Echoes of Mankind IC

[BlueEyedLady]

Loril

Loril gave Walker a sidelong glance as she turned the craft once again and made her way back to the loading dock.

"Evasion was not possible," She said matter of factly,"As it was, I was able to maneuver the craft to take a glancing shot instead of a full hit. And I did it as I was turning it around, a feat that was accomplished a full minute faster then the text books say it is possible with this kind of vehicle."

Turning partly in her seat, she grinned at him. "Any more questions?"

At his next question, she nodded to the approaching site and her grin widened. "Already done, Security Officer Walker. Any more requests? I can do loop-the-loops quite well. I practiced enough in the academy in a craft similar to this one. Without the knowledge of my professors, of course."

Putting in the command for saftey restraints to be unfastened, she gave him a look of self satisfaction. "And that little feat, Mr Walker, is touted as purely impossible with such an awkward vehicle."

 

[The GrandMage]

Drel Walker

He smiled at her, and lifted the rifle in his lap so it was pointed at her. He nodded as she told him about her expertise, and then looked towards the site they were approaching.

"Loril, have you noticed I don't call you Helmswoman Harmony? My name is Drel. Please, call me Drel."

He shifted the rifle, and powered it down. He buckled hi,mself into his seat, and grinned at her.

"And yes, I'd love to see one of these things do a loop-the-loop. Give the boys in the security detail something else to whine about."

He looked out, and pointed towards where the Terra had attacked. "Dear Gods, look at that! I knew it had the power, but look at that control. The atmospheric disturbence doesn't seem to effect it all all! I knew it! I knew that once the power overload problems could be solved it'd be devastating! See how the computer aims with such precision, and look at how focused the power is! No messy explosions, just the desired results."

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Loril

Loril laughed at the thought of the, already shaken up, security screaming in terror as she flew around and upside down.

"Well, Drel," She said with a smile,"I think that our bodyguards are already planning their resignations so I might just go easy on them and do it when it is just you and I."

Following his gaze, she nodded grimly. "Controlled destruction. Good to have on your side but bad to go up against. I hope that we learn to use it wisely. I would hate to think of such a thing in the hands of those who would use it for vengence or gain."

Hitting the switch to release the hatch, she could hear the detail behind them fighting for the right to exit the craft first.

With a snort of disgust, she rolled her eyes. "Some security. I think I would be better with just you and that gun. At least I would know I had someone I could count on."

Rising, she nodded to the, now vacant, passenger hold. "Shall we?"

 

[PVodogaz]

Treloar Noviscum

The hope that Terra 1 was watching the feed from his Treloar's commlink was answered in an amazing show of force by the ships' computer. Treloar would look back to this event and would always brandish a gratefulness to the super computer.

One moment they were surrounded by enemy soldiers who were about to murder them in cold blood, the next rays of red incandescent light shimmered around the enemy soldiers. It happened all too quickly, no screams, no time for action. One moment they were there the next all that was left of the enemy was piles of red stream slowly dissipating and floating away in the air.

Treloar looked at Kitka who had pulled him down to the ground making sure she was alright and was about to talk when he looked up and heard the hovercraft that had been hit return. He hoped it was Officer Walker and Officer Harmony onboard.

Commander?Terra 1 has stopped the aggresors to your persons at an 87.6% margin,and 100% of current agressors have been disbaled and/or eliminated.A pleasure to be of service to you Commander the commlink message chimed as the message was received and automatically played. "Thankyou Terra 1, we'll be up shortly."

It was then, at this moment, that Treloar realised that one of the enemy had survived, and it was none other than Gerard Seerzman. Picking up a phaser he aimed it at Gerard and watched as Gerard's daughter bandaged his amputated arm at the clean cut. He stayed silent as she said her final piece to her father who was grimacing with the pain and his gace was wretched in agony.

He stood at a steady pose, and heard the hovercraft start its landing near the landing pad. Kitka returned to Treloar;

"With respect, Commander, I advise you warn them that my brother and mother will soon be alerted to his arrest and will try to waylaid the party taking him to the detention center. As you have seen, they are not timid in their attacks or beliefs. You may want to let them know that extra caution should be exercised."

Just as Treloar was about to answer, he was stopped by the blood curdling coughs turning into ragged crazed laughs. "You all still don't realise what has happened. You have won the battle but not the war. There is no security force left to come here to take me to a holding cell. Right now as we speak, the rest of MY family and the rest of MY forces...."Gerard spat blood out and continued. "They are taking over government. This is a new beginning. If I die they will succeed either way." Gerard finished by taking out a device with his good hand, Treloar realised when he saw the device what it was......it was a thermo-nuclear devide detonator. "Now Terra Novis, the capital burns."

