“Roger, Odyssey Control, Archangel Two and Three have taken up escort positions. We’re burning to intercept vector now.” Another jolt slammed him into the waiting embrace of the straps as he listened to the shuttle’s radio chatter over the induction transceiver secured to his jaw.

“Confirmed, Shuttle One. We don’t read any viable airlocks on board, so you’ll have to burn through.”

“Affirmative, Odyssey Control, the portable lock is being prepped now. We’ll be ready.”

The chatter died down as the shuttle approached the derelict craft, its huge spotlights playing across the carbon-scored exterior as the mission specialist, Lieutenant Matheson, searched for a solid section to attach to. The alien ship seemed remarkably intact, considering the appearance of its exterior hull, and the lieutenant had little trouble selecting a spot. One last jolt pushed Roberts deep into his seat as the shuttle’s magnetic grapplers locked on and secured them to the ship. From below them they heard the portable airlock latch onto the ship, and then a hatch in the floor spiraled open.

“Everybody, lock up. Full environmental protection. McRaedy, get in there and cut through.”

A hissing sound echoed through the shuttle’s interior as the soldiers and pilots locked up their environmental suits and moved into position. Two soldiers covered McRaedy with their rifles as he began cutting through the metal hull of the derelict vessel, sending showers of sparks flying back into the shuttle.

“Damn tough material, sir!” McRaedy yelled back as he kept working.

“Can you do it, Soldier?” Roberts asked over the noise.

“Kin-a, sir,” the man yelled back. “Just watch me go.”

“Go, Soldier, go.” Roberts permitted himself a smirk under the cover of his helmet.

Despite the slow nature of the work, McRaedy managed to cut through after a little less than an hour had passed, moving back as the circular piece of metal fell away and clanged inside the derelict.

Roberts looked at one of the soldiers speculatively. “Artificial gravity? Curiouser and curiouser.”

Roberts dropped through the hole, followed instantly by two others who swung their rifles as they covered the length of the corridor. A third soldier dropped in between them, sweeping a hand-held sensor up and down the hall, tracing hidden circuits and power relays through the ship’s deck, finally settling on a direction and heading toward the ship’s apparent bow. The rest of the team took up positions around Roberts and the sensor tech, covering point and guarding the rear.

“This way.” The tech analyzed the power relays and their nodes of intersection. “If we had designed this ship, the bridge would be forward another ten meters or so and up two decks.”

Roberts waved the teams forward to an access passage that angled upward. They moved along slowly, the marines’ rifles leading the way as the group inched along.

“What’s this dirt on the deck?” Roberts growled. His eyes narrowed as he nudged a pile of crumbled material with his boot.

“Unknown. I’ve got a sample,” the tech replied. “Complex compounds, a lot of organics. I’ll have to run it through the spectrometer and other gear on the Odyssey to break it down for you.”