The ship shuddered and lurched violently as it fought against gravity. "With two engines only firing at twenty percent, I don't think we can hold this for any more than thirty minutes, Captain." Amie said over the cacophony of vibrating and groaning metal. Pheny nodded and immediately spoke to the open communication line, "Thirty minutes Commander, are your people ready?". Opless' voice was calm and collected as he replied, "They await at the airlock, unarmed as you requested. They will follow any orders given them by your crew unless I say otherwise." Pheny sighed quietly, "This day just keeps getting better." she thought. Addressing Amie and Priya she said, "Amie, line up the airlocks, Priya get the docking tube extended. I'm heading down to join the welcoming committee. Give me time estimates via ship wide comm". Without waiting for any acknowledgements she turned and quickly walked off the bridge.

Quickly making her way down the corridor she stepped onto the lift that would bring her down to the deck the airlock was on. Just as the doors closed her communicator emitted a long soft chime, denoting a personal communication. Keying her communicator on she spoke, "Clarrington.". Solomons deep voice echoed in her ear, "Captain, Two things, First why is our ship shaking like a stim addict? And two, I found the source of the transmission. Was a very old radio transmitter wired to a feedback loop." She couldn't help but allow an amused thought flit through her brain, "The galaxies most advanced ship nearly brought down by millennia old tech". The small smile the thought brought on was quickly erased as she responded, "Stow it in your quarters and lock it up, then meet me at airlock three for the answer to your first question." Solomon responded with a hesitant, "Yes... Captain"

As She approached the airlock she saw the strip of lighting surrounding the doors edge go from red to green indicating a positive seal against the other ship. Ten of the Trinity's crew stood there, five on each side of the door. The ships internal speakers came to life as Amie gave the first update, "Estimated twenty-five minutes captain." Pheny approached the two columns of crew and issued orders to the two standing furthest from the door, "I want you two to lead our guests to the cargo hold. Once we have everyone I will meet you there." The two crew members gave an acknowledgement although Pheny noticed the fear lingering behind their eyes. Turning to the front of the columns she said, "Gravity is a spoiled child, it always gets what it wants. Open the airlock and let's get this done."

The crew member to the right of the door pressed her hand to a plate and the airlock slid open. The massive temperature difference between the inside of the ship and the docking tube creating an immediate cloud of condensation, as if an eerie fog had filled the passage. A ratcheting noise could be heard through the tube and Pheny assumed this was the Volma ships airlock opening. She began to hear footsteps and see the docking tubes sides begin to vibrate as the Volma crew began to cross. Pheny had to fight hard to not flinch as the first of the Volma stepped out of the fog. The fearsome sight of a fully armored Volma walking aboard her ship would have been bad enough, but the vicious skull design of the helmet that covered their faces made it worse.

Opless had assured her that his crew would understand when they were given directions, so with little hesitation she pointed to the two crew members she had designated to lead them to the cargo bay. "Follow them to the cargo bay..: She said, adding "Please" as somewhat of an afterthought. The next ten minutes passed as a steady stream of what was for all intents and purposes, their enemy, walked aboard her ship. "Estimated fifteen minutes, Captain." was the update that came from Amie. By this time the fog had cleared from the tunnel as the temperature has equalized and she could see across to the Volma's airlock. Only about ten more beings were in the tunnel with a lone figure standing at the back, his back turned towards her with his hand on the side of the Volma ship. Pheny assumed that this was Commander Opless and that he was saying goodbye to his ship.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

The man turned and began striding across the tunnel. Pheny looked at the crew member who opened the airlock and ordered, "Once he's through close the airlock and release this end of the tunnel". Just as she turned back to watch the approaching man the ship convulsed violently and she watched as the tunnel began to twist right at the spot where Opless was standing. The structure twisting so quickly that top and bottom of it compressed right into Opless, trapping him. Pheny wasted no time and ran into the tunnel as fast as she could, holding her balance as the floor bucked up and down. Pheny heard an anxiety ridden Amie update her over the ship wide comm, "We've completely lost an engine. Our timer is now at zero Captain!!"

She reached Opless and grabbed his hands attempting to pull. The man was well and truly stuck. She looked at the boarding tunnel and noted the rotation. She was just about to issue an order when Opless' deep voice spoke up, "What are you doing. Leave me and save my crew" Pheny shot the man an incredulous look and immediately responded with, "Yea, fuck that. No more death today" She secured her grip on the mans hands and then planted her feet against the twisted wall of the tube. She yelled back towards the ship so the comm could hear her, "Amie, pitch the nose down ten degrees now!!" Only a moment passed before the creaking and groaning of the compromised tube became louder, and she felt the man begin to pull free. Flexing her leg muscles against the wall and pulling hard she yanked Opless to her side of the tunnel. Quickly grabbing him by the arm she pulled him beyond the threshold of the airlock.

There are times in everyone's life when things seem to move in slow motion. Wether it's a trick of the mind, or a mix of chemicals in the body flooding your system. This was one of those times. As Pheny and Opless entered the ship she began to turn to the crew member by the door control. She was going to order him to close the airlock and mission would be accomplished. That is until she heard the distinct loud hiss of atmosphere venting into space. Turning her head past the door control and looking over Opless' shoulder the boarding tunnel seemed to evaporate before her eyes. She grabbed hold of Opless around the waist as the two of them began to slide toward the vacuüm of space. She watched as the crew member next to the door managed to slam her hand onto the control just before her body was pulled out into the void. She felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist as she suddenly stopped moving. The airlock closed painfully slowly as she strained with everything she had to hold onto Opless.

When the door had finally sealed they fell to the deck with a clatter. Pheny landed face down and quickly rolled over to see Solomon laying at her feet, a long length of cable tied around his waist extending back beyond bulkhead. She turned back towards Opless, who lay about a half a meter closer to the airlock, and saw his helmet laying on the deck. The man groaned and stood. With everything that had just happened Pheny was reeling the most at the thought that she was about to see a Volma without their helmet. Opless turned around slowly and Pheny felt her jaw drop open. The face she looked at wasn't some hideous being. It was a Joryan face. The man looked just like everyone else she had grown up with. Her thoughts raced frantically before stopping on a single inescapable conclusion, "This war has been filled with lies".