Traveller! Again! Number 13!
Mar. 7th, 2009 08:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
realsorienOkay, here it is, once again finished the day before the next run. As things stand, this is likely going to be the pattern for some time... At least til I can use the computer at work again. Anyways, enjoy. :)
When we last left the crew of the Silhouette they were making course for the Antar system, hoping that there will be something left there. Keisha had placed Maddox in command, and then commenced to hole up in her room in imitation of what Maddox had done in the past! They jump without difficulty, and the week goes by...
During this time, Keisha doesn't stir from her room even once. Maddox checks on her periodically, finding her asleep or drunkenly unconscious each time. He notices something when he does this- her alcohol is being replaced! He calls Percy. "Have you been replacing her alcohol?" "YES sir!" is the cheery reply. "Why?" "Because I was ordered to!" Maddox isn't happy with this. "Okay, NEW order. You are not to replace the alcohol of ANY of the crew." Percy seems puzzled, and asks, "Including the Captain?" Maddox grins. "ESPECIALLY the Captain." Percy seems even more puzzled! "Does this include you?" She asks. "No." Percy pauses for a long time... "Order accepted." She finally says, but doesn't seem to really understand the nuance of the order.
Eventually, Keisha comes out of her stateroom, shortly before they return to normalspace. They feel that familiar sensation, and are at Antar. Or rather... What's left of it. All of the stations that had once graced the system are drifting debris-fields. No intact ship can be found, and the world, a rockball with two large domed-cities... No longer has habitation. Keisha says, "There could be survivors in the cities..." "No, Captain," says Deyn. "They're glowing in the dark. The radiation is far beyond survivable." Things in the bridge are quiet after this, as Deyn continues to scan for something, anything of use.
And beyond all odds, he succeeds! He picks up not one, but two signals! One is deep within the wreckage of the naval station, and the other is on the planet's surface, outside of the cities. As its the easier target, they make course for the naval signal, which seems to be a small powersource of some kind. As they approach, they are able to identify it- a low-berth! "We have a survivor..." Notes Deyn. Maddox preps the cargo bay to receive the pod, and Luke goes out to collect it- the power on the device is failing, but they manage to get it into the ship and hooked into their power before it dies.
This leaves the signal on the surface. Not knowing what it is that they have other than its human, they decide to leave the pod sealed until they make contact with the other signal. They head in, and they can't see anything but rough rocks below them, though the signal is still there- likely a microfusion plant like is used in small vehicles and camping-powerunits.
They're puzzling over the detectable/undetectable source when Deyn detects something scanning THEM! But... its Radar? A VERY primitive system is scanning them, likely only telling the person or system operating the scanner that they're there, and roughly how big they are. With Maddox and Deyn mildly amused and perplexed, Deyn transmits- "This is the Ardith's Silhouette. We are looking for survivors- Do you need assistance?"
And they get a reply: "Y'ain't one-a them thar raider parties, are ye?" Deyn switches Keisha in for the response. "No, sir, we're not. May we have permission to land?" After a short pause, the man responds. "Uh, sure. Ah'll turn on th' landin' lights. Mah name is Reagan Lindsbrook." Moments later, part of the crater lights up, revealing a primitive landing area, barely large enough for the Silhouette, with an ancient vacc-hut off to one side. There are indications that the site is a mine, albeit one on a very small scale. "A prospector?" Deyn muses. "That'd be my guess," replies Maddox.
They start the landing procedures, and Deyn notices something. "We're being targeted, Commander. Still radar though." They continue regardless, trusting in the Silhouette's hull to protect them from whatever a lonely prospector might have to defend himself.
Once down they are confronted by a space-suited man bearing a BIG hunting rifle! He's nervous and hesitant, and while talking to him they realize that he's alone, and hasn't seen much more than flashes in the sky. He leads them into his shack, past a well-concealed cannon, very much like a 20th century howitzer! This is what was pointed at them! "Well... It COULD have hurt us, if he has nuclear rounds," comments Deyn.
Keisha offers the man passage back to Ontar, which he gratefully accepts- he says that he has family there. "Ah only hope they survived..." They load him aboard the Silhouette, along with his three cats (in pet-sized low-berth), grav-car and a pitiful amount of possessions. He tells them that he knows that there was another mining facility on the far side of the planet, so they make course for there in the hopes of other survivors.
