Here it is. Chapter 3. Enjoy it. Number four will be following closely behind it.
NOTE: Reference image of the ship can be found at the bottom of the post. Thanks
The familiar snap and hiss of the respirator module in her Hazmat suit seemed to carry much more sinister intonation than Chief Engineer Rayna Nurada was used to as she crossed the airlock’s outer threshold. She could see two other suited crewmen following in her rear view monitor, the HUDs projected onto the faceplates played their faces in varying hues of blues, pinks and yellows. The Airlock’s warning siren pulsed once and hazard lights flashed bright yellow down the dark, metallic corridor they were in, each pulse reflecting back dimmer and dimmer down the passageway until it was pitch dark. Three sets of shoulder-mounted floodlights snapped on simultaneously and filled the length of the ten metre long corridor with dirty white/orange light.
Rayna clicked her transmitter once and she saw the others look at her expectantly.
Rayna clicked her transmitter once and she saw the others look at her expectantly.
“We’re gonna move out to the end of this corridor and take a radiation sample. Nice and slow, Copy?” She said quietly but authoritatively. She did not need anyone going bat-shit on this delicate a salvage operation.
“Copy Rayna.” Came the cool reply from Marrke Esra, the designated computer systems Chief Technician and second-in-command of The Little Fish.
“Gotcha” Daltfur’s voice broke slightly as the word came out.
“Stay with me honey.” Rayna encouraged. Daltfur nodded, his face cast in a mask of terrified determination.
“Copy Rayna.” Came the cool reply from Marrke Esra, the designated computer systems Chief Technician and second-in-command of The Little Fish.
“Gotcha” Daltfur’s voice broke slightly as the word came out.
“Stay with me honey.” Rayna encouraged. Daltfur nodded, his face cast in a mask of terrified determination.
They clunked their way nosily down the narrow corridor and had just reached the junction when there was a rumbling shudder under their boots. The deck vibrated noticeably for a few more seconds.
“Radiation spike!” Rayna shouted through the radio, her voice crackling a little. “Check your shields.”
“Radiation spike!” Rayna shouted through the radio, her voice crackling a little. “Check your shields.”
The deck stopped vibrating and the radiation levels stabilised well below acceptable levels. Rayna saw the two men give her the thumbs up and was just about to open a channel back to The Little Fish when the main lighting snapped on with a muffled whump. They killed their floodlights.
“Rayna to Captain Berhuvian. The ship woke up.”
“We noticed. We experienced nearly a G of movement out here.”
Rayna blinked.
“What’s going on over there? The ship is all lit up like a Christmas tree and I’m getting readings of erratic power surges in the major power plants.”
“We don’t know yet. It seems like the ship either detected our presence late or a crewman or drone tripped a mains breaker in engineering.”
“Well get this all squared away gang. The increased power signature is making it hard for our sensor dampeners to keep this place hidden.”
“Roger that. Permission to utilise non-lethal defences for the remainder of the mission?”
“Granted Rayna, hurry. Local just got 3 pods too crowded.” The comms channel disconnected.
“Rayna to Captain Berhuvian. The ship woke up.”
“We noticed. We experienced nearly a G of movement out here.”
Rayna blinked.
“What’s going on over there? The ship is all lit up like a Christmas tree and I’m getting readings of erratic power surges in the major power plants.”
“We don’t know yet. It seems like the ship either detected our presence late or a crewman or drone tripped a mains breaker in engineering.”
“Well get this all squared away gang. The increased power signature is making it hard for our sensor dampeners to keep this place hidden.”
“Roger that. Permission to utilise non-lethal defences for the remainder of the mission?”
“Granted Rayna, hurry. Local just got 3 pods too crowded.” The comms channel disconnected.
Rayna motioned them over to her and a 3D cutaway of the ship was projected in front of them.
“Right. Marrke, head to the bridge. It’s located here.” She pointed to the superstructure found just fore of the main engineering hull, extending out of the main hull before joining the secondary hull at a right angle. It glowed green when her finger touched it and the text “Main Bridge” Appeared next to it.
“The main transit elevator will take you to the corridor connecting the bridge to the ship.”
“Okay. I’ll get moving.” He said as he picked up his pack. “Keep in touch.” He tapped his helmet as he turned and flashed his cocky Gallentean smile at Rayna. She shook her head and waited until he had gone around a turn in the corridor. She transferred his comms channel to standby, so he could talk to her but he couldn't hear her speaking. Daltfur did the same.
