Syrophenikon

[PVodogaz]

Gilderic Reccesuinth

Gilderic looked at the people sitting around the meeting table. He saw the man named Jordan write down on his writing pad with his pencil. He saw the Senior Admiral silently watch him and the others as well.

"What type of weapons will we be carrying for self defense, something we're sure enough to believe won't penetrate the protective metal of the ship's exterior walls?"

"That's a good question, Miss Crane, and let me answer that now. Just before boarding of the cargo vessel from the Space Station Hanger you will each be given a modified Low Amplitude Quantum Gun. Outer scans of the ship have been anylised and the results show that the outer ship is made out of an unknown material. So we don't know how our weapons will effect the material. That is another priority that I will take care of, finding out what material the ship is made out of. As well as the Quantum guns, we all will be given Electro Chargers that will be only used if the Guns don't work."

Gilderic finished and let what he said sink in. Again, Jordan was scribbling what appeared to be notes. He then noticed Officer Pelka raise her hand and he nodded to her to continue;

“Do you expect some conflict of any kind when we get aboard the alien ship?”

“Can you clarify what you mean by conflict?” Gilderic asked. He blinked caught slightly off guard. This Officer is a live wire, I like that.

“Will we need weapons? We may be seen as being hostile. Who knows, this could be some kind of trick. It doesn’t take a grown intelligent person to see that an invasion attempt is possible here, if you know what I mean? There could be thousands of other ships out there waiting to invade our system. This is just the beginning. Conflict and invasion is possible in my opinion. And is the world prepared for it?”

Gilderic quickly looked at the Senior Admiral who had turned and was smiling softly watching him but with serious eyes behind that smile. I'm treading on fine water here, he thought to himself.

"Long range scans from the Martian Moons and Asteroid Belt has found no other ships following this one. We have scanned radiowaves, deep space radar and Quantum Singularity waves into deep space and found no object/s. Again, this may be a single ship which will be followed by an invasion force which may or maynot be cloaked. But with our reliable scans we believe this ship is alone. In the event that something goes wrong, the World Government is prepared. That is all I can say about that matter. For now."

Why isn't this Senior Officer saying anything? he said to himself.

And then Jordan looked up from quickly writing something down and nodded. Gilderic nodded back.

"Are we looking into the Order, and what they might know about the ship? They seem to think this is wrong for some reason, I'm wondering if they actually know something."

The Senior Admiral spoke up at this time;

"As we speak on Earth, the head office of the Neo Religious Order are being raided by the security troops, and the elders of the Neo Religious Order are being arrested. Many scientific and religious cults have their own interpretation and ideals on the Alien Ship but the Neo Religious Order is the most outspoken and dangerous of them all. The murder earlier only reinforces this view of added security to have you all away from the space station by 1000 Hours."

Gilderic continued. "There is no hiding that the Neo Religious Order believes the Ship to be the ship of the devil. They have wanted the alien spaceship destroyed and it is this thought process that leads inevitably to conflict and misunderstanding. We have a message from the ship, since than the ship has made no further actions. The ISS security is being locked down and tightened. No sweeps have found any agents of the Neo Religious Order on the station. It is safe to assume that the leader came up alone."

He stopped and let all the information sink in before continuing.

"It is now 0820. We will meet back here for embarcation of our mission at 0950 for a 1000 launch. Before I dismiss the meeting is there any further question for myself or the Senior Admiral?"

 

[Sweetp4u]

Victoria Crane

"I have no further questions, but an observation to make... If I may?" She scanned the room and those in it, spying Jordan's notes. Gilderic's words sent off alarm bells in her memory, she knew of this group only too well.

Her attention turned back to Gilderic and the Admiral, "I've made a career off of studying people, and various cultures. I've studied this Neo Religious Order as well. Zealots such as these people would not come alone to stop a group of people from boarding 'Satan's ship'." Her nervousness was returning. Why wasn't she informed of anything before arriving here? Other than the mission itself, she knew none of these people, but they seemed to know her?