As they approach, the installation looks relatively intact... Until they get the sensor readings. Its a radioactive hell, and as they get closer they can see that the gantry cranes, which looked intact from a distance, are sagged and melted. Silence takes the bridge again as the Silhouette grabs sky and they set course for the jump-point. It also becomes apparent that the real reason for Mr. Lindsbrook's isolation is more complex than the 'lone prospector'. He seems to be at least a low-level Psi, with no training whatsoever! He's stayed isolated to avoid "all th' people screamin..." Soon enough they're back in Jump, and they decide to wake their other passenger, the occupant of the low-berth.
Maddox and Deyn head down to the cargo bay, and find Reagan looking the low-berth over. They explain where it was found, and Reagan replies, "Yep, thar's someone in thar..." Maddox suggests that Reagan talk to Keisha, who might be able to help him deal with the 'screaming' in his mind. "Well, Ah like you people. Yer nice, and yer quiet. REAL quiet." He wanders off to find Keisha.
Given the limited space aboard the ship it doesn't take him all that long to find her, along with Luke. They talk, Keisha explaining in a very limited sense what Psi is, and explaining to Reagan that she can possibly teach him how to block out the extraneous psychic noise that he hears as screaming. While the pair talk, Keisha touches Reagan's arm... And passes out from the psychic feedback! Luke instantly is on his feet, covering Reagan with a gun! "Maddox, come here!" he says over the commlink. Maddox rushes to the scene, finding her unconscious but unharmed. He calls Luke off, but Reagan, terrified, runs off to the cargo bay and hides in his gravcar!
Deyn sees Reagan lock himself in and tries to talk to the frightened man. For his trouble he has Reagan's hunting rifle waved vaguely at him! Knowing he can't help the situation, he backs off. Eventually, the situation is resolved and Reagan comes out when Maddox convinces him that Keisha is alright.
Finally, they get back to their original task- waking the other survivor. The process is flawless, and the contents of the pod is a male human named Jesse. He's naked, but there is a ship's jumpsuit in the pod next to him. He claims to be a janitor... Which doesn't quite ring true with either Maddox nor Deyn. he knows next to nothing about what happened, having apparently been deep within the station when the attack took place.
At the same time, Keisha is again talking with Reagan. He pauses... "There's someone bad here," he says. "What? Who?" Keisha asks. "He wuz on th' station, and he did bad things- he killed people. A lot of people." Knowing that there is only one possible choice for who this is Keisha calls down to Maddox: "Maddie, he's dangerous! get him locked back down!" Maddox shares the revelation with Deyn, and the pair (with assistance from Percy) conspire to trank Jesse. After he's unconscious again they stuff him back into the freezer.
They all reconvene in the common room, discussing what just happened. After a very short time Reagan says, "He's gone!" The group is momentarily stunned into silence, then Maddox asks, "What, he's awake?" "No, he's GONE!" Deyn bolts, and finds that the pod has been de-powered. "Captain.... He's dead. The pod is depowered." Maddox asks if Percy did this, and she says "Why yes!" "Why?" "Because I was ordered to!" Maddox glares at Keisha, then goes to his room. "Congratulations, Captain, you've just lost us our pilot." Deyn states. "I don't think so," Keisha replies. The conversation continues, Deyn trying to explain how he's seeing the situation but not really succeeding. Keisha seems to see nothing wrong with what she did, citing the prerogative of command as her justification. She also states that Deyn doesn't trust her, which he protests otherwise. He DOES trust her, but she can't see it.
He lets it go, knowing he can't resolve the situation.
Keisha then calls Maddox over the comm- he ignores her. She then orders him to the bridge. He DOES come this time, but only to tender his resignation! She's more angry than surprised, and the pair argue about the situation; Maddox makes much the same case as Deyn, with the addition that she used HIS robot, Percy, to do the deed rather than dirty her own hands! He storms back into his room, leaving Keisha essentially alone. They both remain isolated for the remainder of the time in jump, save for the time she spends training Reagan.
The now-deceased Jesse is quietly jettisoned, and his low-berth pod is reprocessed for raw materials.
