Ariana’s first mission – chapter 4

Chapter 4

The Firefly made the final jump into the new system and everything looked good. The Shreveport jumped in shortly after and both ships sped into orbit around the planet. After they docked with the colony transport, Camm told Ariana “I will go to the Shreveport for the orbital celebration. Do you want to attend?”

Ariana said “I would rather stay here if that is all right.”

Camm said “Of course. After I get on the Shreveport, why don’t you undock and run a quick survey and then get some rest for a few hours.”

Ariana said “Yes sir. Have fun.”

Ariana was asleep on the scout ship when a series of explosions ripped through the Shreveport. She awoke to alarms blaring and the communications system open to incoming messages. They were mostly frantic screams, but there was one calm one.

Ariana opened a channel and said “This is Pilot Ariana on the Firefly. What has happened?”

The reply came and he explained “This is Technician Ezeki. There have been explosions everywhere. I have checked the ship status and I think that we need to transport the colonists down to the planet as the ship has been compromised.”

His calm voice and demeanor helped keep Ariana calm too.  Then he said “What are your orders ma’am?”

Ariana asked him “Where is my Captain and the officers of the Shreveport?”

Ezeki took a few seconds to reply and said “Pilot, I am sorry to report that Captain Camm was on the bridge, and he along with all the other officers were killed instantly.”

He then repeated “What are your orders ma’am?”

Ariana realized that she was in command and if they were to survive that she had to figure it out. She told Ezeki “Begin to assemble all the colonists near the docking bay and we will begin transporting them down to the planet.”

Ariana got into the bridge of the Firefly and flew around the Shreveport. She could see that there had been multiple explosions and she knew that it had been sabotaged with bombs from the inside. She radioed back and said “Ezeki I am preparing to dock now. Please be ready.”

He replied “Yes ma’am. We will be ready for you.”

Ariana made it into the docking bay, and went on board the Shreveport. She got off the Firefly and saw Ezeki for the first time. A large brown man was smiling and singing with the children. Ariana came over and made my greetings and said “Technician Ezeki I presume?”

He stood and as he towered over the shorter Pilot he said “Yes ma’am. It is good to see you.”

Ariana asked “It is good to see you as well. Are there were any other crew?”

Ezeki pointed over to a small group of crewmen in white uniforms and said “It seems that only the kitchen staff was alive. I only survived because I was there eating with them. The woman with the rolling pin is Chef Singh.”

Ariana went over to them and quietly told Chef Singh “You will be in command of the Shreveport while Technician Ezeki and I take everyone down to the planet. Do your best to keep everyone calm and organized.”

Chef Singh said “We can do that.” Then the Chef grabbed Ariana’s shoulder and said “You try and stay calm too. Just focus on what you need to do.”

Ariana said “Thank you.” Then she announced to those assembled that they would be making trips down to the planet in the Firefly taking as many people as possible each time starting with the children. Ariana told them that after all the colonists were on the planet that we would come back if we could for any cargo, so nobody should take anything other than their clothes that they had on.

Ariana and Ezeki gathered up as many children as they could and took off. It took them about an hour to get down to the planet and it was a silent and somber ride down. They quickly got the children settled in to one of the colony buildings, found some food for them and asked one of the older children to be in charge. Then they got back in the Firefly and made their way back to the still burning Shreveport.

On the way back, Ariana asked technician Ezeki “Did you see anyone suspicious that might be responsible?”

Suddenly he said “There was one man who tried to come in to the kitchen while I was eating, but Chef Singh kicked him out.”

They decided that because Chef Singh had kicked him out of the kitchen that was why that area had not been destroyed. Ariana said “Try to point him out when we get back and I’ll try and distract him while you try to disable him and I will join in.”

Ezeki said “I will go over and get Chef Singh to help.”

Ariana told him “If you trust her to be calm and help that would be great.”

So they made it back to the docking bay and Ezeki looked around the gathered colonists on the Firefly’s view screen and finally found him. He was an ordinary looking man, carrying a small suitcase.

While Ezeki went to get Chef Singh, Ariana walked over to the man and told him “Excuse me, but I need someone professional looking to keep the children calm on the next trip down to the planet. Can you do that for us?”

He quickly agreed and asked “Can I bring my case with me? It has some vital paper work that can’t be lost.”

Ariana said “Of course.” Then she was sure that she knew he was the one responsible and she nodded to give Ezeki the signal and he grabbed the man, and Chef Singh smashed his wrist with her large wooden rolling pin. Ariana did not have to do anything and he was quickly subdued.

The suitcase was filled with explosives and he would probably have used them on the Firefly. After that, Ariana and Ezeki just kept going back and forth between the Shreveport and the planet. They were able to take all of the colonists down and even got some of their belongings before it got too dangerous to keep going back.

Ariana sent word back to Scout Command. And they came several weeks later and took away the man responsible. It turned out that he was part of a small group that wanted to put an end to colonization. Ariana, Ezeki and Singh go back to the planet nearly every year to commemorate Shreveport Day to remember those who were lost but also to celebrate the rescue. The next Scout ship that was commissioned was named Dimples to honor the memory of Captain Camm.