“It has been quite some time since you were last here” the drone informs them appearing to be speaking to Oliver.
“I see you have also brought along some allies from De Monte Flores COTAF” it continues to state.
“What does COTAF actually mean?” Daniel asks looking directly at Oliver.
“It’s my official rank, Commander of the Armed Forces” he replies with no enthusiasm whatsoever.
“Angelus, what happened to Heaven’s Gate?” Oliver asks.
“This thing has a name?” Michael asks.
“Yes, my full name is Angelus Mortis” Angelus replies.
“Heaven’s Gate was sabotaged and activated its defence systems” the drone explains.
“All this damage was done in defence?” Michael mutters looking down to the ground.
“I don’t understand why you weren’t able to find something this big, couldn’t you have just used satellite images?” Daniel asks.
“Heaven’s Gate has been playing a loop through each satellite that flies overhead, the people viewing the images see this land exactly how it was eight years ago, all communication systems were also shut down so that no tracking could be undertaken” Angelus explains.
“What happened to the crew?” Oliver asks.
“Many used the escape crafts and headed to the mountains, some where sealed inside hanger bay four” it replies.
“Did you just say, sealed?” Daniel asks with a concerned expression.
“Due to an electrical fault that occurred during the sabotage, the bay doors were sealed shut” Angelus replies.
“I guess they’re all dead then?” Michael asks not expecting any response.
“All crew members are alive and well, there was enough supplies to last ten years inside hanger four” Angelus replies.
“Wait, hold up a second, you mean to tell us these people have been trapped inside for eight years?” Daniel asks in shock.
“Correct” Angelus replies.
“What happened to the person responsible?” Oliver asks.
“The person responsible for the sabotage died on impact during the collision with the hill” Angelus replies.
The drone gently lowers itself to the ground allowing them to step down.
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Oliver walks over to a doorway at the side of Heaven's Gate.
“Angelus mentioned you have been here before?” Daniel asks Oliver, feeling confused at this point.
“I was an apprentice on Heaven’s Gate before the war started” he replies.
“Before we go in, I need to go take a piss” Daniel tells him.
“There are toilets inside” Oliver informs him whilst typing a code onto the panel next to the doorway and scanning his ID tag.
The door opens revealing what almost looks like a void, a large open area of the aircraft that on closer inspection is clearly a hanger as a large door that isn't very visible from the outside can be seen next to them.
Oliver beckons them to follow him down a long corridor with large windows to their left.
There is emergency lighting dotted about the place with escape signs leading to the exits.
They walk up four flights of stairs before continuing down a corridor, as they walk down the corridor Daniel and Michael take a look inside the various rooms they are passing, one of which is clearly a canteen.
Turning left they enter a huge room to the front of the aircraft, containing large screens and high tech control panels which Oliver immediately takes a look at.
“Well, the power is intact, let’s try this” he mutters and begins to tap on the touchscreen control panel.
After a few moments the lights come on along with the air conditioning.
Screens begin to display the CCTV footage from around Heaven’s Gate, including the crew in hanger four.
“They’re all really alive, after eight years” Michael mutters.
“Come with me, I’ll show you to the toilets” Oliver beckons Daniel to follow him.
Leaving the control room through a different doorway, they follow the signs leading to the aircrafts living quarters, Oliver clearly knowing the layout of the aircraft very well.
“In there” he tells them indicating to a lavatory next to another canteen.
“Thank you” Daniel replies politely and goes inside.
Not what he is expecting initially given that this is a war machine, the layout of the toilets are actually what you would more expect to find in pub, very neutral in colour scheme.
“Oaaa” he mumbles realizing the water coming from the tap Is hot and the soap dispenser works.
Leaving the bathroom, he turns the corner to see Michael sat down in the canteen and to hear clanging coming from what is presumably the kitchen.
“What’s he doing?” He asks.
“Apparently, he is finding food” Michael replies with a smile.
“Speak of the devil” Daniel mutters seeing Oliver appear behind the serving area of the canteen.
The sound of deep fat fryers bubbling can be heard over in his direction along with a ‘cssskkkk’ sound as an airlock freezer is opened.
“Hungry?” He asks whilst bashing a bag of frozen food onto the worksurface.
“Is any of that going to be still edible at this point?” Daniel asks.
“Yep, well the fries will be at least” he replies as a sizzling sound can be heard coming from the deep fat fryers.
“Shouldn’t we be focusing on getting the crew out of the hanger?” Michael suggests.
“Yeah we should really” Daniel replies.
“Don’t worry I haven’t forgotten about them; however, they have all the food and supplies they need, you two haven’t eaten properly in weeks” Oliver tells them overhearing the pair whispering to each other.
“I wish this bloody war would end” Daniel mutters and plonks his head into his arms against the table.
Walking over to them, Oliver places two plates full of fries onto the table along with some glasses of water.
They both gulp the water down quickly before trying some of the fries and realizing how good they are.
“Thank you” Daniel tells him gratefully.
“Eat up, we’ve got work to do” he instructs them, and they quickly do so, eating the remaining food in front of them.
“What have we got to do now?” Michael asks.
“To have a look at hanger four” Oliver replies.
“Is hanger four an escape hanger or something?” Daniel asks.
“Well sort of, it's actually a supplies hanger that houses some escape craft” Oliver replies.
Walking along a further corridor, with a set of windows to the righthand side of them, Oliver leads them down another four flights of stairs to another much more open part of the aircraft.