Over the time in Jump, Keisha is able to give Reagan the rudiments of psi-shielding, at least enough to allow him to cope with the normal psychic chatter of people around him. She has Luke take his psi-block earring off to test the shielding. "I can't hear you," Reagan says. Then, happily he repeats, "I can't HEAR you!" However, there have been some small problems in the training... Reagan seems possessed of a LOT of power, and has accidentally picked up some information from Keisha that he should have never heard... Specifically, things like the existence of the Pioneer, and the names (and professions) of Jeff, Payne and Gaffer. "Tell me the importance of armor," Reagan says, and giggles. Even Keisha smiles at this.
About 12 hours before they exit Jump and unknown to any of the rest of the crew, Percy goes to Maddox's room. She has decided that her programming is contrary to what Maddox had programmed; thus, she decided to remove her AI, and has been reduced to being a simple valet-bot. She leaves the AI crystal on the floor in front of Maddox.
Soon the Silhouette exits jump, once again in the Ontar system. Deyn, in full dress uniform brings them out, and they're immediately hailed by Benji! They make identification, and course is set for the refugee camp.
After they reach the planet, Deyn hovers the ship and says his piece: "I understand both of your (Keisha's and Maddox's) positions, and I think that you're both wrong. I'd like to see you stay, Commander... But I can't force you to stay. I'd like to say that I was proud to serve with you, and I hope to serve with you again. However, I'd like you to take some time and think about it... Two weeks. Then we meet again and talk. That applies to YOU as well, Keisha. I want you off the ship for two weeks. (Keisha looks surprised and amused at this) Call it a cooling off period. I think we're probably the best... And maybe the LAST of Payne's crews... And we're needed. I'll set us down now."
He does so. Deyn shakes Maddox's hand before he exits the ship, hoping that Maddox will return but having no real hopes of the situation. Keisha for her part ignores Deyn's less-than-diplomatic request that she leave the ship. So Deyn packs a duffel and HE leaves. Luke tries to get him to stay, concerned that the crew is totally disintegrating, and Deyn explains that HE needs a cooling-off period too. "The ship won't be here when you get back." Luke says. "Well, then I'll SUE the bitch. I own a third of that damned ship." Disturbed still, Luke says, "see you when you get back..."
And Deyn walks off.
Fifteen minutes manage to pass before Keisha calls the errant crewmates. She's communicated with Payne telepathically. She tells Maddox, "The Emperor is missing. We've been ordered to the capitol to try to locate him." She relates that Payne believes that A) The Emperor, who Payne trained in psionic abilities, is likely psychically hunkered down, and B) the ISS itself may be compromised. "I suspected as much..." Mutters Deyn.
There's more to the situation. Payne has relieved Keisha of command, and instead Luke is now Captain! This leaves Deyn rather bemused and Maddox somewhat surprised! They resupply as best they can (not well, really) and make jump, this time their course is a multiple-transit to the capitol. During the first jump Deyn and Maddox perform some modifications on the security system- no longer will the system be knocked offline by damage to the airlocks! They arrive at Dunlek, which is pretty much... Dead. The class B starport and Naval base are both gone. They move on, this time to Guuirk- Class A starport, Naval base... And once again its all gone. They refuel at the gas giant, then head immediately to jump once again, more and more feeling that things are bleaker than they could have imagined. It sticks in the minds of several that 200,000 died on the Guuirk civilian station alone. Their next stop is to be the Chotauk system.
The engines whine, emptying the fuel bladders as is usual from jump, but there is a shudder; the jump-meters jump wildly and the main fuel tanks empty as well, as the ship apparently jumps twice! First, their normal jump, then again while IN jump! Maddox and Deyn check everything that they can, and they determine that... They're nowhere. Instead of the normal maddening image of jumpspace, wherever they are is... Pink? Or at least that's how it's perceived. The jumpfield is still there, and at least SEEMS to be normal, but whatever happened they are NOT in a normal jump.
They're trapped until the ship drops back out of Jump. IF it drops back out. Deyn explains (mostly to Keisha) that "whatever happened to us, there are no recorded instances of. Which implies that if it DID happen before, nobody ever came back. We could simply be here forever, or we could reappear outside the galaxy, or in another universe entirely. Nobody knows. All we can do is wait, and hope." As a precaution, they agree to the idea of remaining in vacc-suits; no sense taking risks.
