Bearings

[Cmdr Ba'alyo 0]

Inside the starship Challenger, the crew was regaining their bearings.

 

Four of the impulse engine fusion arrays had been brought online, restoring power to internal force fields and averting further decompression danger. Bulkheads, though still lowered on the damaged decks, could now be raised safely.

 

The Matter/Anti-matter Reaction Chamber (M/ARC) was running at low levels. There was now sufficient energy to raise the external shields, charge the phaser banks, engage the tractor, or propel the ship at faster-than-light speeds - although none of these things had yet been attempted.

 

In addition to steadying the rhythm of its heartbeat, the brain of the mighty ship was beginning to wake. Primary and secondary computer cores had been reinitialized. Several of those who were conscious had managed to learn their name, position, and rank aboard the ship.

 

* * * * *

Lieutenant Commander Ryan Leslie, who had just learned he was senior duty officer for the bridge's night shift, was making his way toward the center of Deck 7. He was helping Hannah Reed, the young woman who was listed as chief navigator, find a doctor to help her injured arm. Main sickbay was supposed to be on this level, somewhere towards the interior. He and Reed had passed a number of unconscious people sprawled on the deck or leaning against the angled surface of the corridors. Interestingly, none were wearing uniform jackets like theirs or the puffy white coveralls they'd seen on the impulse deck. Instead, these people wore burgundy one-piece jumpsuits with a black collar. And they had little brass plates on their right shoulders with names like Barstow and Murdock and Andrax. Although none were injured or dead, they'd been able to offer little help other than propping them in a more comfortable position. But no doctors in sight. "Where are they," Leslie asked no one in particular, "all huddled in an access tunnel somewhere?"

 

* * * * *

Accessing the computer library, Major Kimiko Johnson and Lieutenant Anastasia Poldara had learned their names and respective positions as Marine commandant and chief science officer. The afterglow of their find had been rudely interrupted by a violent, green-skinned giant, who'd been summarily subdued by the two of them. Under duress, he'd claimed to know nothing about their situation, having awoken in a holding cell several decks below them. The voice from the bridge had directed them to return him to a secured cell. They'd marched him into the corridor, agreeing it was a good idea.

 

* * * * *

His own name was Isaac Spencer, an ensign assigned as relief communications officer. At least that's what the crew manifest indicated. He'd left the others back at the warp intermix thing so he could access the computer. Scrolling through the visual record, he'd first recognized the face of his travelling companion Lieutenant Savros, who was listed as science officer. He was a Vulcan. Quintin M'Guire was the name associated with one of the guys they'd run into. He was listed as a junior lieutenant assigned as helmsman. Rounding out their group, he finally found Edward Freeman, a junior grade lieutenant in engineering. Inwardly pleased at his discoveries, Spencer started poking through the records, trying to figure out how they got there.

 

* * * * *

He ran the pads of one hand against the scratchy hair of his face, grunting a little. The other side of his face was throbbing and cold. Opening his eyes, he saw that he was lying against a metal floor. He muttered a curse and got to his feet, noting that through the darkness there were a lot of pulsing lights. Where was he? There were words printed on the wall that said "Cargo Transporter 1" and a large raised area in front of him. On the wide flat surface were stacked geometrically-shaped containers saying Elasian Imperial Trade, Dilithium Crystals, Raw. He looked down at the jumpsuit that covered his plump frame. He pulled off a brass plate that said Telthar. The whole place made no sense. Worse, it looked and smelled... sterile. Why would he be in such a place?

 

* * * * *

Captain Rolf Seiben had learned not only his name, but in the last hour had confirmed he was in charge of this drifting vessel. The young woman with him was Lieutenant Josephine Lessard, chief communications officer. They'd been pleased to field messages from throughout the ship and watch various systems come to life, but now there were troubling reports with words like "intruders" and "Orions". Now their attention was directed to a Science console and a disconcerting blip highlighted onscreen.

 

Outside the starship Challenger, an unknown ship was moving slowly. It seemed to have its bearings - it was heading right for them.