Copyright © 1997, 1998
Last updated on 1/21/98
Discovery-Pod 2 (Duey) - 02:15
<< Shrike here, VLA Package 2 deployment complete. Proceeding back to cargo bay 1. >>
Duey is maneuvered back to the Elissa, into the cargo bay and parked.
<< Shrike here, I'm back in the bay, standing by. >>
While VLAC-3 starts to disgorge its cargo, Smythe notices something, or the lack thereof, for the first time. << Smythe to Elissa. Bridge, isn't there supposed to be a tanker or something out here? >>
The voice on the other end drips sarcasm. << Well, strap my muzzle! You know, you're RIGHT! There *is* supposed to be a tanker or something out here. YaFe, I remember now... it had all our fuel for the trip HOME on it! Golly-O, we ARE in a pretty mess, AREN'T we?! >>
An exasperated sigh. << Sorry, Doctor. Just get those damn things up and running, so we can find where our ride home got itself to.... Vouf out. >>
Smythe glances at the holodisplay and sees that the first few drones are coming on line. He taps a glasspad to expand the holodisplay to .5 m diameter and include the raw pod data. He notes with satisfaction the faint purple lines as the VLA maser comnet unfolds, linking all 33 drones, the three VLAC's, the Elissa and Huey in a virtual neural net, not unlike a perfectly symetric arachnid web.
<< Morzer herre, Herr Doktor Smythe. Ve are beginnink to rrezeive telemetrrry vrrom your drrronez. All macht sehr gut at zis time. >>
Smythe punched up the synthesized data, still unfiltered, on a 2D glass screen. What he didn't see, startled him... what he did see, alarmed him...
<< Smythe to Elissa, Navigation, ahr y'pahstive wuhr at the correct coordnates? Mah calculashuns say we ahr, but ahm not so shuh. At least not from whuht ahm seeyun heeyuh... Thuhs no sign uv d'Hameelcuhr. Fact is, thuhs a great deal of nuthin out heeyuh. No wreckage, no nuthin. Just a sec, wait one, ... wait'a'sec, this caint be raht... Cpn 'Vouf, herr doc Morzer, you gettin all this? Thuhs no RF, no neutrinos, no positrons, no electrons, NO GRAVITONS, no nuthin! Thahr aint no EM emissions of _any_ kahnd out heeyuh not c'nsistahnt with the stelluh backgroun! I _mean_ theyuh aint nuthin heeyuh! Damnit! It's like wun great big hoova cum threwd and swupt the damn system done clean! Herr Morzer, ahm cummin back tuh the Elissa, ah caint du much mo' frum heeyuh. >>
<< Werner here, doctor Smythe. Doctor Morser is momentarily indisposed. We have your data and are comparing it to the baseline. Please join us in the physical science compartment at your earliest convenience. Werner out. >>
<< Pod One, Bridge. You're cleared to return to the Hold. Pod Two, you are cleared pending safe landing of Pod One. And take it SLOW, Doctor Smythe. The last thing we need is a crash and flash-fire.... I think you can see why I'm a trifle annoyed right now. Bridge out. >>
Smythe slides through cargo hold #1's door and proceeds to let Huey settle to the deck as close as possible to the forward airlock. Once down, Smythe calls to Dr. Morser, << Herr Doc Morzer, Ay's back in cargo bay one. It'll take uh minute or two tuh depressurize Huey, and get through thuh airlock. Ah should be with yuh in 'bout three tuh fowuh minutes. >> With that, Ostyn starts the depressurize sequence. A fffffff ttttt can be heard as the pods atmoshpere escapes into the vaccum of the cargo bay. As he waits, Dr. Smythe studies the holospheric projection of raw VLA data intently. Once the pressure drops to 50 milli- bars, Smythe hits the doorpad, and, with electric motors whirring, the hatch opens with a TTSSSSS. Smythe hops out of the pod with a "k'chunk" as the magnetic boots hit the deck. It takes him almost half a minute to reach the airlock, 15 meters from the pod. Touching the airlock doorpad, the airlock swooshes open. A minute later, Ostyn takes his helmet off and heads for the science lab at a brisk pace.
Talon emerges from the shuttle bay into engineering, where he finds Hur'Shurvan hard at work tending the power plant.
"Hi Shurv. Everything ok?"
"Hello Nicholas. All engineering systems are functioning smoothly. Is all well outside?"
Talon shrugs. "Don't know. I just got told to stand down from the shuttle, so I guess there's no immediate danger." Stifling a yawn, he continues, "I'm going down to the mess for a quick snack and then try to grab a few hours sleep before my shift. Assuming Dog Almighty doesn't call for me in the meantime, of course. Want me to bring you a sandwich or anything?"
"No thank you, Nicholas. I ate not long ago." A slightly uncomfortable expression crosses Hur'Shurvan's face for a fleeting moment. In a very small voice he adds, "Which I am not sure was altogether wise."
"You all right?"
"I'm fine, thank you. Just a little twinge in the digestive system. Brought about by the jump exit, no doubt. It always amazes me how you never seem to be affected by it."
Talon flashes his friend a grin. "I'm a natural born Traveller. See you later."
With that, he promptly steps into the grav lift and descends toward deck 4.
"Hey Doc Morser, yuh all come up with anythin' else yet? The net should be almost all on line b'now," Smythe pants as he takes up his station at his HOLOPTIC computer brought aboard from his lab ship, the Viggen.
