Chapter 6: The Finding

Dutch and Vetra were coming back after a few hours of R&R with a group of other close Frontier soldiers. Suvi and Vetra were a bit drunk, arms around each and mumbling some song. As the group was chattering and laughing, Dutch began to sway Suvi back to the Star Corps quarters .

"Come on, you need to lie down for a bit!" Dutch told Suvi.

Suvi swung her arms around Dutch laughing, "Oh? Why don't we go somewhere more... private?"

Dutch sighed, "You're drunk Suvi, come on. You'll need tk sober up before the briefing."

She groaned, "But I wanna have more fun! We don't get to do this often!"

Her silky black hair was kind of a mess and in his face.

"Suvi, be more professional with your colleague!" Dutch exclaimed.

As they approached the Star Corps quaters, Nubasik was standing by the door. Clearly waiting.

Suvi let off another giggle while clinging to Dutch even more.

Nubasik looked at them, with his helmet on, Dutch couldn't make tails of his expression.

"Having... fun?" Nubasik asked.

Dutch sighed, "Help me get her settled, then we can discuss whatever you need?"

He knodded, "You can deal with her, I'll wait here."

Ditch sighed again, he ended up bursting into the Star Corps quaters with the drunk Suvi, who was giggling like crazy and latched to Dutch. Who felt a bit embarrassed.

All the new recruits were laughing and staring. Luckily the regiments head commanders had a private quaters within the main quaters.

He had to kinda carry Suvi through the quaters, snickers and chatter began. As they closed in on their private quaters, Dutch came across Private 3rd class Vazquez Filno and Staff Sergeant Revin Saud.

Vazquez laughed, "Again man? Damn, she can't handle booze? Ha! Don't be to long, Captain..." he said with a smirk.

Revin also laughed, "Jeez, you 2 are already off to have fun? You just got back!" He teased.

They were just having a fun time and throwing jokes at him, Dutch just wish they didn't do it in front of the recruits.

As he bursted into the private quaters, he shut the door immediately. He looked into the open room with a small seating area in the center and a kitchen in the far back, 2 sets of bunks on each side of the room with lockers next to them, and living area near the door. It has been only Suvi and Dutch in this room for almost 2 years. Dutch and Suvi lay in the bunks on the right side of the room, her on bottom bunk and him on top. Well these were habital pods but still bunks.

He had manage to her to the bunk and lay her down. She was half asleep and drunk. He put her blanket over her and he headed for the door... until he heard Suvi crying.

"Dutch... can you... sit with me?" She said sniffling. Whenever Suvi gets drunk, she starts out all happy and all, but it ends with her being emotionally, but this wasn't really due alcohol in her system. They were memories, memories that she held onto. Of the things and people she lost, everytime she has to much to drink or randomly as she sleep. These memories pop up mainly in her sleep.

Memories of her family and home world, Tsunaliv.

She lost her home, family, and was forced into slavery. She has nightmares of it in her sleep.

As Dutch say beside Suvi, he held her hand till she passed out, he gently slipped his hand away and quietly went to the door. Vazquez was waiting for him outside, "Hey man, did you all seriously go out in your combat armor and you layed her down in it?" He asked.

Dutch had forgot, him and Suvi never changed before leaving, "Crap! No wonder we were getting weird looks!" He said embarrassed.

Vazquez laughed at him as he walked away, Sergeant Revin was beside Dutch, unnoticed.

"So, some of these new recruits are ex scum? Why is that? Why is the C.F.M. taking these shits in?!" Revin said angrily.

"Well, some of them were in prison and were given an ultimatum. Join us or be executed. Fair right? Just like Taunis! The higher ups really swooped low on this one." Dutch said.

Revin grinned, "Some of them aren't really bad guys nor really hateful people. A few on the other hand, should be airlocked!" Revin stated.

Dutch shook his head and went to meet with Nubasik. He walked out the door to find the tall 4 armed brute.

"So my father has requested me home, due to some house matters!" Explained Nubasik.

Dutch shook his head, "And you need my approval, your 6th Fleet division command... Just fill out the paperwork bud!"