"I'd consider something carefully before dismissing it completely as solved... A suicide mission, or there are more of his fellowship on board." She stood slowly, needing to stretch out her tired legs and wishing she could leave this whole thing right now. "These people would kill their own mother if they believed she had the mark of the beast upon her... It was done a few years ago." She met the Admiral's eyes, wondering how much she should say?

"They don't accept defeat easily, most often they only fail because they died." She fell silent, wondering how many thought she was paranoid or if they too knew about this 'Cult'? "And usually, for a mission of this importance... there would never be just One NRO around."

She chewed her bottom lip in thought, wondering if she was worrying for no reason? Weapons may or may not work, they might die inside from bacteria for all she knew, but religious nuts on board? She held back her request to leave, she wouldn't pass up a chance such as this.. even to save her own ass.

 

[PVodogaz]

Gilderic Reccesuinth

Gilderic waited and did not have to wait too long as Miss Victoria Crane started to talk. She didn't have a question as such but a notable and fully understandable observation to make. All eyes were on her as she spoke.

He got the gist of what she was saying about the dangers of the Neo Religious Order. Gilderic even agreed with her but he was the Commander and a Commander had to be strong in front of his crew, strong in mind, body and mentally.

He saw Miss Crane look at the Senior Admiral who had a slight smile edged on his face. She stood and stretched and Gilderic nodded understanding what her point was.

"They don't accept defeat easily, most often they only fail because they died. And usually, for a mission of this importance... there would never be just One NRO around."

Gilderic did not immediately reply, the silence that followed meant what Miss Crane had said was being thought about by the others.

He switched off the holo screen and sat on the side of the table in a comfortable position and looked at his fellow mission members eye to eye.

"The Mission has it's dangers yes, granted. The murder of a crew member by the NRO leader is a danger. There are 25 teams of 4 security officers searching up and down this station and stopping everyone for Identification and Bio scans. The sweeps till now have shown no other NRO here or in Space. What I will do, is have for each of us 2 personal guards as escorts until we return at 0950. I can tell you all again, we are taking this threat by this Cult very seriously. I will personally vouch to each of you now. If I get to know something new, I will update the Commlinks. I know the risks. When I accepted this mission, I realised that to commander a fine set of people like yourselves to a whole new environment is my pleasure and also my responsibility.....Are there any other questions?"

He waited hoping there was none. Meanwhile the Senior Admiral punched in authorisation in his commlink for the personal guards for the mission members.

 

[poohlive]

Jordan thanked both the commander and everyone else for their time. He gave a smile, yawning halfway through it, and jotting down some more notes on the Order. Will they stop? It seems as if they have no choice, their whole cult was being overthrown. What else could they possibly do?
This ship was the devil? How bad could oneness be? Satanic worship? It didn't seem so far off base, to tell the truth. This ship is here to prepare earth for something, it could be good as well as bad.
Jordan rose, "I have other questions, but they are probably already answered in the preliminaries. I have nothing further."
Two hours, he could find a nice corner and get some sleep. That didn't seem like such a bad idea. Just a place to rest his eyes for a little bit. He had been running on empty a little too long.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Victoria

She stared long and hard at the commander for a silent moment and then shook her head. She really had nothing more to ask, they had thought of everything it seemed, she could finally relax.

She had time to get a bite to eat, shower and perhaps nap if she hurried. But with all this excitement? Who could sleep? The past few months had taken their toll on alot of people, especially on Earth. Those who believed in God and his word were struggling against the scientific communities in heated debate over what this ship signified. Protests, fights broke out in places, hate crimes grew (but quickly halted with arrests).. and now the NRO.

In a few short hours, they'd find out once and for all if there is life on board (which it is unlikely the ship traveled on it's own here) and make contact.

