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Storm spread a hand. “Please.”
“We should, at least, send our findings and the specimen in a rescue pod. Once we stop flying in superluminal, it is only a short distance to our patrolled territory. The pod is bound to be found by our Imperial cruisers. So then others could continue our works even when we couldn’t.”
Ice turned to Rain. “You mentioned the specimen. Just how much of the specimen do you plan on sending in a pod?”
Rain looked uncomfortable. “The whole human?”
“We need her knowledge. Sending her corpse to Crimea wouldn’t solve our problem,” Ice scolded her harsher than he intended.
“I was thinking we should preserve her in cryo, Minister Silverkiller.”
Something inside his chest erupted within. And he didn’t understand why. The feeling was alien to him. He felt the need to protect her for a selfish reason, not for the benefit of the mission. “No,” he refused flat out. “I won’t permit it.”
“Are you planning for her to die in space with the rest of us?” asked Storm.
“I was thinking to send her home to Earth in the rescue pod,” said Ice. “After we studied her, of course.”
“You know we can’t spare resources in our dire situation. With all due respect, Minister,” said Rain.
Damnation. Rain was right. He only planned to bring Alana to the ship, conduct a few interviews, collect a few samples and then send her home. He guessed that wasn’t possible now. He had suspicions that the schemer was someone in a high place. The Tempest Court was a cauldron of bubbling intrigue and treacheries. It had been a constant power struggle since Emperor Chaos was coronated. Many deemed the emperor unfit to rule due to his young age.
Ice himself had never been concerned much about politics even though he was born from a noble family and noble house. His interest solely lay in science. It was his diligence and unwavering devotion for the betterment of Crimea that the emperor made him the Minister of Science. To think that sabotage had impeded his work made his blood boil.
And as for the culprit, though it could have been anybody, even someone Ice had no idea existed, he kept thinking about Prime Minister Hallow and his resistance toward this entire mission.
Ice examined a screen detailing the mass and weight of onboard equipment, then held it up for Grim and Storm to see. He cleared his throat. “I might have a solution.”
Everyone paid him attention.
“We’ll fly in superluminal with bare minimum. We cut the left and right wings, environment, sickbay, galley, mess hall, weapon room, anything that could allow us to fly lightly. Comfort would be sacrificed. Food would be rationed. Anything that can be converted into energy would be used to further our flight.”
Storm moved to stand between Ice and Grim. “I can stay behind. Me and my men. Less people in suspension, requiring resources for the journey, may be enough.”
Ambassador Grim looked as if he might consider it, but Ice kept scrolling through screens. “No, we’re not leaving you behind.”
“If it’s the only way to complete the mission, I will insist.” Storm gazed at him defiantly.
“Then we’ll have to find another way.” Ice wouldn’t allow Storm to sacrifice himself. That wasn’t the mission he signed up for. Even though the only one of them who really needed to reach Crimea for the mission to be complete was Alana.
That was it.
“As I was saying before, we’ll shut down every non-essential system, dump unnecessary weights, and do everything to streamline the Campania to be as energy-efficient as possible. And we’ll program Alana’s pod to jettison if the ship is about to run out of fuel, along with a beacon to alert Crimea’s border patrols that she’ll need to be rescued. Once she exits the superluminal, her pod is bound to be found by the patrols. Once she’s safe our mission is completed.”
“And what happens to us?” asked Ambassador Grim.
“If my calculation is correct, Campania would lose total power just after the superluminal. If Alana’s pod is rescued, we might have a chance, although it might be very slim. The patrol’s cruisers can tow us from there. All we can do is wait.”
They were all considering the option.
“Then so be it,” said Ambassador Grim. “This mission comes first.”
Storm agreed. “I’ll see to my men. We must give everything we have so Alana has a chance to survive.”
“Very well.” Ice left them to prepare instructions for his underlings in Crimea so that they could continue his research properly. Once all the preparations had been made, he went to see if Alana was ready for the trip.
Chapter Four
Alana opened her eyes and instantly gasped, snapping them shut again. The bright light made her head pound. Carefully, she peeled them open with her head turned to the right to avoid the glare this time.
