<div><div><span id="q_12541990c08cebb6_0" class="h4"></span></div><div class="h5"><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Smith acknowledged, "Thank you. Smith out." Thrusters charged and
lifted the vessel smoothly from the deck, "Lieutenant. Hold tight."
Once they were past the doors and at what would be considered a just
barely safe distance from the vessel he pulled the throttle as it were
and took the shuttle out at increasing speeds. "It feels good to be
alive doesn't it?" A quick jerk starboard to avoid the warned about
debris.<br><br></div>Kylee
settled back in her seat, watching as the shuttle lifted off and exited
the ship. She arched her brow at Smith's question as he increased
speed. "Sure, though I bet you could go faster.. I gather Cait has
never had the experience of flying with you in a shuttle.." she stated,
a smirk on her lips as they dodged the debris. "When we do get out to
the correct area in the asteroid field, I'm going to want to go a bit
slower as I scan the area."<br><br></div>"I
must say I avoid the doctor like the plague," Smith replied, "So no
she's not been with me as far as I can remember in recent history." He
then laughed, "Why do you feel she'd already be in a pool of her own
bile?" There was a sound of pride in the question then he nodded, "I
will slow down."<br><br></div>Kylee
shrugged, chuckling softly. "With the way she was giving Lox hell..
probably.. and no, you can't pull that with me.. I'm immune to sickness
due to rough rides.." she said. "Okay.. when we reach these
coordinates, slow to quarter impulse so that I can begin the scans.."
she said, pointing to an area on the flight path.<br><br></div></div><div><div><span></span></div><div><div>The
flight went by without further incident, the view of the planet below
showed serene beauty with was a complete one-eighty from what the
inhabitants were actually living through. "By my estimates we should be
there in approximately two minutes." Smith's fingers pressed at the
console to turn the pitch by thirty degrees as they lifted further away
from the atmosphere of the planet.<br><br></div></div></div></div><div>Kylee
nodded, spinning about in the chair. She began to prepare the sensors
to pick up the necessary readings, searching for signs of any unusual
ship signatures, or the sign that a tractor beam may have been used and that followed the correct
path back towards the sun.<br><br></div><div>The
smooth ride became noticeably bumpy, "We're hitting turbulence
Lieutenant. Shields are holding however," he commented in a grateful
tone considering their path was towards solar flares which was in his
mind quite ludicrous! "I need to compensate so hold tight," the
shuttle jolted and dipped before he found the 'sweet spot' as it were,
"Sorry for the delay but by the display we have arrived to your first
requested location. I don't recommend we stay still long though,"
Smith's eyes went directly to the monitor displaying the readings from
the constant running scans.<br><br></div>Kylee
braced herself as the ride became more turbulent. She waited for it to
calm as she finished calibrating the sensors. "Just keep us away from
the really large rocks and we'll be okay.." she said, a smirk on her
lips. She settled back in her seat as the shuttle settled, finally
reaching the first location on their little "tour" of the field. "Don't
worry.. each site will take no more than fifteen minutes.." she said,
beginning the scans of the area. "There's signs that someone has been
here.. but.. not recent enough.."<br><br></div></div><div><div><span><br></span></div><div>"What's
your estimate Lieutenant?" Smith spun in his seat to face the woman for
a moment before return his attention to his own console and vessel
stabilization. A warning beacon suddenly chirped, "Ummm Lieutnant.
Sensors are picking up increased activity on the star's surface."<br><br></div></div>"About..
three days old, from what I can tell.. and with the flares, unable to
be definite on that.." she said, her gaze snapping over to Smith
quickly at his words. She quickly shifted her scan to the star, a frown
appearing on her lips. "We need to move, quickly.. Find the largest
asteroid that we can use as a shield to help protect the shuttle from a
direct hit," she said, keeping her attention on the sun.<br><br></div></div>"Affirmative!"
Smith felt a bead of sweat slide slowly down his temple and his heart
rate increase and thump strongly. Deftly he turned starboard, grateful
for seatbelts as the vessel nearly did a loop in the tight arch.
"Straight ahead I remember a field." The shuttle less than gracefully
avoided contact with smaller asteroid debris as it arrived, thrusters
suddenly hit to reverse to slow the shuttle and take her into a small
alcove protected by a series of asteroids in a tight formation.