"Are we dismissed Commander?" She had a dinner date with herself, her stomach was growling even now for something.

 

[Sienna]

Ling...


Ling stood and made her way to the corner of the room. She tapped out a text-based message on her wrist communicator that was private to someone back on Earth, and that someone was her mother, who she trusted with her personal affairs.

The message gave her mother instructions to activate a series of information cubes so that personal things can be dealt with the way Ling wanted should anything happen.


http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h236/robyn_aston/ling3.gif

 

[PVodogaz]

Gilderic Reccesuinth

Gilderic waited and there were no further questions. Miss Crane asked if they were dismissed and Gilderic nodded;

"Dismissed. It is 0830, please return by 0950 for embarcation. The personal guards are waiting ouside in the hangar. They are there for each of your protection. Please keep your commlinks open if I need to contact you all immediately. Thankyou."

Jordan rose thanking him and the Senior Admiral.

"I have other questions, but they are probably already answered in the preliminaries. I have nothing further."

Gilderic nodded and watched him walk out. Next to him the Senior Officer stood and looked at him;

"1st Novice Admiral Reccesuinth, well done on a impressive meeting. I will now go back to the ISS command hub and if I have more information you will be duly notified."

The Senior Officer then did something Gilderic did not expect him to do, he shook Gilderic's hand and smiled at him.

"Good luck Commander," he said.

"Thankyou sir," responded Gilderic startled.

The Senior Officer left the room and Gilderic watched for a moment as Officer Pelka was tapping at her data pads. He sighed and walked out of the meeting room and out into the hangar with its view of space and Earth....and of course the alien ship.

Taking a seat at the closest bench to the synth viewers he had time to refocus and get ready mentally for the alien ship.

 

[Sienna]

Ling...


Ling watched Gilderic in concentration as he gazed at the synth viewers. She wondered about the mission and why her superiors knew something was going to happen soon. She was strategically placed in wait days before this briefing, keeping herself to herself as things developed further. The question she wanted answering more than anything was…”How much did they know about this before yesterdays events?”

The mission was wrapped in secrecy and even Commander Gilderic Reccesuinth knew nothing until recently. Why was she placed on the ISS in wait, promised updates, but never received a single one that was associated with the real bones of the mission? It seemed now she was left with her gut feelings and the following of orders from this relatively new commander.

She left for something to eat and to make final preparations for embarkation. No more questions, just sit tight and enjoy the ride to…whatever was out there waiting.

 

[poohlive]

It didn't take much exploring to find an empty conference room. Jordan took a seat in one of the comfortable leather executive chairs, trying to go over some more of the briefings that had been given to him.
After a few minutes of reading the same sentence over again, Jordan gave up.
"You guys don't mind leaving, do you? I think I want to take a nap."
"Sorry, sir." One said.
"Orders."
Jordan turned off the lights, resting in the chair, his eyes already drooping.
"I'm that important?"
"The mission is, sir."
Something didn't sit right in him about that. He wanted to pursue it further, but at the moment, sleep more than overtook him. He dozed off, happy to leave reality for a few minutes.

 

[PVodogaz]

Security Team Alpha 6 - checking Delta Level of Station

Circa 0900

The security team 4 in all, carried their sensor arrays infront of them scanning each room in the Delta Level. This section of the ISS was predominantly used for equipment storage and cargo holdings. A perfect place for a bomb.

In teams of two they checked room by room, each room so far had scanned clear on the arrays.

Finally the team reached Bay 12, the last hold in this long winded corridor. Silently they entered and began to do a security sweep with the sensors.

Suddenly their sensors picked up strange readings, the sensor arrays leading the group to a antique projector.

"The scanners must be malfunctioning," said one of the men of the security detail.

Another touched what they thought was the antique projector and with the touch, the image shimmered out and then into a rectangular metallic object.....

"It's a bomb!" One of them gasped.