“We’re going here.” She pointed to the main reactor and engine room which was swimming in scorching radiation. The room glowed orange with the main reactor highlighted in black. ‘Radiation critical’ appeared above it.
“The main transit elevator will take you to the corridor connecting the bridge to the ship.”
“Okay. I’ll get moving.” He said as he picked up his pack. “Keep in touch.” He tapped his helmet as he turned and flashed his cocky Gallentean smile at Rayna. She shook her head and waited until he had gone around a turn in the corridor. She transferred his comms channel to standby, so he could talk to her but he couldn't hear her speaking. Daltfur did the same.
“We’re going here.” She pointed to the main reactor and engine room which was swimming in scorching radiation. The room glowed orange with the main reactor highlighted in black. ‘Radiation critical’ appeared above it.
“There are already tools and repair equipment down there. All we have to do is plug the hole and vent the entire ship’s atmosphere to space and we should be good.” The hologram faded.
They turned and headed down the brightly lit passageway in the same direction as Marrke and waited for the elevator to return. The doors opened a few moments later and they stepped into the car. There was a soft ping as the doors closed and Daltfur felt his stomach rise in response to the rapid descent of the elevator. The car changed direction, moving on a horizontal plane rather than vertical. The inertia stabilisers stopped them getting crushed against the walls but they hadn’t braced for the sudden change and they crashed into each other and fell.
They turned and headed down the brightly lit passageway in the same direction as Marrke and waited for the elevator to return. The doors opened a few moments later and they stepped into the car. There was a soft ping as the doors closed and Daltfur felt his stomach rise in response to the rapid descent of the elevator. The car changed direction, moving on a horizontal plane rather than vertical. The inertia stabilisers stopped them getting crushed against the walls but they hadn’t braced for the sudden change and they crashed into each other and fell.
“Would now be a good time to tell you I really don’t like lifts at all?” Daltfur asked before pulling himself off Rayna. She grinned at him as he helped her up.
“Hell, you’re scared of everything!”
“I am not!” He protested. Rayna just shook her head
There was a crackle over the radio before Marrke’s voice piped through.
“I’ve reached the bridge. Proceeding to take control of ship systems.”
“Copy Marrke. Drive plasma radiation is causing interference. We may lose you while we conduct our repairs.” Rayna replied. The was another burst of static.
“What about the boosters?”
“I’ll set them up Marrke,” Daltfur started, “But I can’t guarantee it’ll be enough.”
“Alright kid. Let’s do it.” Marrke disconnected.
After checking each other’s suits for breaches they held onto the hand rails for the rest of the journey.
“Caution. Extreme levels of reactor plasma radiation detected. Access to engine room and main graviton plant not advised. Override is armed.” The computer played the warning in Caldari and Amarrian as well as Galactic Standard Language.
“Ready?” Reyna looked over at Daltfur as she clenched the override lever. He nodded, she pulled and their shields flared around them like miniature suns as the radiation flooded the elevator car.
“Hell, you’re scared of everything!”
“I am not!” He protested. Rayna just shook her head
There was a crackle over the radio before Marrke’s voice piped through.
“I’ve reached the bridge. Proceeding to take control of ship systems.”
“Copy Marrke. Drive plasma radiation is causing interference. We may lose you while we conduct our repairs.” Rayna replied. The was another burst of static.
“What about the boosters?”
“I’ll set them up Marrke,” Daltfur started, “But I can’t guarantee it’ll be enough.”
“Alright kid. Let’s do it.” Marrke disconnected.
After checking each other’s suits for breaches they held onto the hand rails for the rest of the journey.
“Caution. Extreme levels of reactor plasma radiation detected. Access to engine room and main graviton plant not advised. Override is armed.” The computer played the warning in Caldari and Amarrian as well as Galactic Standard Language.
“Ready?” Reyna looked over at Daltfur as she clenched the override lever. He nodded, she pulled and their shields flared around them like miniature suns as the radiation flooded the elevator car.
Captain Tserrahan Berhuvian hit the transmit button so hard it nearly broke.
“Nurada!” He yelled, “Reglaasan!” He was answered by hissing and spluttering static.
The green and blue dots representing the two engineers aboard a holographic cutaway render of the Rokh had stopped moving at the entrance to main engineering and were flashing red indicating the computer had lost their transponder signals in the swamp of ionising radiation.
