Wednesday has come around again and I’m happy to present this week’s flash fiction.
Pratt felt crewman Krause freeze after the quiet statement had cut through the ship’s bridge. Everyone on the bridge frozen at Bryne’s quiet proclamation. Pratt coughed, straightening from his examination of the monitors at Krause’s station.
Glances darted between Bryne and Pratt before, refocusing on individual tasks. Bryne seemed indifferent to the attention, not turning from her station. He crossed the handful of paces to Bryne’s side and clutched the back of her seat.
Her grey eyes flicked to him before refocusing on her monitors. Leaning close he whispered, “What was that Lieutenant?”
“I’m not sure any of them are actually dead.” She moved with more ease than anyone else on the bridge at that moment as she repeated her statement.
Pratt glanced at the monitors. There were no life signs in the planet side camp anymore. “The scans show negative life signs, correct?”
She turned toward him blinking. “Yes.” Bryne nodded her assent.
“We did hit the target’s center, correct?”
Bryne gave another quick affirmative. “Yes.”
Grinding his teeth, Pratt straightened. “Then how do the current scans showing no survivors give you that impression?”
“These scans?” She pointed at her monitor. “Those don’t. However, the instant at impact lack readings does. Even surprise, some life should’ve remained at the camp’s edge. None did.”
He stared at the main view, the crater marking impact, and the deep hills surrounding the structure. Hills early scans showed movement streaming through. Damn Bryne’s insight. He hadn’t wanted a prolonged battle.
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