A week goes by... but they stay in 'jump', or whatever it is. Two weeks, then three... And Deyn starts considering proper rationing systems to make sure that they can last as long as possible. Four weeks... And they feel the ship coming out of Jump! Everyone scrambles into a duty-seat and strap in, and the ship SHUDDERS. The Silhouette bucks and shakes crazily, the meters going wild- the power fails entirely, everything going black as the ride becomes even worse- Maddox and Luke's seats actually rip loose of their moorings, and then... Silence. The jump-shields won't raise, and as far as they can tell the ship is at rest, in zero-g.
They take stock, and they find that there is a VERY small amount of power, but not a significant amount. All systems are dead, including life support, and the entire ship is in vacuum. When Maddox goes back into the ship, he finds WHY the power is gone. The entire engineering section has been ripped clean out of the ship, like some vast set of jaws took a bite out of it! One capacitor bank seems to have some power, and the lifesystem is intact, but without the pumps and machinery, the ship is unlivable.
They find that they can use the airlock, and do so to allow Luke to get into his battle dress. Then they look around, and what they see should be impossible- About 30,000 kilometers off the bow of the Silhouette is a space station- an ORION station, and its huge! Neither Deyn nor Maddox have ever seen a station of this scale- its large enough to repair, or possibly PRODUCE, an entire fleet! And it seems to be dead in space as well...
They decide that their only real hope is to make for the station. They get the grav-bikes, thanking whatever gods overlook them that their cargo bay is located forward rather than aft, and make the jaunt. They find an airlock, and enter; when they do, localized lighting and power kicks in, apparently on a presence-trigger. Deyn wants to find the tug-bays to retrieve the bulk of the silhouette (they saw the other remaining bits come out of Jump as they evac'd the wreck) to begin repairs. However, Maddox has other ideas, and Luke decides (rationally) that they should stick together and head for command-and-control.
As do most military installations, they're able to find directionals to where they need to go, Deyn noting where the tug-bays are located as well. More and more of the station's basic systems are coming on line as they proceed, so they're able to use a station-tram to reach Control.
They enter, and like everywhere else they've passed through the Bridge powers up; however, there IS a difference, as the computer speaks: "Initializing systems. Shipbuilding facility online. Who is assuming command?"
"I am." Says Luke, before either Maddox or Deyn can open their mouths. "SCAR Identification accepted. Welcome aboard, Commander."
And there we ended, to pick up in two weeks! Which happens to be tomorrow- here we go again!
When we last left the crew of the Silhouette they were making course for the Antar system, hoping that there will be something left there. Keisha had placed Maddox in command, and then commenced to hole up in her room in imitation of what Maddox had done in the past! They jump without difficulty, and the week goes by...
During this time, Keisha doesn't stir from her room even once. Maddox checks on her periodically, finding her asleep or drunkenly unconscious each time. He notices something when he does this- her alcohol is being replaced! He calls Percy. "Have you been replacing her alcohol?" "YES sir!" is the cheery reply. "Why?" "Because I was ordered to!" Maddox isn't happy with this. "Okay, NEW order. You are not to replace the alcohol of ANY of the crew." Percy seems puzzled, and asks, "Including the Captain?" Maddox grins. "ESPECIALLY the Captain." Percy seems even more puzzled! "Does this include you?" She asks. "No." Percy pauses for a long time... "Order accepted." She finally says, but doesn't seem to really understand the nuance of the order.
Eventually, Keisha comes out of her stateroom, shortly before they return to normalspace. They feel that familiar sensation, and are at Antar. Or rather... What's left of it. All of the stations that had once graced the system are drifting debris-fields. No intact ship can be found, and the world, a rockball with two large domed-cities... No longer has habitation. Keisha says, "There could be survivors in the cities..." "No, Captain," says Deyn. "They're glowing in the dark. The radiation is far beyond survivable." Things in the bridge are quiet after this, as Deyn continues to scan for something, anything of use.
And beyond all odds, he succeeds! He picks up not one, but two signals! One is deep within the wreckage of the naval station, and the other is on the planet's surface, outside of the cities. As its the easier target, they make course for the naval signal, which seems to be a small powersource of some kind. As they approach, they are able to identify it- a low-berth! "We have a survivor..." Notes Deyn. Maddox preps the cargo bay to receive the pod, and Luke goes out to collect it- the power on the device is failing, but they manage to get it into the ship and hooked into their power before it dies.