Karl Morser looks like someone punched him in the stomach, hard. He is standing at the edge of the holo-tank, alternating his attentions between the console in front of him, and his wristcomp. Doctor Werner is on the opposite side of the tank, also working furiously.
"Nein, nein, ve haff nossink elze. *Nossink!*", Morser mutters. "Manfrrred, vas about ze vorty zzentimeter bant?"
Werner frowns. "The first pass is just coming through..." He bends closer to the console. "Schisse!! It shows nothing." He recalibrates and snaps, "Trying forty-two centimeters."
"Doc, on my way in from the VLA, ah've a hunch what tuh look for. Gimme a minute or two over heeyuh."
"Holly, tightun thu scan tuh consuntrate uhround the last known cord'nates of thuh hole," Smythe instructs his HOLOPTIC computer.
_Acknowledged, Ostyn_ replies the computer in a sexy female voice.
Outside the Elissa, the VLA drones reconfigure their antennae and gravitics move them into a slightly different configuration.
"Doc Morzer, ah've reconfigured the VLA, gonna tighten thuh pattern to the preevyus cor'dnates of thuh hole," Smythe tells Dr. Morser.
"Gutt, gutt." Morser replies. Shaking his head furiously, he mumbles, "Vhere is the verdammt thing? It *hazz* to be here zomevhere!"
"Holly, scan for gravitons and gaseous ions of annee kahnd."
_Scanning, Osytn_ the HOLOPTIC replies.
Smythe touches the glasspad controls in front of him, configuring a 1m x 1m glass 2D display as well as a 1m diameter holodisplay. He pears intently at the glasspanel display for several minutes. A smile cracks his lips as some faint red and orange pixels glow to life in front of his eyes.
"Gotchyuh," he whispers.
"Doc Morzer," Ostyn almost yells, as the excitement wells up inside, "Ah think ah've gotit! Punchin it up on the lab's tank." Smythe touches several places on the glasspad controls and the information appears on the Science lab's holotank display. Smythe jumps up and whirls around as he heads to the tank 2 meters behind him. Striding to the edge of the tank he speaks, "Doc Morzer, ah just tightened up the VLA on the last known cord'nates of thuh hole ovah heeyuh...," as he points to the faintly glowing orange and red region where the hole last was. "Ah scanned fuh gravitons and gaseous ions. Whut weeyuh seeyuhn heeyuh is some remnunts of some sort of gas. Ah've not found me any gravitons yet. Them is tricky lil' bugguhs to find, y'know, but," Ostyn pauses as a thought strikes him, "givuhn thuh low 'tensity of these heeyuh ions, ah bet we can find us summ of those theyuh graveetons by lookin fuh much lowwuh 'tensity graveetons.... gimme a few mo minutes Doc..."
Werner looks up, "Karl, Ostyn, This ionized gas is in the point zero zero zero five torr range." He taps in a quick calculation on his handcomp. "It can't be the Hamilcar. The dispersion is too uneven."
Ostyn swings himself back up to the HOLOPTIC computer situated in the corner of the lab and begins furiously tapping away at the glasspad controls. Five minutes later he lets out a whoop, "DOC MORZER! Ah gotstit!"
"Holly, transfuh all display funkshuns and controls to thuh lab's central tank controls," Smythe orders the HOLOPTIC verbal interface.
_Yes, shugah_ Holly replies.
"... and Holly, weeyuh not on thuh Viggun no mo, so's you jest bettuh cut the random reply algorithm out fo now, y'understan?" Smythe snaps back at the cheeky interface.
_Yes, doctor_ comes the formal reply.
Smythe jumps down to the tank. "Doc Morzer, Doc Werner, LOOK!" Smythe almost yells. He's visibly excited, his eyes wide open and he can't keep still. "Heeyuh, heeyuh, heeyuh, whise, theyuhs almost everywheeyuh. Holy sheeyut! Ok, ok... just a sec," Ostyn says as he tries to calm down. "Thuz reasuhn weez couldn't see nuthin' 'fore, 'z'cuz weez lookin too haahd! Theez heeyuh ions is very lo' 'tensity, and heeyuhz summ lo' 'tensity gravitons," Ostyn says as he points out the faint light green of the residual gravitons. Then he continues, "Lookie heeyuh! Here's the orijnal hole..." Ostyn points to a faint pocket of orange and red gasses. "And heeyuhs where thuh Hameelcuh wuz," Ostyn indicates with his hand. "Now notice thuh pockuhts and trailz of gas that lead right frum the Hameelcuhs last position to where the HOLE USED TO BE! Now..." and Ostyn stops in mid-sentence peering intently at some newly painted pink 3D pixels... "Thuhts strange... lookie heeyuh at these pink gases... Ah haven't seeyun anythun lahke this since..." Ostyn stops in mid sentence, spins around, running back to his computer, shouting over his shoulder to the rest of the science team,
"4 yeaz ago, Ah wuz studyin a self-mehd nebulae when some yo-yo wuhnt jettin through it, and his thustah plates done fouled up mah hole 'speriment... and thuh 'szult wuz lookin' juss like these heeyuh pink gasses..."
Ostyn starts tapping away like mad again at the HOLOPTIC, when all of the sudden he freezes. He stays frozen for half a minute when he slowly turns around, his face white as if he'd just seen a ghost.
"HOLY SHHEEEYYUUUUTTT. Oh mah gawd! DOC, thuh HOLE! Ah've FOUND IT!!! buht it's almost gone!!!", Ostyn shouts...
