Lost, adrift, unmoored, but not completely helpless, as yet. One side of the Sapphica gleamed from the light shone upon it by a distant star, the other side dark as the infinite stretch of space behind, just like the dark object to the starboard, detached from everything else, the wreck of an earlier ship. "Charlotte", it said on the side. The pod returned, bringing back the little crew of marines.
"Blast damage all over. Engine completely burned out. Navigation down, comm down. It's empty, crew likely taken away alive, no sign of carnage, or even a battle. No ambulatory life form onboard, except what's in the cage in the quarantine bay. What supplies we are able to salvage are also in the bay" The Marine captain, Amber, reported. The all female crew was all on first name basis by now.
There were boxes of ration, and ammo, and a little creature in a cage. "The hell!? What is that thing?" The Ship Captain, Jennifer, Jenn Ackard. The others might be on first name basis, but she remains captain, captain Ackard. She glared with her piercing blue eyes through the glass into the quarantine bay. Her hair, red gold, was gathered into a severe bun behind her head, under her cap. She insisted on wearing her uniform, a plain one, blue flap vecroed over her blouse. The slacks hugged her hips. There was a time for the baggy work suits, and there was a time for formality. It was perhaps scientifically important that a lifeform was brought back from the Charlotte, but could not dwell on that. She had her responsibilities, and her worries. First and foremost, she needed to bring the ship and the crew back to safety. They were her girls, their well being was her primary concern. As for the crew of the Charlotte. They were all female too. "Crew likely taken away alive" Jennifer suppressed an involuntary shudder. There was only one reason why their enemy would take earth women alive.
Her mind whirled with a thousand thoughts, Communications with base was very spotty now, more statics than data, almost non existent. Finding the Charlotte damaged and empty was a blow. She could not even contemplate searching for that crew. They themselves was in a slow building crisis. They had resources, but that could run out. Discipline had to be maintained, above all.
"Dunno as yet. We'll have to get Stacy on it" said Amber. Good, Stacy was the science officer. Keep her busy, keep her sane.
Sergeant MacKenzie stared at the same creature with a slight sneer and her secret thoughts. She stood, on her flat bottomed combat boots, at the same height as the captain, Captain Jenn Ackard, wearing her low pumps. I bet the captain would feel good in my arms, she thought. MacKenzie had her hair cropped short, buzz cut, as per regulation. She wore just her tshirt now, tattoos shown along her arms, her fatigue put away after the spell in decontamination. The shirt stretched over the curves of her body, the outlines of her breasts clearly seen, the nipples two tight points pushing against the fabric, her sidearms always on her hips over the combat pants. holster on one side, ammo clips on the other. She let her glance trail over Jennifer from the side. She saw the rise of the captain's breasts. Did she wear cotton bra? regulation panties? She touched the tip of her tongue to sweep just under her upper lip. She's a fine piece, that captain.
Ever since they were blown off course with the navigational system gone, there was always some unease about whether the officers knew what they were doing. Those uppity women didn't know shit. That's her philosophy and general view. That's why they were in that jame. She was never keen on arbitrary authority based on ranks, which was based on family wealth and connections. But now, things are going to be different. She almost chuckled under her breath, bearing her teeth unconsciously. Now the unease was gone. She hadn't told Amber and she wasnt going to. No one knew. There was a navigation display on the Charlotte, still operational, barely, but it was showing coordinates on the flickering screen. She knew exactly what it was, and she had taken that unit out, unplugged the module and pocketed it. As long as she was alone in the navigation station, She had the killed the switches, and smashed the little board so that the whole thing was dead beyond recall. "knowledge is power" She knew more than the captain now. She knew more than anyone. She would be the savior - she, not those rich bitches.
