They chose to travel back towards the Engineering Bay, investigating the Dreadnought compartments along the Portside, then started a search pattern that took them from Port to Starboard. It was slow but methodical.
They picked up equipment and items as they went. Laser carbines. Laser pistols and belts. A few more armoured EVA suits. All went on the Grav Sleds. Neo informed him that the repair bots were more than capable of disposing of any remains inside the Battle Suits. For which Blake was very grateful. No one liked getting husks of former humans out of their old clothes
I wonder if I should convert a Grav Sled into some kind of troop carrier?
"Neo, does this ship have any kind of transports for planetary use?"
"I can see a large troop transport vehicle wrecked at the other end of the launch bay, sir, so small vehicles may be present. I will send a bot to investigate the area."
"Thank you, Neo."
The teams search continued, punctuated by brief combat between their Battle Bot and single drones. Combat that didn't even warm up the Bot. Jager seemed both pleased and annoyed at the Bots performance, perhaps feeling left out. The Bot stealing his glory? Probably not.
Unsurprisingly, the majority of the Dreadnought was identical compartments.
"Sir, we've searched 15% of the Dreadnought at this time. I would recommend calling it a night for today." Jager called out from his Grav Sled in the lead. Blake agreed, both the tension and monotony were wearing on them.
OK, folks. Let's head back to the Aubrey for the night."
The cargo hold was slowly filling up with salvaged goods. Nowhere near is holding capacity, but a lot more than Blake was used to. Space had been opened up alongside the Engineering Bay as well. Com wiring and pipes were still waiting to be rerouted under the decking. A section of the decking had been lifted on the Starboard side. Minor construction noise was coming from below them.
"You've been a busy boy, Neo. Is the refitting coming along well enough?"
"Yes, Sir. Significant slower with the majority of repair bots assigned to Ensign Booth, but progressing."
"Any news on the transport?" Blake was keen to find a unit for the team to travel in, not wanting to rely on the local transports more than necessary.
"Yes, Sir. A number of units may meet our needs. A Marines barracks is on the far side of the launch bay. Jager would appreciate some of the ordnance present there.
"Sounds like my kinda party, Chief," Jager said to Blake, as excited as a Golem would ever appear.
"Let's have a look then, shall we? The others can stay here. You, me, and Battle Bot make three."
"And one repair bot, Sir. A portable power unit, which is present in the Marines mechanical repair bay, will be required to power that bays hanger doors captain."
"Right you are Neo."
Riding the Grav Sled across the launch bay proved not as simple as expected. Whatever had caused the massive hull breach in the Dreadnought had eaten away big sections of the decking. The result was a roundabout route to the barracks. A 5 minute trip took 20 minutes in the end.
Repairing the personnel airlock hatch, Blake questioned Neo as to why others had not done what they were doing.
"The repairs that you do so casually, Sir, as quite significant. You are not just repairing but breaking lockout codes that are extremely difficult to bypass. They would be a challenge for myself, Sir. Your skill at that is on par with s Class 2 a.i."
The airlock hatches rolled open as a pair, seeing that the Marine mechanical bay was unpressurised. Jager stopped Blake moving forward as he went to step into the airlock.
"Unknown area Chief, the repair bot is unlikely to have triggered any security drones. Let the Battle Bot go first."
As the Bot stepped through the airlock, it was rocked by laser fire. Something in the hanger roof area, out of view of the human and Golem, was pounding away at the Bot. Its power was a lot higher than a mere drone. High enough for the Bot to go hull down while it returned fire.
Puncture holes were beginning to appear in the Bot. Not a good sign.
"Jager, mind being a shield for me? I gotta get some repairs done on that Bot while it's still in action."
Jager just nodded and moved forward into the airlock, getting Blake to within 2 metres of the Bot.
His repair skill, although repairing the damage faster than it was created, was only just keeping up. It was enough to count, though. The battle of attrition was won as soon as the repairs started.
2 minutes later, whatever the weapon in the hanger fell silent. Another minute of fire continued from various areas, the Battle Bot replying in kind.
"Well, that was exciting. For me anyway. Barely enough to raise an eyebrow for you, I guess, Jager?"
Jager chuckled at that " almost two eyebrows for a moment there. Good work on keeping our heavy ordnance up and firing Chief."
"Thanks, Jager. It had nothing to do with whatever was in there coming out here after if finished off our Bot."
That got another laugh from Jager. "Now you're learning Chief, combat is about doing dangerous things so that even more dangerous things don't happen to you. Do Unto Others Before They Do Unto You."
"That quote changed a bit since my time," Blake murmured to himself as he stepped into the hanger.
The heavy fire had been coming from a ceiling turret, now a slagged, glowing debris field slowly spreading across the roof.
The other minor fire was from three drones, their wreckage spinning forever till something stopped it.
In the hanger was a goldmine of military ordnance. If Jager had any tendency towards skipping, now would be when it showed itself.