USS Dark Fire (IC)

[milkmaiden38]

Hora
Hora glanced over at Commander's Reeves displays, her eyes narrowing at the sensor readout.

“That does not sound like a lone Nebarian merchant ship,” she said with a bit of annoyance. “But if those are distress signals—plural—we could earn a lot of goodwill with a lot of species.”

“Drop us out of warp well outside the system. Slow approach only. I don’t want us blundering into whatever mess everyone else got caught in.” A beat. “And maybe we take a shuttle again. Less of a target.”

She exhaled, tension easing just enough for concern to slip through.“I heard about Lt. Sol. I was headed to sickbay when you called. Any idea what happened?”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870611.0750

Reeves:

“Affirmative Captain,” Reeves replied as he relayed commands to the Helms Officer.

“As for Mr. Sol I have not yet received or read the report. My estimate, based on observational data, indicates that Lt. Sol and Ensign Yito engaged in a gun fight and bank robbery scenario that went badly.”

“Diagnostic logs indicates Mr. Sol suspended safety protocols on the holodeck twelve minutes before The Ensign arrived.”

“She also requested two large bore revolver's typical of the indicated time frame. Those were of sufficient caliber, with the safeties off to cause a great deal of damage to him.”

“As for the aliens out there, I recommend The Weapons Officer go along. He may be able to make observations about weapons that we wouldn’t notice.”
​

 

[milkmaiden38]

Hora

“I think it’s my turn to take an away team,” Hora said, already mentally stepping onto the shuttle. “So I’ll lead it. I want our security officer and part‑time bodyguard, First Lieutenant Kitan Jovovich. Then Lt. Araiza and Dr. L’Sa… or maybe LCDR McLeo.” She paused, weighing the options aloud. “I want Dr. L’Sa — with all these new species and unknown biology, she’s the obvious choice. But if this turns into a rescue operation, McLeo’s the better fit. What’s your read on it, Commander?”

Reeves opened his mouth to answer, but Hora’s attention snapped sideways.

“How did Lt. Sol bypass the holodeck safeties? I thought I was the only one who could do that,” she demanded.

Dark Fire responded in that maddeningly calm tone only an AI could maintain. “Captain, you are correct. Lt. Sol did not bypass the safeties. He set the safety protocol to its upper limit. At the lowest setting, if you slap a holo‑table, your hand passes through to prevent bruising. At the highest setting, you can slap the same table and injure yourself. Lt. Sol was running a combat simulation and wished to ‘feel the punches.’ He selected the maximum level.”

Hora pinched the bridge of her nose. “He is still in trouble. The big idiot.”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870611.0755

Reeves:

“Mr. McLeo is an obvious choice for a pilot, but he has no experience or knowledge of Xenobiology, to my knowledge. As for Dr. L’Sa you may wish to avoid her for the time being.”

“I would however recommend waiting until we see what the situation is before making a firm decision.”

“Our arrival to the edge of the system is 20 minutes at our current speed of warp 7. Less if we engage transwarp.”

“Scans will provide us with more detailed information once we are within system.”

***

Upon arrival at the furthest reaches of the system The Dark Fire scanned the star system. The only habitable planet was covered in ice. At the edge of the ‘goldilock’ zone it never reached close enough to thaw, and vegetation was limited to underground caverns warmed by thermal vents.

The debris field around the planet revealed that it had undergone a massive battle, both ground and space in origin. Ice drifted in orbit with scattered bits of metal from starships, both large and small.

Few lifesigns were on the planet and they were located close to the underground thermal vents.

However it was the mass of metal and rock near the seventh planet that drew everyones attention. Several biosigns were on board, most of them faint and probably dying. A few dozen, scattered across the conglomeration were still viable. But the configuration was the weirdest part.

Apparently made of several different ships as well as comets and meteorites the mass was a bastardized blend of technology and scraps. At least seven different ships of various materials and construction patterns. Power systems were still active in several sections with various atmospheres.

Power systems fluctuated sending power to engines as they tried to engage, sometimes successful, sending the mass into a new trajectory. Or vanishing for brief moments to reappear millions of miles away.

***

“Warp core damage?” Commander Reeves postulated. “But what caused them to melt together like that?”​

 

[milkmaiden38]

“Looks like a rescue mission,” Hora said, eyes fixed on the drifting ships ahead. Then, to Commander Reeves: “But whether we’re rescuing survivors from battle‑stranded ships… or from that thing out there, we proceed carefully.”