This leaves the signal on the surface. Not knowing what it is that they have other than its human, they decide to leave the pod sealed until they make contact with the other signal. They head in, and they can't see anything but rough rocks below them, though the signal is still there- likely a microfusion plant like is used in small vehicles and camping-powerunits.
They're puzzling over the detectable/undetectable source when Deyn detects something scanning THEM! But... its Radar? A VERY primitive system is scanning them, likely only telling the person or system operating the scanner that they're there, and roughly how big they are. With Maddox and Deyn mildly amused and perplexed, Deyn transmits- "This is the Ardith's Silhouette. We are looking for survivors- Do you need assistance?"
And they get a reply: "Y'ain't one-a them thar raider parties, are ye?" Deyn switches Keisha in for the response. "No, sir, we're not. May we have permission to land?" After a short pause, the man responds. "Uh, sure. Ah'll turn on th' landin' lights. Mah name is Reagan Lindsbrook." Moments later, part of the crater lights up, revealing a primitive landing area, barely large enough for the Silhouette, with an ancient vacc-hut off to one side. There are indications that the site is a mine, albeit one on a very small scale. "A prospector?" Deyn muses. "That'd be my guess," replies Maddox.
They start the landing procedures, and Deyn notices something. "We're being targeted, Commander. Still radar though." They continue regardless, trusting in the Silhouette's hull to protect them from whatever a lonely prospector might have to defend himself.
Once down they are confronted by a space-suited man bearing a BIG hunting rifle! He's nervous and hesitant, and while talking to him they realize that he's alone, and hasn't seen much more than flashes in the sky. He leads them into his shack, past a well-concealed cannon, very much like a 20th century howitzer! This is what was pointed at them! "Well... It COULD have hurt us, if he has nuclear rounds," comments Deyn.
Keisha offers the man passage back to Ontar, which he gratefully accepts- he says that he has family there. "Ah only hope they survived..." They load him aboard the Silhouette, along with his three cats (in pet-sized low-berth), grav-car and a pitiful amount of possessions. He tells them that he knows that there was another mining facility on the far side of the planet, so they make course for there in the hopes of other survivors.
As they approach, the installation looks relatively intact... Until they get the sensor readings. Its a radioactive hell, and as they get closer they can see that the gantry cranes, which looked intact from a distance, are sagged and melted. Silence takes the bridge again as the Silhouette grabs sky and they set course for the jump-point. It also becomes apparent that the real reason for Mr. Lindsbrook's isolation is more complex than the 'lone prospector'. He seems to be at least a low-level Psi, with no training whatsoever! He's stayed isolated to avoid "all th' people screamin..." Soon enough they're back in Jump, and they decide to wake their other passenger, the occupant of the low-berth.
Maddox and Deyn head down to the cargo bay, and find Reagan looking the low-berth over. They explain where it was found, and Reagan replies, "Yep, thar's someone in thar..." Maddox suggests that Reagan talk to Keisha, who might be able to help him deal with the 'screaming' in his mind. "Well, Ah like you people. Yer nice, and yer quiet. REAL quiet." He wanders off to find Keisha.
Given the limited space aboard the ship it doesn't take him all that long to find her, along with Luke. They talk, Keisha explaining in a very limited sense what Psi is, and explaining to Reagan that she can possibly teach him how to block out the extraneous psychic noise that he hears as screaming. While the pair talk, Keisha touches Reagan's arm... And passes out from the psychic feedback! Luke instantly is on his feet, covering Reagan with a gun! "Maddox, come here!" he says over the commlink. Maddox rushes to the scene, finding her unconscious but unharmed. He calls Luke off, but Reagan, terrified, runs off to the cargo bay and hides in his gravcar!
Deyn sees Reagan lock himself in and tries to talk to the frightened man. For his trouble he has Reagan's hunting rifle waved vaguely at him! Knowing he can't help the situation, he backs off. Eventually, the situation is resolved and Reagan comes out when Maddox convinces him that Keisha is alright.
Finally, they get back to their original task- waking the other survivor. The process is flawless, and the contents of the pod is a male human named Jesse. He's naked, but there is a ship's jumpsuit in the pod next to him. He claims to be a janitor... Which doesn't quite ring true with either Maddox nor Deyn. he knows next to nothing about what happened, having apparently been deep within the station when the attack took place.