Smythe sprints back to the lab holotank. He's visibly upset, excited, and scared all at once. "Ah've nevuh seeyun nuthin' like this. Look heeyuh. Heeyuh's the cord'nates of the 'rijinul location of thuh hole, and heeyuhs these uthuh puffs of gasses all in a straight line. Straightuh than a ruluh. And heeyuh raht next tuh thuh last puff, which'uzz verry dirty, dirti'uh then thuh othuh's is the HOLE!!! But it's only 'bout 600 meters 'cross!!! Holly figguhs it's been moovuhn 'bout 40 metuhs puh secund for thuh lass six weeks! It's curruhntly 145,152 kilometuhs from it's last locayshun! And the dayamn thang is shrinkin'!! It was whuht, 10 keelometuhs 'cross b'fore?"
Morser looks fondly at the tiny black spot that appears in the holotank. "Guten morgen, meine lieber Nobel Prrrize in ze makink," he croons.
Gesturing with his hand, pointing at several other trails of pink gas, swirling around like a spiral, Ostyn continues, "... and also, these pink gas spirals lead fruhm the 'jected 'zishun of thuh Hameelcuh to each of these eight puffs that extend frum the 'rijinul hole p'sition tuh the current wun... and AH'D swear them pinks gasses wuzz outgassin of thrustuh plates moovuhn through a debris field... Seeyuh heeyuh, weez pickun' up mo 'zidyuhl graveetons."
"Verdammt." Werner glares at the image in the holotank. "If we had not had the VLA, we never would have found it again. But the shrinkage rate, man, the SHRINKAGE RATE! Is it linear? How long do we have?"
"Herr Vernuh, we've only 15 minutes data! How duh ya make an estimate? let alone a guess! Look heeyuh, it appears linear, and based on our data, it'uhl close in 24 owwahs, but look at this," Smythe points to a wildly vacillating curve on a flat panel display, "it's uh goin' unstable... I'd bet it could be gone in as little as 8 hours!"
If anything, Werner's glare becomes even more extreme. Morser, on the other hand, is immediately galvanized to action. Frantically slapping his commdot, he hails the bridge.
<< Bridge, this iss Morzer. Ve haff located ze vorm hole, but it iss SSHHRINKINK!! Ve must moof to interzzept immediately!! Ze coordinates are... >> running his hands over the holo-controls, he continues, << ...being ved to you ass ve speak. Ve must get unter vay at vonce!! Morser out! >>
Bhyarrvouf sits bolt upright at Morser's words. "Nanadh, full maneuver thrust and come to a heading as fed by the VLA."
"Aye Aye, C'ptn. How fast do you want us to be going when we reach these coordinates?" Ger asks quicky, applying "full" thrust as the Elissa skews about.
"Full burn to the halfway point, full braking to all stop about a kilometer away from it. Nishu can do the math in his sleep, and the rest is in those magic fingers of yours. Do a bootlegger reverse if you have to. Just try not to snap the ship in half."
He flicks on the commlink. << Doctor Smythe, we'll come back for your drones once we've done our close-in observations. I'll be down there in a moment, and I expect a full report, Karl. Bridge out. >>
"You have the conn, Akhouw. Aiwi, Nishu, crosslink the VLA telemetry with the Elissa's sensors and get a good look at what Ostyn saw. Ger, don't spare the juice!" He bolts for the door.
Akhouw views the by now familiar rapidly retreating form of Bhyarrvouf with something akin to irritated resignation. Settling into the command chair yet again, Akhouw considers briefly before opening a comm-channel. << Commander to Chief Munro. Request your input on the possibility of thruster-plate overdrive. Report maximum recommended and maximum possible thrust. Quickly, if you please. Akhouw out. >>
With one ear Zben keeps track of whats going on, and when the Commander is clear with the CEO, he turns in his chair; "Sir, Should I signal the crew to brace for acceleration and manuvering?"
"Herr Doktuh Morzuh, donnya think thuht be a might bit hasty? Thuh VLA maht b'pruhtty usefuh wunce we git tuh thuh hole. 'Specially if we _can_ see intuh thuh hole... then thaht array might be worth uht's mass in plateenum. Uht's only uh two owwah buhn plus change tuh get thuh. We cuhn 'ave thuh VLA back on board in half an owwa! 'Course we cuhn alwuhs come back fowah it, I 'spose... But, fowa heaven's sakes, Kahrl, the chance tuh 'xamine a wurmhole up close, and leavin' the best intstrahment b'hahnd... " Ostyn says with a confused, pained look on his face. He continues, "Kahrl, dontchya think uht would be wuth it to ass' Cap'n 'Vouf to bring the VLA along? We cuhn have it back uhn bowud in thurtee minutes. Thuht would still livv us five howas 'fowa it closes, an' thuht wuz 'servative estimate."
Morser shakes his head violently as he stares at the holo-tank data. "Nein, nein!! Ve muzt rrreach ze hole azz zzoon azz pozzible! Ve haff no idea iff ze ezztimatez arrre accurrrate. Ze VLA vill be ffine, unt ze Elizza hazz morrre zan enuff zzenzzorrr capabeeleety for cloze zzenzzorrr rrreadinkks." He leans closer to the display to examine a section and mutters, "Ve *MUZZT* rrreach ze hole.!!"
