Tides of Change

[Rodent]

Matrim Cauthon stood on the bridge of the Deviator, currently floating through a wisp of Kepler's Dark cloud. While there were better uses he could think of a veteran ship like his, the value of a forward base in the junction between Kusari and Liberty could not be understated. There was Ames, of course, but they could not move too many assets there without attracting notice. A lot of it, of the unpleasant kind.

So they were sent. Matrim had made it his business to talk to every officer aboard the Osiris class ship, and after a few weeks of ghosting around, The Deviator was back in it's old rhythm.

He looked at his watch. 04.00 Hours. An ungodly hour to be up at, sure.

Alarm Klaxons started blaring all over the ship.

Cauthon almost ran to the bridge. "What's the status!?" He shouted.

"Shields are down!" One replied.

"Docking hatch two has been blown up, unknown ships are nearing, ETA five minutes captain" another said, more calmly.

"Give me a shipwide comm channel", Cauthon told his communications head. With that done, it was time to throw the dice.

"Captain Cauthon here. Emergency alert, we're being boarded by unknown enemies through Airlock two. Code Alpha. Lieutenants Ward and Leighton, get your men ready and seal adjoining exits two-five and two-four.

Lieutenant Hernandez, take your heavies and plant charges on the inside hatch. Engineering, activate the drones and move them into support positions. Decks adjoining to two will be sealed after you're in. Good luck."

That was it. The ship was not just a ship, it was an amalgamation of living beings that had to work together to survive. They had to work together. Cauthon hoped.

"Get me strategic feed outside hatch two!" he snapped. Inside would be no good, any good marine boarding team carried EMP charges that rendered observation devices useless.

A large holo-screen came up on the bridge.

Hatch two was marked in red, an occupied region. Adjoining hatches were green, still held by The Order. And blue dots were scampering to positions as ordered. The Marine teams were moving into position.

"Visual feed on main door!"

The screen shifted. A massive door was now being shown. Marines in heavy armor were holding positions to the side of it, while one was planting charges along the walls, for maximum effect.

Cauthon nodded sharply.

"Adjoining doors!"

The screen split into two, to cover adjoining exits.

A marine squad was already in position along one exit, makeshift barricades up, EMP charges planted right in front, and all guns pointed.

The other was...empty. Cauthon frowned.

"Leighton! Get the f*** in position now before they kill us all!" He shouted.

A flustered Leighton replied in the affirmative, and soon marines jogged in, covering the second exit. All was in readiness. The enemy would be assaulting their position soon. Now to bid time and wait.

"Visual on main door, good luck everyone" cauthon said.

The main door slid open.

Explosive charges went off along the walls, completely filling the area in smoke and fire. When it cleared it revealed...a single combat drone.

Cauthon sighed.

"That was a drill, men. Well done, and Lieutenant Leighton, I will speak with you later. The rest, back to rest or your positions" He said.

That went well.