Chapter Disclaimers: Not too much of any. Bad jokes?
Summary: Bran and the Gorion's crew have found a derelict cruiser floating out in space. They've decided to go investigate. What will they find?
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Slowly but surely, the distance between the derelict cruiser and the Gorion shrank. Bran leaned forward in his command chair, adopting the pose of the philosopher. All around him his ragtag crew worked with practiced efficiency. Imoen hunched over the operations console, fingers trying to coax the sensors into scrounging more data. Valygar manned navigations, managing the approach while Minsc, guided by the occasional squeak, brought the Gorion’s defenses up to snuff. Nalia had disappeared back to engine room and their Avarielian doctor had gone back to her medlab. Watching the ship grow in the viewer, Bran snuck a glance at his half Seldarian second in command.
Jaheira caught the look and gave him a reassuring smile. At first he found it odd, then he realized that he was anxious. The situation was odd, a derelict battle cruiser, just floating around in deep space and seemingly intact. Then again, it was an odd galaxy.
Cocking his head towards Imoen, he asked, “Immy? Based on current speed, is it even possible to track back a point of origin?”
Imoen shrugged and said, “We probably could, Cap, but without knowing how long it was drifting or if speed has even been constant… It’d be one heck of a WAG bro.”
“Okay Immy, WAG me.”
“You know Cap, I don’t think Jah would appreciate that much.”
Bran slapped his forehead with one hand and groaned. “Immy, you’re slipping. That was terrible, but nowhere near in a good way.”
“Well can’t blame a gal for trying to be amusing.”
Never looking up from the nav console, Valygar said in complete deadpan, “On Charesh V, they execute people for making bad jokes. And it would only take… 3 days to get there at max speed. Shall I plot a course Captain?”
Imoen snorted and threw a small coil of wire at Valygar’s head. The dark navigator easily dodged, the wire pinging harmlessly against the far wall. He added, “You know, I think I can get Nalia to coax a little extra speed out of engines and we could be there sooner.”
Imoen glared over at Valygar, then stuck her tongue out and gave him the raspberry. The others on the bridge started to chuckle and Bran said, “No V-man, I’d rather go see what’s on that ship. Then, maybe we can try and sell the parts on Charesh.”
From the operations chair, Imoen humphed while Valygar allowed himself a quiet guffaw. Turning to face the console, she said, “You two wouldn’t know a good joke if it came up and bit you on the bum.”
Still chuckling, Bran said, “Imoen, the question is, would you?”
Imoen gave out a hearty fake laugh, “A good one Bran Flakes. Or should we just call you Jah’s Bran Muffin?”
Bran flushed slightly as Jaheira coughed from the comm station. Minsc turned around looking somewhat confused until a squeak from his pocket cleared things up for him. But it was Valygar’s low chuckle that filled the bridge. That and Imoen’s delighted innocent whistling.
After a moment, Bran said, “So, Imoen, how about that estimate on point of origin?”
“Oh that? Lemme see. Best guess,” she said, pulling up a computer sim showing the ship and the local space, “is that nebula there. Its really not moving that fast at all, so it could have been in there a long time. And lots of weird EM and gravitational wackiness going on in there… looks like some suns are getting born. It’s still not too far from the outer edges, which is really screwing with my sensors. Probably why I nearly missed it when we flying by.” Imoen turned around and shrugged, “But what the hell it was doing there? Your guess is as good as mine Muffinhead.”
Valygar chimed in at that point, “And from Imoen’s analysis, the closer we get, the more interference we’re going to hit. Navigation is going to get awful tricky, but nothing the ship and Nalia can’t handle.”
“Okay. So, not only we do have a derelict cruiser, but one that’s spent a long time in a real winner of a nebula. Any more on the ship?”
Imoen turned back and brought up a display of the ship again. “Not really. I still can’t get a good reading on it, but the interference should clear up when we get closer.”
“ETA?”
Valygar replied, “Another half hour. I could push it, but the nebula is messing with the engines. And I really don’t want to explain to Nalia what I did to them.”
Nodding in complete understanding, Bran replied, “Half hour is fine. No need to blow a converter because we got impatient.”
Bran leaned back and watched the clock tick down as the ship drew closer to its target. Waiting was not an easy thing for him, despite all of the calming techniques that Jaheira tried to teach him. He wanted to be there, to start exploring now, to find out the secrets of this mystery ship. And he had to wait 30 minutes more.
But, twenty minutes later, the mystery deepened.
Bran had busied himself looking over their supply situation when he heard Imoen shout, “No way.”
Looking up, he saw her punch the intercom button and shout, “Nalia? Did something just go totally haywire in the sensor array?”
A tinny concerned voice came back, “Hold on. Let me check.” There was silence as everyone watched Imoen. A minute later Nalia replied, “No. No, everything checks out, why, you getting something wrong on the board?”
“I don’t know, but it shouldn’t be possible.”