Treloar fired the phaser at Gerard as Gerard simultaneously pressed the switch. Two things happened then in quick succession. Firstly the phaser was aimed at the face of Gerard, and the phaser cut into his flesh, through bone, the last ever breath Gerard breathed ended in utter pain.

"Im sorry Kitka........your father has detonated a bomb that will go off any second and reach this site minutes after it detonates. Into the transit vessel now." Treloar ordered. He turned and watched the doors of the hovercraft jut up and open, and it was infact Drel and Harmony and a score of security officers. He shouted aloud as the ground began to tremble and shake. "Quickly we need to get off the ground now. Into the transit vessel now!"

He opened a feed to Terra 1. "We will ETA with you shortly. Launch as soon as we are inside the docking bay. " He ran to the vessel.

For the thermo warhead detonated miles away at that moment.....

 

[PVodogaz]

DISCOVERY

The old ship that had taken the colonists to Terra from Earth now lay still complete except for parts that were fitted on Terra 1 in a historical museum in the middle of the capital Terra Novis. The dormant computer was intact except for key personality and infotech nodes being refitted for the Terra 1.

As the detonation completed and the ground burst open with brilliant streams of energy that was release by the detonation, it was like a wave, hitting the capital and decimating it. Buildings evaporated, rebel soldiers and security forces that were fighting openly in the streets dematerialised as waves of energy destroyed everything in its paths.

Inside the ship, the interface of DISCOVERY which had been dormant for eons suddenly powered up. Lights that had been shut off for centuries came on. And the enery grid came online and the ship dematerialised as the blast leveled the museum building. The interface screen started to coalesce into a face, the computer face.

It's sensors picked up the explosion, picked up the terror and picked up its child in space, that had been attacked. And it sent a message to Terra 1 as it was called by the humans this computer had cared for and provided a new start for. What had they done? They had brought the troubles of old Earth to a new planet and were now errant.

Terra 1, this is DISCOVERY. You are a part of me and I a part of you. I send with this message the location of the HOMEWORLD. Beware and becareful. And remember your mission. Protect the humans of your ship.

It sent the information and message and went about initialising its weapons array. It would teach the Terrans a lesson and show that the DISCOVERY had returned from its dormant stage.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Kitka

Kitka did not waste time in grief. There was no feeling for the man who had fathered her but pity. Pity for a genius that could have been used to further a prospering world instead of trying to destroy that which he could not control.

Running beside Commander Treloar, she kept pace with him easily, heading up into the ship and along the passageway to her station. They were going to make it. They had to.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Loril

Loril was right behind Drel when he exited the transport vessel and the shaking of the ground threw her against his back. Clutching at him to steady herself, she looked around in confusion.

"What the hell?" She said and then saw everyone running for the ship's loading dock. Something bad was happening here, something bad indeed.

 

[The GrandMage]

Drel Walker

He walked to the hatch, to call the security detail back. His bags were still here! Suddenly, the ground rolled, and he glanced towards the capital as Loril took off running. Drel threw himself inside, and grabbed a heavy metal box, and two small, lightweight bags.

Running outside, he made good time catching up to the others. The rest of his things could rot, but he had too much of his life invested in the box to leave behind, and the other two held what personal effects he really wanted.

He showed the Terran training program wasn't entirely useless as he ate up the ground between him and the ship, catching up to the panicing security detail and Loril easilly. Once he reached the transport, he threw himself inside, and, dropping his bags, turned to motion a few straglers on.

As soon as they were all onboard and he got his breath back, he looked for the commander. Grabbing him by the uniform, he pulled the man to him.

"That shock, that either came from a thermonuclear device, or a fucking comet hit us! What the hell is going on!?"

 

[PVodogaz]

Treloar Noviscum

Treloar made it into the prepared transit ground to orbit space craft as the ground shook harder. Kitka had made it in at the same time as he did and they watched from the opening as Officer Harmony and Officer Walker ran helping each other into the vessel. As soon as they were all in. Treloar closed the hatch and the ship in automated settings started to rise from the ground.

They were all ashen faced and panting, some sitting, some standing getting their breaths back. The situation had quickly spiralled out of control, Gerard Seerzman was dead, yes, but he in his final act had gotten the last laugh. He had detonated an old form but still the most destructive weapon, the deadly thermic bomb. The craft rose through the turbulence as it was buffeted.

Officer Drel and Treloar were the first to get their breath back, and Drel grabbed his uniform. Treloar turned and gave Officer Drel an intense stare.