She pivoted toward the helm.

“All stop. Hold position here.”

The deck hummed as the Dark Fire eased to a halt.

“Dark Fire,” she added, “full analysis on that object—when you get a chance.” Her tone made it clear she expected results fast.

Then she turned to the comms station.

“Lieutenant York, attempt to establish communication with anyone still out there. If they’re alive, they may know what we’re walking into.”

“Dark Fire, notify First Lieutenant Jovovich, Lieutenant Araiza, and Lieutenant Commander McLeo to assemble in Shuttlebay Two.”

Hora exhaled, finally giving Reeves a sideways glance.

“We may need another science officer. Dr. Ta Penu? Or Lieutenant Rena? Thoughts?”

 

[milkmaiden38]

Lt Sol

Lt. Sol surfaced from anesthesia with a low growl, vision swimming—only to find Loka sitting beside his bed, her hand wrapped around his.

“Why are you here?” he asked, bitterness already rising in his throat.

“Because I care about you,” Loka said softly. Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.

He ignored that, trying to sit up. Pain lanced through his ribs, but he forced himself upright anyway. “Why am I in a bed?”

“The doctors want you to rest,” she said, still holding on.

“Well, good for them. I’m leaving. Last time I checked, I’m in control of my own body. I don’t need coddling like some warmblood.” He swung his legs over the side and stood with a grunt, then tried to yank his hand free. Loka held on.

“Zosh, I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I should have trusted you. I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have knocked you out.”

His eyes narrowed. “Why did you knock me out?”

“I was ordered to,” she whispered.

He tore his hand away. “Keep telling yourself that.”

Loka flinched, opened her mouth to argue—then stopped. Something in her expression shifted. She took a breath.

“You’re right,” she said quietly. “I was scared. I was scared you’d react differently than the others with Force abilities. You’re so tough, and fierce, and… you can be violent. I was afraid.”

Those were exactly the things he wanted warmbloods to think about him. The reputation he cultivated. The fear he relied on.

But not from her. She was his mate.

He inhaled slowly, let the breath out through his teeth. Then he flashed a grin—wide, toothy, and objectively terrifying.

“You know,” he said, “flattery will get you nowhere.”

“What?” Loka blinked, confused.

“You said I was scary, tough, fierce, and violent. I assumed you meant those as compliments.”

Loka stared at him, caught between confusion and the faintest, reluctant smile. “Zosh… those weren’t meant as compliments.”

“They sounded like compliments,” he said, rolling his shoulders as if testing whether the surgery had actually fixed anything. “Especially the ‘fierce’ part. Very flattering.”

She let out a shaky breath. “You’re impossible.”

“Correct,” he said, baring his teeth again. “And yet you’re still here.”

That landed. She looked down at her hands, twisting them together. “I’m here because I care. And because I was wrong. I should have trusted you. I should have trusted that you wouldn’t lose control. I’m not a good mate”

Sol’s expression shifted—barely, but enough. A flicker of something softer beneath the scales.

“You are helping me” he said quietly “And you are a great mate.”

“Oh,” Loka said. “Can you forgive me? Can you trust me?”

He froze. Not outwardly—he would never give her that—but something in his posture tightened, like a predator hearing a sound it wasn’t prepared for.

Loka stepped closer, voice low. “I want to trust you. But you have to let me.”

He looked away, jaw working. “Trust does go both ways.”

“I know,” she whispered. “So start here. Start now.”

For a long moment, neither of them moved. The sterile hum of the medbay filled the space between them.

Then Sol exhaled, slow and grudging. “Fine. But if you ever knock me out again—”

“I won’t,” she said quickly.

“—without warning,” he finished.

She blinked. “Without warning?”

“Yes. If you warn me first, then it’s fair.”

A startled laugh escaped her—small, but real. “Deal.”

He nodded once, satisfied. “Good. Now help me walk before a doctor comes in and tries to put me back in that bed.”

She stepped to his side, slipping an arm around him. “You’re still recovering. Don’t push yourself.”

“I’m always pushing myself,” he muttered. “It’s part of my charm.”

“That’s one word for it.”