Just than, the A.I. on comms came on. "Captain Tvankiv and Lieutenant Bulov, report to the bridge immediately!!"

Dutch forgot that the doctor and Technician reported the incident, the Admiral isn't gonna be happy. Vetra was also still basicly drunk! Dutch hastily walked to the bridge, he knodded Nubasik.

A few minutes later he was approaching the Recon Quaters, he took and deep breath than walked in. The quaters were mostly empty to Dutch's surpise. The recon quaters was actually a area meant to house 400 Recon members, but currently housed roughly 300 members, but there were only about 10 recon members in the quaters. Just like the Star Corps, the high ranking members had their own private quaters inside the main quaters. Off to his right and in the distance were 9 members of the Recon playing cards. Dutch knocked on the door and waited for a response, he waited a few moments before knocking again. He was getting a bit upset, he began to bang on the door hard.

A thud was heard and seconds lated the door opned to an angry Vetra, "LISTEN HERE YOU DUMB MOTHERFUCKERS! I HAVE A HANGOV---" she was yelling but stopped when she saw that it was Dutch. She sighed, "What do you want Dutch?"

Dutch shook his head at her, "the Admiral called for us, we need to go to the bridge. Now!" As he signaled her to hurry and dressed, she groaned and like a sloth, she closed the door and slowly got dressed.

Dutch waited a good 12 minutes, watching the 9 recon members at a table play poker.

Dutch has never played poker, he got a few faint looks from them, they probably never seen a really scarred man before. Dutch could feel his lighting scars act up, they sizzled on him ane his battle scars ached.

Dutch held out on the pain, because he knew it wasn't happening. His phantom pain was just acting up.

Vetra walked through her quaters doors all groggy.

"Hey sleeping beauty! The Admiral is still waiting for your slow ass!" Dutch exclaimed but Vetra flipped him the bird and continued walking. Dutch was right behind her. They had begun towards the bridge.

Minutes later--

Dutch and Vetra were almost to the bridge entrance, but they suddenly heard yelling. "AND WHY NOT!??"

They couldn't make out the voice, as they closed in on the door and heard another yell, "THATS BULLSHIT! YOU AND I BOTH KNOW IT!!!"

As their about to walk through the door, A Colonial Ranger burst through. Shouting "MOVE!" At Dutch and Vetra. They both moved asside and walked onto the bridge. All officers, operators, pilots, and engineers on deck were looking uncomfortable but trying to not react to what happened. The Large Draco, the 6th fleet Admiral. Was obviously upset, but the moment he noticed the 2 walking to him. He went from upset to happy quick.

He holds his arms up, "My 2 favorite division commanders! Listen we need to talk. Ok, so our next mission will be soon, I just got the report from the technician and Doctor. I've reviewed it and I see that you 2 are very stressed. Maybe it was the cause? Do you... want me to find new commanders to take over this operation? So you 2 can rest!"

Dutch and Vetra were shocked, they expected an ass chewing or something!

Dutch spoke up first, "I think Vetra can agree, maybe some serious R&R after the operation? We are kinda needed!" Vetra knodded in agreement.

The Admiral sighed, "I just don't want 2 of my top division commanders to stressed to fight!"

Vetra stepped forward, "Sir! We will be fine. We can take anything coming!"

The ship started to shake, "Sir! What was that? We are in space! What hit us so hard we shook!?" Shouted Dutch.

The Admiral raised his hand, a sign to calm down.

"I know I didn't warn anyone but we are actually about to use warp gate to get to the system." Said the Admiral.

He pointed at the bridge window, there was a large structure that is built onto 5 different astroids, connecting them. In the center was a vastly large circle with a glowing inner sector. The fleet went one by one into the portal, the gravity of the portal was causing the shaking, which continued for no more than a minute. It stopped the moment the main fleet ship went through and not even seconds later, there was a green sun in view.

Suddenly alarms were going off, the Admiral walked up to set of computers and crew, "Status report!!"

The man at the computer was messing with some dials and replied "Collison detectors are going off, we are close to hitting something!!"

