Chapter 13 Chapter Twelve

Except for a few automatic cargo trucks passing back and forth, the hangar of the Nantes is empty. "Finn, Dahl, you two are on my team." Captain Abernathy said, and then he pointed to the remaining second lieutenant, "Glover, you are on a team with Kerensky and Kim." "Yes, sir." As soon as Lieutenant Glover finished speaking, he was thrown out and fell heavily on the outer wall of the shuttle boat.He was hit by a pulse ray from an automated delivery truck.The moment he fell, Dahl saw a trace of confusion in his eyes. In the next moment, Dahl was already running wildly with Finn and Abernathy, seeking cover in the dense artillery fire.They rushed behind the storage tank a few meters away.Several heavily armed stock trucks were coming towards them, and several more were heading for Kerensky and King's hideout.

"Is there any good way?" Abernathy asked. "These cargo trucks are being operated remotely," Finn said. "If we can get to the control room in the hangar, we can emit a stronger signal to override their control signal." "Yes," Abernathy said, pointing to a wall in the distance, "If the layout of this hangar is the same as everywhere on the Intrepid, the control room should be there." "Leave it to me," Finn said. "No," Abernathy grabbed his hand, "We've already lost one player, and I don't want to put anyone at risk."

Should the captain be allowed to take risks?Darmer was silent. Abernathy raised his pulse gun. "You two cover me. I'll go on the count of three." He started counting.Dahl glanced at Finn, who shrugged and put his weapon in place. Following the voice of "three", Abernathy rushed out from behind the storage bin like a frightened quail, and rushed into the hangar.The material trucks abandoned their previous targets one after another, and fired at the captain, almost every shot flew past his scalp.Dahl and Finn each take out a van. Abernathy finally managed to reach the control room. Instead of dawdling at the door, he smashed the window and jumped in through the window.A few seconds later, the truck collectively misfired.

"The alarm is off." Abernathy said, appearing in the field of vision, and jumped over the glass window.The crew of the Intrepid rallied around Grover's body, the disbelief still on the dead ensign's face. "Finn, it seems that your friend Jay Weston has now been upgraded to a murderer." Abernathy said with a livid face. "He's not my friend, sir," said Finn. "But you know him," Abernathy said. "If you found him, would you not hesitate to subdue him? Capture him alive?" "Yes, sir," Finn said. "Fine," Abernathy said.

"Captain, we have to act," King said. "There may be other cargo trucks. In fact, I'll bet that Weston must have used the cargo truck as his mecha unit, so that the ship's The personnel did not dare to show up and kept hiding." "Indeed," Abernathy nodded at Jin, "you and I will go to the bridge together to see if we can find Captain Bullington and assist her in retaking the spaceship. Kerensky, you lead Finn and Dahl Continue the search for Weston here. Capture him alive." "Understood, sir," said Kerensky. "Very good," Abernathy said. "Let's go." He and King trotted toward the hangar door and onto the walkway, where they would no doubt encounter more armed cargo trucks and fight with them. battle.

Finn turned to Kerensky. "What's the plan of action?" "Plan?" Kerensky blinked. "If it's really acting, the camera should not be pointing at him now." Dahl was referring to Kerensky. "Okay." Finn turned to Dahl again, "Then what do you think?" "You understand." Dahl said, pointing to those delivery trucks. "Are you trying to say that Jay is the Jenkins of this boat?" Finn said, "hiding in the walls." "That's right," Dahl said. "What is it?" Kerensky asked. "What are you two talking about?"

Dahl and Finn did not answer, but split up - Dahl entered the spacecraft's data system, and at the same time, Finn began to look for the scrapped cargo trucks. "Fixed." Finn stretched out his hand to show his achievements, "Three identification chips. We threw the communicator here so that we won't be scanned for ID when we enter the freight corridor, so those armed trucks will think we are We are companions and will not attack us." "Jenkins caught your trick," Dahl said. "True, but I took these chips out of these vans," Finn said. "They were just scrapped, and the ID file records in the system should still be there. I don't think Jay realized it before."

"Aware of what?" asked Kerensky. "I agree with your point of view." Dahl ignored Kerensky and called up the distribution map of the cargo lanes on his communication machine. "It seems that he didn't have time to erase his hiding place from the spaceship database, because all the truck deployment locations are still well marked on the map." "So there are seven deployments in total," Finn said. "Which do you want to go first?" Dahl called up Weston's message. "His console is in the hangar complex here, I think we should choose the closest one." He returned to the map interface and highlighted a node. "Let's start here."

