Obsidian Vein [II]

CRUNCH-TEAR!

A sickening metallic shriek ripped up through the lower deck plates, followed by the low roar of escaping air.

WEE-WOO! WEE-WOO!

The life support board at station three exploded into strobing red.

"Hull breach, ventral service corridor!" Jin-Ah's composure cracked for a fraction of a second as the pressure numbers fell. "Compartment Four-B! A manta slipped under our defensive arc and wedged itself between the harpoon housing and the main cryogenic fuel bladder… It's chewing through the secondary pressure seam!"

Harper's face drained white. 

"The fuel bladder?! If it bites into the deuterium line, the thermal shock'll blow the bottom half of the ship off…!"

"Camila!" Leo shouted into the shipwide comm. "Can you reach the manual isolation valve?!"

Down in the ventral service corridor, Camila was already running.