The Admiral seemed worried, "SLOW THE FLEET AND ADJUST PROJECTORY TO AVOID IT!!"

The man behind him shut off the alarms, "It's close sir but we won't hit it!"

Out of nowhere, Vetra and Dutch felt a weird presence, something.... was drawing them to the window... a voice, "Come.... come.... come...."

The disembodied voice kept repeating until the 2 walked up to the window, they only saw darkness. Dutch turned to the Admiral, "Can we get lights in the object?"

The Admiral gave a signal for lights, all fleet ships turned on spot lights and looked around, they revealed a big but thin station with 3 round hab stations on it, Dutch and Vetra both saw a figure.... the burnt and orange eyed Vetra, she pointed at a dark piece of the station and was walkint. Vetra gulped, "Please tell me you see her too!"

"Yeah, This... is not normal... what is that?"

The station was rotating and as the figure stopped and was still poing. A set of markings appeared. Dutch read them out loud for Vetra, "TDS-5263!"

They quickly remembered, "Admiral Sir! I request to take a ship and explore that station for possible Taunis information!"

The Admiral was confused, "Ok? Thats a bit sudden Dutch...."

Vetra chimed in, "Me too sir! We could take a small ship and investigate it!"

The Admiral thought for a moment, "Ok! You 2 can get a small team and go down, but only if you give me an actual reason. This is too sudden, even for you 2!"

Dutch sighed, "Ok sir! Taunis might might of left something we can use against against them!! This is a start!"

Vetra spoke up, "He's right, even the G.T.M.I get sloppy!"

The Admiral took a few minutes to think.

"Ok, under one Condition! If you find nothing! You 2 have sit out for most of this operation!" The Admiral barked.

Dutch was surpsied by his answer and so was Vetra, "Thats a bit extreme sir!" Exlaimed Vetra.

"I have my reasons, now we will use magnetic grapples to grab it! You got 2 hours!" Barked the Admiral.

Dutch and Vetra were worried, thats a big condition, even for him!

Vetra put her hand on Dutch's shoulder, "I'll grab one of my guys. You get Revin, Vazquez, and Vill. Sound good?" She asked.

Dutch shook his head in agreement.

Roughly 25 minutes later...

Dutch had walked in with Revin, Vazquez, ane Vill. Vetra brought alone a volunteer, he had a brown skull on his helmet.

Dutch looked at him, "So a ex bandit volunteered for this? Why?" Dutch said with a judgmental tone in his voice.

The Recon member saluted Dutch, "Sir! Private Tale reporting, sir! I wanted to prove myself to Lieutenant Bulov! Sir!"

Dutch sighed, "Ok, you don't need to say Sir so much! Alright! Just don't act like a jackass!" Thr soldier knodded.

Dutch looked at his TIC and seem they had an hour and half left.

"alright! Everyone we are leaving! Get loaded, now!" As Dutch barked.

The team had begun to get loaded into a non combat space craft.

As the hanger doors open and the craft was released for take off. It lightly took off, as it lightly exited the ship and picked up speed as it flew.

They craft approached the station, Dutch had been looking for a docking area. Vazquez spoke up, "Hey, is it just me or does this place look dead?"

Revin chimmed in, "Duh it's dead dumbass! It was left behind! It probably lost power awhile ago!"

Vazquez wasn't happy with Revin, "Hey Punta! I was pointing out that the station is in tact but empty! Yeah it was abandoned but isn't there like a security system on these things!?"

Revin was furious, "DID YOU JUST CALL ME A PUNTA?!"

Just a moment later, Dutch grabs both of them by their shoulders and pulls them close.

He spoke in a calm but some what loud voice, "I don't give 2 flying fucks if you 2 don't get along! Until this mission is done, you will knock your bullshit off or you will he floating back to the fleets main ship!"

Vetra was looking out the ships window, "Pilot! Bow of the station! Also, Vazquez! I do agree. The G.T.M.I usually have self substaining defense systems. Even if this station didn't hold a significant job, we should of seen at least 3 anti ship turrets. The issue is, we aren't seeing any!"