"Looks good," Finn said. "I order you to tell me the truth about your plans," Kerensky said dejectedly. "We're trying to help you catch Jay Weston," Finn said. "That'll get you promoted." "Oh," said Kerensky, standing up a little, "of course we're going to catch him." "And to avenge the dead Grover." Dahl added, looking at Grover's still bewildered face. "Yes, and this." Kerensky said, looking down at the corpse. "Poor guy, this is his last field mission." "Well, yes," Finn said.

"No, I mean, his active duty expires in a few days," Kerensky said. "I put him on this mission specifically to give him one more mission to add to his profile." .He was pushing hard at first, but I insisted that he participate." "You're really malicious," Dahl said. Whether he didn't understand the meaning of malice or simply didn't hear the derogatory term, Kerensky nodded and fell into deep thought. "It's a pity, really. He's getting married soon." "Oh, stop it, please," Finn said, "or I can't help but fuck you up."

"What?" Kerensky looked up at Finn. "I think he's saying we should be moving, sir." Dahl smoothed things over. "Well," said Kerensky, "where are we going?"
"You two are on standby here," whispered Kerensky at the corner of the corridor.Turn this corner and you will reach the deployment point they marked. "I'll surprise him, subdue him, and we'll report to the captain." "We can't contact the captain. We left the comms in the shuttle hangar," Finn said. "And we might have to get those armed vans out first," Dahl said. "Yes, that's right." Kerensky was a little annoyed, "but first, I have to subdue him." "Perfect plan," Dahl said. "Leave it to us," Finn said. Kerensky nodded, readying his pulse gun, yelling Jay Weston's name, and leaping into the hallway.Then came the sound of pulse gun fire, each one deafening.Several bullets hit the pipes above the walkway, and fragments exploded and rained down on Kerensky.He groaned and lost consciousness. "He's really unreliable," Finn said. "What do you want to do now?" Dahl asked. "I have an idea," Finn said. "Come with me." He stood up and walked forward, the pulse gun behind him.Dahl followed him. Walking a few steps along the arc of the aisle, the disheveled Jay Weston came into view.He was standing at the deployment point, pulse gun in hand, obviously considering whether to finish Kerensky with a single shot. "Hey, Jay," Finn said, walking towards him, "It's me, Finn." Weston glanced at it. "Finn? Really? Here?" He laughed. "God, what a coincidence!" "Yeah!" Finn said, firing a tranquilizer round at him.Weston fell. Dahl hesitated for a few seconds, then said, "That's your plan?" He said, "You're sure he'll stop and recognize you before he shoots?" "It's a logically illogical plan when you think about it," Finn admits, "but on the other hand, it works. You don't have to mess with something that's already worked." "As you like," Dahl said, "you're willing to say something stupid." "Anyway, I want to show you my point of view." Finn said, "If it is assumed that I will die in this mission, just now should be an excellent time, right? A life-and-death duel between me and my former colleagues Isn't it? But I'm still alive and well, and he can't move and catch. I've heard enough of the 'drama' and dying at the most dramatic moment. I hope you will accept it with your heart." "Okay," Dahl said, "maybe I've been fighting against myself. But I don't want to fight with you anymore." "That might be wise," Finn said, catching a glimpse of a small computer in the distribution center that Weston might be using to control the delivery trucks. I'll figure out how to get Jay out of here." "You can use a delivery truck," Dahl said, walking to the computer. "That's a good idea," Finn said. Dahl disengaged all the cargo trucks on the ship, and he heard a low groan coming from Kerensky's direction. "Looks like someone woke up," he said to Finn. "I'm busy tying the Weston turkey," said Finn. "I'll leave that to you." Dahl walked towards Kerensky, who still seemed to be in pain from being hit by the debris. "Good morning, sir," Dahl said to Kerensky. "Did I catch him?" asked Kerensky. "Congratulations, sir," Dahl said, "your plan worked flawlessly." "Excellent," said Kerensky, suffocating under the weight of the fragments. "Do you need me to help you clear the debris, sir?" Dahl asked. "Please," Kerensky replied.