The touch did another thing, infront of their eyes, the timer changed, from 2 hours clicking over to 0:45:00 mins. The bomb was anti tamper proof.

"Quickly out of the room," the leader of the group said in a brisk tone.

He punched a note into the Command Center to the Senior Admiral and ISS Commander Joesif Bashikov.

'Matter of great urgency, Bomb on board, anti temper proof. Containment field will not work in this hold. Bomb has 45 mins to go off. Recommend ISS be evacuated.'

----------------------

ISS Command Center

Senior Admiral Latimer Conrad read the message at the same time as Commander Bashikov did. The Commander called out.

"This is not a drill, please evacuate the command center and space station. There is a bomb on board."

The group of people at first stopped still listening to their commander's words, trying to fully comprehend his words.

"Now!" he yelled and they left in a orderly fashion.

"I will send a emergency commlink to Mission Commander Reccesuinth to leave ASAP," said Conradd.

The Commander nodded and switched on the commlink for the entire space station.

"Attention everyone. Under special circumstances, this space station will be evacuated. Please follow the direction of the staff and security officers available. This is not a drill. This is real. Thankyou, Commander Bashikov out."

He flicked the automated warning system switch. The corridors of the ISS were bathed in red light with repeated messages on the touch screens and holovision screens "Please Evacuate Now. This is not a drill."

Senior Admiral Conradd keyed in Gilderic's commlink and sent a brief message.

"Bomb onboard station. Please get your crew into the cargo vessel and start the Mission. Bomb is set to go off in 42 minutes. Out."

He punched the Send button to Gilderic and stood up and with the Commander moved out of the Command Center.

 

[PVodogaz]

Gilderic Reccesuinth

One moment it was quiet and Gilderic had been leaning back on the bench watching the stars and Earth and the next it seemed all hell had broken loose. A four beat warning came through the holovision and intercom system and the lights went to a mellow red, meaning it was a evacuation. Gilderic sprang to his feet about to move when his commlink chimed with a urgent message from Senior Admiral Latimer Conradd. He tapped no audio and read the typed message.

"Bomb onboard station. Please get your crew into the cargo vessel and start the Mission. Bomb is set to go off in 42 minutes. Out."

Gilderic only had a few moments to realise that the mission was to begin earlier than anticipated or scheduled. Quickly he created a new message and picked voice message. Typing in the names of his mission members he sent them all the same message;

"Bomb onboard, set to go off in 35 minutes. Please meet here in the hangar in the next 5 minutes, we will depart the ISS as mission plan schedule. Please hurry."

He read the message and pressed the Send button. He looked around him at the holovision blaring its constant warnings, he heard the automated ISS computer voice giving directions over the intercom. And he saw the technicians and engineers leave the hangar.....The dice have been rolled....

 

[Sweetp4u]

Victoria Crane

As soon as she left the conference room, she made a bee line right to her quarters. Ordering something to eat, from a menu that didn't allow much food should have bothered her slightly. She barely noticed as she showered and dressed herself.

She had too much on her mind. Too many questions, to few worries. She should be afraid, she should be scared of 'little green men', but she was more excited than anything. Maybe it was her optimism?

True to their word, there were two guards outside her door, watching and waiting for anything. What would she need to pack? A trip of 72 hours.. She packed a couple changes of clothes, her toiletries and other little things into one bag and her other held tools of her trade. Her favorite tool was her dialect recorder/analyzer. It would come in handy if these Aliens used any verbal forms of communication.

She was so lost in thought that the loud beeping and warning signal that came over the comlink scared the shit out of her. Jumping, she dropped her toothpaste and brush onto the bed. Paling she looked right at the screen to see the word flashing "BOMB". That was all she needed to read to know to get the hell out of there!

Grabbing her things, she forced them into her pack and zipped up as one of the guards opened her door with his over ride pin.

"Doctor Crane, we've got to go. Get your things and follow me please." He took her bag and started for the door without looking back. He expected to be obeyed and she wasn't going to argue this time.

