Star date 548.1.5
Cold....Pain...Burning...More Cold...soothing music?
You awaken in your Cryo pod. Ice covers your body, which has not moved of it's own volition in 5 years. The ice is forced to thaw quickly, causing more pain.
As you stir, the cryo pod computer registers your wakefulness and with cheery soothing music begins a report. While each of your reports differ based on your positions (consult relevant terminals as needed) the basic message is the same.
“Good morning Ambassador! You have been in cryogenic stasis for 5 years. Congratulations!”
“In the environmental habitat, it is a comfortable 75 degrees, partly sunny, and surf conditions are fair.”
“Breakfast today will be scrambled eggs with hot sauce. Lunch is a light buffet, and dinner will be exotic fried poultry with smoky sauce.”
“Superwarp stage separation will commence in 15 minutes.”
“On board Endeavor, you will find: Fire on decks 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. Hull breach on deck 35, and 36. Central computer offline. Main weapons offline. Shields offline. Torpedoes offline. Warp engines offline. Sub-light engines offline. Main power failure. Auxilliary power is at 1% and falling. Prisoner escape in Brig block 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Casualties detected by biometric telemetry on deck 45 aft. Intruders in main bridge.“
“Have a nice day.”
With that, the canopy opens whether you are ready or not.
You are aboard the superwarp stage. This disposable section of the ship carried the superwarp drives and reactors, as well as the cryogenic suites in which the entire crew was supposed to be stored while they awaited the construction of their ship. A series of gantries are connected to the actual ship, through which the entire crew will be attempting to board within the next 15 minutes.
Panic spreads up and down the cyro pod section at the announcements. A great many more crew...and civilians...are present than expected.
Your personal effects should be aboard the ship already. You are wearing what amount to more than usually modest underwear. Medical crew were supposed to assist with the thawing out process, and the whole crew was not supposed to thaw at once, neither has happened correctly.
An automated announcement is played overhead.
"All crew and passengers are to board the Endeavor immediately. This is your last call for boarding. The superwarp first stage will separate in 15 minutes. It will begin a safe self destruct sequence shortly after that. This is the last call for boarding the Endeavor. Have a nice day!"
[Begin.]
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Liquidprism
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[First!]
Stiff. Cold. Darkness.
It had prepared itself for this moment, but the cryogenic hibernation state had still left the young Matriarch in a state of shock. Its body wasn’t responding, and everything just felt… wrong. Disoriented, unable to sense the world around it, and only barely conscious, Chief Medical Officer Voracity managed only barely to twitch. It was a start.
Voracity remembered explaining it’s specie’s adversity to cold. The Federation medical staff had not really been paying attention however. They had been in a hurry, and were so self-assured. They had told Voracity that everything would be okay, and adjustments for its particular biology had been made. Perhaps they had not really understood Voracity’s misgivings, perhaps they simply hadn’t cared, or maybe they just had not wanted the Queen to survive. The reasoning behind the decision to freeze the Matriarch Queen, no matter how poorly thought out, did not matter. The simple had been that if Voracity was to be included in the mission it would have to undergo cryogenic stasis. So it prepared itself as best it could, knowing only partially what lay ahead.
Light. Shapes. Sensations. Terribly unpleasant sensations.
Voracity’s body was slowly beginning to awaken. It could only focus on its own recovery, so the host form awaiting it would have to wait. With rigid, machine-like, determination Voracity forced itself into motion. The sounds, and thoughts around it were but whispers to the immense effort required in trying to simply move. Despite the special preparations made by the Queen, and the medical crews that had incarcerated it, Voracity was not well, but it had survived.
It turned its focus inward, and tried to find the problems. Certain organs seemed damaged, while others simply weren’t working at all. The joints, and tendons were not thawing out as fast as Voracity would have liked. They too seemed to have severe damage affecting their functionality. The Matriarch’s external senses were fuzzy, and the active minds it could sense near it were not nearly as clear as they should be. This meant damage to its brain, and psionic faculties, and was well as its external sensor organs. Voracity could also feel solid formations in its vital fluids flowing like icebergs through a narrow river. Moving, even a little, caused its joints to pop, and tremble involuntarily. All in all the experience was extremely unpleasant. Were it a human, Voracity would probably have been paralyzed by the sensation those creatures knew as ‘pain’.
However, Voracity was not human. It was superior in fact to most of the other life forms it had the pleasure of meeting, and evaluating. Thus it shrugged of the unpleasant sensations it was feeling, and focused on simply moving forward. It wriggled free of the harness, and the tubes. It crawled into the tube separating its chamber from that of its designated host. It slide down the tube, and into the awaiting space it had previously made in the creature’s skull.
Through the genius of medical science, and engineering the Federation, and the Matriarch Queen had managed to design a special storage unit for its host body. The unit was designed to keep the host form alive through the stasis procedure. This at least had not failed, although only time would tell the extent of any damage to the host from this procedure.
The form seemed to have been carefully preserved, and in some ways was probably better off than the actual crewmen thawing out at the same time. It had been specially prepared in its own pod which sat in front of the one Voracity was stored in. A tube ran from the young Queen’s container into the storage unit the humanoid body was situated in. The form was one already modified by Voracity for use before the cryo-suspension. So in theory it should be a relatively simple task to ‘climb aboard’ as it were.
Once firmly in place Voracity opened its jaws, and extended it neuro-ganglia throughout the host’s brain mass, and key parts of the nervous system. It was pleased to find that the special machines and chemicals it had requested were doing their job to thaw the body out quickly. By the time Voracity was situated, the body of the host was already thawed, and a pleasant temperature. Its coma-like near death state, had made managing its storage and subsequent ‘quick-thaw’ much more effective.
None of this made Voracity’s own body any better, but it meant the Queen was not completely helpless. It would be weeks, if not months before Voracity itself was healthy, and whole again. In the mean time Voracity was glad to have the host. It felt a twinge of nostalgia, from deep in its racial memory, as it realized why the Matriarch used other beings as vehicles in a visceral way.
With methodical intent Voracity began to bring the host form online, running down the mental checklist it had made for this species’ nervous system control points. Autonomic functionality was a priority. The Matriarch made sure everything was moving, beating, and pumping as it should be. Voracity fired off controlled electrical pulses through the brain and spine to make sure all the proper channels were open.
Senses were second, with hearing, and sight being most critical. The other senses were needless, and not worth the time. So none was wasted on them. It seemed the primary senses were dull, and would be for a time, but they were adequate for now, so Voracity moved on.
Next came motor skill. Muscles were twitched, and flexed from top to bottom. This was routine, and carried out with the precision of a pilot prepping his craft for take off. It was also something Voracity could focus on besides its own ailing body. It was thankful for the distraction.
Everything was finished in moments. The host had been prepped and was ready to move. Voracity tuned into its surrounds and listened to the automated greeting while sealing the encounter suit its host had been partially sealed into already. Soon after Voracity was out of the tubes and into the corridor.
By necessity Voracity’s special cryo-tube had been sectioned off from the bulk of the crew tubes. Its nature, and appearance were something of a secret as of yet, and not something those in charge wanted everyone to know about. Voracity had agreed, and found it prudent to keep a low profile in light of the adversity its true form, and function seemed to inspire in other sentient beings.
Along these lines its encounter suits served to help obscure its form, and allow it the freedom to fulfill its tasks and goals as a member of the crew. The suit itself resembled a deep-sea dive suit around the head and back of the torso, mixed with casual diving attire everywhere else. Only the arms and legs showed naked skin, which carried a strange, pale hue to. Closer examination might reveal other unnerving features, and its movements were exceedingly inhuman. All in all however, it looked like a near human in a special environment suit, as was its intention.
So it was that Voracity found itself in a corridor slightly removed from the rest of the crew’s cryo-beds. It also had the benefit of its own small passageway by which to enter the ship. This made it easier on the ailing Queen, as its own adverse reaction to the cryo-sleep was also affecting its ability to control the host form. As best it could Voracity made its way to the medical center where it could begin prepping for the chaos to come.
Stiff. Cold. Darkness.
It had prepared itself for this moment, but the cryogenic hibernation state had still left the young Matriarch in a state of shock. Its body wasn’t responding, and everything just felt… wrong. Disoriented, unable to sense the world around it, and only barely conscious, Chief Medical Officer Voracity managed only barely to twitch. It was a start.
Voracity remembered explaining it’s specie’s adversity to cold. The Federation medical staff had not really been paying attention however. They had been in a hurry, and were so self-assured. They had told Voracity that everything would be okay, and adjustments for its particular biology had been made. Perhaps they had not really understood Voracity’s misgivings, perhaps they simply hadn’t cared, or maybe they just had not wanted the Queen to survive. The reasoning behind the decision to freeze the Matriarch Queen, no matter how poorly thought out, did not matter. The simple had been that if Voracity was to be included in the mission it would have to undergo cryogenic stasis. So it prepared itself as best it could, knowing only partially what lay ahead.
Light. Shapes. Sensations. Terribly unpleasant sensations.