He glanced at her, eyes narrowing in mock offense. “Are you insulting me again?”

“No,” she said, guiding him toward the door. “This time, that one was a compliment.”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870611.0800

Reeves:

“Ta Penu is competent, and has more xenobiology experience than Rena. A marine or two would be advised as well, but I tend to be more cautious in the life of my Captain’s than they are.”

“I apologize Captain, due to the energy leaking from the damaged alien ships an accurate material composition is not possible at this time. I am detecting at least twelve materials and composites not in the Milky Way Galaxy or currently listed in the periodic table.”

“I would need a sensor scan from a shuttle, or the alien engines to be disengaged. Another alternative is for me to move closer tot he anomaly. They are also interfering with each other and causing sporadic warp jumps of an an unknown nature.”

“At least four different fuel sources are possible based on configuration of the ships.”

“I have detected the termination of four life signs. Cause unknown.”

“During rescue operations I advise data collection.” Dark Fire suggested after it monologue.

“Captain, no response to any hails. The same messages just keep repeating.” York called out. “I am getting a new signal. Intermittent. A lot of interference. Maybe an internal message system. It’s a non repeating signal with lengthy pauses. My guess it’s a couple people talking over a comm channel.”



​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ ALFREDO ARAIZA ▻​

Being pried away from his workstation for days at will was already an issue for him. Being pried against his will was especially irritating.

He had the urge to complain as he stood in the instructed shuttlebay, suited up with his arms crossed against his chest. He wouldn’t, already having had a hard enough time getting his permissions back, but even if he couldn’t verbalize his dissatisfaction, it made itself present all over his face.

It was most noticeable in his eyes. He turned to his assigned companions as they arrived. “McLeo, Kid,” he greeted coldly, still as he awaited instruction.

A few drips of sweat had gathered at his neck. It wasn’t that he was open to being of further assistance to others—it was the center of his principles, if anything—but he questioned whether or not he was the best option on-site. The man had but one outage under his belt, and the experience had already been unfavorable.

“What are we waiting on?”

 

[milkmaiden38]

Hora
“Lieutenant York, please attempt to make contact with whoever is chatting on the internal comms,” Hora ordered, already rising from her chair.

She turned to Commander Reeves.“I’m heading to the shuttle. Let the logs reflect that Commander Reeves is acting captain until my return.”

Her gaze swept the bridge crew. “I’ll gather additional data from the shuttle and transmit it back. Have Dr. Ta Penu meet me there.”

the tall Kaminoan scientist was not her favorite scientist, she thought. And one day that long, fragile neck is going to get caught in a bulkhead and pop her head right off.

“My priority is rescuing people—not dealing with that weird cluster of metal and rock.”

She strode off the bridge, boots hitting the deck with purpose, and reached the shuttlebay where the team was already assembling.

“Rescue mission,” she announced. “Lieutenant Commander McLeo, you’re flying. Lieutenant Jovovich, security. Lieutenant Araiza, weapons analysis. Dr. Ta Penu—everything xeno. I’ll cover the rest.”

They boarded, and McLeo eased the shuttle free of the Dark Fire with feline grace.

“Let’s keep it slow, Commander,” Hora said.

“Going super chill, Captain,” McLeo purred, tail flicking as he adjusted their trajectory.

Hora activated her scanners, feeding a steady stream of data back to the Dark Fire.

Across from her, the Kaminoan scientist frowned at her console. “Why am I on this mission? I’m a civilian researcher. Dr. L’Sa is far more qualified.”

https://rule34.xxx/index.php?page=post&s=view&id=9208317

Hora flashed her a grin.“Because it’s time to share the fun—and the danger.”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870611.0805

Reeves:

“Tactical, send the best option for a secure docking to Lt. McLeo,” Reeves order as Communications kept trying to isolate and translate the comm traffic.

“Sorry Commander, still nothing on that internal frequency. They may be ignoring me, or we’re not breaking through the interference.”

“But from what I’m able to translate, it may be a coded transmission or language. Like the MACO Battle code.” York told the First Officer.

“Keep trying,” Reeves replied. “Transporter Control, maintain a lock on our people.”

“Captain, you are free to depart at your convenience.”​

 

[milkmaiden38]

Hora
Inside the shuttlecraft, everyone was absorbed in their stations, fingers dancing across consoles, the soft hum of instruments filling the cabin. Hora glanced up from her scanner, checking their trajectory.