Her comlink on her wrist beeped and a message popped on from Gilderic. "Yeah yeah.. I'm coming." She muttered under her breath. People were calmly but quickly walking towards various hangers and known locations for the personal transporters. Evacuation must have been easier than dropping the bomb off the space station.

"There goes a few billion.." One of her guards gave her a hard look, not very friendly either are they?

"This way Dr. Crane." The man stopped and directed her into an elevator. Hurrying in, she wanted to suggest stairs but there was no worry of the bomb going off yet, they had time to lock themselves into a tiny little compartment hung by wire..

She was about to laugh but knew that wouldn't do her any good. They'd probably not let her board, thinking she had some hysterical problem or panic attack. She bit down on her lip, hard enough to draw a slight droplet of blood and kept her head down.

"We're here. Good luck, Doctor." They both saluted smartly and then vanished back into the elevator.

Turning, she made her way around the various workers loading the ship, hunting for the commander.

 

[Sienna]

Ling...

Ling lifted the fork of spaghetti to her lips when the commlink bleeped. She dropped it and read the message that was clear… it was time to go…the waiting was over and a bomb was not going to stop them.

The two guards assigned to her dashed across the restaurant floor to her side, but Ling did not need them. She held up both hands, which signalled them to stay away from her as she stood. “Ok, you guys, no need to crowd me, I know what I have to do.”

The whole restaurant area became panic-stricken with people assembling themselves to make way to the hangers. It was almost impossible for her to move any faster than they were, and the guards could have helped, but Ling was determined to be independent of them on this occasion. She just simply pushed her way through them as far ahead as possible towards the hanger that housed the most important shuttle aboard the ISS. All it needed right there and then was to get with the rest of the crew and…go.

 

[PVodogaz]

Gilderic Reccesuinth

Gilderic paced the floor just inside the hangar and outside the vessel docking bay. Only a few technicians remained checking over things one last time. The beating warning sirens blared on and on, the red light now pulsing in with the 3 beats rythmns. Through the synth-viewers he saw the first evacuation vessels leave the space station and head away from the space station towards mother Earth.

The head technician signalled to the other 4 to leave and evacuate and the small man quickly crossed over to Gilderic.

"Sir, everything is in order. Automated pilot system has been updated with the course co-ordinates and wish you and your crew a safe mission. I must leave now."

The technician saluted to Gilderic smartly and he saluted back. Only thing now was to wait for the other mission-members.

 

[poohlive]

Jordan had turned off all possibilities of distraction for his nap. He had needed sleep, and for the first time in over two days, he was going to get some. When the first alert went off, no one in the private conference room noticed. The room had no windows, to the red lights going off, warning all others, and the door provided enough cushion for the alert not to be heard.
Jordan's beeper, which he had just recieved, buzzed in a pile of his clothes, which wasn't enough to wake him up, or bother the two guards. They just kept their pace alongside him, and he rested peacefully.
It wasn't for a good ten minutes before one of the guard's radios cackled off.
"Where in the hell is Officer Jordan!!"
"Sleeping, sir."
"Good God!" A rush of curses followed but a hurried excuse of what was going on prompted for a cranky wake up, and even hastier retreat.
Jordan woke up, groggy and irritated. He felt like he had only slept ten minutes. In fact, he'd slept for something like twelve or thirteen. Once they opened the door, the lights, the message, and everyone else running here and there got him forwarded to just what was going on.
"A bomb," He dropped all of his stuff, several cubes bouncing on the floor, and his notepad opening up. Two phrases stuck out.
ONENESS
Neo Religious Order.
"Well fuck," He scooped up the notepad, not bothering with anything else. The three of them ran, almost untouched down to the docking bay. Despite the emergency sitation, most understood that Jordan had first priority.
That was something that both relieved him, and scared him at the same time. Just what was going on? Who wanted to stop this mission so bad? And why was it so important that they succeed?
Jordan, despite being the last one notified, was the first one down the ramp as Gilderic stood there.
"Sir," He gave a hasty salute, turning around to wait for the others, "What in the hell happened?"

