Asteroid Return_An Arek Lancer Novella by Troy Osgood

Author:Troy Osgood [Osgood, Troy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: space, freight, space station, space ship, earth, star ship, arek lancer, galaxy
Publisher: Barking Fire Publishing
Published: 2019-01-25T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

The pilot set the drop ship down on the blind side of the asteroid where it was protected from any Tiat scanners. There had only been a minimal amount of turbulence in the landing. The pilot, I later learned his name was Jack Warren, was good. Warren had put us as close to the facility as Harrow would allow him to risk it. Risk of detection versus length the team had to run. There was a sweet spot to find.

Once settled the team unstrapped ourselves and started suiting up. I’d been given a standard 2E assault suit which doubled as an enviro suit. The typical dark green, black trim and armor plating. Attached to our chest armor were oxygen tanks that plugged into small ports in the back of the armor. The Tiat breathed oxygen just like seventy-five percent of the galaxy. Some species had different mixes to their air, just slightly different enough to be unbreathable, but not the Tiat. It would be a little harder for us to breath, like we were at the top of a mountain, but nothing too difficult.

The tanks were for the run across the asteroid’s surface.

It had been a long time since I’d worn a full suit of armor and tanks. Had to shift it a bit to get the fit right. I hoped that it would start to feel familiar again. Fighting would be difficult enough if I wasn’t forced to compensate for the armor and suit.

At a command from Harrow, the co-pilot slid the door shut between hold and cockpit. I could hear the slight hiss as they environmentally sealed the door. Fortin and Gilbert were helping Treuto into his specialized suit. I’d seen an environmental suit on a Europan before. Tubes along the arms, body and legs connected to a tank that filtered a cold agent. Europans came from an ice moon, they needed cold. This suit had the tubes but also plates of armor for limited protection. The tactical vest he wore was larger, the tanks larger. No helmet, just a pair of goggles and special mask that went over the somewhat pointed face.

Watching them help with the suit made me realize that Treuto had not been wearing one before. None of the Europans on the station had been and the temperature there and the drop ship had been Terran standard.

“Why didn’t he have an enviro suit before,” I asked Harrow.

“I thought Jessups had said you were pretty observant,” she replied sarcastically. I let it go. She did have a point. “Training and a new pill from some Earth corporation.”

That sounded interesting and potentially dangerous.

“It lowers their relative body temperature so it seems they are in an environment more friendly to their needs,” Harrow finished turning back to her preparation.

Whatever this pill was, it appeared to work pretty good. I just had to wonder at the future issues. Europans had never been a starfaring race. No great desire to get out and see the stars. A limiting factor had been their body’s need to be cold all the time.

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