Jaheira asked, “What? What are the sensors showing?”
“Umm. Well, our little shippy friend out there? I’m reading power. And not like some barely working battery. Significant power readings.”
Leaning forward, almost out of his chair, Bran asked incredulously, “How? That ship is at least four hundred years old.”
“I.. I don’t know.”
“Minsc, better charge the guns.” Then turning back to Imoen, he asked again, “What about life signs?”
Imoen punched at the board furiously, “Umm, not sure. The interference is still playing havoc with the readings. And whatever that hull is, it’s hard to get a reading through it. But, I’m not picking up any.”
“So, the lights could be on, but nobody home.”
“Ask me again in a few minutes.” Turning her attention to the intercom, she said, “Nalia, can you do anything about boosting the gain on main array? Maybe help me punch through?”
“I’ll do what I can, Im. But the power conduits are already held together with engine tape and the circuits are halfway cross circuited as it is..”
“I know, I know. But see what you can do, kay?”
“You got it. Nalia out.”
The comm clicking off brought a hush down on the bridge as everyone dealt with Imoen’s report. Bran stared ahead as the others worked over their consoles, trying to glean more information to solve this growing mystery. He stared at the clock over the viewscreen, glared at the readout as it tortured him by moving so painfully slow. Every second was like a year as he waited, waited for more information, for action.
Five minutes ponderously ticked off the clock, the only sounds the conversation between Nalia and Imoen as they worked on calibrating the sensors to penetrate the ship’s hull. From the rising frustration in both voices, neither one of them could work any of their magic to get a clear reading. Finally, Imoen half turned and grumbled, “I can tell you there is no power to the drives, no power to the active sensors, no power to the gun emplacements, and there doesn’t even appear to be power to any of the shielding. But for the life of me, I can’t punch through the hull. Some sort of weird EM interference along with just the metal doing its best to scatter my sensor beams.” She sighed, “But, as far as I can tell, it’s safe to approach.”
Arching an eyebrow, he asked, “What about anything else? Any signals? Transponder? A name for the hulk out there?”
Jaheira turned from comms and said, “If there is power, then none of it is going to any of the communication equipment. There are no signals being sent, and as far as I can tell, it isn’t receiving either.”
Imoen added, “It looks like the communications array was either damaged or eaten away by the nebula. Nothing there. And as to a name, you’re guess is a good as mine. The outer layer of the hull is really badly scored and pitted. Not an ounce of paint left on. A couple of small breaches in the hull, but nothing serious.”
Just as she finished, the bridge doors slid open and Doc Aerie swept in. Bran turned around to face her and ask what was up when he saw the look on her face. Her face was as pale as ice and her eyes locked on the view of the ship before her. She looked like icy death striding into the bridge. Jumping out of his chair, he asked, “Aerie? Aerie? Are you okay?”
Aerie looked down at him as if seeing him for the first time. A slight, mad smile was plastered on her lips and even wilder look glazed over her eyes. It was enough to make Bran take an involuntary step backwards and his hand drop to his pulse pistol. The smile widened as she watched the tall man back away. She tittered, “Safe? Oh yes, it is safe to approach the ship. Very safe. Very safe. Oh yes.”
He was very aware of the others turning around at their stations and of Minsc getting up out of his chair. Looking right back at Aerie, Bran asked, “What is it that you sense Aerie? What is it?”
“Cold. Darkness. Hunger. And patience. Oh yes. Patience. Very safe.”
Minsc walked over to Aerie’s side and asked, “Minsc and Boo are worried about Aerie. You need to come back from the other places, Aerie. Come back, for Boo is very worried.”
Aerie cocked her head to look at the big gunner’s wide and honest face. “Come back… yes.. come… back.”
Aerie suddenly gasped and her knees buckled. Bran moved to catch her, but Minsc was faster. He caught her and cradled her in his big arms. His voice awash in concern, he asked, “Aerie? Boo and Minsc need you.” His pleas were echoed by a squeak from within one of Minsc’s pockets.
Aerie’s eyelids fluttered open and she looked out with clear eyes. “I.. I.. I am better Minsc. You can let me go, okay?”
Minsc hesitated for a moment, letting her get her feet solidly beneath her before he released her . The doctor did her best to cover a slight wobble in her knees, resting one hand on the big weapons officer. After she righted herself, Bran asked, “What… What did you come in contact with over there? Is there something over there?”
Aerie looked off into the viewscreen and suppressed a shudder. Turning back to the captain, she replied evenly, “I.. I am not sure, Bran. I sensed a great deal of pain over there. Some..something t..t.terrible happened, and it could be just that overwhelmed me. B.. but I don’t know if anything is living over there.”
“Do you think it’s safe to go on board?”
Aerie looked from Bran and the ship more than a few times as she thought it over. “I.. I think so. There m.. might be danger, but nothing concrete. All I know is something terrible happened. The psychic residue… it is still there.”