Werner motions to Smythe, gestures towards the oblivious doctor Morser, and then cups his hands around the outsides of his eyes and silently mouths the words, "Tunnel Vision". Then he just shakes his head and turns his attention to the sensor relays.
Just then, Johann Abuko hustles in the door. "Sorry for the delay. Bit made a break for it, and it took me ten minutes to get him back in my cabin." No one seems to pay any attention to him, so he moves over the a vacant console and plops down in the chair.
"Gee, I know how you feel about your sensors, Doc." Sokuku offers to Smythe. "I had to leave a favorite crossbow behind during a cultural contact mission on Orphee, in Reft Sector, once. I didn't get it back for 3 months and *then* I had to barter with a local chief for it." He glances towards the holo-tank before adding, "I'm sure they'll be fine." He doesn't sound very convinced.
As that conversation dwindles, Hryawi busily sifts data and queries the computer about the possibilty that the space debri and our fuel source might have been sucked into the hole.
Bhyarrvouf strides in. "Let's see this hole," he says sharply to no one in particular.
While standing by in Duey for further orders, Shrike notices the starfield outside of the open cargo doors start to rotate slowly. "What the ..."
<< Merkle! Bishop! We just started moving, watch the doors! >>
<< Bridge!, What the hell's going on?!? We still got cargo bay doors open down here! >>
Merkle immediately responds. << Andon, if you've still got control of that pod, maintain it please and keep it from rolling! >>
Slapping the exo-loader's controls to standby, magnetic grips still working, Merkle slips out of the cage and does a visual scan of the hold.
Having just finished parking his exo-loader, Bishop slowly turns to face the port cargo door, as the Orion arm begins to sweep across his field of view.
<< Boris, start securing the work-pods and anything else that might be loose. I going to button us up. Andon, stand clear. >>
<< Acknowledged! >> Boris starts making his way across the deck toward the pod vacated by Smythe. When that is done, he heads to the other side of the deck, ensuring the safe landing/stowage of the second pod.
Even as he speaks, the ponderous hullmetal doors on both port and starboard cargo locks begin to glide closed, finally coming together in the center with a faint *boom* that can be felt through the deck plating. Bishop switches his commo to local hail, so Shrike and Merkle can both hear him. Then, he makes two calls.
<< Cargo bay 1 to bridge. Hatches closed. The bay is sealed. Recommend we maintain a vacuum environment until flooding becomes necessary. >>
<< Science team, this is Bishop. Doctor Smythe, I've unslaved your drones from station-keeping on the ship. They'd burn out trying to keep up. They're now slaved on the VLACs. They should be fine right here until we return, and they can still provide us with data remotely. We'll only be 2 light-seconds away from them. Bishop out. >>
Turning back to his two vacc-suited co-workers, Bishop queries, << Boris, Andon and I can help out. What do you want us to start on? >>
<< Adrian, could you check with Dr. Limner in IGOR? Make sure neither he or the Bus has shifted loose. >> Merkle's voice crackles. << Andon, you and I can clean up the grips and clamps from the VLACS.
<< Until the Bridge has a better idea of what's gonna happen in the next few minutes we should sit tightly and breath lightly! Everything else should be tight from Jump exit. >>
<< Roger that. >> comes Bishop's response.
Through out all the (Interesting!) manuvers in the Cargo Bay, Dr. Limner has sat at the controls of Igor, ready to release and assist if something went Seriously wrong. The steady stream of communications messages has kept him apprised of the situation, and he has had moments of concern, worry, and elation. He breaths a small sigh of relief when everyone is back in and seems safe. He even finds himself worried about Bishop, and that worries him......
Suddenly, there is a slight _lurch_ and he notices the background of stars starting to move. At about the same time he hears:
<< Bishop to Limner. Doctor, we appear to be getting under way rather quickly. Are you secure where you are? You'd better make sure Igor's cargo grapples are engaged. >>
Scanning the consol before him he adjusts one control. A low pitch hum that has been in the background rises in intensity. He keys a mike. << Affirmative. I have increased magnetic and gravatic couplers to maximum. In addition... >> He studies the view from the forward ventral camera, presses a button, and puts on a waldo gauntlet that rises out of the starboard panel. Outside the ship those looking see a heavy duty grapple arm fold out and grasp one of the numerous deck tiepoints << ... I will endeavor to hold on, just in case. I assume we are moving toward the diminished hole. What is our ETA? >>
<< Unknown.... >>
Zar's eyes are closed in the dim red light of the bridge, napping for the moment in the pilot's seat. The scans showing precious little, the details have been left to the science team.
_Goughzar, Sensor data is incuring a sudden shift and consistent shift_
"YAWN... Vekh?"
_Sensor data is being compensated for a shift due to the acceleration of the Elissa and all Riders._
Pressing the comm link, Goughzar rubs his eyes and stretches in the acceleration seat.
"Paladin to Bridge, Goughzar here. Why are we moving? Did we find something?"
Munro stops, listening, astonishment on her face. A faint thrum can be felt/heard throughout the engineering compartment.
"Flippin' 'ell! They've cranked up the maneuver drives!"
<< Commander to Chief Munro. Request your input on the possibility of thruster-plate overdrive. Report maximum recommended and maximum possible thrust. Quickly, if you please. Akhouw out. >>
Munro's jaw bounces off the deck and closes with a click. Between clenched teeth, the crew hears incomplete muttered phrases about stuffed pussycats and rabid puppies. Striding to the communications panel, Munro's expression goes from extreme irritation and exasperation to cold neutrality.
