Four days later The Aubrey arrived at the Ship graveyard. Blake was more than a little shocked at how many vessels, turning forever in their dying condition, floated out in the area. Literally, hundreds of ships lay before them.
From small fighter class ships to mind bogglingly huge capital ships and everything in between.
If we can't find what we need here, I doubt we'll find it anywhere.
"So what's our first move, Aubrey?"
"Service and repair bots. We will need them to remove any salvage from the body of the vessels. The capital ships will have the best chance of finding them. And also acquiring ship weapons, supplies, and personal arms."
"Do you think we will actually need to arm ourselves?"
"I would consider it better to have them and not need them captain."
Well, I can't say fairer than that.
"OK, Aubrey. Steer us into the best target without undue risk of collisions, please."
The ship moved forward through the graveyard, progressing deeper in towards a Dominion Dreadnought. Or so Aubrey told them.
One big ass ship is the same as another to me. How the fuck are we going to find anything on this thing. The damn things a mile long!
"Elenor, I don't suppose you know much about these ships, do you?"
"Not even a little. But I'm sure as hell gonna learn when I board it. No way I'm getting left behind on this mission!"
"I wouldn't dream of letting you miss out on boarding a derelict military behemoth, with who knows how many dangers to discover."
Elenor burst out laughing at that. "You're all heart captain."
The Dreadnought just got larger and larger. There seemed no end to it.
Laser turrets that started out looking like the size of cars continued to grow to truck size, then the size of houses.
The Aubrey drifted ever closer, heading for a hull breach, a blacked scorched hole in the body of the ship that would be the boarding point for their ship.
While the ship passing the twisted hull breach, Blake could see that the destruction had been caused by some kind of internal explosion.
The hull plates bowed outwards, more severe burns inside than out.
External lights from The Aubrey lit the interior of what could now be recognised as a launch bay for small craft.
Small being a relative word, as the craft wreckage was large than his own ship.
The logic as to why Aubrey had chosen this as their entry point become clear.
Small vessel salvage of a military ship, replete with untold damaged goods, and a space walk without the risk of getting thrown off into the void.
"This makes the job a lot easier for us Elenor. If they don't have repair bots on the ship, the Dreadnought should have some near this launch bay."
"Landing now, captain."
"Thank you, Aubrey. We'll head to the cargo bay now. Think you can give a ride on the Grav Sled, with a stop at the Mess for protein paste?"
"Certainly, captain."
The cargo bay doors opened as soon as the Engineering Bay doors were closed, a ramp extending out to the floor of the launch bay. The vast launch bay allowed the larger chunks of debris to spread themselves out for the most part. The two humans' EVA suit lights reflected all the grains of metal floating about them.
"Where is the best place to search for repair bots, Aubrey?"
"I am receiving anomalous readings from the Dreadnoughts secondary crew areas captain. There appears to be an atmosphere in some of the mechanical repair bays and adjoining quarters. The mechanical bay would be a reasonable search location while resolving the reason for the readings I have reported."
"Atmosphere? What are the odds of that happening?
"Low to zero, captain."
Blake and elenor made their way across yhe bay towards an airlock, gently pushing the rare piece of larger debris out of their paths as they went. The humans passed under the body of the frigate that was to be their original target. What Blake had considered a small craft showed him how much he had underestimated its size.
Perspective is a crazy thing. And this vessel is inside a far greater ship. It would take weeks to go room to room on the Dreadnought.
As the humans arrived at the airlock, they found damage to the airlock controls that didn't match the expected destruction of an internal explosion.
"Those controls have been burned from laser fire. Small arms lasers." Elenor studied the damage and gave her report.
"Blake, this looks very specific and intentionally destroyed."
"And the pressurised area is right behind it. Like they are trying to keep something in."
This is every scary sci fi movie I've ever seen. If that hatch opens, it will be signing our death warrants.
Captain. Two lifesigns are present in the area. They are human lifesigns. They do not appear to be in any distress."
"Thank you, aubrey. Our EVA suits will protect us from any viral or bacterial infections, right?"
God damn it. You're gonna open it aren't you Blakie-Boy. Because you think people need help.
"Yes, captain. If I detect any such infectious agents, I can decontamination the both of you in the cargo bay."
Well get on with it then Blake. If you're so keen to run to danger.
Blake sighed and stepped up to the airlock controls. His repair skill made short work of the damaged components. The airlock hatch rolled into the wall allowing the two humans entry. Pressing the interior control panel closed the hatch and cycled the airlock.
"Maintain suit integrity at all times till I give the word. Don't open any closed doors till we can arm ourselves. Expect the unexpected."
The interior airlock hatch rolled aside at that moment.
Two children stood waiting.
What the actual fuck is going on!
A boy and a girl looked at them expectantly. The girl looked around 12 years old. She wore an oversized IVA suit taped at the waist, arms, and legs to fit her. Messy blonde hair that looked like it had been cut with a knife. She looked a little thin but in no way malnourished.
The boys' age must be somewhere around 8 years old. He wore an IVA suit in the same style as the girl.His light brown hair was the equal to the girls, as was his physical condition.
"Uh, hello?" Blake stammered out, not sure what to say.
"Aubrey, what's the kids' condition? Any infectious agents present." Elenor was clearly coping better than Blake, asking the correct questions for the given situation.
"No agents detected. Condition is borderline malnutrition. They are in no danger.
"Hi kids. What are you doing here? Are there any adults here with you?" Elenor asked, kneeling in front of the children.
"We were waiting for the men to come back."
"Why did the men leave you here?"
"Because our uncle said we would be safe here. He brought us here with the men to look for treasure he said."
" when did he bring you here?" Elonor was getting less concerned and more saddened by what she was hearing.
"A long time ago. We had to make some new clothes because our old ones had so many holes and we're really dirty."
"OK. Well, I don't know when the men are coming back, but maybe you can come with us and we can find them? How does that sound?"
The kids just nodded, not knowing what else to do.
"Have you seen any space suits around here? You are going to need them to get to our ship."
They nodded again and led Blake and elenor to a locker room. There were plenty of suits, though all adult sizes. They would need to tape the suits up to fit the children better, but this was no issue for the short trip to their ship. While the kids got into the suits, Blake took Elenor aside away from their hearing
"Elenor, get them back to the ship. Aubrey, how are you with children? From an abandonment, psychological trauma point of view. Can you mind them and get them on the road to recovery?"
I am more than happy to care for the children captain."
"OK, good. Because I plan to find those sons of bitches who dumped these kids here and make them pay. Dearly."
"On that subject, captain, you will need to get in line, behind me, sir."