Version Innocent

Chapter 47

  Dawson watched as the hopper crashed into the surface, and if he hadn’t had his feed from the bug he would have believed that they had all just been killed because there wasn’t any trace of the three who were now hiding on the ledge of a ice rift, their heat masked by the cold ice.

  “Captain, they’re still alive. The hopper dropped them off before we came over the horizon,” Dawson informed her from his seat at the back of the bridge.

  “We’re not getting anything on sensors. How do you know that?” the Captain asked, studying the tactical display.

  “Sorry, I can’t discuss how I know, but they are there,” he reiterated, standing and pointing at the location of the crack.

  “Should I order the launch to land near there?” the Captain asked. “Or should we let them think that they’ve gotten away with their ruse?”

  “Land the launch here,” Dawson said, indicating a flat piece of ice that was still ten kilometers from the trio’s position. “Have the Marines dispatched to follow and watch. They’re not to take any action but to observe. Then have the launch fly overhead like it’s heading towards the crash site. Then have it circle back around to the drop location to wait for the Marines.”

  The Captain nodded and began issuing orders.

  Dawson wanted to know why they were there. After reviewing the recording and listening in on the final conversation with that Quig person who had dissoluted in the crash, Dawson couldn’t figure out why they were where they were. Was a ship going to come and pick them up? If so, where was it? Sensors weren’t picking up anything in their vicinity. Perhaps the active sensors would tell them something, but Dawson had ordered the Captain not to use them for fear that the trio would detect the sensor sweeps and feel as if they had been cornered. He needed them to continue. Hopefully this would work.