The Tornado wasn’t a huge ship as freighters go but pound for pound the Tempests had the highest freight to fuel ratio yield of their class.
The front
section comprised of a sizable pressurized hold for large freight accessed via
a front loading ramp, above which was the flight deck, living and sleeping
quarters, mess facilities and bath rooms, at the rear was the main propulsion
and amidships were the universal cargo pod bays, which allowed for a mixed
cargo option, which facilitated quick inspection and loading, although
sometimes pods were sealed which meant it was either very valuable or very
illegal, either way Merri didn’t mind and transporting sealed cargo paid much
much better.
But this
time there was no cargo aboard as they flew towards Linden with only one pod
aboard.
The Tornado
always flew with at least one pod but then that was because it was where they
stowed their gear and where the hidden compartments could be found, or not,
which was where they hid the contraband, or even fugitives when necessary.
As they
approached Linden Legionnaire Lt Nulak handed Merri, who was piloting, a small
data tablet containing the landing zone coordinates.
“Give it to
Shiyne” she said
Shiyne was
the beautiful cerise skinned Vann girl sitting in the navigator’s chair and Lt
Nulak knew that it was her he should give it to but he found that she was so
beautiful he was in awe of her.
His hand
was shaking as he put the data tablet in her hand and she was smiling because
she knew what he was thinking because Shiyne was a telepath.
Once she
had made him as uncomfortable as possible she took the tablet and plugged it
into the port and after a moment she said
“Ok,
coordinates set”
It was half
an hour later, with the Tornado locked onto the coordinates, that Merri entered
Linden’s atmosphere, and five minutes later, with Malena in the co-pilot seat
she engaged the Tornado’s four vertical take-off jumper engines and the Tempest
class freighter landed softly on the LZ.
The landing
zone was a hive of activity with Legion craft and vehicles spread around with
Legionnaires scurrying around purposefully.
Ordinarily
the Legion wore pristine white uniforms but as they were on a covert operation
they were dressed in black and their vehicles were similarly liveried, they
were after all planning a stealthy extraction of the suspect.
Once on the
surface the Tornado dropped their cargo pod, which was driven away, and then
the Legion ground crew maneuvered the four special Legionnaire pods into
position, which contained personnel and equipment for the mission in Odekka.
Once the
Pods were in place Merri lowered the Tornado to secure them and then lowered
the front ramp so the remaining Legionnaire’s could embark.
Commander Salmin
was waiting at the foot of the ramp as the troops boarded and Lyris walked down
to greet him
“Hello
again Commander” he said
“Good day
Mr. Skeet” the Commander responded gruffly then he added
“Please
accept my apologies for my manner, but I’m a little anxious”
“You must
really want him” Lyris said
“You cannot
imagine just how much” Salmin replied
“The Legion
must feel the same way to commit all these resources” Lyris said as he looked
around him at all the Legion personnel and equipment on display
“What on
earth did he do?”
“I will
happily tell you of his crimes when he is safely in my custody” he retorted
“Ok” said
Lyris as the last of the Legionnaires disappeared inside the cargo bay “Let’s
get aboard”
As soon as
they stepped inside the cargo bay the ramp began to rise and then two hours
after landing on Linden the Tornado lifted off again and headed towards the
stars.
The Tempest
Class Freighter was powered by 4 Plasma Turbine Pyroclast Engines, which
allowed for a very quick turn of speed once airborne, and four vertical
take-off jumper engines whose purpose is self-explanatory, they could also be
used independently to provide auxiliary power on board while they were on the
surface for periods when the solar converters were inadequate.
They also doubled
as powered plant for the oxygen generators when carrying live cargo, which on
that occasion was human cargo.
The Tornado
formed the heart of a small fleet comprising of the Tornado two cruisers and
six Firedarts
Once they
reached Achrem they put themselves into orbit and then began the descent to
Odekka carrying the Legions strike force while the rest of the Legion fleet
would stay in orbit until the targets on the ground had been secured.
The
Firedarts would remain in the upper atmosphere, poised to shoot down any would
be escapee.
Night was
falling when Merri engaged the Tornado’s four vertical take-off jumper engines
as Malena looked on anxiously and after the Tempest class freighter landed
softly on the Odekka’s landing field she turned to her friend and said
“Go on
then, go and see him off”
The
advanced squad of black clad Legionnaires were climbing into the back of the
Stroller when Malena arrived in the cargo bay.
“I need to talk
to you” she said to Zerrad
“Ok” he
agreed and they walked into the corner as Lyris looked on and smiled, he knew
what was about to happen as he had already had the same lecture Zerrad was
about to get from Asti, who was secreted in Montrose out of sight of the
Legionnaire’s, his lecture had come via Vidlink on route to Linden.
“You need
careful Zerrad Skeet” Malena said
“I will”
“Promise
me” she insisted
“I promise
I will be careful” he said, “Now give me a kiss”
While
Malena and Zerrad shared a farewell kiss the ramp was lowered, spilling a
bright illuminating light into the blackness, which was Zerrad’s cue to climb
aboard and then the Stroller drove down the ramp.
As the
Tornado’s APMTV, (All Purpose Multi Terrain Vehicle) known as the “Stroller”
drove away the ramp was raised and then the Tornado lowered the four cargo pods
before killing all the external lights so the Legionnaire’s could quietly
disembark from the pods under cover of complete darkness.
Lyris parked
the Stroller in the wooded corner of the carpark where the Legionnaire’s could
slip out the back doors unnoticed and take up their appointed positions, either
to guard the exits, deal with the look outs or cut off any means of escape.
And by the
time Lyris and Zerrad reached the front doors of the Blue Horizon the guards
had all been subdued and all the Legionnaires were in position.
Lyris
paused to look at his brother and then he took a deep breath and walked inside.
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