Voracity’s body was slowly beginning to awaken. It could only focus on its own recovery, so the host form awaiting it would have to wait. With rigid, machine-like, determination Voracity forced itself into motion. The sounds, and thoughts around it were but whispers to the immense effort required in trying to simply move. Despite the special preparations made by the Queen, and the medical crews that had incarcerated it, Voracity was not well, but it had survived.
It turned its focus inward, and tried to find the problems. Certain organs seemed damaged, while others simply weren’t working at all. The joints, and tendons were not thawing out as fast as Voracity would have liked. They too seemed to have severe damage affecting their functionality. The Matriarch’s external senses were fuzzy, and the active minds it could sense near it were not nearly as clear as they should be. This meant damage to its brain, and psionic faculties, and was well as its external sensor organs. Voracity could also feel solid formations in its vital fluids flowing like icebergs through a narrow river. Moving, even a little, caused its joints to pop, and tremble involuntarily. All in all the experience was extremely unpleasant. Were it a human, Voracity would probably have been paralyzed by the sensation those creatures knew as ‘pain’.
However, Voracity was not human. It was superior in fact to most of the other life forms it had the pleasure of meeting, and evaluating. Thus it shrugged of the unpleasant sensations it was feeling, and focused on simply moving forward. It wriggled free of the harness, and the tubes. It crawled into the tube separating its chamber from that of its designated host. It slide down the tube, and into the awaiting space it had previously made in the creature’s skull.
Through the genius of medical science, and engineering the Federation, and the Matriarch Queen had managed to design a special storage unit for its host body. The unit was designed to keep the host form alive through the stasis procedure. This at least had not failed, although only time would tell the extent of any damage to the host from this procedure.
The form seemed to have been carefully preserved, and in some ways was probably better off than the actual crewmen thawing out at the same time. It had been specially prepared in its own pod which sat in front of the one Voracity was stored in. A tube ran from the young Queen’s container into the storage unit the humanoid body was situated in. The form was one already modified by Voracity for use before the cryo-suspension. So in theory it should be a relatively simple task to ‘climb aboard’ as it were.
Once firmly in place Voracity opened its jaws, and extended it neuro-ganglia throughout the host’s brain mass, and key parts of the nervous system. It was pleased to find that the special machines and chemicals it had requested were doing their job to thaw the body out quickly. By the time Voracity was situated, the body of the host was already thawed, and a pleasant temperature. Its coma-like near death state, had made managing its storage and subsequent ‘quick-thaw’ much more effective.
None of this made Voracity’s own body any better, but it meant the Queen was not completely helpless. It would be weeks, if not months before Voracity itself was healthy, and whole again. In the mean time Voracity was glad to have the host. It felt a twinge of nostalgia, from deep in its racial memory, as it realized why the Matriarch used other beings as vehicles in a visceral way.
With methodical intent Voracity began to bring the host form online, running down the mental checklist it had made for this species’ nervous system control points. Autonomic functionality was a priority. The Matriarch made sure everything was moving, beating, and pumping as it should be. Voracity fired off controlled electrical pulses through the brain and spine to make sure all the proper channels were open.
Senses were second, with hearing, and sight being most critical. The other senses were needless, and not worth the time. So none was wasted on them. It seemed the primary senses were dull, and would be for a time, but they were adequate for now, so Voracity moved on.
Next came motor skill. Muscles were twitched, and flexed from top to bottom. This was routine, and carried out with the precision of a pilot prepping his craft for take off. It was also something Voracity could focus on besides its own ailing body. It was thankful for the distraction.
Everything was finished in moments. The host had been prepped and was ready to move. Voracity tuned into its surrounds and listened to the automated greeting while sealing the encounter suit its host had been partially sealed into already. Soon after Voracity was out of the tubes and into the corridor.
By necessity Voracity’s special cryo-tube had been sectioned off from the bulk of the crew tubes. Its nature, and appearance were something of a secret as of yet, and not something those in charge wanted everyone to know about. Voracity had agreed, and found it prudent to keep a low profile in light of the adversity its true form, and function seemed to inspire in other sentient beings.
Along these lines its encounter suits served to help obscure its form, and allow it the freedom to fulfill its tasks and goals as a member of the crew. The suit itself resembled a deep-sea dive suit around the head and back of the torso, mixed with casual diving attire everywhere else. Only the arms and legs showed naked skin, which carried a strange, pale hue to. Closer examination might reveal other unnerving features, and its movements were exceedingly inhuman. All in all however, it looked like a near human in a special environment suit, as was its intention.
So it was that Voracity found itself in a corridor slightly removed from the rest of the crew’s cryo-beds. It also had the benefit of its own small passageway by which to enter the ship. This made it easier on the ailing Queen, as its own adverse reaction to the cryo-sleep was also affecting its ability to control the host form. As best it could Voracity made its way to the medical center where it could begin prepping for the chaos to come.
All things in moderation...Except syrup.
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An impulse to reach for blankets to more fully protect himself from the cold was stymied as Harold Stirling's arm instead impacted the edge of his cryopod.
His eyes snapped open. He inhaled deeply, and immediately regretted doing so. He'd not done that in... five years, apparently... and his lungs objected. He was momentarily wracked by coughs.
"Wait, what?" he said as the computer began to rattle off the details of the current situation. "Slow down, slow down. Prisoners? Intruders?" The hatch popped open and he was subject to the near-hysteria of all of the people waking up.
15 minutes? There was nothing good about that. He - they - needed to stop the separation and the self destruct. "Computer? Sign? Whoever," he looked down the isles at all the people. He knew there'd be a lot of crew aboard the new ship - it was big, after all - but this seemed entirely too many, The lack of discipline also suggested that many were civilians. "How many people were aboard Endeavor, and the super-warp stage, at launch - and how many are aboard both now?"
He clambered out of the pod and nearly fell in the process of doing so. He felt weak. He hadn't moved in years, it was amazing his muscles still worked at all. He hadn't learned the details, but he was sure they'd found some sort of way to fight the atrophy, but no method was perfect. His cybernetics helped some, he'd been watching the displays from them in the corner of his peripheral vision, and they were mostly booted up. He rightened himself and climbed on top of the pod's exterior. He waved with one arm and steadied himself with the other.
"I'm Captain Stirling - can I get everyone's attention?" he called out as loudly as he could, "I know you're probably scared, but we don't have time for that right now. Please proceed toward the docking ports in a calm and orderly fashion and board the Endeavor proper. You've probably got questions - I do too - but we'll have to get them answered later. Do not trample one another, help out those that aren't recovering from cryosleep as well as others, and await further orders." He repeated himself a few times as he got the attention of others. Once some people had started moving and a few of the crew started assisting in directing civilians and crew toward the Endeavor, he climbed back down.
He went back to the computer terminal, "And Sign - why are there prisoners aboard this ship?"
He tapped a few buttons to call up the comm, "Stirling to any security personnel, we've got intruders on the main bridge and escapees from the brig - arm yourselves as rapidly as possible. Our priority is to secure the bridge and command functions." He tapped a few buttons again, "Stirling to any engineering or maintenance personnel, we've got multiple fires and hull breeches and a pending superwarp stage separation. Priority is currently toward halting the superwarp self-destruct and stage separation, and then commence repairs."
With that, he tapped the buttons again, canceling the comm and headed toward the gantries to board his ship for the first time. Someone was on his bridge, and that just wasn't going to do.
His eyes snapped open. He inhaled deeply, and immediately regretted doing so. He'd not done that in... five years, apparently... and his lungs objected. He was momentarily wracked by coughs.
"Wait, what?" he said as the computer began to rattle off the details of the current situation. "Slow down, slow down. Prisoners? Intruders?" The hatch popped open and he was subject to the near-hysteria of all of the people waking up.
15 minutes? There was nothing good about that. He - they - needed to stop the separation and the self destruct. "Computer? Sign? Whoever," he looked down the isles at all the people. He knew there'd be a lot of crew aboard the new ship - it was big, after all - but this seemed entirely too many, The lack of discipline also suggested that many were civilians. "How many people were aboard Endeavor, and the super-warp stage, at launch - and how many are aboard both now?"
He clambered out of the pod and nearly fell in the process of doing so. He felt weak. He hadn't moved in years, it was amazing his muscles still worked at all. He hadn't learned the details, but he was sure they'd found some sort of way to fight the atrophy, but no method was perfect. His cybernetics helped some, he'd been watching the displays from them in the corner of his peripheral vision, and they were mostly booted up. He rightened himself and climbed on top of the pod's exterior. He waved with one arm and steadied himself with the other.
"I'm Captain Stirling - can I get everyone's attention?" he called out as loudly as he could, "I know you're probably scared, but we don't have time for that right now. Please proceed toward the docking ports in a calm and orderly fashion and board the Endeavor proper. You've probably got questions - I do too - but we'll have to get them answered later. Do not trample one another, help out those that aren't recovering from cryosleep as well as others, and await further orders." He repeated himself a few times as he got the attention of others. Once some people had started moving and a few of the crew started assisting in directing civilians and crew toward the Endeavor, he climbed back down.
He went back to the computer terminal, "And Sign - why are there prisoners aboard this ship?"
