She watched the video over and over. Reminding herself of what was lost. She allowed her brain to download every nuance of what had happened at the airlock, especially the things she did not know at the time. As she began to run into the airlock to assist Opless, Solomon had just arrived. He noticed her headlong charge and without any hesitation ran to a storage cabinet and grabbed a tether cable. He attached the carabiner at one end of the cable to the built in loop on the rear bulkhead of the room. He wasn’t wearing an EVA suit which would have provided a hook and support structure to attach to himself. Instead, he hastily wrapped the cable around his waist and fashioned a slipknot.
As she pulled Opless back through the airlock Solomon was already running towards her. He had apparently noticed the docking tube beginning to fail before she even heard the air escaping the ship. He grabbed her around the waist as she was holding onto Opless. This next part of the record she had to force herself to watch and had to watch repeatedly as two things happened at the same time.
First, Ensign Jinese Trevor began to pull towards the door her hand extending and slapping the emergency close button for the airlock. It didn’t close fast enough and Jinese was lost, the first victim of her command. Second, as Solomon held onto her he was lifted off the deck, effectively becoming a living extension of the tether cable. Watching as the slipknot slowly and painfully squeezed around him she witnessed the exact moment the cable crushed both of his hips and his pelvis. As the airlock closed she saw consciousness leave him when he hit the deck, the second victim of her Command.
So here she was, the same place she had visited every moment she was not on the bridge or meeting with Opless and his crew over the last three days, at Solomons bedside in the medical bay. Medical Chief Pava had to place him in a medically induced coma when he first woke up as he was in so much pain it was feared he would fall into shock and die. Then Pheny ordered the surgeries to reconstruct his hip joints and pelvis.
The surgeries were rushed and the staff had to improvise several different metal plates, screws, and bolts from the ships stores to accomplish what they could. Chief Pava made it clear that they would need to get him to an advanced medical center soon in order for him to make a complete recovery. He would be able to learn to walk again, but with such a crude mechanical repair, he would never be cleared to fly a fighter again. Solomon had still not regained consciousness.
“Captain, Commander Opless wishes to have a word with you.” Chief Pava stated as she entered the room. Pheny turned the video of the incident off and gave a nod to the Chief then left the room. She navigated the ships corridors and lifts in a distracted haze as her mind worked overtime on all the current issues her ship and crew faced. Without really realizing it she was already stepping into the cargo hold.
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The Volma crew had begun to make themselves feel at home in the mostly empty cargo areas. Using emergency cots and whatever they could find to erect makeshift sleeping spaces. Many of Pheny’s crew had objected to allowing them such free reign on the ship, citing the breakthrough technologies it contained. However Pheny ordered that the cargo hold was for the Volma to use and feel safe. They were refugees from their lost ship and not prisoners of war.
Opless approached her at a brisk walk, “Captain Clarrington" he said with a nod. Pheny snapped out of her mental gymnastics and spoke firmly, “Commander Opless, what is it you wished to see me about?”, disregarding and preamble. Opless in turn got straight to the point. “My people can help him Captain.” He said, “Our race has not suffered long from such injuries for hundreds of years due to our medical advancements". Pheny let out a short sigh, “So you’ve told me, but I’m just supposed to what? Head to the Volma system, knock on the door and ask for a favor? My ship and my crew would be forfeit.”
Opless shook his head, “I told you, my people are not trying to conquer, we are.. “ Pheny cut him off, “You’re trying to save as much life as possible because the super massive black hole at the center of our galaxy is going to consume everything within the next 100 years.” She knew she sounded a bit harsh, but continued, “Something none of the scientists on any advanced worlds has even noticed. You say your people tried to warn us, but there were no records of any envoys from Volma. Hell, we never even knew there was anyone inhabiting that system until you started your conquest.”
Opless stood unperturbed by her reaction and responded calmly, “Captain, I’m not a scientist or a diplomat. I follow orders and get information from those above me. That being said, I would like to think I’m not stupid. There are events on both sides of this conflict that do not add up. I not only wish to assist the man who saved both of our lives, but I think if you were to explain to our leaders what has and has not been shared with the people of the galaxy, we may find a better way.”
As Pheny stared at the man she could detect no deceit or apprehension. Opens believed what he just said. In that moment she realized that they could not return to try and explain the situation to Alliance Command. Going to Volma may in fact be the best option.
“We have sent thousands of probes to your system and none have ever returned or sent back any data, how do you propose we accomplish this?” Pheny asked. Opless lifted his hand towards the lift and said, “I will show you how to enter Home Sphere, but I need to be on the bridge so I can communicate with my people when we arrive.” Pheny took a step closer to the man and lowered her voice, “If I sense even so much as a hint of danger or aggression, I will scuttle this ship with everyone aboard to keep it from being used against us". Opless nodded slowly, “Understood, Captain” he replied.