Tserrahan felt his ship move again, another impossible tremor resonating through the Rokh.
Some of the other crewmen glanced at the captain nervously.
“Nurada!” He yelled, “Reglaasan!” He was answered by hissing and spluttering static.
The green and blue dots representing the two engineers aboard a holographic cutaway render of the Rokh had stopped moving at the entrance to main engineering and were flashing red indicating the computer had lost their transponder signals in the swamp of ionising radiation.
Tserrahan felt his ship move again, another impossible tremor resonating through the Rokh.
Some of the other crewmen glanced at the captain nervously.
Marrke was approaching the entrance to the bridge when he called down to Rayna.
“I’ve reached the bridge. Proceeding to take control of ship systems.” He said as he began working the emergency access hatch.
“Copy Marrke. Drive plasma radiation is causing interference. We may lose you while we conduct our repairs.” Rayna replied. The was another burst of static.
“What about the boosters?”
“I’ll set them up Marrke,” Daltfur’s voice buzzed slightly, “But I can’t guarantee it’ll be enough.”
“Alright kid. Let’s do it.” Marrke disconnected and closed a tiny circuit on the electrics board at the back of
the emergency access area. The bridge doors yawned open. Used to the cramped confines of the Thrasher-class destroyer he helped run, Marrke couldn’t help but stare at the cavernous space that was the main bridge. The entirety of the outer hull of the bridge was made of a transparent alloy that allowed for an amazing view of space and the starboard side of the vessel. Set back five feet from the transparent bulkheads were two rows of five pairs of consoles with a thoroughfare three feet wide between them. At each console terminal were highly reclined, wrap-around style seats for crew who were on the bridge at the time. They were reclined so far that the console interfaces were pointing slightly toward the deck. The captain’s chair and console was an integrated unit that was shaped a little like a giant egg. It was motorised to allow a 360 degree view of the bridge. This chair was built at a more conventional angle and had a holographic projector built into a slender, delicate looking arm that displayed a command interface for the captain to use to interact with the ship. The chair gleamed a sullen, fiery red in the glow of the surrounding space.
Marrke got to work unpacking his sophisticated computers to assist him in assuming control of the ship’s mainframes. He jacked into the command chair and the computer began the task of systematically rebuilding the control structure.
The lights flickered briefly on the bridge. He could see lights blinking on and off erratically down the length of the ship. A few did not come back on. He also noticed the temperature climb a few degrees. A sharp hissing snap from his comms unit made him jump. Marrke could make out words whispered just over the static.
“Thissss... Issss... My... Ssship!”
“Copy Marrke. Drive plasma radiation is causing interference. We may lose you while we conduct our repairs.” Rayna replied. The was another burst of static.
“What about the boosters?”
“I’ll set them up Marrke,” Daltfur’s voice buzzed slightly, “But I can’t guarantee it’ll be enough.”
“Alright kid. Let’s do it.” Marrke disconnected and closed a tiny circuit on the electrics board at the back of
the emergency access area. The bridge doors yawned open. Used to the cramped confines of the Thrasher-class destroyer he helped run, Marrke couldn’t help but stare at the cavernous space that was the main bridge. The entirety of the outer hull of the bridge was made of a transparent alloy that allowed for an amazing view of space and the starboard side of the vessel. Set back five feet from the transparent bulkheads were two rows of five pairs of consoles with a thoroughfare three feet wide between them. At each console terminal were highly reclined, wrap-around style seats for crew who were on the bridge at the time. They were reclined so far that the console interfaces were pointing slightly toward the deck. The captain’s chair and console was an integrated unit that was shaped a little like a giant egg. It was motorised to allow a 360 degree view of the bridge. This chair was built at a more conventional angle and had a holographic projector built into a slender, delicate looking arm that displayed a command interface for the captain to use to interact with the ship. The chair gleamed a sullen, fiery red in the glow of the surrounding space.
Marrke got to work unpacking his sophisticated computers to assist him in assuming control of the ship’s mainframes. He jacked into the command chair and the computer began the task of systematically rebuilding the control structure.
The lights flickered briefly on the bridge. He could see lights blinking on and off erratically down the length of the ship. A few did not come back on. He also noticed the temperature climb a few degrees. A sharp hissing snap from his comms unit made him jump. Marrke could make out words whispered just over the static.
“Thissss... Issss... My... Ssship!”