At the same time, Keisha is again talking with Reagan. He pauses... "There's someone bad here," he says. "What? Who?" Keisha asks. "He wuz on th' station, and he did bad things- he killed people. A lot of people." Knowing that there is only one possible choice for who this is Keisha calls down to Maddox: "Maddie, he's dangerous! get him locked back down!" Maddox shares the revelation with Deyn, and the pair (with assistance from Percy) conspire to trank Jesse. After he's unconscious again they stuff him back into the freezer.
They all reconvene in the common room, discussing what just happened. After a very short time Reagan says, "He's gone!" The group is momentarily stunned into silence, then Maddox asks, "What, he's awake?" "No, he's GONE!" Deyn bolts, and finds that the pod has been de-powered. "Captain.... He's dead. The pod is depowered." Maddox asks if Percy did this, and she says "Why yes!" "Why?" "Because I was ordered to!" Maddox glares at Keisha, then goes to his room. "Congratulations, Captain, you've just lost us our pilot." Deyn states. "I don't think so," Keisha replies. The conversation continues, Deyn trying to explain how he's seeing the situation but not really succeeding. Keisha seems to see nothing wrong with what she did, citing the prerogative of command as her justification. She also states that Deyn doesn't trust her, which he protests otherwise. He DOES trust her, but she can't see it.
He lets it go, knowing he can't resolve the situation.
Keisha then calls Maddox over the comm- he ignores her. She then orders him to the bridge. He DOES come this time, but only to tender his resignation! She's more angry than surprised, and the pair argue about the situation; Maddox makes much the same case as Deyn, with the addition that she used HIS robot, Percy, to do the deed rather than dirty her own hands! He storms back into his room, leaving Keisha essentially alone. They both remain isolated for the remainder of the time in jump, save for the time she spends training Reagan.
The now-deceased Jesse is quietly jettisoned, and his low-berth pod is reprocessed for raw materials.
Over the time in Jump, Keisha is able to give Reagan the rudiments of psi-shielding, at least enough to allow him to cope with the normal psychic chatter of people around him. She has Luke take his psi-block earring off to test the shielding. "I can't hear you," Reagan says. Then, happily he repeats, "I can't HEAR you!" However, there have been some small problems in the training... Reagan seems possessed of a LOT of power, and has accidentally picked up some information from Keisha that he should have never heard... Specifically, things like the existence of the Pioneer, and the names (and professions) of Jeff, Payne and Gaffer. "Tell me the importance of armor," Reagan says, and giggles. Even Keisha smiles at this.
About 12 hours before they exit Jump and unknown to any of the rest of the crew, Percy goes to Maddox's room. She has decided that her programming is contrary to what Maddox had programmed; thus, she decided to remove her AI, and has been reduced to being a simple valet-bot. She leaves the AI crystal on the floor in front of Maddox.
Soon the Silhouette exits jump, once again in the Ontar system. Deyn, in full dress uniform brings them out, and they're immediately hailed by Benji! They make identification, and course is set for the refugee camp.
After they reach the planet, Deyn hovers the ship and says his piece: "I understand both of your (Keisha's and Maddox's) positions, and I think that you're both wrong. I'd like to see you stay, Commander... But I can't force you to stay. I'd like to say that I was proud to serve with you, and I hope to serve with you again. However, I'd like you to take some time and think about it... Two weeks. Then we meet again and talk. That applies to YOU as well, Keisha. I want you off the ship for two weeks. (Keisha looks surprised and amused at this) Call it a cooling off period. I think we're probably the best... And maybe the LAST of Payne's crews... And we're needed. I'll set us down now."
He does so. Deyn shakes Maddox's hand before he exits the ship, hoping that Maddox will return but having no real hopes of the situation. Keisha for her part ignores Deyn's less-than-diplomatic request that she leave the ship. So Deyn packs a duffel and HE leaves. Luke tries to get him to stay, concerned that the crew is totally disintegrating, and Deyn explains that HE needs a cooling-off period too. "The ship won't be here when you get back." Luke says. "Well, then I'll SUE the bitch. I own a third of that damned ship." Disturbed still, Luke says, "see you when you get back..."
And Deyn walks off.
Fifteen minutes manage to pass before Keisha calls the errant crewmates. She's communicated with Payne telepathically. She tells Maddox, "The Emperor is missing. We've been ordered to the capitol to try to locate him." She relates that Payne believes that A) The Emperor, who Payne trained in psionic abilities, is likely psychically hunkered down, and B) the ISS itself may be compromised. "I suspected as much..." Mutters Deyn.