He tapped a few buttons to call up the comm, "Stirling to any security personnel, we've got intruders on the main bridge and escapees from the brig - arm yourselves as rapidly as possible. Our priority is to secure the bridge and command functions." He tapped a few buttons again, "Stirling to any engineering or maintenance personnel, we've got multiple fires and hull breeches and a pending superwarp stage separation. Priority is currently toward halting the superwarp self-destruct and stage separation, and then commence repairs."
With that, he tapped the buttons again, canceling the comm and headed toward the gantries to board his ship for the first time. Someone was on his bridge, and that just wasn't going to do.
Exemplar was feeling far less than exemplary as she sat up in her cryopod and surveyed her surroundings. Her limbs ached from the cold, though they moved well enough. Her breath caught in her lungs a few times before she could properly exhale. But after only a few seconds, her body went into overdrive, repairing the cellular damage from the cold and purging the remainder of the chemical cocktail they had pumped into her years earlier.
In somewhere around 10 seconds, she was up and out of her pod. A quick look around revealed that her suit was elsewhere, but she was generally comfortable in minimal clothing anyway. Standing in her underclothes on the cold metal floor as her pores sweat out the remaining chemicals, Exemplar tried to think of something productive to do.
She had a basic education in most of the tech on the ship, she could probably help with the repairs, but she wouldn't be more than an extra pair of hands. The ship had mentioned escaped prisoners and intruders on the bridge. That sounded more suited to her abilities. Exemplar strode confidently toward the exit, fully intending to retake the bridge, when she found her way blocked by the rest of the crew. They had taken longer to wake, but were now jumping out of their cryochambers, some shouting in confusion, others stumbling into one another, and a few dry heaving as they curled on the floor.
After at least a minute shoving people aside and telling people to get organized, all to very little effect, Exemplar heard the captain's strident voice calling out orders. As the crowd stilled to listen, Exemplar cut through the milling bodies, moving quickly to stand directly in front of Captain Stirling.
"Exemplar reporting for duty Sir. Need a bodyguard while you retake the ship? I'm pretty good in that department..." A small smile broke her military bearing, but she didn't particularly care. This was what she was made for, what she had trained for, and she was more than ready to get started with the adventure.
In somewhere around 10 seconds, she was up and out of her pod. A quick look around revealed that her suit was elsewhere, but she was generally comfortable in minimal clothing anyway. Standing in her underclothes on the cold metal floor as her pores sweat out the remaining chemicals, Exemplar tried to think of something productive to do.
She had a basic education in most of the tech on the ship, she could probably help with the repairs, but she wouldn't be more than an extra pair of hands. The ship had mentioned escaped prisoners and intruders on the bridge. That sounded more suited to her abilities. Exemplar strode confidently toward the exit, fully intending to retake the bridge, when she found her way blocked by the rest of the crew. They had taken longer to wake, but were now jumping out of their cryochambers, some shouting in confusion, others stumbling into one another, and a few dry heaving as they curled on the floor.
After at least a minute shoving people aside and telling people to get organized, all to very little effect, Exemplar heard the captain's strident voice calling out orders. As the crowd stilled to listen, Exemplar cut through the milling bodies, moving quickly to stand directly in front of Captain Stirling.
"Exemplar reporting for duty Sir. Need a bodyguard while you retake the ship? I'm pretty good in that department..." A small smile broke her military bearing, but she didn't particularly care. This was what she was made for, what she had trained for, and she was more than ready to get started with the adventure.
Threading the Gerbil since 1982
An angry metal groan echoed through the cryobay, silencing the panicked shouting and crying. It was followed by a few more shorter ones, and then silence. Something was putting torque on the gantries between the superwarp stage and the ship. Possibilities clicked through the mind of all crew with any engineering or piloting experience. One possibility stuck out as most likely. The hull breaches were putting thrust against the ship in the venting of atmosphere, or something, in a way that the superwarp stage was not designed to handle. The overhead automated announcer put everyone back in motion.
"10 minutes until stage separation."
The apparent imminent death inaction offered put sufficient motivation behind the crowds, thousands of people, to file through the gantries as they had been trained. As long as crew members continued to herd the civilians and panicked people through the gantries, they would all make it in time.
********
Voracity, by virtue of it's private gantry, found it's way into the ship ahead of the rest of the crew, and fairly close to the med bay. The lights were mostly down, locally powered emergency lighting having taken over for the failing auxiliary power. As it passed through various sections of the ship, including locally powered emergency auto-lifts, it noticed an area in which panels in the bulkheads had been pulled off, and what looked like maybe a weapons cache had been liberated.
Voracity found the primary sickbay not exactly as expected. There were two entrances, once for emergency medical personnel to bring casualties in for treatment, and another for routine clinic visits. As it happened to be closer, Voracity passed through the reception area, past the potted plants and the currently in-operational fountain, past the spa area, and into the clinic proper. A wide array of tools and instruments were present, apparently capable of rendering the full spectrum of "modern" medicine available to the crew. Surprisingly, adequate equipment, tools, and instruments were also available to perform cosmetic operations for a wide variety of species.
********
The crew responded to Captain Stirling much as expected: with immediate compliance. His force of personality and authority was nearly unmatched in the navy. The crew, and civilians, seemed to respond as though everything were ok, even after the creaking and groaning of the superwarp stage.
Several security personnel, identifiable by the red insignia on their cryo-wear, appeared from the crowd, armed with pipes and chains. One of them spoke for the rest of them.
"We're ready captain. We couldn't find a weapons locker but we were able to strip these from the cryo pods."
Stirling recognized this man as Lieutenant Hacken Jorbal, selected for a leadership role in the security team by Chief Challx due to his initiative and assertive personality.
Stirling's comm switch clicked on in response to his previous queries.
"Captain, this is Colonel Suy Adar, Federal Marines. I have moved the marines into the ship, but I am fouled with an...unexpected morale issue. My XO, Major Levay, has taken field command and has moved most of our active marines into a holding position near the bridge."
The sound of panicked protest formed an uncomfortable background to Adar's message.
Another response came in immediately afterwards.
"Howdy Cap'n, I'm the ship's tourism and museum database computer. Sign isn't installed yet, so ya'll will just have to due with me for now! I'm pleased as punch to inform you that in 546.3.8 the fully functional ship's brig was leased out to the Sirious Correctional Corporation, or SCC, to help fund the final stages of construction. The scheduled departure of these inmates is 548.3.8. As an added bonus, they'll provide a sense of realism for the visitors to the Endeavor Mission Museum as it travels from system to system, raising awareness of our important mission, while the real Endeavor is constructed in a secret location! Bonus information: The Endeavor Museum Vessel is a fully functional battleship built by alternate contractors to mirror the functions of the real ship! In an emergency, it could be used in place of the real ship, but we all know that the Federation would never let that happen. Anything else I can retrieve for you, pardner?"
******
While exemplar stood awaiting a response from her captain, a shrill whistle was directed her way.
"Well, if he doesn't need a bodyguard, you're certainly welcome to guard mine."
The cat-caller, a human officer wearing a cowboy hat whose features and physique could be described as beautiful, wandered through the panicked crowd, non-plussed by the commotion.
"Commander John Keen, XO. Pleased to meetcha. So, Captain, what's the order?"
"10 minutes until stage separation."
The apparent imminent death inaction offered put sufficient motivation behind the crowds, thousands of people, to file through the gantries as they had been trained. As long as crew members continued to herd the civilians and panicked people through the gantries, they would all make it in time.
********
Voracity, by virtue of it's private gantry, found it's way into the ship ahead of the rest of the crew, and fairly close to the med bay. The lights were mostly down, locally powered emergency lighting having taken over for the failing auxiliary power. As it passed through various sections of the ship, including locally powered emergency auto-lifts, it noticed an area in which panels in the bulkheads had been pulled off, and what looked like maybe a weapons cache had been liberated.
Voracity found the primary sickbay not exactly as expected. There were two entrances, once for emergency medical personnel to bring casualties in for treatment, and another for routine clinic visits. As it happened to be closer, Voracity passed through the reception area, past the potted plants and the currently in-operational fountain, past the spa area, and into the clinic proper. A wide array of tools and instruments were present, apparently capable of rendering the full spectrum of "modern" medicine available to the crew. Surprisingly, adequate equipment, tools, and instruments were also available to perform cosmetic operations for a wide variety of species.
********
The crew responded to Captain Stirling much as expected: with immediate compliance. His force of personality and authority was nearly unmatched in the navy. The crew, and civilians, seemed to respond as though everything were ok, even after the creaking and groaning of the superwarp stage.
Several security personnel, identifiable by the red insignia on their cryo-wear, appeared from the crowd, armed with pipes and chains. One of them spoke for the rest of them.
"We're ready captain. We couldn't find a weapons locker but we were able to strip these from the cryo pods."
Stirling recognized this man as Lieutenant Hacken Jorbal, selected for a leadership role in the security team by Chief Challx due to his initiative and assertive personality.
Stirling's comm switch clicked on in response to his previous queries.