<< Engineering to Bridge. Munro here. Commander, I recommend against using maneuvering overdrive due to the *extreme* stortage of fuel. In fact, I recommend against using the maneuver drives at all! One hour at 100 percent burns 2 hours of life support fuel. One hour at the maximum recommended level of 140 percent will burn 2.8 hours. >>
[pause....]
<< Commander, have we found a re-fueling source whereby Captain Bhyarrvouf's orders for energy saving measures can be countermanded? >>
Akhouw growls softly at the comm. A quick stab of the claw re-opens the channel. << Your objection is noted, Chief, and overruled. Captain Bhyarrvouf's orders. Monitor maneuver drives and standby for thruster overdrive at 140%. >> Here his tone sharpens. << Report maximum *possible* overdrive as well, Chief, and maintain the Captain's energy conservation orders. >> His voice relaxes. << You will be notified of any change in our fuel status. Akhouw out. >>
He changes the comm channel. << Commander Akhouw to Captain Bhyarrvouf. Manuever drives at 100%, sir. Chief Engineer Munro reports thruster overdrive possible at 140%, and Engineering is standing by to engage, at your command, sir. >>
A split second passes, followed by 'Vouf's strident reply, << Good. Do it immediately. I'm in the sensor pit, if you need me. Captain out. >>
<< Bridge. Engineering. Can't run the maneuver drives *and* maintain the Captain's energy conservation orders, Sir. I can give you one or the other, not both. As to the maximum on the drives, 140% is the recommended maximum for any extended length of time. In an emergency, I can give you 400% for four to five minutes. Any longer at that level and we either swim home or end up as an expanding ball of plasma... Sir. Engineering out. >>
Akhouw favors the comm with a fixed stare. When he speaks, he does so with amazing patience but an unmistakeable tone. << Then, Chief Munro, you will implement energy conservation to the degree that the current use of the maneuver drive makes possible. Is *that* clear? >> He glances at the status displays for a moment. << Engage 140% thruster overdrive, Chief Munro. Bridge out. >>
He turns to face the main holo. "Helm, recompute for 140% thruster overdrive and report revised ETA."
"Sir, at 140% that's about one-and-three quarters hours. I'll give you the exact ETA, as soon as the chief navigator reviews my course."
Ger pushes on a portion of the display, and shortly afterward a light yellow glow suffuses the helm display. "At 140% manoeuver, Sir". A long pause while Ger does some computations, his fingers moving carefully over the holopanel, stange Darrian symbols dance in 3-D in front of the Count.
"Chief Navigator, Sir", Ger pushes a few 'buttons' as he addresses Aiwi, "I've just sent my course calculations to your station for your review. This should leave us with a zero relative velocity to the object, and distance of 1.0735 km, in 1 hour 47 minutes."
Munro glares at, the imperious, overbearing voice issuing from the speaker. Muttering softly, she reaches for the communications switch one more time.
<< Bridge. Engineering. Going to 140% thrusters as ordered. Engineering out. >>
Angus takes a quick glance around the engineering compartment while Munro clicks off the intercom to the bridge. "Geez, who pissed in Akhouw's Wheaties?"
<< Engineering, this is the Captain. Sorry, Mister Munro, but we're going to hold off on conservation efforts until after we finish what we came here for. For those of you who might be interested down there, we've found the 'hole,' and it's still open. We'll be there in two hours.... less, if you can give me that 140%, Mister Munro. 'Vouf out. >>
Moving quickly, Munro configures the holo-panel in front of her to display the Maneuver drives and their status. Speaking over her shoulder to the assembled engineering staff, she continues in an apologizing tone.
"Angus. Shurv. It's not your shift, but your expertise is needed here in engineering." Nodding toward the holo-panel, she continues. "I'm going to be busy monitoring the Maneuver drives for the next couple of hours. You two and Doejin will be responsible for the rest of engineering. I'll get Boris back here to help."
"Don't worry, Ms. Munro," says Hur'Shurvan. "We will keep things running for you. I will try to ensure that you get a steady power feed."
"Aaron, Dan and and Morgan, technically you're off duty. Go get some rest." Again glancing over her shoulder at C-shift, a impish grin crosses her face. "Of course, if you find you can't sleep, and you decide to wander back down here after getting some food, your help would be greatly appreciated." Her face again becomes very serious. "*But only* if you don't need sleep." Head bobbing toward the door, "Go on, you guys. Get out of here."
Her attention is grabbed by the holo-panel. After adjusting some indicators, she touches the communications panel.
<< Munro to Merkle. Boris, when you've got the storage bay re-secured for maneuvering please return to engineering. Munro out. >>
<< Aye Chief! I'm on my way. Does the Bridge want the hold re-pressurized? If not, you might want to remind them that Mr. Bishop and Mr. Shrike are still suited up in here, and Dr. Limer remains in his Grav Bus. Merkle out. >>
"I am not tired, Mynheer Munro," haut-Frieder says stoutly. "I shall remain at my post."
"Who can sleep now?" Silvmane shrugs, refusing to move.
Grey says, "Well, I'M not sleepy either, but DANG I'm hungry. Permission to conduct a large-scale commerce-raiding mission on the Main Mess, ma'am?" He snaps off a ridiculously crisp salute, an obvious parody of Aiwi.
