Liberation

[arvg]

Katz didnt know how hed become separated from the RHA officer, or even where he was going. The heaving deck of the ship bucked and twisted beneath him as he clambered his way forward. Surprised when he came face to face with an old adversary.

Major Gustav! He commented, his pistol snapping up.

Gustav was not having a good day, as could be imagined considering the state of the ship, and the fact that his prized prisoner was now pointing a pistol at him and naturally the rest of the guards had made mad dashes for the escape pods, something to do with imminent death, doom and destruction.

I am not going to let you get away! Gustav vowed.

Oh can it, Katz said, rolling his eyes as the sirens blared. I have the gun this time, now how about you quit with the Gestapo act, put a sock in it and give me a chance to actually think my way out of this mess you put me in!

The aft section of the transport tore away from its mountings, detonating explosively as the rest of the ship spiralled down.

Katz was hurled forward, slamming back again as Major Gustav went flying, crashing sickeningly against the windows, which showed a dizzying view of an arid world rushing up to meet them.

Major Gustav pulled himself upright as the ship pitched again. Oh now that was a brilliant tactical manoeuvre! he snapped.

Katz forced himself out of the seat, shaking his head. Screw you, he commented, lurching across the heaving deck as he fought his way back along the ship, pulling out his TAC-link. VicentaVicenta?

Were tracking you Katz, Vicenta replied, shouting above the din. I have a situation up here though

Katz nodded, making his may along the shuddering corridor, heaving himself along as he stared up to the gallery, watching as the crew hit the escape pods, deserting the crippled and dying transport. At least one of them had the right idea.

Shuttle bay? Katz yelled, turning to look at Major Gustav, who was scrambling after him.

How the hell should I know? Major Gustav bit back, holding on for dear life as the whole ship shivered and shook. Do I look like information services?

Katz ignored him, looking towards the lines on the ceiling, remembering a lesson his Xenos Uncle had taught him about Rheinland ships. He found the colour that corresponded to a shuttle bay on Rhienland battleship and pulled himself along in that direction, hoping, to god, that a transport had the same colour system.

***

No way in hell, Katz stated, training his gun on Major Gustav as he tried to board the small two-seater shuttle.

Excuse me? Major Gustav said in surprise, looking at the Commissar holding a gun on him.

You stay here! Katz ordered. If you want to be free of this coffin? Then by all means, free yourself. Katz looked hard as his other hand flew over the emergency pre-flight controls warming up the shuttles drives.

Major Gustav shook his head. Then shoot me, he replied coldly, climbing aboard the shuttle and pulling the gull-wing hatch closed. I have no more desire to be cooked alive than you do.

Katz swore, lowering the gun and hitting the controls for the shuttle bay doors emergency release. Were probably going to fry anyway

Outside of the Rhienland Transport, an inferno boiled, the burning of the aft section intensified by the heat of such a steep re-entry. Both men knew theyd be lucky to survive the first five seconds of flight.

Just fly, Major Gustav replied, I will deal with the heat

Katz glanced at him, and the Police Officer nodded. On this you can trust me. I wont let us burn.

Katz shrugged, knowing that he didnt have any other choice. He fired the aft engines and prayed.

The shuttle hit the wall of flame, bouncing through it like a ping-pong ball in a gale, rolling end over end as it crashed and scraped its way along the burning hull, flinging itself out into the depths of the inferno to reach the far side. The shuttle strove to stay aloft, its wings smouldering as it pulled up from the dying ship. Katz watched the immense battleship splintering apart as it crashed into the sands of the desert.

Major Gustav collapsed back into his chair, his hands flying over the small ships engineering systems, dumping everything he could into the shields. They had made it but clawing their way back out of the atmosphere wasnt going to be easy Especially not with the enemy fighters out there and the sea of escape pods.

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