"Captain, this is Colonel Suy Adar, Federal Marines. I have moved the marines into the ship, but I am fouled with an...unexpected morale issue. My XO, Major Levay, has taken field command and has moved most of our active marines into a holding position near the bridge."
The sound of panicked protest formed an uncomfortable background to Adar's message.
Another response came in immediately afterwards.
"Howdy Cap'n, I'm the ship's tourism and museum database computer. Sign isn't installed yet, so ya'll will just have to due with me for now! I'm pleased as punch to inform you that in 546.3.8 the fully functional ship's brig was leased out to the Sirious Correctional Corporation, or SCC, to help fund the final stages of construction. The scheduled departure of these inmates is 548.3.8. As an added bonus, they'll provide a sense of realism for the visitors to the Endeavor Mission Museum as it travels from system to system, raising awareness of our important mission, while the real Endeavor is constructed in a secret location! Bonus information: The Endeavor Museum Vessel is a fully functional battleship built by alternate contractors to mirror the functions of the real ship! In an emergency, it could be used in place of the real ship, but we all know that the Federation would never let that happen. Anything else I can retrieve for you, pardner?"
******
While exemplar stood awaiting a response from her captain, a shrill whistle was directed her way.
"Well, if he doesn't need a bodyguard, you're certainly welcome to guard mine."
The cat-caller, a human officer wearing a cowboy hat whose features and physique could be described as beautiful, wandered through the panicked crowd, non-plussed by the commotion.
"Commander John Keen, XO. Pleased to meetcha. So, Captain, what's the order?"
-
angelicyokai
- Lost Knight
- Posts: 457
- Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:34 pm
- Location: In her house at R'lyeh
Jezial made no attempt to move from the frozen chamber at first. She knew that the coldness would pass, and though things were clearly not going as planned she assumed that the crew was able to handle whatever situation arose. She gathered her senses and reached out to gather the immediate emotions of the crew. Panic, fear and confusion told Jezial she had underestimated the severity of the current situation. Stumbling out of her cryopod, she tried (and failed) to find her footing. From her new vantage point on the ground she could clearly see that most of those frozen were panicking. She was trampled by a fairly stocky human. Slowly rubbing at what would surely be a large bruise on her thigh, Jezial rose and focused on the pull of planets outside of the ship. She felt...nothing. For the first time in her existence, their was no pull of planets and astral bodies. Likely because there were no planets or astral bodies within her reach. She grew a bit dizzy as she tried to gain information where there was none. She now understood how the humans felt when they tried to see in utter darkness. The void leeched sensation from her brain. She staggered back against her cryopod, managing to remain upright. As the 10 minuted warning was announced, Jezial was nearly overwhelmed by the feeling of panic as more crewmen and travelers stampeded through the halls.
Suddenly her arm was taken and a gruff "Ma'am" as she was shepherded by a crewman to the gantries. She closed her eyes and felt the emotions of the crew and civilians as they bottle-necked down through the gantries and then disbursed throughout the ship. She limped a bit as she was shuffled and jostled though the throng of beings. As she moved she mapped the decks of the ship in her mind. She would have to explore thoroughly to know what portions of the ship housed specific people and things, but it was convenient to know where the various doors, walls, and ventilation systems ran.
"Left..left..." She felt a slight sting as one of the crewmen smacked her to get her attention, he must have been very stressed. "Civilians go left!" He spat a little as he yelled and the whites of his eyes were clearly visible. "Yes, of course...thank you..." She was speaking to empty air. It appeared the crewman had ran off as soon as she nodded. Rather rude. Also, not exactly accurate. She leaned against the wall slightly as some injured and crying humans were dragged past her. She was fairly certain she was to serve a position on the ship, though as a civilian contractor perhaps she didn't count as crew. She would have to find out what her classification was when things calmed down. She turned slightly to the side as she felt the structural integrity of the wall near her give, avoiding the collapse that followed as she meandered through the chaos, unfazed by it all.
Suddenly her arm was taken and a gruff "Ma'am" as she was shepherded by a crewman to the gantries. She closed her eyes and felt the emotions of the crew and civilians as they bottle-necked down through the gantries and then disbursed throughout the ship. She limped a bit as she was shuffled and jostled though the throng of beings. As she moved she mapped the decks of the ship in her mind. She would have to explore thoroughly to know what portions of the ship housed specific people and things, but it was convenient to know where the various doors, walls, and ventilation systems ran.
"Left..left..." She felt a slight sting as one of the crewmen smacked her to get her attention, he must have been very stressed. "Civilians go left!" He spat a little as he yelled and the whites of his eyes were clearly visible. "Yes, of course...thank you..." She was speaking to empty air. It appeared the crewman had ran off as soon as she nodded. Rather rude. Also, not exactly accurate. She leaned against the wall slightly as some injured and crying humans were dragged past her. She was fairly certain she was to serve a position on the ship, though as a civilian contractor perhaps she didn't count as crew. She would have to find out what her classification was when things calmed down. She turned slightly to the side as she felt the structural integrity of the wall near her give, avoiding the collapse that followed as she meandered through the chaos, unfazed by it all.
[CENTER]
Take the Magic: The Gathering 'What Color Are You?' Quiz.[/CENTER]
“Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones.”
― Marcus Aurelius
Take the Magic: The Gathering 'What Color Are You?' Quiz.[/CENTER]“Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones.”
― Marcus Aurelius
Exemplar's small smile of pride quickly faded in the face of the man that was apparently her superior officer. It wasn't that she was embarrassed by her body, as her people tended toward very revealing attire. No, it was simply that she was untested and unsure of herself still, and this man had undercut her skill and years of hard work in a single casual statement. Were she a bit more versed in relating to others, perhaps like the charismatic captain, she might have said something, but unfortunately the years spent in special education classes and then as a janitor left her lacking in social graces.
A frown, a slight quiver to her lower lip, and a balled fist were the only reactions she showed. For the time being she was in control... Unless he made the mistake of pushing her further...
A frown, a slight quiver to her lower lip, and a balled fist were the only reactions she showed. For the time being she was in control... Unless he made the mistake of pushing her further...
Threading the Gerbil since 1982
"Work with what you've got, colonel," he replied to the Marine commander, "We're going to have to take control of this situation. I'm headed that way as soon as I can."
He nodded to Exemplar, "Yes, I suspect that's a good idea," he'd seen the records of her people. Certainly an assist to have at one's side. Particularly when one was unarmed. He turned to his XO, "Commander Keen, seen what you can do about finding the maintenance and repair folks, have them seal off any hull breaches. If you see Ignac or any of his folks, have them start working on a way to disable the self-destruct and superwarp section separation. I don't want anyone trapped on this thing to die."
He made a 'move out' motion with his hand to the security personnel that had gathered and spoke to them and the superpowered ensign, "We're going to move to the bridge and see what we can do to help the marine unit to take back control of the ship."
His expression became one of resignation as he then opted to address the tourism and museum computer. He sighed. "Computer, is this ship the tourism and museum replica? Also, why were the prisoners released early - or did they escape?" He moved with his newly-formed unit through the ship. They'd need to make their way to the bridge. He was suddenly reminded of something from his command console. "Was the central computer core ever installed?" he added to his list of questions for the computer. Whether or not it would be able to answer was, of course, an entirely different question.
He nodded to Exemplar, "Yes, I suspect that's a good idea," he'd seen the records of her people. Certainly an assist to have at one's side. Particularly when one was unarmed. He turned to his XO, "Commander Keen, seen what you can do about finding the maintenance and repair folks, have them seal off any hull breaches. If you see Ignac or any of his folks, have them start working on a way to disable the self-destruct and superwarp section separation. I don't want anyone trapped on this thing to die."
He made a 'move out' motion with his hand to the security personnel that had gathered and spoke to them and the superpowered ensign, "We're going to move to the bridge and see what we can do to help the marine unit to take back control of the ship."
His expression became one of resignation as he then opted to address the tourism and museum computer. He sighed. "Computer, is this ship the tourism and museum replica? Also, why were the prisoners released early - or did they escape?" He moved with his newly-formed unit through the ship. They'd need to make their way to the bridge. He was suddenly reminded of something from his command console. "Was the central computer core ever installed?" he added to his list of questions for the computer. Whether or not it would be able to answer was, of course, an entirely different question.
-
Liquidprism
- Lost Soul
- Posts: 1509
- Joined: Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:40 pm
- Location: Behind You...
Voracity stumbled, its’ footing unsure, as its control over the host form had not yet fully taken. Pt took in the décor of the clinic, and noted that not everything was as it should be. The Queen briefly considered various ways in which it might be able to turn the non-essential equipment toward more important tasks. This train of thought didn’t last however. Urgency pulled the Queen’s thoughts toward the eminent activity of being a doctor.
Soon sick, and injured crew would be filing in. Voracity knew what it had to do, and it was prepared to do it. So the Matriarch set about preparing the medical center for what was coming. It laid out tools, and medicines. It prepared a mental list of orders, and tasks for the nurses, and other doctors that would be checking in.
It mentally prepared itself for the coming chaos. Voracity didn’t like surprises, and was never comfortable without a plan. This was an especially important period for Voracity. Knowing its body was not whole, and its mental capacities diminished, this would be a good test.
