====== Story: Salvage ======

===== Salvage I =====

Ross 614 Starflight Control Salvage Mission Report\\
Lightjammer //Kintyre Queen//, 2774

//Kintyre Queen// was en route to Barquen Station at Ross 614, carrying a mixed tail from Sol, under the command of Captain L. Brannagh.\\
The ship was sighted a year ahead of schedule, approaching at high speed and making no attempt to decelerate. There was no response to signals. The Patrol Squadron corvette //Fuchs// under Captain P. Z. Polland was dispatched to investigate.

Upon rendezvous with //Kintyre Queen//, //Fuchs// observed that the ship’s drive was not operating. Additionally, the ship was still oriented for acceleration. Analysis of the ship’s speed and arrival time indicated it had completed approximately 89% of its acceleration phase before cutting its engines. //Fuchs// also observed that the ship’s running lights were not operating, nor was its transponder or any emergency beacons. The tail appeared intact. Closer inspection revealed an impact hole in the bow cone, approximately 70cm across. The lack of ragged edges and the minimal deflection of the surrounding hull suggested a high-velocity impact. At this point //Fuchs// declared an emergency and moved closer to transfer a rescue team.

//Fuchs//’ boarding party gained access through //Kintyre Queen//’s starboard waist airlock, which was in good condition although unpowered. All EVA suits in the airlock bay were found to be present and intact.

Exploration of the interior determined that the ship had been penetrated longitudinally by a solid object, which had completely destroyed all internal compartments between the entry hole in the bow and the exit hole in the main drive reaction dish. This included every major system, including the electrical reactor and main drive, and all habitation spaces. The bodies of two crew members were located in cryopods in the crew cryo deck, which was destroyed. Another body was located in the mess deck, which was less badly damaged due to being an open space with few objects in the path of the impacting projectile; nevertheless, the crew member was apparently killed instantly by bulkhead fragments. The remaining three crew are presumed to have been in the flight deck, but no identifiable parts could be found due to the total destruction of that area.

After determining that //Kintyre Queen// was uncrewed, without power, and beyond //Fuchs//’ capacity to repair, Captain Polland brought //Fuchs// close alongside and rigged the two ships together, with //Fuchs// facing the opposite way to the other ship. //Fuchs//’ drive was used to decelerate the two ships. Upon the arrival of the corvette //Tiger// to assist, the Patrol Squadron ships’ combined maneuvering power was used to divert //Kintyre Queen// into orbit around Ross 614 A, where it could be safely salvaged and its tail brought in.

Five passengers were recovered alive from a cryo rig in the tail, which had an independent power supply.
The flight crews of //Fuchs// and //Tiger// were awarded the Distinguished Spaceflight Medal for their efforts to bring //Kintyre Queen// under control.

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