"No problem, Boss." comments MacLearan. "We'll see if we can even get the fuel transfer done for you. For our next miracle, the engineers will create jump-10 engines that work off a cup of lukewarm tea..."
"What? And give up your beloved gravitics, Red?" Munro looks shocked, but her teasing tone belies her expression. "I'm shocked. I'm speechless. I'm..." Her eye focus on a piece of data projected by her head set. Whirling to the holo-display, she types quickly. Her face is now serious, but not all the bantering tone is gone.
"Let's take care of the fuel transfer and see about the jump-10 later."
"Paladin to Bridge, Goughzar here. Repeat. Why are we moving? Requesting any further instructions. Goughzar out."
closing the commlink, "kharrbyegh... vuikh!"
_Your question is too vague. Please be more specific._
"WHY... are we moving. Nevermind!", cutting in before the computer begins to retort again, "Please give me a visual update on the holodisplay here. Repeat analysis process done by science team and visualization standards."
Goughzar waits a few moments as the display reforms, clouds of pink trailing gas lead roughly to a blank spot. Investigating closer, Goughzar realizes the blank spot in the gas cloud is actually the hole, and much smaller than before. "ahhhhhhh".
Time passes very slowly in the armoury, as Security waits for some hint of the threat against which they have mobilised. Lazer stands behind Tar and Vanessa, intently watching the console displays.
Several minutes pass, and the sensors build a more thorough picture of the heavens. The VLA is deployed, and it adds only tantalising hints for the scientists to chase.
Lazer looks around, quickly gauging the tension levels in the room. "All right. We're not going to get jumped here. You can sit down, remove your helmets, but keep your gear at hand. Stay alert, folks.
<< Farouk to Jonson and Horne. We've got no apparent threat, so you can stand down to a level 2 alert. Will keep you posted. Farouk out. >>
With that, Lazer turns back to the status displays.
Rafe pops his helmet, slings his safetied rifle over his shoulder, and joins the rest of the crowd peering at the sensor repeater display. He notes the false-color traces of the gas clouds near the hole, and, examining the spectrographic indices at the edge of the screen, guesses vaguely that something must have gone through. He wishes he were on the Bridge.
Sigh. I wouldn't've thought 'Vouf would be the type to practice Military Mushroom Management...but then again, I'm low-charisma, and I'd guess he assesses Lazer as the only one here with respectable charisma. Possibly the others from the last trip have gained charisma, but it's hard to tell--they might even have lost, as he has. At any rate, I hope he uses an open channel when he tells Lazer what's going on, 'cause I'll never hear about it otherwise!
And so the reluctant soldier passes the time by practicing his preferred profession, his senses alert for any unusual occurrence in the cramped room.
As Merkle prepares to head for engineering, he addresses Bishop, Shrike, and Limner..
<< Gentlemen, I leave the hold in your capable hands. You might want to check with your department heads to see if you're needed somewhere else. In the meantime, I'll try to get some further direction on what else needs to be done here. If you *do* have to leave, lemme know so I can keep track of things in here. If I hear from the Bridge before you do, I'll let ya know what's going on. Dr. Limner, I assume your in there with a Vacc Suit, so you're pretty much free to go where you want. Just let me know if you leave the Hold. Cheers! >>
Limner's voice comes over the comm << Affirmative, Mr. Merkle. It would appear that our job is done here, for the moment. >> Switching to the Med team frequency, he calls Sickbay.
Jan sits at the sickbay's medlog station, idling, sipping at a cup of tea. Occasionally, he glances at his data monocular to check the data from the suits of the crew doing EVA. Not that he has to check, they are meticulous in their work, everything proceeding just as planned. He does relax a tad though as the EVA team makes their way in.
<< Dr. Yorblin? Limner here. It appears that situations have changed here. I'd like permission to button up Igor and rejoin the crew. >>
<< Unless you've got some crash hot data there that requires your presence aboard Igor, by all means feel free to come and relieve me in the sickbay. >>
<< Affirmative, Doctor. I'll be there in short while. Limner out. >>
Giving a wave, Boris heads to the aft personnel lift and down to Deck 4, exiting immediately into engineering.
Checking Igor's readouts Limner quickly ascertains that all systems are functioning nominally. Leaving the bridge he returns to the workshop area and checks the psi-recorder for anomalies. Everything seems to be quiet. He stands, lost in thought about the implication of what he hasn't seen. Abruptly reaching a decision, he swivels the psi detection antenna to face toward the bow of the ship. "Igor, begin preperations for Vacuum Exit, Plan Alpha. Upon my departure intitiate power down to level three. Maintain active monitor on station PS-1 and contact me via ships channel D if you detect any anomalies greater than point 33 deviation. Confirm."
_Confirming. Begining pressure reduction to one-half atmosphere, opening inner door lock to equalize. Reminder. Please confirm vacc suit status_ ..... (With a rueful look, Limner zips up and seals his flex helmet) "Confirm suit ready" _Continuing: Upon departure reduce to standby level three. Monitor PS-1, report Oh point three three deviations via ships channel D_
Satisfied, Limner moves back to the entryway near the bridge. He note that the Surgery door has slid shut and a red `pressure imbalance' light shows it's maintaining full pressure. Around him sounds are growing quieter as the pressure reduction continues. Reaching the inner door, he enters the improvised `lock' and waits. Over his suits induction speaker he hears _Confirming pressure at one-half A_. After closing the inner door, "Igor. Bleed lock to match exterior pressure." Slowly the last of the air in the confined space hisses away, and his light-duty suit feels a bit tighter.
