PART 2

In the near-total blackness of the gulf, a white shimmering shape began to form. As it solidified, it was apparent that it was a spaceship.
      After a few minutes the silvery vessel was more defined, yet still not entirely solid. The terrestrial symbol identified the ship's origins despite the ghostly effects of hyperspace travel.

Back inside the Generator Room, Andre Fredricko and Ivan Yakovich, had arrived upon the scene. Andre wore the white uniform of the Med crew, while Ivan was dressed in an all-black version of the space fatigues, which along with his dark hair and eyes, made his pale complexion seem even whiter.
      As Andre was examining Ed, Ivan glared at Jackie with a disapproving look which made Jackie a bit nervous, despite the fact that Ivan was ten years younger than he and certainly no match for him physically. Still, Ivan was the only one who understood the broken alien technology before them, and with that knowledge held all of their lives in his hand - especially those of Jackie's girlfriend and young son.
      "Well? How is he?"
      Andre, who had been silent since his arrival, looked up at the others and sadly stated, "I'm afraid he's dead." Andre then made the sign of the cross and softly recited a prayer in his native language, Aymaran.
      "Damn." muttered Jackie under his breath.
      While the others stood with their heads hung low, Jackie began to pace around the Generator Room. Ivan's scornful stare followed him.
      "I guess it was internal bleeding. Looks like a broken rib punctured his spleen. I'll let Indrani perform the autopsy. She's more used to doing that sort of thing - though it has been a while."
      Andre and Pili gently lifted Ed's lifeless body onto a mobile medical transport unit that floated a half-meter off the floor. As Andre was about to leave, Jackie stopped his pacing to talk to him.
      "Andre, would you, um, mind keeping mum about this? We need a little time to get things fixed up in here." Jackie's expression was sheepish, and he ran his fingers nervously through his thinning blonde hair .
      Andre nodded in reply.
      "Thanks." added Jackie.
      "I'll go back to finishing the maintenance checks."
      "Good idea, Pili."
      Jackie looked straight at Ivan, finding himself unglued by Ivan's jet black eyes and icy demeanor, enhanced by his pale complexion.
      "Hey look, so I got carried away! The guy was barmy! He would have wrecked everything!"
      Ivan continued to stare at him unmoved.
      "It's bad enough he disabled the cloaking device." Jackie motioned to the scattered components.
      'Disabled?' That comment produced a little wry surprise in Ivan, and he raised his eyebrows a bit, barely noticeable beneath his long black bangs.
      Jackie started to walk toward the tool storage area. He gestured for Ivan to follow him with his overly muscular arm.
      "Well com'on kid. Let's see if we can fix it."
      At Jackie's heedless proclamation, Ivan's expression changed to total disbelief.
      'Fix it? He has got to be joking!'

Less than two hours later, Ivan had managed to put the cloaking device back together, but several attempts to re-ignite the alien power supply were without success.
      "Still nothing?" asked Jackie, more than a little amazed at how fast Ivan put the mysterious contraption back together.
      Ivan stood up. "No. I'm afraid the only one who can get it going again is Jolan."
      Jackie swallowed a bit and after a moment's hesitancy said, "So. What do you suggest we do now."
      "There's nothing we can do, except to let the others know what's going on." shrugged Ivan.

In the Weapons Control Room (WCR or "Wicker"), a relatively small room consisting of two sets of VR weapons controllers and a slightly larger-than-normal work area, Ivan found the space extremely claustrophobic. This was largely due to Jackie's stifling presence, as he loomed over Ivan who was sitting at the communications station.
      Ivan was about to switch on the 'general access' mode, when Jackie suddenly barked, "Hold it!"
      Ivan stopped and looked up at Jackie, feeling more annoyed at his arrogance.
      Jackie, however, ignored Ivan's scorn, having regained his usual 'take charge' attitude as he haughtily declared, "I think we should let the gunhoes know first. Make sure our defenses are ready. It'll lessen the 'panic factor'."
      "Whatever." replied Ivan, switching the controls to 'private mode'. He knew that once Jackie's false humbleness had worn off, it was useless to try to argue with him.
      "So, who do you suggest we call first?" asked Ivan sarcastically, his arms folded across his chest.
      "Let's start with Marimu. He's the best we've got, though his ol' lady's no slouch either."
      "Computer, hail Marimu/Johnston quarters."
      The black video screen changed to a view of the double-sized quarters of Daniel Marimu and Belinda Johnston.
      Belinda, a lithe, petite 31-year old with straight blonde hair cut in a bob, sat down at the console. On the wall behind her was a mural of kangaroos, goannas, emus and other various Australian wildlife, all painted in the X-ray style of Arnhem Land.
      "Hello?"
      Jackie had put on his most engaging smile. "Belinda. Howaya. Danny there?"
      Belinda's attention was focused more on Ivan, who was looking away uneasily. She knew it wasn't just a social call.
      "No. You just missed him. Why, what's up?"
      "Well, we've got trouble, that's what."
      "Oh?" queried Belinda, finding Ivan's unusual silence ominous.
      "Colby flipped out and wrecked the cloaking device."
      "Oh no! How is he?" asked Belinda, more concerned about her friend's condition than that of the alien mechanism.
      Jackie suddenly became very uncomfortable, and Ivan ended his muteness to grimly answer, "He's dead."
      'And Jackie killed him,' Ivan wanted to add, but he knew that Belinda would find out soon enough. And so would everyone else for that matter.
      Jackie, a little surprised that Ivan didn't tell her, tried to regain his former bravado and he quickly interjected, "I thought we should gather up the gunhoes and make sure all our defenses are ready."
      Belinda, still in a daze from the news about Ed, softly muttered, "I'll let Danny know. I'm pretty sure I know where he is."
      "Good. Then meet us in the Wicker. And, well, it's probably best to keep this mum. No sense in telling the others until we're fully prepared."
      "Uh-huh."
      "Seeya soon, Bel..."
      Belinda clicked off the ComMod before Jackie could finish.

GO TO PART 3

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