"In the file of Weston's crew, there is no evidence that he has any connection with the Kalinda rebels." Said the captain of the Nantes, Sandra Bullington, "I have asked Yulian to investigate Bureau hyperwave communication. Weston has no religious beliefs or political leanings. He never even voted." In front of the brig where Jay Weston was held stood Bullington, Abernathy, King, Finn, and Dahl.From the window you can see that he is firmly tied to the chair, but there is no other furniture in the room.He looked tired, but still smiling.Kerensky was lying on a hospital bed with a broken rib. "What about his family situation and his relationships?" Kim asked. "Still no leads," Bullington said. "He came here a few times from the Methodist Church on the other side of the Union. None of the known contacts had anything to do with Kalinda and its religious and political struggles." What's the matter." Abernathy looked at Weston through the glass window: "Did he justify himself for anything?" "No," said Bullington. "This bastard killed eighteen crew members without explaining why. So far he's pleaded not guilty. But says he's willing to give a full account of everything on one and only condition." "What conditions?" Abernathy asked. "It's up to you to conduct the interrogation," Bullington said. "Why me?" Abernathy asked again. Bullington shrugged: "He refused to say anything. Let me guess, I think because you are the captain of the flagship, your achievements are well-known in the Yulian. Maybe he just wants a celebrity to carry you It's just worth it." "Sir, I don't recommend that," King said. "The search turned up nothing," Bullington said. "We didn't spare a tooth decay, and if he's hiding anything, he's tied to a chair right now. He can't move at all from the neck down. As long as you stay As far as he can bite, there is no problem at all." "I still don't agree with you asking for an interrogation." Jin said. "If you don't enter the tiger's den, you won't catch the tiger's cubs." Abernathy said, looking at Dahl and Finn, "I asked these two team members to bring weapons and go in with me. Even if there is any accident, I believe they can handle it properly. deal with it." Kim looked reluctant, but said nothing more. Two minutes later, Abernathy, Dahl, and Finn walked into the brig.Weston addressed Finn with a smile. "You shot me, Finn," he said. "I'm sorry," Finn said. "It's all right," said Weston. "I knew I was going to get a shot. I just didn't know you'd pull the trigger." "Captain Bullington said that you are willing to confess, but you want me to interrogate you." Abernathy said, "I have already come." "Yes, you are here," said Weston. "Tell us about your relationship with the Kalinda rebels," Abernathy said. "What are you talking about?" asked Weston. "The rebels of Kalinda," Abernathy repeated. "I don't know what you're talking about," said Weston. "After the Intrepid was disabled by rebel attacks, you opened fire on the Archbishop's ship," Abernathy said. "Don't expect to convince us if you say the two have nothing to do with each other." "They're related," Weston said, "just not in the way you think." "You're wasting my time." Abernathy turned to leave. "Don't you want to know the connection between the two?" asked Weston. "We already knew," Abernathy said, "that it was the Kalinda rebels." "No," said Weston, "you are the link." "What did you say?" Abernathy squinted at Weston. Weston turned to Finn and said, "I'm sorry to involve you in this." As he spoke, he began to blink, twice with the left eye, twice with the right eye, then with the left eye and then with the right eye three times. "There's a bomb!" Finn yelled, and Weston's head exploded as Dahl lunged at Captain Abernathy.Dahl felt the heat burn through his uniform and skin, and the powerful shock wave slammed him into Abernathy, throwing them both hard against the wall. After an unknown amount of time, Dahl vaguely heard someone calling his name, he opened his eyes and looked up, seeing Abernathy shaking himself violently.Abernathy suffered burns to his hands and arms, but appeared to be fine overall.Dahl parried the most violent explosion for him.After realizing this, he felt a scorching pain all over his back. Dahl pushed Abernathy away and crawled toward Finn.Finn was lying on the floor with burnt faces and the front of his body.He was the closest to the explosion.Dahl managed to crawl up to his friend and saw Finn's one remaining eye looking at him.Dahl grabbed Finn's twitching hand, and Finn twitched in pain.Dahl wanted to let go but Finn held him tight.His lips moved. Dahl moved closer to his friend and heard him whisper, "This is ridiculous." "I'm sorry..." Dahl said. "It's not your fault," Finn said slowly. "But I'm still sorry," Dahl said. Finn squeezed Dahl's hand harder. "Find a way to end this," he said. "I will," Dahl said. "Okay." Finn took his last breath and died. Abernathy came over and pulled Dahl away from Finn.Regardless of the severe pain in his body, Dahl punched Abernathy with all his strength.But before his fist landed on Abernathy's face, he lost consciousness again.