 

[PVodogaz]

Gilderic Reccesuinth

Gilderic paced up and down the hangar waiting for his mission crew to arrive. He checked the countdown on his commlink, showing 31 minutes to the bomb exploding.

He looked at the ramp that led to the rest of the space station itself, and the automated doors open to see Jordan scramble through. The two guards saw Gilderic and saluted and walked back up the ramp.

Jordan came over, saluted to Gilderic who saluted back.

"Sir, What in the hell happened?" he asked.

Gilderic stopped pacing and looked Jordan straight in the eye.

"Thomas Ishmael Levy's final laugh. He planted an anti-tamper bomb on board the station and now that means our mission starts off before schedule."

Now all Gilderic and Jordan were waiting for the other mission members.

 

[Sienna]

Ling...

Evacuees were taking up the elevators and Ling realised that without the two guards it was now near impossible to get in one of them in order to get to the hangar any quicker. Her own arrogance had beaten her, as it often did now and then. It just meant looking for another solution to cover her own errors.

She noticed on the viewers that shuttles were leaving already, and observed the time it had taken for the evacuation to get under way. As long as one of those shuttles was not the one she was supposed to be onboard, then time was still on her side, marginally.

An idea came into her mind and her sense of adventure took over and unnecessary risks along with them. The engineering section of the ISS was only metres away from where she was. The corridor was clear and she headed for one of the service bays going unnoticed by any technicians, which were now following the usual evacuation procedures and leaving the station as everyone else did.

The bay was deserted and she looked around noticing the four space suits hanging, then at the service pod airlock on stand-by. The pod itself was housed on the outside of the station, so that it can be used to move freely to wherever it was needed at close proximity to the bay to make external repairs. That was now her way out, she thought. Why go to the shuttle while it was still on the station? Why not get to it from outside? It can be done.

Ling smiled to herself and the adrenaline began to flow rapidly through her veins as she began to get into one of the flexible space suits. Within a few minutes she was sealed in, safe and secure, all systems working. Then she slipped through the airlock into the pod, sealed it and strapped herself into the command centre, looking over the controls.

“Well, here goes.” She told herself. “One will never know if one never tries.”

She pushed the release button and the pod began to drift away from the outer shell of the station. The pod was now in free space and she played with the controls moving it slowly around using the boosters. Then she activated the commlink and sent a message to Gilderic on his frequency.

“Commander Reccesuinth? Are you receiving me sir?”

 

[Sweetp4u]

Victoria Crane

"Boy, you two are observant.." She said loud enough to be heard, dripping with sarcasm. Interesting how no one ever seemed to notice her?

"Commander..." She nodded her head to Gilderic in recognition.

"Jordan." She held out her hand to his, since they hadn't properly been introduced yet.

"Are we ready to launch?" She was going to ask another question when she heard Dr. Pelka's voice come over the com-link. Well, it looked like all of them were there..

Bomb was ticking down..

Their 'safe house' was about to be blown up..

A member was dead.

"Yeah.. it's a good day to go." She smiled slightly, fatigue was taking over. Hell the smile didn't even reach her eyes. She just wanted off this floating bomb and over to the other possible bomb.

 

[PVodogaz]

Gilderic Reccesuinth

"Commander..." said Miss Victoria Crane as she approached.

"Miss Crane." Gilderic responded. Now all we need is Officer Pelka... he said to himself.

He watched Jordan and Miss Crane shake hands and do their own introductions as of sorts.

It was just after Miss Crane's next question that Gilderic's commlink beeped twice that meant there was a incoming audio message and none other than the last member to show up, Officer Ling Pelka. Finally, he thought as he opened the audio message.