“Let’s move in closer,” she instructed LCDR McLeo.

The shuttle eased forward, and the massive, misshapen structure swallowed the main viewscreen. It wasn’t just big — it was huge, an impossible fusion of metal and stone that looked half-grown, half-forged.

Hora’s scanners lit up with unfamiliar elements. She categorized each one as it appeared, her brow furrowing as she studied the seams where ship hulls and asteroid rock seemed to melt into one another.

“Captain,” Dr. Ta Penu said in her trademark monotone, “the Nebari—Luxon—are similar to those you previously encountered. The Hynerian species is amphibious. They share characteristics with Earth’s frogs or toads, or Orion species Betta striatus and Ostreidae rufus.”

“Bettas are very cute,” Hora replied, delighted. “When they croak at night, their gullet glows purple.”

“I doubt the Hynerian are cute,” Ta Penu deadpanned.

Hora sighed. “What about the other unknown lifeforms?”

“Still analyzing them.”

She turned toward the tactical station. “Lt. Araiza, are you detecting any weapon systems?”

As she waited for his report, she tapped her comm badge, opening a channel back to the USS Dark Fire.

“Commander Reeves… what if we retrieve the lifesigns near the thermal vents first? Lowest risk. Much better than flying straight into this… conglomeration of rock and metal.”

The shuttle drifted closer, sensors sweeping the structure in greater detail.

“Dark Fire, we’re getting clearer readings now,” Hora continued. “Can you refine the analysis? Lt. York—at this range, you might be able to punch through the communication interference.”

She leaned forward, eyes fixed on the grotesque hybrid structure looming ahead, equal parts fascinated and unsettled.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870611.0815

Reeves:​

“Captain, one of the species identified is the Bioform we encountered in The Milky Way galaxy. DNA is similar but not identical to the combat species or the space faring one. I would recommend avoiding contact. But if contact is made. Capturing a dead one fort analysis would be helpful.”

“The nearest thermal vent to you contains several Hynerian and Nebari biosigns. Most of them are dead, but there are several survivors. They may be able provide more information.”

“Ship designation Hostile 1 contains material used in Imperial Ship construction. As well as additional unknown materials. Design specifications are are like the Obsidian Seraph. I advise caution.”

“Hostile 2 is made from an amalgamation of.. plastics?”

“Hostile 3 is a Nebari vessel.”

“We’re detection a liform, and I’m being generous with that classification. It’s.. fungal in nature. But it’s moving.”

“Ship construction Material of Hostile 1 is still causing interference with external scans of that ship.”

“We are receiving a better transmission and we’re working on it, but is a rather sophisticated code. Dark Fire is also processing the transmission.”​

 

[milkmaiden38]

Hora

“Lieutenant Commander, take us toward the nearest thermal vent,” Hora ordered. “Commander Reeves will feed you the coordinates.”

Then she turned to Dr. Ta Penu.

“No pressure—but I’m fairly certain we’re about to pick up injured Hynerians and Nebari. I’m going to need you ready to treat them.”

“That is not a reasonable expectation,” the doctor replied. Her long neck dipped and swayed toward Hora while her body remained perfectly still in her seat, an oddly graceful contradiction.

“It is reasonable to expect you to do the best you can,” Hora countered.

Dr. Ta Penu’s eyes flicked across Hora’s green face and she frowned. “I will collect enough biological data so that, should one die, we can clone them.” Her tone made it clear the conversation was now concluded—at least on her end. She also knew her comment would irk Captain Hora.

The deck lights dimmed as the ship angled downward, the hull groaning softly against the rising pressure. A low tremor rippled through the floor as they descended toward the thermal vent.

“Hang on, we have some choppy waves coming up,” LCDR McLeo announced. “Thermal activity increasing. Visibility dropping.”

A bloom of shimmering distortion filled the forward display—heat haze, bending light like a mirage. Then shapes emerged within it.

Two escape pods. One scorched black, the other dented and leaking faint trails of silver coolant.

Hora leaned forward. “Life signs?”

“Faint,” Dr Ta Penu replied. “Two Hynerian, three Nebari. Stable, I believe”

Dr. Ta Penu made a soft, irritated clicking sound. “Their vitals are oscillating, but that might be normal for them.’”