Opening the outer door he graps the hand rail and walks carefully down to the deck, making certain the grav plates are operating. Everything OK, he moves to the aft hold airlock, and cycles through. Moving to the lift he drops to Deck 4, walks the long corridor through Hold 2, and goes down the second gravlift to Deck 5, outside of sickbay.
Fresh from the cargo bay #1, Merkle hustles into engineering. Cracking open, and removing his helmet, he locates Munro.
"Hiya Chief! That was all going according to plan until things started to move. What's goin' on?"
Munro is hunched over a holo-panel, data headset in place and in use. She glances at him, then returns to scanning the displays.
"Good to have you back, Boris. Seems someone found our mysterious 'hole' and certain other people want to get to it fast. I'm baby- sitting the maneuver drives till we get there. Angus is working on shifting the remaining fuel to internal tanks and Shurv is emulating me on the power plant. Doejin is running go'fer and status check jobs. Oh, yeah. C-shift has decided to stick around for the fun."
Here Merkle can see a momentary smile curve Munro's lips. It disappears as a status icon flashes to yellow. Munro inputs a command causing the offending icon to turn green.
"I haven't had a chance to give bridge your message about the cargo bay. Take care of that and then lend a hand wherever it's needed. Coordinate with Hur'Shurvan and haut-Frieder. If you need refreshment, call Morgan. He's making a food and beverage run for the group."
"Now there's an idea!" Boris swipes a trickle of sweat from his brow with the back of a vacc suit glove.
Munro glances at him again, an impish grin on her face. "Welcome once again to the engineer's stress test. Yes, you too can be an bona fide engineer - you just have to complete this simple test! By the time we finish this voyage, you'll either be burned out or very good engineer indeed."
Boris looks up, his face peeling open to reveal a wide row of pearlies. "Ma'am, I haven't had this much fun in a while. Gives me the same rush I got as a kid, chasing wharf weasels across the sea mats!"
Merkle leaves Munro to her work, and peels off his gloves. At a local monitoring station, Merkle notes that the indicator for Hold 1 still shows "Environment Free", and two exo's on idle.
"PATER, open COMM B for a visual message to Crew Chief Aiwi's Bridge Station please. Start message:
>Merkle to Bridge >Respectfully advise, Hold #1 remains Environment Free and secured. >VLA Deployment team consisting of Mr. Bishop, Mr. Shrike, Dr. Limner >Boris Merkle dispersing according to the instructions of >department heads. >2 exo-loaders are on standby in excess of 75% battery reserve, in >anticipation of further operations. > >Please advise on further instructions for personnel or equipment."
End message.
"PATER give that ALERT status. It's need know, but not immediately crucial to the Elissa's situation"
The response from the Crew Chief is prompt. << Bridge to Engineering. Mister Merkle, your suggestion is noted and deemed suitable. Until further notice, you are reassigned per Mister Munro's needs. Out. >>
As Merkle taps a quick note into his handcomp, he opens a line on channel C...
<< Merkle to Grey. Hey Morgan, anything in a mixed fruit juice from Bendor would put me in your debt right now. Preferably a selection of fruit from the southern hemisphere! (chuckling) >>
<< I dunno if they've got anything Bendorian in here, but I'll look. Would you settle for a good old-fashioned bluefruit squeeze? >>
Boris looks around and above him and gives the nearest bulkhead a fond pat. Then grabbing his gloves and stuffing them into his helmet, he strides further into Engineering, in search of Hur'Shurvan and haut-Frieder.
Aaron is at his station, watching the teltales flicker as the M-drive registers its as-yet faint protest at being driven forty percent beyond limits. He gives Boris a friendly, sharp nod and smile. "Hallo, Mynheer Merkle! All done with the dancing in the tin steroid suit?"
"It appears so Aaron. How are things in here? Just point me where you need me!" Merkle puts helmet and gloves within reach and begins consulting various monitors and indicators. Calling up a replay of sensor events, Boris notes that the Hamilcar isn't where it was supposed to be, and neither is the hole. He finally picks out the 'hole', and draws out a long whistle. "Man, that thing has really moved!"
"Keep an eye on stresses in the M-drive," Aaron says. "We're running her 40% over right now, and knowing that crazy Vargr in the Command chair and that even CRAZIER Darrian at the Helm, we could get asked for four HUNDRED percent any minute." He makes a face.
The door to Engineering opens, and Morgan Grey comes in, trundling a dolly-cart piled high with sandwiches of various sorts, munchies, and bottles and coolers of assorted beverages. "Come and get it, people! We got sodipop, we got coffee, we got fruit squeezes, we got sugar syrup, we got sammitches, we got chipsndips, and we even got a heaping pile of, uhm...." he looks at Shurv. "Ki'hrooshu. Did I say it right?"
"Thank you, Morgan, that is most kind of you," says Hur'Shurvan. With a smile he adds, "Your pronunciation is close enough. Would you put it on top of the console, and I will eat it in a little while."
"Sure thing," Grey says, putting the plate where the Virush can reach it. "Smells Kind of funky, but who am I to judge?" He calls, "Yo, Boris! No Bendorian stuff, sorry-- wanna blue squeeze?"
"Hey Morgan, that sounds alright...in fact a couple of those would hit the spot." Draining one immediately, Boris smacks his lips in exaggerated satisfaction, and returns to his work.
