Chapter 6.2: Daring Rescue

Peter will go for the cover behind the tree at BF57 and take a burst shot at R5

Trade Era 1235, Day 163. 12:32 UTC

Abandoned dome, Underworld, Zyronis

Peter took a deep breath, steadying himself as he aimed his laser rifle at the last combat robot. With precision and determination, he fired a series of bursts, each shot finding its mark. The robot staggered under the onslaught, sparks flying from its damaged components. Finally, with a fizzle and a loud bang, the robot exploded, collapsing into a heap of twisted metal and circuitry.

The battlefield fell silent, the echoes of the explosion fading into the distance. Peter and Douklan lowered their weapons, relief washing over them as the immediate threat had been neutralized. But there was still work to be done.

In the meantime, Maya hurried to Corbin's side, her medical kit in hand. Corbin was stable but Maya knew he needed something more to regain his strength. She retrieved two Lift stims from her kit and carefully administered it to Corbin."Hang in there, Corbin," Maya said, her voice filled with concern and determination. "This should help."

The Lift stim worked quickly, augmenting and amplifying Corbin’s body's natural response to physical injury and exhaustion. Within moments, his eyes fluttered open, and he took a deep, steadying breath. Color began to return to his cheeks, and his strength slowly returned.

As Corbin regained his strength, the sound of footsteps echoed through the cavernous dome. Hank and Mercer appeared, their expressions a mix of relief and determination as they surveyed the aftermath of the battle.

With Hank and Mercer now on the scene, the crew of the Celestial Voyager regrouped.

Maya's voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Thank you for saving me," she said, her words barely audible. The weight of the moment settled heavily upon her, the realization of what had been lost sinking in. Around her, the remnants of her salvage crew lay motionless, their faces a grim testament to the brutal fight they had endured.

In the meantime, James scanned the remains of the combat robots, his sensors noting the potential for salvage and repair. The twisted metal and shattered components held valuable resources and technology that could prove useful. However, the crew of the Celestial Voyager lacked the means to transport such heavy and cumbersome debris back to their ship.

Finally, Maya spoke up, her voice carrying a mix of hope and resignation. "The advanced core drive we were looking for is just north of this dome," she said, pointing in the direction. "My team was after it, but after everything that's happened, I won't claim it anymore. Those combat robots were defending it."

Sliding his pack off Mercer will hand it to James. There should be some room for salvage in there.(I have like 2 "slots" for it.)
Then he will go over to Maya and Talk with her. Partially to assess how she is reacting, making sure she won't go into unresponsive shock. Mostly to just be kind, let her decompress and talk about what just happened if she needs to. He knows what it's like to lose people on a mission so he can empathize.

"Does she mean that there are more of these robots?" Douklan wonders, as much to himself as to the others, as Mercer has already led Maya off to one side. "Seems to me that she'd want to get the core drive, so their sacrifice will have produced something." He hooks up his plasma projector to his suit to recharge it. "But if there are more defenders like these, I can see why she wouldn't." Plugged in now, Douklan goes over to check on Corbin, then checks the other salvage crew just to make sure that they find any others who might still be alive.

Mercer took the opportunity to approach Maya. He could see the weight of the recent events pressing heavily on her, and he knew all too well the impact of such loss. With a kind expression, he stepped beside her.

"Hi, Maya. I'm Mercer," he introduced himself, offering a gentle smile. "I just wanted to check in and see how you're holding up."

Maya glanced up at him, her eyes weary but grateful for the concern. "Thanks. It's been... a lot to take in. I'm managing, but it's hard."

Mercer nodded, understanding her sentiment. "I get it. I've been through missions where we've lost people too. It never gets easier, but talking about it can help."

She took a deep breath, her shoulders sagging slightly as she allowed herself to lean on his empathy. "They were more than just my crew. Jax, Luca, Elena... they were like family. We were all looking forward to this mission, to finding something valuable. I can't believe they're gone."