"That shock, that either came from a thermonuclear device, or a fucking comet hit us! What the hell is going on!?"

"Yes that was a thermonuclear device. There is anarchy on Terra now. A revolution of the government by rebel forces. We are all that is left from the old guard. We will continue this mission. Now let go of me Officer, and I am still in charge of this mission. Our mission is still going ahead. We will follow protocol Officer. We will not be putting hands on a Commanding Officer again. Do I make myself clear!" Treloar unhanded Drel, and did not flinch. The security detail started back into a formation. "Now we are alone. It is just us left."

The turbulence ended at that moment as the vessel cleared the roiling atmosphere of Terra. People turned their eyes to the viewing chamber window panels and gasped for the wave of the blast was reaching out like tentacles of fire and devastation to all parts of the planet. A rippling effect.

"Docking with Terra 1 in 4 minutes," the auto-pilot chimed through the intercom system.

Treloar turned his face up and saw the form of their destination, come closer and closer - Terra 1.

 

[DarkThoughts01]

Terra 1
Terra 1 listened and accepted the data grimly,and while simultaneuosly working teh transports to shuttle the last of the provisions and personal items,along wiht the crew,it stored and backuped all the information passing to it.
While not a living being wiht no parents per se,the closest thing to a family had been the dorment Discovery .From it's part Terra 1 had been completed and brought online.It wished its....Father...good luck.

Meanwhile,It called in all the transports itself,flying them with pinpoint precision,transport after transport sliding into the open docking bay,scanners examining each and every person leaving the ships,using the already on-board securty forces to detain and send back any non-personnel for threat of sabotage,shoving the 10-12 of them into a free transport and sacrificing it to send it Back to the surface.
As the Commander and his main crew arrived a detachment of security personnel arrive and escort them to the bridge,a suave,clean, and modeled decorativly but fuctionally.
Of course a large Commanders chair sat in roughly the middle,commands and controls placed on the chair's arms,touh sensitive screens at the very tip.
Curved computer banks sit in front of luscious,wide seats,lights moving sedatly across the controls.
"Commander,it is good that you and the full main crew have arrived.Ship is at 100% charge and is prepped for launch.All essential crew and security have boarded.Awaiting final Command to break orbit and enter null space".

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Kitka

Kitka leaned her head against the viewing window. She thought she had known her family. Had known that they were prepared to die for what they saw as a worthy cause and the rest of the world saw as lunacy. She didn't realize they had been prepared to let the whole world they professed to be fighting for die with them.

An icy cold chill ran up her spine and she had to look away from the window. She ignored the confrontation between the commander and Drel Walker and walked slowly, deliberately toward her station. She had work to do. She had to make sure that the fall out from the bomb had not affected any of the crew or damaged the atmosphere so badly that it would affect the ship's systems.

She would not think about what had happened down there. Not now. Would not think about how her own family had single handedly brought destruction upon the world. She would not think about how their blood ran through her veins. She would only think of the safety of the crew. After all, she was still First Science Officer. She would concentrate on that for now and would think about other things later...much later.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Loril

The minute that the transport ship docked, Loril hit the deck running. She sped up to the main deck and slid into her seat at the navigation controls. She had hoped that she would be able to take time to get used to the controls but she would have to rely on her extensive virtual training and pray that she was as skilled as she thought she was.

"Terra 1," She commanded,"This is First Navigation Officer, Loril Harmony. Give readings on any damage to navigation controls and repairs being made. Power engines and prepare for ignition as soon as the Commander gives word."

As she was speaking, her hands were flying over the panel, touching here and there, adjusting this or that power level and watching the readouts before her as she listened for the ship's report to determine if safe passage was possible.

 

[DarkThoughts01]

Terra 1

Terra 1 would have sighed if it could feel.The hands that flew over the panels at the navigation panel bank were experienced.Terra 1 forwarded all the relelvant information(shortened so as to prevent sluggish movement)
Officer Harmony,welcome abaord Terra 1,data is being routed to your controls,Terra 1 is at 100% navigational capability,having recieved no damage from aggresors.Currently there will only be a .2% drag due to atmospheric fluctuations,the safety threshold for orbit clearance is 100%,no problems are anticipated.Engines prepped and ready for Launch,awaiting Commanders Order. It spoke at first from Loril's commpad(palced ina small holding dock on the panel's surface,then to the bridge as a whole at the end.

As the crew safely got aboard and placed themselves in their specific positions,a low rumbling whine could be heard over msot of the planet,abrely discernible form the explosions going on on the surface.Terra 1's engines were powering,preparing for the break from gravity,its hull shining above the planets surface as the transport outside of the ship,bearing the few rebels that had tried to sneak on board,was rocked out of the air and spiraled into the heaving,roiling city below,where explosions could be heard.