“Commander Reccesuinth? Are you receiving me sir?”

Gilderic automatically responded. "Yes I am Officer Pelka, where are you?"

Gilderics eyes widened surprised he heard her answer. She was thinking outside the vox populii and that was something Gilderic liked.

He nodded to Officer Jordan and Miss Crane as he turned and headed into the open airlock of the cargo vessel that was outfitted for the mission.

"Alright Officer Pelka, I will EVA with you just off the ISS. See you very shortly," replied Gilderic.

As the two fellow crew members entered, Gilderic spoke up.

"Here we go, have a seat, we will leave the ISS momentarily and pick up Officer Pelka, and then make haste to the alien ship."

The vessel was small, one cargo hold underneath the vessel and the top deck was the control and crew bays, linked together by a open arched synth viewer. Gilderic moved into the control bay or as he liked to call it the 'bridge'.

"Computer, close airlock and initiate codex alpha bravo sigma charlie. Please track path to the commlink signature of Officer Pelka, authorised by myself 1st Novice Admiral Gilderic Reccesuinth WGM."

"Understood and per codex ABSC, will deviate per programmed path to co-ordinates 00-09, to collect Officer Pelka and then continue to designated target," the deep computer voice responded.

He turned to his two mission members.

"We are close to a new threshold, our mission will be fulfilled and we will return safely back to Earth."

----------------

28 Minutes left till detonation of bomb onboard ISS.

 

[Sienna]

Ling...

On the pod, lights began to flash as the mission shuttle tracked it. “Locked onto destination,” the automated voice repeated three times, confirming that Gilderic had set the shuttle’s tracker onto it.

Ling felt more comfortable now as the cramped vessel floated away from the station. She wondered how technicians worked in such vehicles for long hours activating the two arms that made it possible to undergo repairs. Atleast she was away from the ISS, but still too close to survive any explosions. Even the alien ship looked too close to the ISS for comfort. But then, those types of bombs implode rather than explode. Would that make a difference?

The mission had surely started now. Ling looked out of the port at the alien ship again in the distance. What was awaiting them? A cold chill ran down her spine for the umpteenth time.

 

[poohlive]

Jordan made an attempt to shake the woman's hand, someone he had only seen through the corner of his sleepy eyes briefly. He didn't get a chance though, as they were hurried into the ship. He followed Gilderic through the tiny mesh of bays, up to the control bay.
He took a seat, pressing a few buttons on his small vid screen. A flash of data came up, one was the timer left on the bomb. Just under a half hour left.
"She went out into space? Good lord, where is she? I don't see her."
The computer had locked up to her though, and there was nothing he could do. Things were all automated now, it was a wonder they even had pilots anymore.
They were being hurried. He could feel it, torn away from sleep, his mindset wasn't the best right now, but he knew they were being hurried.
He could make a mistake... People who are hurried make mistakes all the time. He sighed, rubbing his stubbled chin and looking at the small pod in space that grew bigger each second.
No, this wasn't good at all.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Victoria Crane

Ushered into the shuttle, she quickly took a seat and strapped herself in. There was little time for pleasantries obviously, which she had to wonder if was an excuse just to not board?

She gulped down the nervous lump in her throat and shifted to try and get relaxed in her seat. Closing her eyes, she counted slowly, taking time to breathe slow and even.. What would happen if she had a panic attack now?

Funny thing was, this only happened in air craft.

That did little to calm her, she instead focused on what Jordan and Gilderic were doing, paying no mind to the screen showing the dock doors opening. She felt the shuttle 'shimey' a little and smoothly start to pull out of the space station.

There had to be something she could do to occupy her mind? Glancing around, she knew nothing of any machinery on this craft, that would not help.

"Doct-.. Dr. Pelka close?" She asked hesitantly. Maybe she could just nap? She chuckled mentally, knowing that wouldn't work either.