Hora didn’t look away from the screen. “It is not normal” Hora guessed “Lieutenant Jovovich, you and I will bring them in. Just be prepare to treat them” She said looking at Dr Ta Penu

“I am always prepared,” the doctor said, though her tone suggested she wished she weren’t.

The shuttle door open and Captain Hora and Lt Jovovich got out.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870611.0830

Jovovich:

The blistering cold hit him first. Even here in a thermal vent of the planet where it was warm it was still colder than the artic regions on Earth. Hell, this place was colder than Andoria, and that place was frigid as fuck.

“It’s -19 degrees, Captain. We need to move fast.” Slugging through the snow that had piled into drifts inside the cave entrance.

Approaching the first escape pod he looked over the controls as the tricorder chirped, moments later he was cranking on the hatch and pulling it open.

Inside five Nebari lay huddled together, two of them already dead the other three were badly injured and suffering from the cold. A bluish grey skin color didn’t help any diagnosis of cold damage.

The other pod contained the Hynerians, and as soon as they spotted the other pod open already they started complaining about not being rescued first.

For being rescued they were by far the most bossy, demanding, and pushy creatures. Demands for the rescue of their property and servants, above all else.

After a few minutes of the complaints and demands, Jovovich shut off his translator and shrugged at the Hynerians.​

 

[milkmaiden38]

Hora
Orion culture prized hospitality — being a good host was practically a sacred duty. But these Hynerians? These frog‑folk were testing the limits of even Orion patience.

They croaked nonstop: about the shuttle temperature, about the “primitive” chairs, about the lack of ceremony, about how their needs should obviously be the highest priority. After ten minutes of that chorus, Hora found herself agreeing with Lt. Jovovich’s earlier assessment: this was a species best appreciated from a distance.

“LCDR McLeo, get us back to the USS Dark Fire on the double! FAST BUT SAFELY!” Hora shouted over the rising wall of complaints.

“Yes, Captain. Got it, stoked... but with Hang Loose vibe,” Shino McLeo replied, unbothered, as serene as a glacier drifting through space.

The only other person who seemed immune to the chaos was Dr. Ta Penu. Nothing ever rattled her. The long‑necked Kaminoan moved with clinical precision, taking samples and treating each patient strictly by medical priority — not by rank, volume of complaints, or number of limbs flailing dramatically. Hora didn’t like Ta Penu, exactly, but she respected the hell out of her composure.

Hora crouched beside the least injured Nebari, who was clutching his side and glaring suspiciously at everything.

“Hello,” she said, voice firm but not unkind. “I’m Captain Hora. My crew is here to help. Now tell me — what in the seven hells happened around this planet?”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870611.0835

Panic:​

The Nebari and Hynerians started talking at the same time, with the Hynerians focused on the recovery of their possessions and the Nebari trying to explain what happened until one of the Nebari decked a Hynerian and then everyone started talking in extremely high pitched voices.

“Captain, I’m detecting a sudden massive increase by 800 percent of Helium in the shuttle.” Ta Penu said in an extremely high voice.

Jovovich immediately grabbed several filtration masks and handed them to the crew, himself and the Captain first. “Any other gases? And what’s the source?” He asked after making sure his mask was sealed.

The Hynerian that had been punched raised a hand. “When startled, we.. expel Helium gas.” it explained.

“You FART Helium?” Jovovich growled.

“Yes.”

“Then stop FARTING!” he yelled, which only caused the two Hynerians to fart even more.

“Excuse me..” One of the Nebari said, the only surviving male. “We were harvesting ice from the planet, near a Minbari ship when the Space Hulk transitioned into normal space on top of us. We barely had time to eject. Are there any other survivors?”

“Nobody cares about Nebari peasants.” The Hynerians complained. “We need our property rescued and returned to us.”

Reeves:​

“Captain, the... anomaly is firing several engines. It may shift again. Be ready in case it hits the planet.” Reeves said over the comm.

 

[milkmaiden38]

That was it. Captain Hora’s patience finally snapped.

She slapped the control panel, and the two Hynerians vanished mid‑complaint, dematerializing in twin columns of shimmering light.

A second tap vented the helium from the shuttle cabin.

“Oh GNARLY” LCDR McLeo breathed, eyes wide.