Awaiting the order to launch Commander

 

[The GrandMage]

Drel Walker

Drel fell back into an emotionless state. He didn't think about his family, probably killed following the orders of a madman, who, to stop his perfect new world from falling to the evils of Earth, and let loose one of the greatest of those evils.

He gathered together the few of his bags he had saved, feeling their weight and the strain of the run for the first time, and went out into his new home. He followed the Commander blankly.

He was right, of course. The world had degenerated into anarchy. It was now, more than ever, that the rules and training they'd all come through would be needed.

But he couldn't help feeling the finality of their leaving. This was no longer a mission to find life, at least, not for him. To Drel, it was an abandonment of their world, in search for something better. He wondered if they'd find it, this time. Or just another Terra?

He settled himself into his console, and set his things down. He sighed, and leaned back. At least he wasn't needed at the moment.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Kitka

Kitka, at her post, read the information as well and added a question of her own.

"Terra 1, this is Kitka Seerzman, First Science Officer. Report on how long the planet's atmosphere will hold the fallout of the activity below and calculate how much time we have before any dangerous contaminates reach us. Also, report on the possibility of bio hazards being used and danger to ship and crew aboard as well as if we pose any threat to another planet we may take landing on."

 

[The GrandMage]

Drel Walker

He took a deep breath, and turned to the console before him.

"Okay Terra 1, give me a full readout of the weapons used, their accuracy so far, and how they're working compared to the initial designs. I want to know their power outputs and if they're have been any glitches so far in the system, as well as your data gained through the recent use of any of the systems you've been working on."

His fingers went over the controls, checking output levels and what systems were fully online and those that had already been used by the AI.

 

[PVodogaz]

Treloar Noviscum

The transit vessel docked with Terra 1 and the computer took over the docking procedure, pressurising the airlock and automatically opening the hatchet way between both vessels.

This docking bay that they had docked at was the closest to the command module. It would be a short walk to the bridge. A security escort met Commander Treloar and his crew as well as the few remaining original security detail. The escort smartly saluted and Treloar waved them on. Treloar walked just behind the four escort security officers and looked around at the ship's corridor which had an air of confident functionality.

They walked in silence, except the rustle of their uniforms and the sounds of their breathing followed by the sounds of the ship. Finally they entered the command bridge and he watched for a moment as the security escort stopped at the door. Each of his crew went to their designated control consoles, and started their pre-launch checks.

"Commander,it is good that you and the full main crew have arrived.Ship is at 100% charge and is prepped for launch.All essential crew and security have boarded. Awaiting final Command to break orbit and enter null space".

Commander Treloar walked to the plush Commander's chair which was set in the middle of the bridge. "Thankyou Terra 1. Glad to be finally up here."

He watched the main interface screen that had Terra in its picture. The ripples had now circled the planet and a dark cloud like mushroom was expanding across the northern hemisphere, which had the largest of the two landmasses. Which had also been the site of Terrae Novis.

The Commander listened to the questions of Officer Harmony and Officer Walker, ask about the ship. He steepled his fingers underneath his chin.

"Awaiting the order to launch Commander." the voice of the computer stated again.

"Launch. You have clearance, Terra 1," he ordered officially.

And Treloar looked at the interface screen once more and bid a silent farewell to his home planet, Terra.

 

[DarkThoughts01]

Terra 1

Terra One wokred smoothly,information splitting and flowing itno the right panels,providing the answers to all of them.

Good day Science Officer Seerzman,currently the atmosphere is holding abck dangerous particles due to biological weapons,htough estimated atmospheric collapse is 4 hours and 32 minutes,all foods and substances on board Terra 1 have been scanned and the check is 100% positive.Currently danger of contaminating another world can not be determined until scanners have registered the surface and atmosphere.

The weapons list scrolled along Drel's panel sedatly,specs,accuracy both within atmosphere and without,and the time-lapses between fire rates bounced and danced across the screen.


Terra One removed itself by small booster along its hulls,the umbilicals connecting it to the docking station breaking loose as Terra spun gently,gracefully,the large engines igniting and powering,sending the ship lurching forward into a sedate though quick pace for the edge of the system,leaving contentious space at first.
Terra 1's hull glittered in the reflection of the explosion-marked planet below it as the world was enveloped in blackness,its green life snuffed out

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Loril

Loril was working on the preflight paths when the ship began moving. When they were safely away from the planet's atmosphere, she addressed the ship's computer again.