"We aim to please," Grey grins. He walks over to Munro, and sets a steaming travel-mug in the clip at her station. "Tea no sweet no light, Mon Capitan," he says, then parks the dolly in easy reach. "Anyone else hungry or thirsty, help yourself." He returns to his station.
Silvmane hops away from his console for a moment, grabs a fistful of taco chippies, and starts feeding them into his mouth one by one with a rhythmic, mechanical chomping motion.
Entering sickby, Limner greets Dr. Yorblin (and anyone else there). "Well, Jan, that was interesting. What's the latest word? I assume from all the hubbub that the VLA found Something?"
{I don't think anyone else is here, Tabor and DaSilva went nighty-night, and Khea hasn't shown up}
"Something, as with a capital 'S'? Damned if I know, been awful quiet in here. You know they don't tell Medical anything until a disaster has occurred. I would surmise from the activity over the all call, and the sustained activity in engineering and the bridge that 'something' is afoot."
Limner grins, but there is surprisingly little humor in it.
Jan scrolls through some data on security biotelemetry.
"...But it would appear that those suited up in combat armor are at rest, so no alien intruders, yet :-)"
"PATER, what can you tell us about what's going on?"
_Certainly, doctor Yorblin._ responds PATER's disembodied voice. _Upon exiting jump, it was determined by members of the bridge crew that neither the anomaly commonly referred to as the 'hole', nor the Solomani tanker Hamilcar, were present at their expected locations. Doctor Smythe deployed his very large array package, and was able to locate the hole 145,152 kilometers distant from the predicted location. Ionized gas trails detected in conjunction with the re-acquisition of the anomaly would suggest that the Hamilcar was carried into the anomaly by forces unknown, although preliminary evidence would suggest the use of thruster plate technology.
_At present, we are under way on an intercept course with the current location of the anomaly, while the engineering crew members are making every effort to conserve fuel, in the event that the Hamilcar, or an alternative fuel source does not become available in the near future.
_If you are interested in following the observations being made by the science team, a repeater is available on comm channel 3-05._
While PATER is reeling off the situational discription, Limner peels himself out of the Vacc suit, and dons a set of greens from supply. As PATER says _in the event that the Hamilcar, or an alternative fuel source does not become available in the near future._ He pauses, mind visibly working. He notes the comm channel given, and with a nod to Jan, sets his comm link to listen in.
"And Morton, the question begs, any psionic activity?"
Pausing, just for a moment, Limner pulls out a tall stool and sits. "Well, the simple answer is no, there appeared to be no activity past the `background noise' I would expect in this kind of situation. Of course, as with many phenomina, the closer you observe it, the less like it is to react." (Speaking now almost as much to himself as to Dr. Yorblin) "So, I guess it's time to back away a bit, give some rope, and see what happens. And hope for time to react."
With that, he tunes in on the Science conversation.
<< Shrike to Lazer >>
"Here. Over."
<< Yeah Lazer, I'm still buttoned up in the pod down here. We closed the cargo doors but haven't repressurized. Can someone tell me what the hell is going on and what the hell I'm supposed to be doing? We called the bridge when we started moving but they didn't bother to respond. >>
"We found the hole, and we're on our way at 140% overdrive. ETA 90 minutes. If you're done there, report to the armoury to suit up. Farouk out."
<< Well, ya know, that's the problem, I don't know if I'm still needed here or not. Now, if your orders are for me to report to the armory, that's good enough for me, Hmm? >>
"One minute, Mr. Shrike."
"Get me PhysSci, please, PATER.
"Dr. Morser, Farouk here. Does your group need my pilot any longer? He is waiting on the cargo deck without instructions. Farouk over."
<< Ach, nein, nein, may-chor. Ve haff no need for crrrew on ze carrrgo deck until ve rrreach ze hole. Zen, ve haff to launch ze shorrrt-rrrange rrreconniazzance prrrobes. Until zen, haff him come out ouff ze hold. Morrzer out. >>
"Shrike again, thanks, PATER." There is a note of faint frustration in Lazer's voice.
"Farouk to Shrike. The good doctors apparently forgot about you, Andon. You're not needed down there until we get to the hole. Come up to the armoury and draw a light combat kit--and you know, probably no one would object if you stopped in the mess and got a basket of doughnuts. Chocolate, maybe.
Farouk out."
<< Shur nuff boss. I 'll swing by the mess on the way up. Shrike out. >>
Bishop activates his own suit-to-suit commo and suggests, << Andon, I'm going to exercise my off-duty griping rights. >> Smiling through the his bubble helmet, he tabs in the bridge frequency, leaving suit-to-suit activate so Shrike (and presumably, Limner) can follow the conversation.
<< Bridge, this is Bishop. Cargo bay number one is sealed, but still evacuated. We have the hold re-secured. Unless you require otherwise, we'll be returning to our standard duties. I, personally, will be returning to the sensor compartment. Bishop out. >>
Offering a brief wave to Andon and another in the general direction of Igor, Bishop turns and heads for the forward airlock.
With that Shrike checks the Pod status board and set's it up for ready stand-by mode. Climbing out of the pod he does a visual check and then moves out through the forward airlock.
Arriving at the mess he loads up tray with cold cuts, breads, pastries and a large pot of coffee.
"Coffee run's here" says Andon as he walks into the armory, "help yourself."
Shrike will then grab a sandwich for himself and find a corner to sit in.
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