“I didn’t kill them,” Hora said, with a helium voice, already anticipating the accusation. “They’re suspended in the transporter beam matrix. I’ll bring them back when it’s safe.”

“Captain… it’s not safe to keep them in the matrix for too long,” McLeo warned.

“Too much helium will kill us via oxygen displacement,” Hora shot back, her voice returning to normal. “I’m choosing the danger that doesn’t involve us passing out and dying.”

She opened a channel. “Commander Reeves, I think that massive ship popping in and out of existence is what damaged the orbiting vessels. Keep your distance. I’m beaming two Hynerians over—see if you can figure out what ‘cargo’ they’re so worried about.”

She cut the channel and turned to McLeo.“LCDR McLeo, find us a place to dock on that massive blob‑ship.”

McLeo blinked. “Captain…?”

Dr. Ta Penu’s long neck swiveled toward her. “You intend to dock with it?”

“It’s safer to be attached to it than crushed by it,” Hora said, already moving toward the forward console. “If that thing blinks again, I want us stuck to its hull, not drifting under its shadow.”

The shuttle thrummed as they angled toward the colossal, shifting mass ahead—an impossible structure that seemed to blink in and out of reality.

Hora braced herself, jaw set.“Let’s go meet our new neighbor.”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870611.0845

Docking:

Even before the shuttle set down in the landing bay, the bodies were visible. Different races, different armour, different weapons. A half dozen of the Bio-form combat creatures lay strewn across the deck, blown apart and or burned to ash.

Nebari, Luxon, and several other species were dead as well, most of them partially eaten or destroyed by acid or claws.

One of the new aliens was wearing tall and spindly armour, armour to thin for a human to wear perhaps it was an android of some sort? Either way it was severely damaged like the others.

“Captain,” Jovovich said pointing as he exited the shuttle. “Lifesigns that way. Multiple species.”​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ ALFREDO ARAIZA ▻​

Having kept to himself for the majority of the turbulent encounter, Araiza’s latest expression came in the form of a quiet sigh. Unboarding with the rest of the crew, he was rather stiff as he witnessed the amount of corpse residue before them.

He lingered behind the others, pausing to kneel by a morbidly torn creature. White hair, gray skin, with what was left of its torso still grabbing onto armament. He squatted down for a closer look, finding fingers near a trigger. If whatever was supposed to defend it didn’t spare its life, then the lieutenant assumed it wasn’t worth expanding on.

Still, he mumbled, “May your gods have mercy on your soul,” and stood up, catching up to the rest of the team. In every other step, his eyes turned to the different types of armory, some successfully keeping his attention. He’d detected a lethal explosive, given the bodies’ conditions. It was the size of the damage that sent a chill down his spine, calling for both technical curiosity and worry. If something existed, it could always be recreated… as could it strike again. Who was to say it wouldn’t while they were present?

“Cap, I’m gonna hang back for a second,” he communicated, gloved hand tracing a scorched edge of what once appeared to be an entryway. “I wanna figure out what the hell they threw at these people.”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870611.0850

Docking Bay:​

The edge of the entry way looked like it had been hit with a high temperature beam that also caused splash damage of bits of molten metal to flash and spray with droplets.

Some bodies had been hit by large bore projectiles, some by high intensity heat beam, flamethrowers, others by razor thin cuts.

Everyone ‘sentient’ seemed to be fighting the bio-form creatures, and they spewed acid, used claws, or fired a biological slug that burrowed into the skin.

Several bio-forms and been blown apart from the inside like they’d been shot with a hand grenade or something that had exploded them from the inside.

There was evidence of weapon shells for weapons that weren’t currently present, indicating this had not been the only location of heavy fighting.

None of the bodies here were Hynerian. Apparently they were to important, or smart, to fight.

***

As the Captain and group moved down the passage it was unusually wide, even bigger than The Dark Fires passages. Big enough for a full squad to move shoulder to shoulder down it.

The crazier part was the passage seemed to change in age from polished and new to covered in layers of dust and debris. Sometimes looking as if two ships were melded together from different materials and going in different directions. Even the writing on the walls changed style and pattern intermittently.

And then they came to a doorway that had been sealed and welded shut.