Supplies seemed to be good order, and the equipment seemed to be present for getting an ailing crew up and running efficiently. Every so often an idea would inch forward in its consciousness on some way to repurose the ‘spa’ taking up so much useful space.
The more Voracity thought on it, the more the wrongness of those things whirled through its mind. Voracity never got the time to really delve into this however, as the first of the nurses and crew began to file in.
“Oh doctor, thank goodness you’re already here.” said one of the female bipeds as it hurried through the doors with a groaning male biped in tow. “There are so many sick. We aren’t ready for this.”
“What’s with the spa, and the decorations?” Asked another of the nurses as he stumbled in holding his hand to the side of his head.
“We need help out hear!’ Came a shout from outside the medical center.
Voracity stood in stillness, and processed the sudden tide of emotion, and activity. Then it began, “To the staff, most of what you need should be laid out already. I need those of you who are able, to start treatment of hibernation sickness. Those of you who need a kick, the steroids are over there. Help each other. We need the medical team up and functional.”
I need you,” this was said while pointed at the male nurse, “to fix your head and then do an inventory, and start organizing the equipment. We should be prepared for hibernation sickness, and physical injury including possible trauma.”
To the nurse hauling the body of a barely conscious crewman, “Place the patient on a bed, and start making more space. Help organize the incoming patients by condition.”
“The rest of you should know your roles. We have a lot to do, and little time to prepare. Help each other. Stay organized. Stay Focused.”
The beings around Voracity simply stared, most with odd looks of surprise and others with fear. Voracity had forgotten the way that other beings tended to respond to telepathic communications for the first time. The Queen had a hard time understanding the emotions of other life forms sometimes. Other creatures had such difficulty accepting to their reality sometimes. It was inefficient.
“You’re focusing on the wrong things. You all have a job to do so do it. You will have to get use to my many… differences later. Right now we don’t have time for introductions and pleasantries. We need to do the job.”
Voracity tried to modulate its communication to be as unabrasive and hopefully pleasant. It was important for these others to feel comfortable, and not as though they were being scolded. Something must have worked as the nursing staff began to galvanize and do the tasks they had been assigned. Voracity settled into its role, and began to treat the sick, and injured.
As crew, and medical personnel filled the center Voracity conducted the activity as best it could. The queen settled into its role, and began to treat the sick, and injured.
Many of the beings present kept themselves at arms length, or avoided the strange doctor in its outlandish suit, but Voracity thought little of it. The Matriarch was used to the ostracism. It came with being different. What was important was that things were starting to happen.
Soon sick, and injured crew would be filing in. Voracity knew what it had to do, and it was prepared to do it. So the Matriarch set about preparing the medical center for what was coming. It laid out tools, and medicines. It prepared a mental list of orders, and tasks for the nurses, and other doctors that would be checking in.
It mentally prepared itself for the coming chaos. Voracity didn’t like surprises, and was never comfortable without a plan. This was an especially important period for Voracity. Knowing its body was not whole, and its mental capacities diminished, this would be a good test.
Supplies seemed to be good order, and the equipment seemed to be present for getting an ailing crew up and running efficiently. Every so often an idea would inch forward in its consciousness on some way to repurose the ‘spa’ taking up so much useful space.
The more Voracity thought on it, the more the wrongness of those things whirled through its mind. Voracity never got the time to really delve into this however, as the first of the nurses and crew began to file in.
“Oh doctor, thank goodness you’re already here.” said one of the female bipeds as it hurried through the doors with a groaning male biped in tow. “There are so many sick. We aren’t ready for this.”
“What’s with the spa, and the decorations?” Asked another of the nurses as he stumbled in holding his hand to the side of his head.
“We need help out hear!’ Came a shout from outside the medical center.
Voracity stood in stillness, and processed the sudden tide of emotion, and activity. Then it began, “To the staff, most of what you need should be laid out already. I need those of you who are able, to start treatment of hibernation sickness. Those of you who need a kick, the steroids are over there. Help each other. We need the medical team up and functional.”
I need you,” this was said while pointed at the male nurse, “to fix your head and then do an inventory, and start organizing the equipment. We should be prepared for hibernation sickness, and physical injury including possible trauma.”
To the nurse hauling the body of a barely conscious crewman, “Place the patient on a bed, and start making more space. Help organize the incoming patients by condition.”
“The rest of you should know your roles. We have a lot to do, and little time to prepare. Help each other. Stay organized. Stay Focused.”
The beings around Voracity simply stared, most with odd looks of surprise and others with fear. Voracity had forgotten the way that other beings tended to respond to telepathic communications for the first time. The Queen had a hard time understanding the emotions of other life forms sometimes. Other creatures had such difficulty accepting to their reality sometimes. It was inefficient.
“You’re focusing on the wrong things. You all have a job to do so do it. You will have to get use to my many… differences later. Right now we don’t have time for introductions and pleasantries. We need to do the job.”
Voracity tried to modulate its communication to be as unabrasive and hopefully pleasant. It was important for these others to feel comfortable, and not as though they were being scolded. Something must have worked as the nursing staff began to galvanize and do the tasks they had been assigned. Voracity settled into its role, and began to treat the sick, and injured.
As crew, and medical personnel filled the center Voracity conducted the activity as best it could. The queen settled into its role, and began to treat the sick, and injured.
Many of the beings present kept themselves at arms length, or avoided the strange doctor in its outlandish suit, but Voracity thought little of it. The Matriarch was used to the ostracism. It came with being different. What was important was that things were starting to happen.
All things in moderation...Except syrup.
<a href="http://www.wizards.com/magic/playmagic/ ... areyou.asp" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.wizards.com/magic/images/wha ... isblue.jpg" border="0">
<b>Take the Magic: The Gathering 'What Color Are You?' Quiz.</b></a>
<a href="http://www.wizards.com/magic/playmagic/ ... areyou.asp" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.wizards.com/magic/images/wha ... isblue.jpg" border="0">
<b>Take the Magic: The Gathering 'What Color Are You?' Quiz.</b></a>
Hundreds of terabytes of tactical and historical data began flashing through Cha'llx's mind as the cryopod ran through the status update. He registered a dull pain as his body was quickly thawed. Cha, the situation is less than favorable. I have connected you to the personnel under your command. All memories of similar scenarios have been uploaded to active memory. All relic diagnostics have been run you are good to go and online. An overlay of the blueprint of the ship has been placed over field of vision. Your Bio-Organic Defense Symbiont is in the cryopod immediately to your left. .
In a flash he was updated on as much of the situation as they had available. As he sprang into motion leaping from the cryopod, his voice came through the comms of all security personnel. "This is Security Chief Cha'llx, the first priority is the command center. Security officers 1112, 1245, 1567, and 1789 meet me on the bridge to assess and neutralize the threat. All other officers assess, neutralize, and apprehend all escaped inmates. Cha'llx out." By the time his orders had been given he had begun calling his BODS to himself and merging. Once he had quickly acquired his equipment he began climbing the wall up to the ceiling, and running at a sprint across the ceiling toward the bridge allowing him to travel unimpeded over the throngs of people trying to board. As he sprinted his BODS, sensing danger, released Cha'llx's energy glaive into his upper right hand, covered Cha'llx's head and grew sharp and smooth spikes.
In a flash he was updated on as much of the situation as they had available. As he sprang into motion leaping from the cryopod, his voice came through the comms of all security personnel. "This is Security Chief Cha'llx, the first priority is the command center. Security officers 1112, 1245, 1567, and 1789 meet me on the bridge to assess and neutralize the threat. All other officers assess, neutralize, and apprehend all escaped inmates. Cha'llx out." By the time his orders had been given he had begun calling his BODS to himself and merging. Once he had quickly acquired his equipment he began climbing the wall up to the ceiling, and running at a sprint across the ceiling toward the bridge allowing him to travel unimpeded over the throngs of people trying to board. As he sprinted his BODS, sensing danger, released Cha'llx's energy glaive into his upper right hand, covered Cha'llx's head and grew sharp and smooth spikes.
The crew and civilians finished filing out of the cryobay through the gantries into the Endeavor as the final two minute countdown began. The engineering crew had determined that they did not have time to stop both the separation and the self destruct sequence of the superwarp stage, and so they had done neither, at the behest of their mid rank chiefs. The gantry locks sealed just before the walkways themselves began to collapse, moments before the stage pushed itself away from the ship entirely. A quick scan revealed no life forms still aboard the stage. A few deep breaths later, the crew were aboard their ship, illuminated only by emergency lighting, with all systems beginning to fail, gazing at the distant white dot that was the entire universe, and a sense of isolation and desperation clawed at the periphery of sensation. But that could be handled later. The crew and civilians distributed themselves into the ship, or started to, while security and military personnel directed them into their respective areas. Somewhere in the massive, massive ship, an unknown number of inmates guilty of unknown crimes were in unknown portions of the ship, doing unknown things.
