"We're hitting the deck in thirty, be ready to grab and go!" Frank shouted over the intercom as he burned through the atmosphere toward the ground. Bursts of flame and debris could be seen even at these levels.

"Understood, Opening door now. I got the long strap on and ready. We have a count?" A feminine voice responded.

"We have ten injured and twelve medics at the extract point, with two squads for protection, it doesn't look good." Frank twisted the ship around the anti-air fire and hit the thrusters to start slowing down. "Get set, deck in ten!"

Frank scrambled to get as much thrust as he could. He HATED contested extracts but he could only do as he could. The ship shuddered violently as the ground finally came up and met it. We flinched as the shields flared in front of his eyes as it began to take heavy fire, the shields quickly dwindling.

"Hurry up! I can only hold a little longer he shouted!" His hands tensed on the throttle and stick, waiting for confirmation from the rear.

"It won't take too much longer, we almost got 'em. Hurry up already! We gotta go NOW!!!" Shouted the voice again as Frank held his breath as he watch the steady drop. "Fuck! Ok, all on board! Door closing!"

Frank immediately went to full power just as the shields were failing and the ship began rocking from the incoming fire. He made his way with best speed away from the landing site. Most explosions began to rock the ship, but he knew it could take a massive beating, as he streaked back to the heavens. the buffetting of the ship ended as he reached the extreme ranges of the anti-air fire. He heard the door behind him opened then closed as he continued to place his focus forward to make it to the hospital ship in orbit. He felt a hand grasp his shoulder.

"All aboard and accounted for..."

The next thing he knew, the hand released and he heard a loud thump behind him. He quickly set the auto-pilot to meet with the ship and jumped from his seat to see the woman lying on the ground, a large chunk of her suit scorched exposing blacked skin and exposed ribs.

"No, nonono, NO!" He reached for her and gently picked her up. "Stay with me now, we're almost to the Mercy, don't close your eyes!"

"Frank," she chuckled painfully, "it looks like you'll have to finish this run without me. Get 'em home, Veerey..." Her body went limp.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"NO! Dammit, wake up..."

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"Eden!" Frank shouted as he woke from his sleep, nearly jumping out of his seat.

"Yes, Commander? Is there something wrong?" Chimed his computer.

"Oh... No, no. Nothings wrong." He took off his visor and rubbed his eyes. 'Damned nightmare again...' He thought to himself. "Uh, what time is it."

"Currently it is Three-seventeen, LTZ."

A couple of hour nap at least. Perhaps he'd been working himself a little too hard over the last couple of days. More work than he had done in the last six months at the very least. He decided he might as well do something relatively productive at the very least. So much to plan, but so little to actually do.

"Say, Eden, do you have access to the local intra-net?" Frank said putting back on his visor.

"Yes Commander, I do have access, though the allowable information is somewhat limited due to our clearance."

"Are you able to pull up data on the local systems, say, out to about fifty lightyears?"

"One moment... Yes, commander, I have a map of the local group out to seventy-three lightyears max range. This appears to be provided to any navigational computer requesting it. There appear to be other paid options, would you like to explore them?"

"No, that won't be needed. If all goes well, we'll be getting a nice library in, so that'll be good enough. Check from fuel stars along the outer reaches, with the least navigation hazards, perhaps a bit back the way we came. Seemed reasonably safe that way."

"Working... I have found four systems that match the request."

"Append the search with some kind of asteroid-belt grouping. Something we can show you off in."

"What do you mean, show me off?"

"Well, the Chief Engineer here is a little interested in you and what you can do. Planned for a shake-out flight tomorrow to make sure everything is functional, and she may have requested a demonstration of what we can do. You'll get a nice and filled navigational library in exchange."

"Hmm, I would like a nav library over what I have currently. I don't like being this much in the dark. Very well, appending search... I've found two systems that match your request. Please check your display."

Frank checked the information that just popped up on his visor. The information regarding the two systems began scrolling. The one system was a binary star, within a massive asteroid cloud. The other was a single F-class star with an asteroid ring.

"Ok, I think the second one would be best. Can you also check station services for some kind of food supplier, preferably with items our Brirali passengers can consume safely as well? I want to diversify my diet as well. Let's say, another month of food? Also, enough potable water to top off what we're missing."

"Of course, Commander. I take it we're maintaining our passenger manifest?"

"You got it." He pulled out his communicator and sent a brief message to Ozarkos regarding possibly meeting up later about so questions regarding Brirali customs. An immediate response was given that was essentially an automated 'Busy' reply. "Before I forget, how long do you think a message from here will take to reach Elena?"

"By my calculations, it would take approximately sixteen days with the current communications upgrade. If I may suggest, if we piggyback off the station's communications array, we might be able to decrease that time by six days, for a charge, of course." Eden responded.

"I don't think we need to rush the message, besides, I'm not entirely certain it would make it through the system and still be picked up properly. Though I really should get one ready to send, I'll send it during your shakedown. Begin recording for me please." Frank heard a brief tone. "Hey sis, got your message a couple of days ago. Well, we made it to Morix's Landing, and girl, is it a sight to see. Although, much more familiar than you'd think..."