HAB 12 (Scrapyard Ship) Read Online Free PDF Page A

impossible to detect with any technology currently available on Earth, or anywhere else for that matter. The ship slowed and then came to a complete mid-air stop. Hovering two miles from the outpost, Perkins said, “We’re right above the subterranean cavern, sir.”
    Ricket scurried over to another station, entered something on a keypad, and the wrap-around display changed to a virtual below the ground landscape.
    “Captain, what you’re looking at is a best-guess representation of what lies approximately one mile below us,” Ricket explained. “The cavern walls are solid granite. The floor of the cavern isn’t quite level, but we believe this area here to be no more than a three or four percent grade.” Ricket pointed to an area of the cavern highlighted by a red circle.
    “A mile down, solid granite.” Jason stared at the display for several more moments. “How do we know this doesn’t push the limits of The Lilly ’s phase-shift capabilities? Hell, we could get marooned down there.”
    Ricket removed his LA Dodgers baseball cap and placed it onto the console. “If our calculations are correct, we have adequate leeway for three to four times that distance—even into solid rock.”
    Jason shook his head. “I don’t like it. I’m not willing to risk ship and crew on a good guess. Don’t forget how old Gus initially found The Lilly , partially buried underground fifteen years ago. Can you imagine? This would be a hell of a place to get stuck.”
    Admiral Reynolds shrugged. “Why don’t you phase-shift one of the fighters down there first—check it out and shift back.”
    “I like it. Who do we have …”
    “Sorry, Captain, all of our fighter pilots are currently in orbit—training the new pilots,” Perkins replied.
    Jason looked concerned, but no one was buying his act. Jason’s newly acquired love of flying the Pacesetter was no secret. “Well, I guess I’ll just have to go myself.”
     
    * * *
     
    Entering the flight deck, Jason was accosted by the stillness and utter silence. With the exception of several small maintenance drones, he was all alone. Two large shuttles sat idle at one end of the deck, while six sleek red fighters were secured and kept under wraps along the back bulkhead. Even before he’d settled into the cockpit of the Pacesetter fighter, Jason felt his heart rate start to increase. Like a kid with a new toy, Jason had a hard time keeping a silly grin off his face. He brought the fighter to life and maneuvered it onto the middle of the flight deck. Jason double-checked the phase-shift coordinates and ran through his standard pilot’s checklist. He was ready. He hailed the bridge.
    “Go for XO,” Perkins replied.
    “If I’m not back in fifteen minutes, or if you haven’t heard from me—you can pretty much assume I’m stuck down there. It will be up to you to figure out how the hell to get me out.”
    “Aye, Captain. Rest assured, we’ll be tracking your every move,” Perkins replied.
    With that, Jason phase-shifted the Pacesetter to the underground coordinates. He was surrounded by total and absolute blackness. It was only the soft amber glow of his HUD readout and dash backlighting that provided any semblance of connection to the living. Where are the lights on this thing? After several long moments of fumbling around in the dark, he had it. With the flick of one switch, the Pacesetter’s running lights somewhat illuminated the darkness. Better, but not great. He found the other switch for the big forward spotlight. The cavern came alive. Reflected light bounced off pristine white granite walls. Minute flecks of mica and other reflective compounds twinkled like a million tiny stars. Spellbound by an ethereal world no man had ever witnessed, Jason sat quietly for a long time. Slowly, Jason brought the Pacesetter several meters off the ground and cruised the inner perimeter of the cavern. From what he could see, just as Ricket had indicated, the center of the cavern