Anthologies of Awesome

<Compose:IRAM/

<Rec:COM.4THFLT.SECSIX/

<Originates:COM.4THFLT.SECSIX.TSKSEV.DRLM/

<Unplanned emergency decel out of relative speed travel approx 2.54L from termination joining TSKSEV on station./

<No order for decel given.  No damage. No thruster or boost engine response. Engineering investigation continues. No signs of sabotage. No signs of damage./

<Current location: 2.54L, 245.320B-299.002P from TSKSEV./

<Recommend immediate recovery operation./

<Sends:COM.DRLM./

<Confirm.Y/N?./

<COM.DRLM SENDS./>

“Alright, I guess that’s all we can do.  Any word yet on the planet-side survey?”

“Minor hydrous planet in the Ophelian system, previously unmapped, no complex life, no signs of any human activity.”

“What’s the status on the down systems?”

“No weapons, no maneuvering, no mains. Dead in the water.”

And defenseless.  It didn’t need to be said.

“And somehow we pop out of decel with no damage in a geostationary orbit?”

“Apparently, Captain.”

“What bands have we surveyed around us?”

“All we can. Full wide arpeture, all ranges, all bands. Nothing but noise, Ophelia is a noisy place, but none of it’s anthropogenic. All stellar.”

“Goddamnit. What’s the crew know?”

“Well, they’re not dumb. They know we’re not where we’re supposed to be. It’s hard to keep all this a secret.”

“Then we won’t. Let’s take a walk to the bridge, Will.”

The master and commander of the most capable and dangerous fighting machine ever assembled by the hands of man stood and patted his executive officer on the shoulder with friendly familiarity. The XO cracked the dogs on the door and the captain preceded him out into the red lit control center.  A ring of faces, all pale from fear and a lack of sun looked back at him.  They were looking for answers, but there were none to be had.  The ship was dead in the water and rumors of its defenseless status would surely have made their way up here by now.

The captain walked to his station in the cramped horseshoe surrounded by vis screens. Most of them were showing the view outside, but a few showed the various systems status. All green. The captain ignored the stares and reached up to the overhead and pulled down a microphone on a tether.

“Captian.” The XO walked up to him and called up his recent communications on a personal vis.

<Compose:IRAM/

<Rec:COM.4THFLT.SECSIX/

<Originates:COM.4THFLT.SECSIX.TSKSEV.DRLM/

<SEND FAIL.>

<Auto.RESEND./

<SEND FAIL.>

<?.MESSAGE.STATUS:/

<FAIL.>

<Auto.RUN:COM.STATUS.?.STATUS>

<COM.SYS.FAIL>

<?.GENERAL.FAIL.SYS.MESSAGE/>

They shared a long look and the captain keyed the microphone.

“One MC, general address.”

An audible pop and steady hum sounded in the overhead loud speakers throughout the ship.