

  Waddling over to Annika, he tapped her on the shoulder as she faced the locker. There was no response.

  'Annika?'

  She turned and offered him a smile. 'Yes Captain?' her voice sounded vaguely metallic now that her helmet was on.

  'Can you help dress me?'

  She looked at him quizzically.

  'I mean... that is... can you help me get my clothes on.'

  A silence seemed to have descended upon the armoury.

  'I... er... the armour, can you put the armour on me?'

  She let out a brief exhalation, which Phil didn't understand at all, before smiling at him once more. 'Certainly Captain, these are really quite simple to put on.'

  Mere moments later, Phil was holding his breath and listening to the familiar sound of the computer.

  'Compensating.'

  Black spots were starting to appear in front of his eyes.

  'Compensating.'

  The world seemed rather dizzy and darkness had started encroaching upon his vision in a most disturbing manner.

  'Compensating.' the voice in his helmet infuriatingly repeated to him.

  He couldn't stand it any longer, compensation or not. Letting out a sigh he gulped in another breath of air, this time however the confines of the suit were no longer crushing his ribs.

  'Compensation complete. Enjoy your durasteel fibre hazard vest protective system... Mark II.'
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br />   Phil faintly wondered if they kept a crowbar in the armoury.

  His thoughts were interrupted by Smith beckoning them all out of the armoury and leading them to the exit ramp, which also seemed to be keyed to a small panel barely visible to the side.

  'The way ahead will be fraught with danger.' Smith said to him. 'I will take point, follow me with caution.'

  Phil and his crew disembarked down the descending ramp of the ship, in spite of the scanners not picking up danger in the immediate area, Smith had his gun trained on the horizon as if he expected it to jump out and murder him.

  'The sensors said that there were no heat signatures nearby, don't you think you're being a bit... paranoid?' Annika asked.

  'You can never be too careful on a hostile planet.' the voice on the intercom crackled in response, Phil was still getting used to the signal coming through his helmet.

  It wasn't Smith who had responded, it was RJ.

  'It's nice to see that at least one member of our intrepid group sees the sense in being prepared.' Smith quipped, before dropping back into his more serious tone. 'Be on the look out all the same, there may be things out here that not even our sensors can detect.'

  The dense tree-line had been demolished by the impact of the Scavanger, leaving a trail of broken trunks and scattered planet-life strewn across the floor of their landing site. It was clear to all concerned that this hadn't been a prepared landing, yet as they drew closer to the wreckage it appeared that the hull had maintained its integrity even after impact.

  'The ship's scanners were useless at detecting life inside the vessel as the gravimetric hull plating reflected their attempts.' Annika told Phil as they steadily made their way closer to the hulking mass of metal.

  'So there could still be people alive in there?'