From the other side.​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ ALFREDO ARAIZA ▻​

Craving a closer look in a location that didn’t run the risk of endangering him, Araiza cautiously began to gather small samples. He captured the layouts of any larger items, knowing to be wary of both a possible detonation and not wanting to accidentally touch any bodies, and walked following damaged walls, not wishing to go too far or get lost.

His luck ran out as his right foot got caught on what appeared to have been someone when trying to walk over them. Tripping over the unlucky cadaver, he fell to the floor with a thud—not strong enough to hurt him on impact, but strong enough to rattle the weakened foundations. His eyes shot up, following a sharp blare that came from the ceiling, where a thick, metallic joist whose nearest side that was barely hanging on had given up on its purpose.

Araiza’s pupils dilated. He rolled to his right, the joist making the surrounding ground rattle out of its heaviness in the process, digging itself into the floor with its sharp-edged landing. Once Araiza was sure the ground he was on was stable enough to continue moving, he carefully got on his feet, his chest moving quickly.

Looking once more at the faulty ceiling, a rather large hole seemed to be the culprit. The man squinted his eyes, just barely able to make out muted screens and a dying spark here and there. He pushed against the joist with his foot, ensuring it was stable, and looked over his shoulder to ensure there were no surprises. Once he was certain the second level didn’t have further falling debris, he began to climb.

 

[milkmaiden38]

Hora
Hora nodded at Lt. Araiza. “Good idea.”

She fell in behind Jovovich, with McLeo and Dr. Ta Penu flanking her like mismatched bookends—one radiating laid‑back surfer energy, the other radiating clinical disdain for the universe. The corridor ahead stretched open, absurdly wide, wider than anything on the Dark Fire.

McLeo let out a low whistle. “You could ride this wave a long time, brah.”

“You will not,” Hora said without even glancing at him.

“Still gnarly,” he muttered.

Hora gestured at the walls. “Thoughts on the shifting corridor styles?”

“This is the result of smashing ships together… poorly,” Dr. Ta Penu said. Her long neck swayed as she examined a panel that looked simultaneously brand‑new and a century old.

Hora tilted her head. “Could it also be smashed together in time?”

Ta Penu paused. “Temporal melding. An interesting hypothesis. Horrifying, but interesting.”

They reached a sealed hatch—welded shut, metal warped and bubbled.From the outside.

McLeo stepped back. “That’s gnarly. Like sharp reefs ahead.”

“Very sharp reefs,” Ta Penu echoed, entirely unhelpful.

Hora ignored them both. “Jovovich. Lifesigns behind this door?”

He checked his tricorder. “Clustered. Not moving much.”

McLeo crossed his arms. “Either they’re hiding… or they’re waitin’ for the next wave.”

“Or they are hostile,” Ta Penu said calmly. “In which case this door is performing admirably.”

Hora shot her a look. “Doctor. Your bedside manner.”

“I am not at a bedside,” Ta Penu replied.

McLeo snorted. “She totally yanked you on that one, Cap’n.”

Hora stepped closer to the sealed hatch, brushing her fingers over the warped metal. “Alright. Before we open anything, we try communicating.”

McLeo leaned in. “And if they don’t answer?”

Hora smiled—sharp, confident, just a little reckless. “Then we improvise.”

Ta Penu sighed. “I dislike improvisation.”

“That’s why it’s fun,” Hora said.

McLeo pointed at the door. “So how’re you planning to talk through that thing?”

“By using the door itself as a speaker.” Hora’s grin widened. She pressed her tricorder against the metal, fingers dancing across the controls as she tuned the modulation. “Let’s try Nebari first.”

Her voice came through the door in a metallic, resonant echo—alien, but intelligible.

“Hello. We mean you no harm. We are a rescue team. Can we open this door? Knock three times if it is safe for us to proceed.”

The corridor fell silent.

Even McLeo stopped breathing for a second.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870611.0855

The Lone Searcher:
As Araiza climbed onto the deck of the next level he saw a large (7’) spindly figure standing like a statue, it’s weapons pointed at him in the light as it’s armour gleamed white. Though covered in scars from countless battle it still looked fully functional.

In the center of it’s chest was a large white tear drop shaped crystal surrounded by alien writing. The helmet was elongated and seamless, perhaps it used a HUD with a sensor array to see, since there wasn’t anything that looked like eyes or a viewing capacity.