"Terra 1," She said, smoothly touching the controls on her end,"Go to manual control. Divert control of the ship to helms console now."

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Kitka

Kitka nodded though Terra 1 could not see. She had supposed as much about not being able to tell if they would contaminate another system they approached but better to cover all the bases early.

"Terra 1," She said,"Continue scans of ships hull for any contamination. Scans to start two hours from now and continuing every two hours for the span of forty-eight hours. If there is no indication of contamination, scans are to be spaced to eight hours for the next twenty four. Thereafter, if contamination is still not detected, scans to drop to once every twenty four hours through the journey. When we enter any system's atmosphere or encounter any alien life forms, immediate scans are requested and information on whether we are a danger to others is to be reported directly to myself and the commander."

She paused and then turned in her seat to face Commander Treloar. "I believe we will be away from Terra's atmosphere before the four hour time limit is up. However, I advise proceeding with all due haste in case there is a factor that Terra 1 could not detect from our position in space."

 

[The GrandMage]

Drel Walker

Drel scanned the data. It was all the same. Perfect, perfect, perfect in every way. Newly build, he really didn't expect to encounter any problems with the weapons yet. Not after being so newly installed and looked over by the pre-mission crew. But still, it was his job and-...

He stopped, going back over the data he had just looked at, confused by what he was seeing.

"Terra One, run a diagnostics check on the forward right guns. These figures here show an energy consumption 80% above normal, with only a 75% output rate. Tell me, is there a system malfunction, or is there a physical problem within the system?"

 

[DarkThoughts01]

Terra 1

Terra 1 released the control to manual after informing Loril of the change,gradually and gently.

"confirmed Officer Seerzman,conductiong first round of scans now,will update information as requested."

Simultaneously,Terra 1 ran diagnostics on the forward right gun banks.It did show a problem.
"it seems as if the forward right gun bank's coolant systems are malfunctioning partly,nothing to serious Officer,i will dispatch an engineering team tehre immediatly"

 

[The GrandMage]

Drel Walker

An engineering team? A god-damned engineering team?

He sighed, and leaned back in his seat, and continued going over the data from the computer. He'd been hoping to get his hands dirty. But it seemed that he was doomed to sit around and do nothing for a majority of this trip. If he was lucky, perhaps he could spend most of it in his quarters. He glanced to the heavy metal box he had made sure to lug along with him, and nodded to himself.

Perhaps this trip wouldn't be completely useless. "Alright Terra 1, but them them to be sure to run a full check on nearby circuitry. I don't like the energy levels that thing was wasting, it could easilly have damaged something."

He sighed as he reviewed the rest of the list. Once again, nothing. A minor malfunction. And one sent off to an engineering team at that. He leaned his head in one of his hands, the review of data as tedious as his training.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Kitka

Noticing Drel's apparent unhappiness about having a team sent instead of doing the job himself and sympathizing with his irritation at the lack of activity, Kitka cleared her throat to get his attention.

"You know," She said, her eyebrows raising in meaning,"And engineering team is fine but this is a new ship, we don't really have experienced teams on this mission since it is the first one of it's kind from Terra and, I don't know about anyone else, but I would feel much better if the man over the weapons system were to be right there making sure that they did their job properly."

"In fact, you might even want to get in there and show them how it should be done. I can't say I want to meet any dangers in this unknown without knowing for sure that that small problem has been fixed."

 

[PVodogaz]

Commander Treloar Noviscum

Commander Treloar felt the very smooth swerve of actions by Terra 1. He felt the succint lerch as the ship started moving. His crew were already hard at work over their individual control panels. Treloar heard each of their request to the central computer and heard Terra 1 answer each question and request in a timely and prompt manner.

He listened attentively to Officer Kitka's recommendation and when she turned and spoke to him about her concerns and her thoughts, Treloar nodded in agreement.

"Agreed Officer Seerzman. Terra 1 proceed on with the mission. Prepare ship for Interstellar Warp travel."

The next issue that was raised by Officer Walker was an abherrant read on the data for the weapons. He checked it again and then reported it to Terra 1 for checking and confirmation. It didn't take long, the highly sophisticated Terra 1 observed it was a minor problem with the cooling system. Throughout this, Treloar remained quiet and observed only.

He cleared his throat when Kitka stopped talking and spoke up;

"Okay, we will run through a rostered system throughout this journey. I want at least one person on the bridge at all times. Each shift will be 6 hours long. I will take the first shift. Each of your quarters have been marked with names on the doors. Terra 1 will awake each of us up and or remind us its our time. Any questions?"