*****
Jezial found her bearings wandering in impossible patterns. The distant pull of the universe was a gentle reminder of what was lost, while there was a great deal of pull here that defied understanding. As she moved in the superwarp stage, Jezial could feel the pull of clouds of impossible debris swirling around the ship, enormous clouds, matter and antimatter stabilized in strange geometries, rejected by the universe and spat out into the darkness to flit around. Debris left over from wars eons past whose gravity or anti-gravity charge had forced it away from those peripheral galaxies, forcing it into outer darkness with the rest of the trash. Debris was perhaps the wrong term for some of what was out there, swirling and swirling, great clouds of dark nebulae marked the gravestones of the worlds victimized by Hyperspace weapons unseen for a billion years, now reduced to just pieces of matter barely in existence, flashing in and out of being and subject to sub-quantum instability. Jezial felt her stomach flip a few extra times, and watched bemusedly as the remnants of her last meal freed themselves from the confines of her body. Panic. Fear. Isolation. Jezial wandered onto the ship aware that the graveyard of the universe was where it drifted.
But someone was there. Something. As Jezial boarded the ship, a presence, an anchor, a shoreline, a beacon, a single star, caught her mind's attention. A mind as vast as a sun, resting somewhere on board. A mind familiar from her distant spirit past. Jezial recognized and felt recognized by this being, but her physical corpus and the mind that resided in it was not the one that had first encountered it. Bracing herself from the impact of this mind, this presence, Jezial oriented it to the cargo bay. The Cargo bay was "up" for her now, the day and night were governed from the cargo bay. The sun was in the cargo bay, and from there, it rose and set.
*****
"Gosh captain Stirling, but wouldn't you know it, this just so happens to be the museum and tourism replica vessel! How about that! And I'm also just super excited to be able to inform you that the central computer core, Sign, has not yet been installed. How exciting! And by golly captain, the prisoners weren't supposed to be let out at all. One of them seems to have ripped the bars off of his cell, and wouldn't you know, he went and freed the other prisoners as well. Bonus information: The bars on the brig cells are so super duper strong, they can withstand several direct blasts from a violet beam. Wow!"
The inane computer rattled off it's meandering report as the captain led the detachment of security personnel, and the ensign, to the bridge. Their path led them past a number of beverage fountains, popcorn machines, and statues of various ambassadors in heroic poses.
Part way to the bridge, Stirling's communicator switch clicked back on.
"Top, this is Keen. I've got the Grimlackian engineers working on the hull breaches, and I'm heading up a fire crew. I think we can contain the fire to the decks it is on by overriding...by science-ing something. What?!? Ok, the source of the fire seems to be bad wiring in a...science thing. I'm gonna go put out the fire."
The sounds of yelling in several languages punctuated Keen's disjointed message. Stirling and Exemplar picked up a run as they passed the forward deck gift shop, and caught sight of some marines running to join the crew staging by the bridge.
The marines had stacked up through the halls at the bridge. Those in rear were donning armor jackets and helmets, and were passing batons forward. They appeared to have no other armor.
"CO coming through! Make way!"
Several of the underwear clad marines gave Exemplar second, and third looks, but said nothing, merely a nod, a salute, and a 'sir'. The hall led to a right turn, beyond which the bridge awaited. Blast marks scarred the walls at the turn, and a makeshift barricade had been pulled apart. Two marines lay in view of the bridge, unconscious but breathing. The marines passed exemplar and the captain forward to Major Lavay [Appearance 4, Mega-appearance 1], who was staged just before the turn into the bridge. As the captain and his ensign arrived at her position, she turned and gave a sly smile, fangs showing, eyes glowing red.
"You ever have that dream where you show up to work in your underwear?"
*******
The medical staff filed in dutifully, taken aback slightly by the doctor's encounter suit and curt demeanor. Ursula was in charge of the nursing staff, and it seemed the ancillary staff as well. The sick and injured began filing in not a moment after Voracity had said that they might. Hibernation sickness took a heavy toll on everyone, some species fared worse than others. It would take a powerful medical mind to come to grips with the incredible variety of species even now already aboard the sick bay. Tellurians, Vegans, Grimlackians, Gogans, Xickl85ians, the universe, sick, frostbitten, trampled, shoved, kicked, and nauseous was filing into the medical bay.
"Doctor! This one seems to be going critical!"
Nurse Voyin was helping a humanoid onto a level 1 crash table. It was convulsing, foaming at the mouth, and bright green ooze pulsed out of a rip-like hole in it's abdomen, which also soaked into it's cryo-wear. Only a powerful medical mind, an expert in anatomy and species, a being perfect in it's methods, rigorous in training, and evolutionarily superior could possibly hope to save this being's life.
And that was why Voracity was there.
*******
Wearing nothing but his Skivvies and armed with nothing but his wits, Challx was at first startled and alarmed to find his BODS absent from the cryopod next to him, but instead a human woman who chose to enter cryostasis with earrings and a necklace on.
"Be a dear, and find me a cocktail would you?"
Challx had no time for such insanity, that was the problem of another caste...apparently the waiter caste. Moments after his orders went out, he was hurtling along the ceiling through the gantries, bypassing the press of the crowds. His cyber-relics were capable of handling the bombardment his communicator switch was about to receive, and a good thing too, as without them, he just might have been overwhelmed.
"Chief, good to hear from you. This is Lieutenant Jorbal, I'm escorting the captain to the bridge with a few others."
"Top, we've got a situation in the deck 56 airlock, Colonel Adar is in there with a bunch of his marines -no vacsuits - and all we can get out of them is yelling."
"Sir, we have encountered a group of unknowns with rainbow beams in main engineering, they fired some red shots at us, stunned down one of our guys, but didn't pursue."
"Chief, we've got a group of unknown hostiles that appear to have secured the Transmat suites. They may also have our weapons, we found an empty arms locker. They fired primary beams as warning shots over our heads, we didn't need a second volley to back off."
"Hey Boss, I'ma not doin so hot. Red beams everywhere. Forward weapons bay. Zzzzzz."
"Chief Chall'x, this is Lieutenant Commander Faarhi Bri. Would you kindly get yourself down to the main hangar bay, clear these shit-heads out of my way, so that we can secure arms and prep the ships for launch? There is enough firepower in those gunships to rip this vessel apart, and I'm staring at a dozen men...not my men...no way, guarding the bay and keeping us out. Some of them are prepping a gunship. Fix this. Now."
**********
Amid the carnage on all decks, panic, yelling, action, the PA system keyed on, and silence broke out.
"Good morning Captain Stirling. Welcome to my ship. We have secured our vessel, and you will very kindly join me on the bridge, to negotiate the terms of your capitulation. As for the rest of you, you work for me now. Do as my men say, or you will suffer consequences. I am in control of this situation."
The voice was calm, mechanically baffled or something, there was a staticky quality to it. Malice and sophistication, cunning, confidence, these things dripped from his voice.
Exemplar, following her captain through myriad decks and past bizarre structures, even past the Keen-Dolls in the gift shop, caught her breath in her teeth at the sound of his voice. There was something familiar about it, a voice she knew. Not from the modern day, but from old newscasts and film reels of days long ago, the days of Aternan infighting. Days she couldn't have been in, but had seen repeated again and again, the days of Badger's heyday. Exemplar knew this voice at once. This was one of her people. This was one of her only people that went bad. This was Jaxon Mars.
*****
Jezial found her bearings wandering in impossible patterns. The distant pull of the universe was a gentle reminder of what was lost, while there was a great deal of pull here that defied understanding. As she moved in the superwarp stage, Jezial could feel the pull of clouds of impossible debris swirling around the ship, enormous clouds, matter and antimatter stabilized in strange geometries, rejected by the universe and spat out into the darkness to flit around. Debris left over from wars eons past whose gravity or anti-gravity charge had forced it away from those peripheral galaxies, forcing it into outer darkness with the rest of the trash. Debris was perhaps the wrong term for some of what was out there, swirling and swirling, great clouds of dark nebulae marked the gravestones of the worlds victimized by Hyperspace weapons unseen for a billion years, now reduced to just pieces of matter barely in existence, flashing in and out of being and subject to sub-quantum instability. Jezial felt her stomach flip a few extra times, and watched bemusedly as the remnants of her last meal freed themselves from the confines of her body. Panic. Fear. Isolation. Jezial wandered onto the ship aware that the graveyard of the universe was where it drifted.
But someone was there. Something. As Jezial boarded the ship, a presence, an anchor, a shoreline, a beacon, a single star, caught her mind's attention. A mind as vast as a sun, resting somewhere on board. A mind familiar from her distant spirit past. Jezial recognized and felt recognized by this being, but her physical corpus and the mind that resided in it was not the one that had first encountered it. Bracing herself from the impact of this mind, this presence, Jezial oriented it to the cargo bay. The Cargo bay was "up" for her now, the day and night were governed from the cargo bay. The sun was in the cargo bay, and from there, it rose and set.
*****
"Gosh captain Stirling, but wouldn't you know it, this just so happens to be the museum and tourism replica vessel! How about that! And I'm also just super excited to be able to inform you that the central computer core, Sign, has not yet been installed. How exciting! And by golly captain, the prisoners weren't supposed to be let out at all. One of them seems to have ripped the bars off of his cell, and wouldn't you know, he went and freed the other prisoners as well. Bonus information: The bars on the brig cells are so super duper strong, they can withstand several direct blasts from a violet beam. Wow!"