The Squad:
From the other side of the sealed door came the sounds of arguing in several languages before three slow, but loud, knocks sounded, as if the butt of a weapon was being smacked against the door.

From off down a side corridor came the sound of heavy weapons fire and explosions. Followed by the sounds of something very large, feral, and angry bellowing in rage and pain.

“Sounds like a fucking bear, or a Sehlat,” Jovovich said as he aimed his phaser down the hallway, the roaring bellow echoing.

Ships part of the mess.


​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ ALFREDO ARAIZA ▻​

The man’s initial arrival at the top was startling, given what seemed to be an unwelcomed guest. A reactive step back, one too close to the edge of the opening, served as a reminder to not let himself be scared enough into a fall.

Araiza composed himself and observed the… being? Decoration? Thing? He side-stepped, awaiting it to follow his movements. It remained stiff.

“In the odd chance someone’s in there…” he began, taking slow steps towards the figure, parallel to the length of its weapon. The closer he got, the more his neck stretched, looking up at the towering being. “…I’m not looking to harm you, or anything, for that matter. I’m Lieutenant Araiza. My team is here to help—assuming you’re the victims. If you’re part of what caused all this, I’m sure that can be settled elsewhere.”

The more he moved forward without any sudden movements, the less he felt alarmed. He had contemplated simply leaving, but if the figure was dangerous, it would result in a chase that led him to their shuttle or the others. He felt it was too big of a risk.

That aside, he was also dying to know what it was that it held, being weaponry he was entirely unfamiliar with. Sure, he could guess which part did what, but the size and composition were what drew him in.

Once Araiza was close enough to the figure and assured he was distant enough for a last-minute escape, he took off his left hand’s glove, followed by one of his HALO rings that wrapped around his index finger, covered by the black material of one of his custom suits. He hadn’t felt like risking anything today.

Glove back in place, he aimed the small ring in direction of the statuesque being, a miniscule hole no bigger than a skin pore at the forefront, one easy to miss. Halo, scan all materials present. Perimeter eight, eight, eight. Avoid anything resembling furniture or obvious wreckage. Replicate the figure.”

Once the device detected he had finished his instruction, a ray of light emerged, golden in color, washing over his instructed area. It helped illuminate the surroundings, which Araiza reviewed as he moved around the figure, making sure the item registered every inch of the stiff companion. He’d be able to have a better look at its components once they returned and he could access the information comfortably.

"Just taking a few pictures… have you considered modeling? You have a deadly side profile."

The scan finished with the figure’s front, some light reflecting off the large crystal inside the being. The light returned to the ring, and the ring hid underneath once again. Araiza was drawn to it. Reasonably, it wouldn’t be there for aesthetic purposes. Who brought gems to war frontlines?

He wished he didn’t know better—he would’ve grabbed the crystal and taken it directly to any geologist on board. He had enough trouble to add stolen property from a casualty scene to the list. Araiza stepped back, letting out a low whistle.

“That’s a pretty thing you got there. Really brings out your essence. I’m sure it made you popular with the ladies,” he joked lightly, turning his back to plan his descent.

 

[milkmaiden38]

Hora

“Alright… let’s cut a hole in the door,” Hora said, already bracing herself.

Dr. Ta Penu tilted her head, perfectly calm. “And the bear‑like roaring approaching from the passageway?”

Hora exhaled through her nose. “It is moments like this when people truly appreciate Lt. Sol. Unfortunately, he is not here. So Lt. Jovovich and I will attempt to peacefully discourage our new bear friend.”

She pointed down the corridor back to the shuttle. “Doctor, McLeo—get these people evacuated back to the shuttle. And if they’re conscious enough to speak, ask them what in the collapsing sun is happening on this… ship‑thing.”

“Lt. Jovovich, spread out. I’ll take the right side,” Hora said, already moving toward the widening roar echoing through the warped passageway.

Behind her, McLeo drew his phaser and thumbed it to the metal‑cutting setting. “Doctor, I’m making a small hole—just big enough for someone to surfer through, crotching on a board.” The beam hit the door with a hiss, molten metal dripping like glowing tears. “Hang loose, it'll be a sec.”

Ta Penu watched the sparks fly. “Assuming the bear does not arrive first.”

McLeo winced. “Yeah… Gnarly, Doc.”