Chapter Eight
Cordelia Marin
C haos greets me as I burst into the ECR. The monitors show images of my crew on the deck below in the engine room, half obscured by steam hissing from a ruptured pipe as they scramble to contain the damage.
Zara’s at the control panel in the ECR, her fingers flying over buttons and switches as she pores over the readouts. “Coolant system’s failing!” She shouts over the dogged din of multiple alarms sounding.
I don’t waste time with words. I dive into the mess, leaping down the stairs to join my crew. The heat is intense, unbearable. Sweat beads on my forehead as I wrench a valve open, releasing pressure.
I twist, and turn bolts, my fingers working with a practiced precision. The Rookie stands beside me, his eyes wide yet giving me tools with a steady hand as if reading my mind. The noise is deafening, a cacophony of alarms and hissing steam, but we work through it, our focus unbroken. The air is thick with the saccharine scent of coolant and the harshness of charred steel.
Finally, the last bolt is secure. I nod to the Rookie, and we move to the next section, repeating the process until the immediate danger is contained. My muscles ache, and sweat pours down my face, but there’s no time to rest. We need to get back to the ECR.
I take the stairs two at a time, the Rookie close behind me. As we burst into the Engine Control Room, Zara is still on the control panel, focused on ensuring all readings are returning to normal. Captain Voss stands beside her, a deep frown etched on her face.
“Repairs are done. But something’s not right.”
Peterson enters the room behind us, his expression grim. “This was no malfunction.” His voice, barely audible over the still-blaring alarms, is hard, angry. “It’s sabotage. Deliberate.”
Captain Voss’s eyes narrow, and she crosses her arms. She turns to me, watching as I silence the last of the alarms before speaking. “Two more crewmen have been reported missing.”
My heart sinks at the news. I glance at Zara, who meets my gaze. My suspicions are confirmed. The ship, our home, is under attack.
“What in Hell is happening on my ship, Chief Engineer?”