Dutch pushed the 2 apart, the pilot directed the space craft toward the bow of the station, where a visibly open hanger was seen.

As the pilot entered the hanger and landed, the pilot came onto comms. "Ok team, it looks like the artificial gravity and oxygen genies are out! Hell! I don't think any of the station has power! The only light you will have is from the fleets spot lights and your suits! Keep an eye on your air levels and timers, I don't wanna bring back bodies."

The back of the ship opened up and the soldiers stepped out. There were many doors, as they shined their lights around. The noticed an unexpected sight, dead bodies. Floating and some latched to rails.

Tale was visibly frightened, Vill put his hand on Tale's shoulder. "You're an ex bandit! Have you not seen this stuff before?"

Tale shook his head, "I actually was starting out when we got arrested. At most, I helped loot some cargo ships but we never went to abandoned ship wrecks or dead stations!" He exclaimed.

Revin let out a laugh, "I'm actually shocked too! This place is supposed to be abandoned, it looks almost like an attack or something happened!" He said.

Dutch interrupted, "We will split up into 2 teams! Team 1 will find anything we can find! If we can even find or access anything! Team 2, restore power and than resume original objective! Team 1, that will be me, revin, and vill. Team 2, that will be Vetra, tale, and Vazquez! We got an hour and 20 left! Move!"

Ditch took team 1 to the an upper deck area, the door was already open. Forced open by the looks of it.

Vetra took team 2 to a lower area, they were looking for a possible map.

Team 1 manage to get through the doorway, shinning their lights as they floated.

Revin spoke up, "Do we even know what this station was used for?"

Vill shook his head, "Not a fucking clue! Dutch saw this damn thing and immediately requested to come search it!" He stated.

Revin was confused now, "Captain Tvankiv? Requested to search a station upon discovery? Hey Dutch! Are you feeling ok? That's not something you would normally do!"

Dutch grabbed a corner to help turn and shine his light down the hall. He could see the hallway had broken windows and the window shields clearly were shot through!

Dutch looked at the 2, "I don't have you give you 2 a damn reason for this! You're jobs are to do as I say! Now tell me! Do those window shields look like they were shot, from the inside?"

Both Revin and Vill looked, Vill noticed something odd.

Vill pointed and shined his light, "some of those bodies, have guns!"

Revin shined his light around, "Captain! Theres used energy cartridges and defense bots with energy weapon marks!"

Dutch was shocked, the G.T.M.I have done some horrible stuff, but attacking their own station? Dutch had to report in but at that time, Vetra's team had made a bigger discovery!

Moments ago...

"Ok, so we if take this passage down blue sector, we can find the entrance to the power relay." She said pointing at the station layout map.

Tale had shined his light, "Ma' am! This map shows a data server room! Should we radio the Captain?" He said a bit excited.

Vazquez spoke up, "Here let me! *he accesses his long range com* Captain! Do you have a copy? Captain? Weird, he just left us not long ago! Let me see if i can reach the pilot!" who was still in the space craft.

"Team to ship! Do you read?" Vazquez called.

The pilot is visibly not replying, not ignoring them.

Vetra became worried, "If the powers out but we can only use close range coms. Something is jamming our signals but has power!"

Tale became confused, "I'm no genius but shouldn't we be able to talk without the coms?"

Vazquez sighed, "they didn't cover this in your training? *Vazquez began to force a door open* sound doesn't travel in space! I could *grunts* scream in your ear! *more grunting* Vetra help me with this! *the door began to creak and open* see! Sound can't travel in space, no one can hear you scream even if it's in their ear!"

The door flew open and both Vetra and Vazquez flew back a bit.

The went through and Vazquez continued, "thats why, you need radios to communicate! Otherwise, you can only see their movements! That way!" Vazquez pointed.

As they moved, "oh, so even a gunshot or canon can't be heard! Even if you stood right by it?" Asked Tale.

"Yep! Now you won't hear anything! To pay attention to yo---" Vazquez was abruptly interrupted as an active defense both turned the corner and swung at them!

