[ WP ] After exhausting all options , the crew of a crippled spacecraft receive a message from a rival power

The comm-panel on the wall chimed softly and Captain Palmer looked up from the book that lay open and un-read on his desk. He ran his fingers through his hair and tried in vain to rub the fatigue from behind his eyes. At a touch the panel lit up and he saw his own exhaustion mirrored in the face of his radio operator. 
 
 `` What have you got Patterson?'' the Captain asked. He knew the news would not be good yet felt a certain relief that at least the waiting might soon be over. 
 
 `` Sir I...'' Patterson faltered, clearing his throat, `` They found us. Kinsey could n't keep the cloaks running any longer.'' 
 
 There was an apology beneath his words that Palmer found touching. The last ninety hours had been the hardest of his long career and he was proud of his crew who had stood up tirelessly to challenge after challenge. 
 
 *They've all earned at least one medal apiece* he thought. *Just a pity no one will ever know. * 
 
 `` That's OK Patterson'' he said, `` we knew it was only a matter of time. Tell Kinsey she did a good job, I could n't have asked for more.'' 
 
 Patterson nodded and swallowed nervously. `` The thorn ship is tracking us 200 clicks to port. They've sent a handshake. Should I respond?'' 
 
 *Here it comes* Palmer thought to himself. He felt strangely calm and wondered abstractly how long such a state could possibly last for. `` I do n't think it makes a difference at this stage. Send the codes, let's see what they have to say at least.'' 
 
 `` Sir.'' Patterson acknowledged and the screen went blank. Palmer stood up on legs that felt weak and watery. He had n't eaten for a day at least but the thought of food sent waves of nausea up through his chest and he pushed them away. 
 
 There'll be time for eating later he told himself as he stepped out into the corridor. For a second he almost believed his own lie but then another shudder ran through the hull, like a slow cough from a drowning lung, and with a heavy heart Captain Palmer made his way towards the bridge. 
 
 *** 
 
 `` The handshake's gone through Captain.'' Patterson said, `` Should I connect?'' 
 
 Palmer looked round at the faces of his crew - every one a mask of fear, of exhaustion and of sadness. He was shocked at how few of them remained from the company who had set out three months ago and for the thousandth time he asked himself how the mission could have gone so wrong. 
 
 `` When we get back to Earth...'' His words caught in his throat and he cursed himself and started again. `` You all know how things stand. I just wanted to let you know that each one of you has performed above and beyond on this mission and... I am proud to have served with you.'' 
 
 He took a last look around and then turned to Patterson, trying to sound calm. 
 `` Put them through.'' 
 
 The main screen flickered with static then settled to a deep, unbroken black. The thorns were not sensitive to visible spectrum light and so operated in the dark. They had soon learned that their appearance was intimidating to humans and had fitted their ships with light sources and cameras. The fact that this one was not using them showed how little pressure it felt hit needed to exert over Palmer. 
 
 For a long second there was silence then a voice came soft and slow over the speakers, each word dripping with gleeful malice. 
 
 `` Greetings Captain Palmer. I hope you and your crew are all healthy.'' 
 
 `` We are.'' Palmer replied, his voice steady. `` And our greeting to you as well. You obviously know my name, would you do me the honour of identifying yourself?'' 
 
 `` Noooooo.'' The soft voice sighed. 
 
 Palmer waited but the thorn was silent. `` Lets get straight to it then shall we.'' He demanded, pleased to hear a note of authority still present in his words. `` I assume you're not just here to enquire after our wellbeing?'' 
 
 The silence continued, stretching out agonisingly, but the thorn showed no response to Palmer's tone when it finally spoke. 
 
 `` You are in bad shape Captain Palmer. You're orbit is decaying rapidly. I'm advised that you have less than six hours before falling into the atmosphere of Harmen-Kato 6.'' 
 
 `` Thank you for the update.'' Palmer did n't know if the thorns understood irony but any hope that their exchange would end positively had evaporated and he could not keep the contempt from his voice. `` We were attacked without warning as we entered the system. The ship was un-marked and disappeared. I do n't suppose you tracked this exchange?'' 
 
 The thorn ship had been running search patterns in the area since just after they arrived and Captain Palmer knew they were most likely talking to their attackers but he had no proof and in un-zoned space it was of little relevance anyway. 
 
 The thorn replied with several more seconds of silence then, `` We could help you Captain Palmer. I see you still maintain your shield - at the expense of other systems. If you allow us to dock we can see you and your crew safely back to zoned space. 
 
 It was too much. Palmer had expected the approach to be far more subtle and he could n't help but bark a humourless laugh at the thorns offer. 
 
 `` And our ship?'' He asked dryly, `` what would become of her?'' 
 
 The thorn replied immediately and Palmer thought he could even hear a hunger in its strange reedy voice. 
 
 `` We can save your ship also. Once you and your crew are safe we will stabilise its orbit and return it to you.'' 
 
 `` You must be lousy at poker.'' Palmer said. Any faint hope he had harboured that a positive outcome might be reached with the thorn was gone. He searched for the first cracks in the calmness that still enveloped him but to his surprise found none. He tore his attention from the dark screen and looked around his crew. He searched their pale faces but found his own resignation and resolve in each gaze that he met. Some eyes were hard and distant, some were wide and shining with tears but all told the same story. He turned back to the screen. 
 
 `` You know we ca n't do that thorn.'' he said, `` You know very well what our cargo is and that we simply can not let it be taken.'' 
 
 The thorn growled softly, its voice thickening as anger crept into its words. `` And you know what planet you are in orbit around Captain. You do understand what lies in wait for you when your orbit fails? This is not just any world where you will perish in flames as a shooting star.'' 
 
 Palmer had thought about little else for months. The strange nature of Harmen-Kato 6 was why they were here and was why he and his crew had all been given the chance to honourably turn down the mission. None of them had to be here, they had all made a choice. A choice to risk more than just their lives for a shot at ending the war once and for all. 
 
 `` I know what's down there thorn.'' Palmer said, letting anger drive the fear from his words. `` We all know. Just as we all know that there is still a chance to finish this.'' He turned to Patterson. `` Cut the signal.'' 
 
 `` Palmer do n't be a...'' 
 
 Captain Palmer hoped that the despair in the thorn's voice as it was cut off was real and not imagined. He would cling to it nonetheless, for as long as he was able to cling to anything. 
 
 His head felt heavy and he wanted very much to sit down but he had spoken the truth. There was still a slim chance they might succeed, though they would never see the fruits of their success. Palmer turned to Patterson. 
 
 `` I do n't suppose you have received a communication from Command yet?'' 
 Patterson shook his head slowly, his eyes staring somewhere far away, beyond the hull and the boiling clouds of Harmen-Kato 6 below them. 
 
 `` I feared not.'' Palmer answered and allowed himself finally to sink into his chair. `` Kinsey. Divert all remaining power from shields to thrusters.'' He closed his eyes. `` Send us down.''