There's more to the situation. Payne has relieved Keisha of command, and instead Luke is now Captain! This leaves Deyn rather bemused and Maddox somewhat surprised! They resupply as best they can (not well, really) and make jump, this time their course is a multiple-transit to the capitol. During the first jump Deyn and Maddox perform some modifications on the security system- no longer will the system be knocked offline by damage to the airlocks! They arrive at Dunlek, which is pretty much... Dead. The class B starport and Naval base are both gone. They move on, this time to Guuirk- Class A starport, Naval base... And once again its all gone. They refuel at the gas giant, then head immediately to jump once again, more and more feeling that things are bleaker than they could have imagined. It sticks in the minds of several that 200,000 died on the Guuirk civilian station alone. Their next stop is to be the Chotauk system.
The engines whine, emptying the fuel bladders as is usual from jump, but there is a shudder; the jump-meters jump wildly and the main fuel tanks empty as well, as the ship apparently jumps twice! First, their normal jump, then again while IN jump! Maddox and Deyn check everything that they can, and they determine that... They're nowhere. Instead of the normal maddening image of jumpspace, wherever they are is... Pink? Or at least that's how it's perceived. The jumpfield is still there, and at least SEEMS to be normal, but whatever happened they are NOT in a normal jump.
They're trapped until the ship drops back out of Jump. IF it drops back out. Deyn explains (mostly to Keisha) that "whatever happened to us, there are no recorded instances of. Which implies that if it DID happen before, nobody ever came back. We could simply be here forever, or we could reappear outside the galaxy, or in another universe entirely. Nobody knows. All we can do is wait, and hope." As a precaution, they agree to the idea of remaining in vacc-suits; no sense taking risks.
A week goes by... but they stay in 'jump', or whatever it is. Two weeks, then three... And Deyn starts considering proper rationing systems to make sure that they can last as long as possible. Four weeks... And they feel the ship coming out of Jump! Everyone scrambles into a duty-seat and strap in, and the ship SHUDDERS. The Silhouette bucks and shakes crazily, the meters going wild- the power fails entirely, everything going black as the ride becomes even worse- Maddox and Luke's seats actually rip loose of their moorings, and then... Silence. The jump-shields won't raise, and as far as they can tell the ship is at rest, in zero-g.
They take stock, and they find that there is a VERY small amount of power, but not a significant amount. All systems are dead, including life support, and the entire ship is in vacuum. When Maddox goes back into the ship, he finds WHY the power is gone. The entire engineering section has been ripped clean out of the ship, like some vast set of jaws took a bite out of it! One capacitor bank seems to have some power, and the lifesystem is intact, but without the pumps and machinery, the ship is unlivable.
They find that they can use the airlock, and do so to allow Luke to get into his battle dress. Then they look around, and what they see should be impossible- About 30,000 kilometers off the bow of the Silhouette is a space station- an ORION station, and its huge! Neither Deyn nor Maddox have ever seen a station of this scale- its large enough to repair, or possibly PRODUCE, an entire fleet! And it seems to be dead in space as well...
They decide that their only real hope is to make for the station. They get the grav-bikes, thanking whatever gods overlook them that their cargo bay is located forward rather than aft, and make the jaunt. They find an airlock, and enter; when they do, localized lighting and power kicks in, apparently on a presence-trigger. Deyn wants to find the tug-bays to retrieve the bulk of the silhouette (they saw the other remaining bits come out of Jump as they evac'd the wreck) to begin repairs. However, Maddox has other ideas, and Luke decides (rationally) that they should stick together and head for command-and-control.
As do most military installations, they're able to find directionals to where they need to go, Deyn noting where the tug-bays are located as well. More and more of the station's basic systems are coming on line as they proceed, so they're able to use a station-tram to reach Control.
They enter, and like everywhere else they've passed through the Bridge powers up; however, there IS a difference, as the computer speaks: "Initializing systems. Shipbuilding facility online. Who is assuming command?"
"I am." Says Luke, before either Maddox or Deyn can open their mouths. "SCAR Identification accepted. Welcome aboard, Commander."
And there we ended, to pick up in two weeks! Which happens to be tomorrow- here we go again!