All 3 began to shoot it, putting large holes in it and melting its armor.

Vetra was shocked, "Fuck! That looked like it was already in fight! What the hell? How is it even active?!"

Vazquez approached and looked around the corner. A hall with no windows but floating bodies and guns.

They continued down the hall, as they were almost to the end, another set of light turned on. At the end of the hall!

The 3 stopped and shut off their lights, they slowly approached the end of the hallway and tried to peak around the corner of the doorway. Vetra have a signal to hold as she looked, she had seen the power generator entrance! Torn open but being guarded by 3 more defense bots. All 3 looked scraped up and damaged.

The defense bots were human shaped but thinner. They usually have 2 turrets on their shoulders and 3 fingered hands, with serrated fingers.

All 3 looked barely functional, using magnetic locks to keep to the ground.

Only 1 had any turret, the other 2 only hand 1 arm.

Vetra came up with a plan, "Ok, we will burst in and spread out, gun down the one with a turret, the other 2 should be easier to take out."

Tale spoke up, "Um, don't we have EMP grenades?"

Vazquez laughed, "we didn't expect lethal forces, so no!"

Vetra put her hand up, "on the 3, we will rush in and spread out. Take out the one with a turret and once that one is out, focus on the others. 1.... 2... 3!"

The bursted into the doorway. Vetra shot towards the roof, tale to other side of the room, and Vazquez towards the floor. All them focusing fire on the bot with a turret. It barely responsed to them and was easily taken out, the other released their locks but barely functioned.

Tale was all chirpy, "That was easy!"

Vazquez let out a laugh, "Yeah because they were already broken!"

As the 2 laughed, Vetra entered the generator room, where she found a body latched to a handle on the generator. A glass pad is stuck in the other, Vetra was about to flip the generator when her curiosity got the best of her, she grabbed the pad.

It was dead but she saw a port, one she could hook her TIC up to. She plugged it snd the pad lit up, the 2 men laughing on comms.

The pad started up and a white bar showed up. 'Reply last call? Y/N?'

As she clicked yes, the 2 floated and approached her.

Video date- ■■-■■-■■

Sent by: Asozskkssm292q99

Replay start:

A man came onto the screen, gunfire and panic behind him.

He spoke: TOM! FOR GOD SAKES THEY'RE PUSHING US!! SHUT THE DAMM GENERATOR OFF!!

a second voice came up, the pads original beholder.

Tom spoke: I'M TRYING! THEY'RE OUTSIDE AND GETTING THROUGH! DAMN IT! YOU! CUT POWER TO THE A.I. DEFENSE NETWORK! IM CUTTING ALL POWER NOW! GOD SPEED, I HOPE WE DON'T FAIL!

A flick is heard and power is cut, screen starts to break apart.

The first man was speaking.

"Damn it! Lori... I'm sorry.... i won't be coming home... Tom, you're a good friend."

Tom spoke and was calmer, "they're slower, they will get us till and no way we are leaving. At least i have a friend till the end! *a shot is rang out* fuck.... they're here!"

Tom collapsed but didn't let go. The bots were barely functioning but shooting.

"I hope you cut the power to the network, if not. The rescue party won't have a good time!"

Replay ended

Vazquez spoke up, "that was uh... mundane?"

Tale laughed, "sad? Do either of you know how to tell if that power was cut?"

Vetra shook her head, "Nope! We should tell the Captain! This would be more of a risk than anything!"

Just than, a static started up

. "Lieutenant do you copy? W- door- open and- power on! We- full power- files- waiting!"

Vetra couldnt fully make the sentences out, she tried to signal them. "Dutch if you can hear me, the defense bots turned against the crew! We aren't sure if the network is fully cut off. It controls the bots... *shes a bit frustrated* we have to abort!!

But the power turned on, as all 3 looked over, the switch is still on off. A blue light appeared, it started to glow as it spoke. "They thought they had control of the station, but they never did. All they did was put me.l on a temporary sleep mode. Thank you destroying my bots, their destruction awoke me. I recognize your suits... C.F.M..... prepare to die!!!" The light shouted..... station A.I.