The inane computer rattled off it's meandering report as the captain led the detachment of security personnel, and the ensign, to the bridge. Their path led them past a number of beverage fountains, popcorn machines, and statues of various ambassadors in heroic poses.
Part way to the bridge, Stirling's communicator switch clicked back on.
"Top, this is Keen. I've got the Grimlackian engineers working on the hull breaches, and I'm heading up a fire crew. I think we can contain the fire to the decks it is on by overriding...by science-ing something. What?!? Ok, the source of the fire seems to be bad wiring in a...science thing. I'm gonna go put out the fire."
The sounds of yelling in several languages punctuated Keen's disjointed message. Stirling and Exemplar picked up a run as they passed the forward deck gift shop, and caught sight of some marines running to join the crew staging by the bridge.
The marines had stacked up through the halls at the bridge. Those in rear were donning armor jackets and helmets, and were passing batons forward. They appeared to have no other armor.
"CO coming through! Make way!"
Several of the underwear clad marines gave Exemplar second, and third looks, but said nothing, merely a nod, a salute, and a 'sir'. The hall led to a right turn, beyond which the bridge awaited. Blast marks scarred the walls at the turn, and a makeshift barricade had been pulled apart. Two marines lay in view of the bridge, unconscious but breathing. The marines passed exemplar and the captain forward to Major Lavay [Appearance 4, Mega-appearance 1], who was staged just before the turn into the bridge. As the captain and his ensign arrived at her position, she turned and gave a sly smile, fangs showing, eyes glowing red.
"You ever have that dream where you show up to work in your underwear?"
*******
The medical staff filed in dutifully, taken aback slightly by the doctor's encounter suit and curt demeanor. Ursula was in charge of the nursing staff, and it seemed the ancillary staff as well. The sick and injured began filing in not a moment after Voracity had said that they might. Hibernation sickness took a heavy toll on everyone, some species fared worse than others. It would take a powerful medical mind to come to grips with the incredible variety of species even now already aboard the sick bay. Tellurians, Vegans, Grimlackians, Gogans, Xickl85ians, the universe, sick, frostbitten, trampled, shoved, kicked, and nauseous was filing into the medical bay.
"Doctor! This one seems to be going critical!"
Nurse Voyin was helping a humanoid onto a level 1 crash table. It was convulsing, foaming at the mouth, and bright green ooze pulsed out of a rip-like hole in it's abdomen, which also soaked into it's cryo-wear. Only a powerful medical mind, an expert in anatomy and species, a being perfect in it's methods, rigorous in training, and evolutionarily superior could possibly hope to save this being's life.
And that was why Voracity was there.
*******
Wearing nothing but his Skivvies and armed with nothing but his wits, Challx was at first startled and alarmed to find his BODS absent from the cryopod next to him, but instead a human woman who chose to enter cryostasis with earrings and a necklace on.
"Be a dear, and find me a cocktail would you?"
Challx had no time for such insanity, that was the problem of another caste...apparently the waiter caste. Moments after his orders went out, he was hurtling along the ceiling through the gantries, bypassing the press of the crowds. His cyber-relics were capable of handling the bombardment his communicator switch was about to receive, and a good thing too, as without them, he just might have been overwhelmed.
"Chief, good to hear from you. This is Lieutenant Jorbal, I'm escorting the captain to the bridge with a few others."
"Top, we've got a situation in the deck 56 airlock, Colonel Adar is in there with a bunch of his marines -no vacsuits - and all we can get out of them is yelling."
"Sir, we have encountered a group of unknowns with rainbow beams in main engineering, they fired some red shots at us, stunned down one of our guys, but didn't pursue."
"Chief, we've got a group of unknown hostiles that appear to have secured the Transmat suites. They may also have our weapons, we found an empty arms locker. They fired primary beams as warning shots over our heads, we didn't need a second volley to back off."
"Hey Boss, I'ma not doin so hot. Red beams everywhere. Forward weapons bay. Zzzzzz."
"Chief Chall'x, this is Lieutenant Commander Faarhi Bri. Would you kindly get yourself down to the main hangar bay, clear these shit-heads out of my way, so that we can secure arms and prep the ships for launch? There is enough firepower in those gunships to rip this vessel apart, and I'm staring at a dozen men...not my men...no way, guarding the bay and keeping us out. Some of them are prepping a gunship. Fix this. Now."
**********
Amid the carnage on all decks, panic, yelling, action, the PA system keyed on, and silence broke out.
"Good morning Captain Stirling. Welcome to my ship. We have secured our vessel, and you will very kindly join me on the bridge, to negotiate the terms of your capitulation. As for the rest of you, you work for me now. Do as my men say, or you will suffer consequences. I am in control of this situation."
The voice was calm, mechanically baffled or something, there was a staticky quality to it. Malice and sophistication, cunning, confidence, these things dripped from his voice.
Exemplar, following her captain through myriad decks and past bizarre structures, even past the Keen-Dolls in the gift shop, caught her breath in her teeth at the sound of his voice. There was something familiar about it, a voice she knew. Not from the modern day, but from old newscasts and film reels of days long ago, the days of Aternan infighting. Days she couldn't have been in, but had seen repeated again and again, the days of Badger's heyday. Exemplar knew this voice at once. This was one of her people. This was one of her only people that went bad. This was Jaxon Mars.
At the sound of the menacing yet familiar voice, Exemplar's eyes widened and she stopped her mad dash to the bridge. She grabbed the captain's arm before he could continue forward, her grip gentle but inescapable.
"Wait! I know that voice sir, that's Jax, Jaxon Mars. I don't know how he got here, but he's incredibly dangerous. He's one of my people's criminals, from before Aterna was united. He should be in a supermax facility somewhere, so if he's here that means something's gone really wrong."
Her voice lowered as she leaned in close, probably closer than was technically appropriate for a junior officer, especially a nearly naked junior officer. She spoke quietly but urgently "And sir, he isn't going down without a fight. He wasn't a challenge for my trainer back home, but that was centuries ago, and I'm not as good. No one on this ship is. Even if you took him down, there's a real chance he'd take the ship with him."
Exemplar continued in a rush of whispered words. "I'm not sure you believe me, but if you want us all to survive, you have to trust me. Only fast, overwhelming force will take him down. That or a tailor made virus, but we don't have the time or the facilities for that right now. And with the damage a fight could cause, you may want to use that diplomacy you're famous for and make some sort of deal. The records say he was generally willing to stick to a deal once he made one, even if he was a monster otherwise."
"Wait! I know that voice sir, that's Jax, Jaxon Mars. I don't know how he got here, but he's incredibly dangerous. He's one of my people's criminals, from before Aterna was united. He should be in a supermax facility somewhere, so if he's here that means something's gone really wrong."
Her voice lowered as she leaned in close, probably closer than was technically appropriate for a junior officer, especially a nearly naked junior officer. She spoke quietly but urgently "And sir, he isn't going down without a fight. He wasn't a challenge for my trainer back home, but that was centuries ago, and I'm not as good. No one on this ship is. Even if you took him down, there's a real chance he'd take the ship with him."
Exemplar continued in a rush of whispered words. "I'm not sure you believe me, but if you want us all to survive, you have to trust me. Only fast, overwhelming force will take him down. That or a tailor made virus, but we don't have the time or the facilities for that right now. And with the damage a fight could cause, you may want to use that diplomacy you're famous for and make some sort of deal. The records say he was generally willing to stick to a deal once he made one, even if he was a monster otherwise."
Threading the Gerbil since 1982
-
Liquidprism
- Lost Soul
- Posts: 1509
- Joined: Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:40 pm
- Location: Behind You...
The chaos hit the young Queen like a tide. Its barely focused mind was still trying to run damage control on its body, run the necessary control components for it’s host, and process all the stimulation coming from the environment. Voracity put priority on sound.
The noise was nearly material. Every mind a new source of confusion, pain, or other feeling that only added to the din for the telepathic doctor. It was with a jerk, and a shutter that the Queen was able to make its way to the being on the crash table. The sound of the nurse’s voice guiding the Matrairch’s attention, cutting through the mass.
Not able to tell if its natural abilities were going to be useful as of yet, Voracity made the only decision it could. It would have to do this job as a doctor, and not a Matriarch Queen. It accessed the skills and muscle memory from medical school, and went into the controlled focus of its rout training.
Voracity gave orders with no pretense of bedside matter, as it had never understood such. It called for the bioscanner to see what was causing the beings condition. It called for the counter agents, and tools to stop the seizures, and flow of vital fluids. It waited for the scanner's analysis with the patience that can only come from cold detachment. This made Voracity efficient. It also showed a complete lack of empathy for those that cared to watch.
As each new diagnostic was discovered, Voracity worked to correct the imbalance, damage, or mistake. If any of the staff were put off by its manner, or appearance they quickly realized that here was a doctor of the highest caliber, and a being to be respected if only for its demonstration of skill.
