Quoted By:
“Oh, that’s easy enough to answer, sir,” you answer, squinting at the enhanced imaging, “Her communication module’s been fried. But even if it wasn’t, she’s…unconscious, sir. If I’m reading this data stream right.”
When HOPI verifies it, the captain isn’t quick enough to cut the line before he transmits a particularly colorful and angry swear. When the other end picks up again, it’s Geary. “Razor, I’m afraid our hands are still full. The reactor’s still offline, and Holt’s working her crew to get the crane back in order. Can you do anything on your end to help her?”
Fortunately, you can. “HOPI, standby to transmit release codes to the Caprica. We’re gonna get up close and do an emergency P2P.”
Puexo-To-Puexo. An absolute, last-resort rescue that involves one PUEXO aligning its cockpit hatch right adjacent to another for a pilot to mount a personal rescue. Not often encouraged or taught, given how cockpit alignment and design has evolved over several generations of the exosuit’s history. But one that, in theory, can be performed given the right angle. A “design quirk” that many at Accelerasoft thought to be rid of, but one that Ladera had explicitly said to keep in all subsequent PUEXO generations.
And thank God for that.
“…you should have enough room,” the A.I. says after running the numbers, “But it’s gonna be tight. Lucky for you, the Caprica’s at the right angle for it.”
“I’ll celebrate if we can start her up again and get her into the shallows. But we gotta get moving. How much oxygen does Gully have?”
“…one of her tanks is busted, but she should have another two hours’ worth. Maybe three given how little you breath during sleep. You’re not in that much of a hurry.”
“Remember what Aalto said before the dive?” you mutter as you align for, then execute the maneuver. “About how Babylonia isn’t the only one with Old World tech? We didn’t see it, but I bet the explosion was visible for more than a few miles above the water.”
The sooner you’re out of here, the better. You don’t want to be lingering, with the Calypso dead in the water and vulnerable, for anyone curious enough to come sniffing around. More often than not, it usually means bad news. Pirates, cultists…or worse.
“Hard seal established,” reports HOPI, shortly after a heavy CLUNK. “Flushing water and establishing electronic handshake…I’m in. Gully’s HOPI is unresponsive, but I’ll see what I can do to restart it.”
You slap the button holding your seatbelts in place, stretching as best as you can prior to reaching for the hatch to pry it open. The lines connecting your suit and TAComm helmet to the Magellan fall away at the slightest touch. There’s nothing left connecting you to the Magellan. All that’s left…
“Electronic handshake established,” HOPI mutters, “Transmitting emergency unlock codes…”
(cont.)