She hesitated for a moment, then sighed heavily. "I’m a qualified field surgeon and intensivist. I’ve saved countless lives in the past, but... I couldn’t save them. I couldn’t save my team." Her voice broke slightly, the weight of her regret evident.Mercer looked at her with understanding. "You did everything you could. Sometimes, no matter how skilled we are, we can't save everyone. It’s a hard truth to accept, but it doesn’t make you any less of a doctor or a person."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she nodded. "I know, but it doesn’t stop the guilt. I keep thinking about what I could have done differently. Maybe if I had been quicker, or if I had made different decisions..."

"Those 'what-ifs' will tear you apart if you let them," Mercer said gently. "You did your best under impossible circumstances. You were there for them when it mattered most. That’s what counts."

Maya took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Thank you, Mercer. I just... I need a shower and some rest. I feel like I can’t think straight."

"Once we get back to the ship, we'll make sure you get both," Mercer assured her.

---

With his weapon now plugged in and recharging, Douklan felt a renewed sense of urgency. He couldn't shake the thought that there might still be other threats lurking nearby. He walked over to check on Corbin, who was leaning against a rusted gravcar, still regaining his strength after Maya's administration of the Lift stim.

"How are you holding up, Corbin?" Douklan asked, his tone concerned.After Corbin's answer and a thumbs-up, Douklan moved purposefully through the debris-strewn area. The sight of the fallen salvage crew members weighed heavily on him, but he knew they couldn't leave without ensuring they had done everything possible to help.

He first checked Jax, the chief engineer. Jax's body lay motionless, and a quick check confirmed there was nothing more to be done. Douklan whispered a small prayer for him before moving on.

Next, he found Luca Vasquez. The navigator's lifeless form was a stark reminder of the fierce battle they had just fought. Douklan took a moment to close Luca's eyes, a gesture of respect for the fallen.

Finally, Douklan came upon Captain Elena Ramirez. The scene was heartbreaking, but he steeled himself, hoping against hope that there might still be a chance. However, it was clear that she had also succumbed to the brutal attack of the robot with the heavy machine gun.

With a heavy heart, Douklan stood and looked around the devastated area. The thought of more combat robots hidden in the shadows made his skin crawl, but he knew they couldn't afford to be paralyzed by fear.

Returning to Corbin, he gave a slight shake of his head. "They're all gone. No one else made it."

"Another day at the office Douklan." Corbin checks over his suit and gear, making sure everything is squared and ready to move.

"Did I hear there's core drive waiting to be picked up?"

Hank says, "I'm all for getting the core drive and bringing it back, but ..." He pauses for a moment, then continues, "How big is it, and how are we going to move it back? Also, what are we going to do with those that didn't survive this fight? I hate to just leave their bodies behind. Do we have anything to carry all of this back? Other than just our backs?"

And to Maya he says, "I don't know what you have available to you when we get back, but I have a job for you if you are interested."

I think we should try and secure the Drive. It's not... Something should come from all this.
Besides I think I can talk to the ... Locals...
And if we get that gravsled secure we might be able to transport some more of this salvage or the hovorcycle salvage.

Hank smiles at Maya's answer and says, "I don't expect an answer here. The point right now is just to make sure you know you have options. We can talk later when we're safe and out of danger if you decide you are interested."

After giving that a couple seconds, he continues, "Again, how big was that drive core? If we don't get the sled, we'll need to carry it. Is that even possible? We do need to bring it back, if at all possible."

"So our only option that results in our returning with the drive core is to go back to that electrical substation and reclaim the salvage team's bikes and sled." Douklan explicitly states the obvious, a practice he developed from years in the military. He gently inquires of Maya: "How far from here do you think it is to where you fought the rats, and how much further from there to the substation?" then adds to the rest of the group, "We'll need to know that to see if it's feasible to go there, come back here, and then leave for our shuttle."

A mile total then. We can do that in ten minutes, probably without pushing ourselves. It would make sense to go look.

"Sounds about right, Douklan. As long as we keep him upright, Corbin can do that for us." Turning back to Maya, "If we're gonna do this, we'll need you to help guide us to the bikes and sled, and then to the substation. It'd be great if there was a way we could get our shuttle to meet us there, but that isn't possible. Hopefully, between or efforts we have cleaned out the defenses."

"If we are going to take them back to Zyronis, we have to take them with us. If we leave them here, we might not be able to return here, and they might not be here if we do come back. We need to either bury them here, or take them with us."