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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