Starfall

The display banks flickered, coming to life. The low hum of the nearby machines changed pitch, whirring into action. On a large screen, complicated symbols and colours swirled together. Amidst the activity, a sharp, computer-like voice stated “Power restored, systems online”. Nearby, an electronic door hissed open. Through it came a damaged android, clutching one arm. It limped over to a console and closed the door with a button. The android slumped into a chair, remarkably human. It sat there for a moment, pondering its next move.
 
With a great effort, the machine moved itself across the room to the main display. Its energy was waning. Staggering, the android moved to the screen, punched in a code at the keyboard and powered down. Lifeless, the android stood with its other arm outstretched, stuck in position.
 
The console emitted a sharp beep, and from the windows, distant, contained explosions could be seen. Getting nearer, visible shapes were moving quickly away from the hull of the star ship. Escape pods, being launched out into the void. One by one they disappeared into the darkness. The android had saved them.
 
The life pods flew across the stars, scattered. Their engines blazing, they banked, making the descent towards a large, white planet below. Screaming downward, one life vessel collided with an asteroid and exploded. With a controlled maneuverer, the remaining pods entered the atmosphere and separated. The lead pod was the first to make contact. Flying over a what resembled a ravine, it crashed into a deep lake with murky water.
 
On the inside, a group of terrified survivors clenched their supports, watching the water rise higher. Muffled yells from the outside of the sinking pod was all that could be heard. Just as the craft was almost totally submerged, a loud hiss came from the water and a white raft inflated around it. The pod slowly rose, as it surfaced the back of it opened. The survivors clambered out, pulling each other up. Clad only in grey uniforms, the cold air made them shiver and double over.
 
A tall, sturdy looking survivor scanned the horizon whilst the others moved about on the hull of the ship. His gaze shifted from the water to the skies. The smoke trail of the life craft was still present, its descent mapped out against the clouds. Whilst his composure was calm, his mind was reeling. All that he remembered was a huge blast, on the star ship where the life crafts came from. He saw himself leaping out his seat as sirens screamed, pelting down the hall towards the evacuation area.
 
Vividly, he recalled large, dark figures entering the ship through a wide hole, carrying, thin, nasty-looking objects. Maybe weapons. After making it to the evac he had a vision of a robot, a common repair droid helping people escape. The robot had got everyone on the ship to the life pods, but was attacked, having it’s arm almost cut off to the shoulder.
 
He supposed it had been a pirate attack, deep space was prone to the prowling of looters, merchants and thieves. Surprising that they had attempted a raid on a Capital cruiser. The survivors were all engineers, builders and scientists. The cruiser had been navigating local galaxies, researching systems and life forms. It was on its journey home. The cruiser’s only cargo were extracted samples and small, unique creatures.
 
The tall man stopped pondering, people around him were calling for help. He jumped back down into the life pod, pulling a medic kit out of its slot on the wall, and emergency blankets and rations from another. The name badge on his uniform revealed him to be a J. Taylor. His rough hands and lined face were due to heavy engineering work he performed on the cruiser. Quickly, he passed out the blankets, covering the weakest, who were lying on the top of the life pod. All crew had medical training, and those that had composed themselves were attending to the injuries.
 
One of the items in the slot he had also pulled out was an emergency beacon. Taylor chose not to activate it yet, just in case the pirates were trying to track the life crafts. He placed it in his pocket and zipped it up. One of the younger crew came to him “What happened, John?” he said, eyes wide. “Raid” Taylor said in gravelly tones.