Ahead lay an alien ship, behind them a space station about to implode.. who knows, maybe the oxygen tanks would let it explode? Interesting thing to witness none the less..

She really had to pull her shit together and stop acting the fool. This was an important mission, they certainly had no time to coddle her!

She lectured herself silently for a few minutes, settling her mind and woes away little by little. Rising from her chair, she moved back towards the stairwell down. "Do you need help with anything?" She glanced at the Commander, waiting for an errand or something to do.

 

[PVodogaz]

Gilderic Reccesuinth

Gilderic read the diagnostics closely for one moment and nodded inperceptably to himself, the onboard computer was tracking the comm signal of Officer Pelka. He kept looking at the countdown on the commlink timer for the bomb onboard the ISS.

He watched the pod come closer second by second and the computer shifted the cargo vessel very gently onto the right heading. They were still close to the endangered space station, but they were steadily moving away into space. From out the corner of this eye, Gilderic saw the alien behemoth move along its orbit. It's so silent, so large and so encompassing. Soon, we will be there soon, he said to himself.

His thoughts were interrupted by Miss Crane rising from her seat and approaching Gilderic she asked;

"Do you need help with anything?"

Gilderic looked at her and smiled. "Yes actually sit by me in the passenger seat and watch the alien ship as we move closer and approach it for any signs of life or movement of anysight. I will make sure Officer Pelka boards alright."

At that moment the computer spoke;

"Docking with Officer Ling Pelka's pod in 30 seconds."

And Gilderic saw the pod now large and through the synth viewing glass he saw Officer Pelka at the controls.

"20 seconds."

The pod seeminly disappeared from view to the side as the first thumps were heard of the cargo vessel magnetic string connectors operated, bringing the pod safely along to the outer airlock chamber.

"10 seconds."

They all heard the magnetic clamps and the thuds and thumps as the pod and cargo vessel was joined.

"Operation successful. Initiating pressurisation," the deep voice of the computer droned on.

Gilderic stood up and walked out of the bridge and moved to the end of the hallway that lead to the airlock at the other end. He saw the lights go from red, orange then to green that meant pressurisation was complete and he waited for Officer Pelka.

The door of the airlock slid across and open and he watched Officer Pelka enter. Gilderic found her strikingly beautiful and had to control his reactions to that realisation.

"Officer Pelka, good to see you are safe." He smiled at her and continued. "You are just in time we are about to come to the business end of our mission."

He saluted to her. "Take a seat at the scanner array consule and do a scan of the ship every 2 minutes."

Gilderic turned and walked back into the bridge and now presently spoke to the computer;

"Computer, proceed to predefined target destination."

"Understood. Arrival time to target destination is 15 minutes."

He turned to all three and looked at them all closely. "Take this time to put on the space suits. They are on mag hangers next to the airlock on the wall. We need to be ready for any type of circumstance and environment."

----------------

19 minutes to the detonation of the ISS bomb

 

[Sienna]

Ling...

Ling was relieved to be out of the pod and safely onboard the shuttle. She was used to wearing spacesuits through past experiences, but clean ones. The technicians suits were somewhat multi-used and also “over-used” and had been since the ISS was placed in orbit. A shower would not go amiss, but there was work to be done, and she swapped out of one spacesuit into another.

She sat at the scanner and watched the stats of the alien ship intently as the shuttle closed in. Just fifteen minutes and counting down to contact and each of the two-minute scans revealed some data that was significant to their short journey.

After eight minutes had lapsed there were signatures coming through that revealed a high level of radioactivity around the ship. The console began to light up three then four red lights.

“Sir, I’m getting a very dangerous reading. Not sure if it’s a defence shield around the ship, but its radioactive on level four. Could even be a fuel leak, but difficult to tell yet.”

 

[Graybread]

I’m out of here. After what’s happen, I’ll burn in hell before I write to this thread now. Pretty damn disgusting behaviour if you ask me.