The nurse, Voyin, played her part well, and was able to both assist Voracity, while at the same time play psychological damage control for its presence and demeanor. Soon the staff had fallen into routine, and the clinic was up and running as effectively as one could hope it to run under the circumstances. At least the medical facilities had been operational, and stocked.
Voracity was forced to start parsing out its time between the incoming critical cases. There were more than should have been. If the Matriarch had been graced with actual feelings on the matter it might have felt angry at the incompetent way this crew had been frozen, and set off. While it did not in fact have such feelings, it objectively realized that this current chaos was indicative of a possibly larger problem, which would continue to haunt the mission.
Triage was the other, more grisly portion, of the role that came to the Chief Medical Officer. Yet once again Voracity was ideally suited for this task. It could objectively analyze each case before it, and make a decision as to what should be done. Some of the staff and patients were openly appalled by the way these decisions were so quickly, and ruthlessly doled out. Others were appalled in a more subdued fashion but appalled just the same. The staff however did as they were instructed. It was part of the job after all.
This went on for what seemed like forever, a mob of patients from to many species to effectively count. Voracity did what it could, but its own deterioration was beginning to take its toll. The Queen began to have trouble controlling the host form, and maintaining its sense of spatial awareness. It was experiencing a sensation not unlike pain, and that sensation was making it increasingly difficult to concentrate.
The noise was nearly material. Every mind a new source of confusion, pain, or other feeling that only added to the din for the telepathic doctor. It was with a jerk, and a shutter that the Queen was able to make its way to the being on the crash table. The sound of the nurse’s voice guiding the Matrairch’s attention, cutting through the mass.
Not able to tell if its natural abilities were going to be useful as of yet, Voracity made the only decision it could. It would have to do this job as a doctor, and not a Matriarch Queen. It accessed the skills and muscle memory from medical school, and went into the controlled focus of its rout training.
Voracity gave orders with no pretense of bedside matter, as it had never understood such. It called for the bioscanner to see what was causing the beings condition. It called for the counter agents, and tools to stop the seizures, and flow of vital fluids. It waited for the scanner's analysis with the patience that can only come from cold detachment. This made Voracity efficient. It also showed a complete lack of empathy for those that cared to watch.
As each new diagnostic was discovered, Voracity worked to correct the imbalance, damage, or mistake. If any of the staff were put off by its manner, or appearance they quickly realized that here was a doctor of the highest caliber, and a being to be respected if only for its demonstration of skill.
The nurse, Voyin, played her part well, and was able to both assist Voracity, while at the same time play psychological damage control for its presence and demeanor. Soon the staff had fallen into routine, and the clinic was up and running as effectively as one could hope it to run under the circumstances. At least the medical facilities had been operational, and stocked.
Voracity was forced to start parsing out its time between the incoming critical cases. There were more than should have been. If the Matriarch had been graced with actual feelings on the matter it might have felt angry at the incompetent way this crew had been frozen, and set off. While it did not in fact have such feelings, it objectively realized that this current chaos was indicative of a possibly larger problem, which would continue to haunt the mission.
Triage was the other, more grisly portion, of the role that came to the Chief Medical Officer. Yet once again Voracity was ideally suited for this task. It could objectively analyze each case before it, and make a decision as to what should be done. Some of the staff and patients were openly appalled by the way these decisions were so quickly, and ruthlessly doled out. Others were appalled in a more subdued fashion but appalled just the same. The staff however did as they were instructed. It was part of the job after all.
This went on for what seemed like forever, a mob of patients from to many species to effectively count. Voracity did what it could, but its own deterioration was beginning to take its toll. The Queen began to have trouble controlling the host form, and maintaining its sense of spatial awareness. It was experiencing a sensation not unlike pain, and that sensation was making it increasingly difficult to concentrate.
All things in moderation...Except syrup.
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"Make way for casualties! I've got the first officer! Make way for the XO!"
A grimlackian engineer who smelled of burnt metal and plastics was dragging a severely burned individual into the med bay. Nurse Voyin leapt to assist and got the human male into a wheelchair to be triaged, and gave the engineer a dismissive nod. The lizard man darted out of the sick bay, ostensibly to return to his work extinguishing a fire. A group of security personnel would arrive momentarily later, bringing more casualties from the fire.
Ursula Voyin wheeled the new patient over to where Voracity was triaging.
"Terran Male, 26, with severe 3rd degree burns to the face, neck, chest, and upper extremities. John Keen, CMDR, First Officer of the Endeavor. What's your triage, doctor?"
Voyin braced herself. While for the terrans, 3rd degree burns were serious, they weren't as life threatening as some of the wounds that other critical patients were actively bleeding out from. She also knew that the skin regenerators that would work on humans and their ilk were already running low, and would have to be applied quickly in order to work. She watched the inscrutable face of the doctor's encounter suit as though it would betray emotion, concern, anything. No amount of aromatherapy could cure what ailed Voracity, but dammit, she would try.
A grimlackian engineer who smelled of burnt metal and plastics was dragging a severely burned individual into the med bay. Nurse Voyin leapt to assist and got the human male into a wheelchair to be triaged, and gave the engineer a dismissive nod. The lizard man darted out of the sick bay, ostensibly to return to his work extinguishing a fire. A group of security personnel would arrive momentarily later, bringing more casualties from the fire.
Ursula Voyin wheeled the new patient over to where Voracity was triaging.
"Terran Male, 26, with severe 3rd degree burns to the face, neck, chest, and upper extremities. John Keen, CMDR, First Officer of the Endeavor. What's your triage, doctor?"
Voyin braced herself. While for the terrans, 3rd degree burns were serious, they weren't as life threatening as some of the wounds that other critical patients were actively bleeding out from. She also knew that the skin regenerators that would work on humans and their ilk were already running low, and would have to be applied quickly in order to work. She watched the inscrutable face of the doctor's encounter suit as though it would betray emotion, concern, anything. No amount of aromatherapy could cure what ailed Voracity, but dammit, she would try.
-
Liquidprism
- Lost Soul
- Posts: 1509
- Joined: Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:40 pm
- Location: Behind You...
Chief Medical Officer Voracity took in the newest arrival. Even without telepathy the alien Queen knew this nurse, Voyin, seemed to be looking for something more than just triage for the patient. Why she was scrutinizing Voracity was a question that would have to wait. There were things to do, and no time to idol over curiosities.
Voracity pushed aside the terrible sensations from its own body once again to focus on the task at hand. It had become harder to move about, and stay oriented when in motion. Its reflexes, and motor skills also continued to operate below peek efficiency. The Matriarch was relying more and more on the medical staff to do the bulk of the work, only stepping in when absolutely necessary. The Queen could still give diagnosis just fine, but the physicality of the job was definitely taking a toll. It needed time to regenerate, but it seemed like that too would have to wait.
The decision as to what to do with this new human was quick. Voracity considered all the factors involved, and made the most objective assessment it could. Were its body fully functioning it knew exactly what it would do, but for now its ‘special’ talents were simply not an option. Voracity would have placed the subject down on the priority list. Its wounds were potentially survivable without immediate attention. However, burns could have lasting complications the longer they went untreated. The other factor was that this particular human was a member of the command staff, and a high ranking one at that. Thus, it would be bad for moral, amongst other potential consequences if the subject were to die. The decision was to get the patient treated quickly for the burns.
The order was short, and succinct, “Nurse, this patient has priority. Set him up to be treated immediately. This is the ship’s first officer, it would be bad for moral should he not survive. Once he is stabilized we can treat to prevent infections. We will worry about cosmetic issues later.”
With that Voracity moved to the next patient, and the next, and the next. Making determinations, and helping when needed. All the while doing its best to fight through its own injuries.
Voracity pushed aside the terrible sensations from its own body once again to focus on the task at hand. It had become harder to move about, and stay oriented when in motion. Its reflexes, and motor skills also continued to operate below peek efficiency. The Matriarch was relying more and more on the medical staff to do the bulk of the work, only stepping in when absolutely necessary. The Queen could still give diagnosis just fine, but the physicality of the job was definitely taking a toll. It needed time to regenerate, but it seemed like that too would have to wait.
The decision as to what to do with this new human was quick. Voracity considered all the factors involved, and made the most objective assessment it could. Were its body fully functioning it knew exactly what it would do, but for now its ‘special’ talents were simply not an option. Voracity would have placed the subject down on the priority list. Its wounds were potentially survivable without immediate attention. However, burns could have lasting complications the longer they went untreated. The other factor was that this particular human was a member of the command staff, and a high ranking one at that. Thus, it would be bad for moral, amongst other potential consequences if the subject were to die. The decision was to get the patient treated quickly for the burns.
The order was short, and succinct, “Nurse, this patient has priority. Set him up to be treated immediately. This is the ship’s first officer, it would be bad for moral should he not survive. Once he is stabilized we can treat to prevent infections. We will worry about cosmetic issues later.”
With that Voracity moved to the next patient, and the next, and the next. Making determinations, and helping when needed. All the while doing its best to fight through its own injuries.
All things in moderation...Except syrup.
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