Bran looked back at the viewscreen himself, at the huge cruiser that hung there in space. All that technology, all that equipment, all that potential wealth, just sitting there, ripe for the picking. And whatever Aerie sensed as well as the strange power situation urging caution. It should have been a more difficult decision to make, but the prize was too rich to pass up. Looking back at Aerie, he asked, “If we go on board, will you be able to come with us? Will you be alright?”
Aerie swallowed hard and then nodded. “I.. I can block the sensations. I just got c..caught unawares. It is strong, but I can handle it.”
“Good. Because until something concrete comes up, we can’t pass this up.”
“I know.”
Turning towards the rest of his crew, he asked, “So, despite the mysteries, do we go? Or do we leave the cruiser where we found it.”
Minsc was first, “Minsc and Boo are not afraid. We will go on board, and if evil waits for us, we will mop the deckplates with its buttocks!”
Shaking his head, Bran gave him a big thumbs up and said, “Right-o. You got it man. The rest of you?”
Imoen nodded and said, “O’course. I found it. And I want whatever is good enough to block our sensors for us.”
Valygar and Aerie both nodded and Nalia piped in her assent. Finally, he turned to Jaheira. “And you, Jaheira?”
Jaheira studied Bran’s face for a moment. “I will go, but we must be careful. Something overwhelmed Aerie’s telepathic senses, this is of more concern than the lights still being on.”
“I know, Jaheira. And when haven’t I been careful?” Bran flashed her a smile.
Jaheira just harrumphed.
Sitting back down, Bran said, “Well then. Valygar find us an airlock we can dock with and take us in. Preferably amidships.”
“Aye.” The dark man bent over the displays. Finding what he was looking for, he punched in the new heading. The Gorion swooped in, a small speck compared to the hulking girth of the cruiser. With practiced ease, Valygar matched speeds and rotation with the ship. Once aligned, he said, “In place. Ready to dock.”
Bran turned to Imoen. “Fire docking maggrapnels.”
Imoen keyed in a sequence on her board and Bran felt the shudder of the grapnels fire off. Imoen, now her voice professional, called out, “Grapnel 1 away. And positive lock.”
The ship shuddered again. “Grapnel 2 away. And positive lock.”
The process repeated twice more. “All grapnels locked to the other ships hull. Adjusting alignment now. Ready to extend gangway.”
“Do it.”
“Gangway extending. 5 meters. 4 meters. 3 meters. 2. 1. Contact. Adjusting outer connections… We have positive lock. Syncing nav with computer. Beginning vesti..”
Bran interrupted, “Immy, don’t pressurize the vestibule just yet. I want everyone suited up first.”
“Okay. I’ll let Nalia do it.”
Bran stood. “Alright, lets suit up people. Full load with full weapons. And EVA rigs too people.”
Imoen sighed, “EVA and full load? Come on, there’s power over there.”
Bran shot an eyebrow, “It’s a five hundred year old ship. Aerie’s sensed something bad happened over there. No chances, full load.”
Imoen sighed again, “Oh fine. Let’s do this then, huh?”
Bran nodded, “Yes, lets do this thing.”
The others nodded and agreed as they filed out of the bridge to prepare.
A Space Odyssey - Chapter 2
Started by
Guest_VigaHrolf_*
, Dec 20 2003 10:40 PM
9 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_AlphaMonkey_*
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Posted 21 December 2003 - 08:35 AM
Summary: Bran and the Gorion's crew have found a derelict cruiser floating out in space. They've decided to go investigate. What will they find?
I don't know, but it's just GOT to be good.
It’d be one heck of a WAG bro.
You're gonna have to fill me in on that one... WAG?
Your guess is as good as mine Muffinhead.
That's "Captain Muffinhead" to you...
A minute later Nalia replied, “No. No, everything checks out, why, you getting something wrong on the board?”
Somehow, Nalia just doesn't seem like the "chief engineer" type, to me. Despite her "slumming", I just wonder if she'd really go in for the repair tech angle... but hey, whatever.
“Cold. Darkness. Hunger. And patience. Oh yes. Patience. Very safe.”
So is Aerie just a teep, or is she a teek, as well? (Just telepathy or telekinesis and other neat stuff?)
Anyhow, good place to stop... it's just -starting- to get good. It's like showing a thirty second teaser trailer and telling everyone they'll have to wait until next week for "the exciting conclusion"... ooooohh, the suspense...
By the way, (Warning: shameless plug) I just threw a piece up myself... it's largely sci-fi, like yours, but a little less of the "adventure" and a little more of the gritty shooting stuff... just figured I'd mention it.
#4
Guest_VigaHrolf_*
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Posted 21 December 2003 - 05:53 PM
Summary: Bran and the Gorion's crew have found a derelict cruiser floating out in space. They've decided to go investigate. What will they find?
I don't know, but it's just GOT to be good.
Heh. EHeheh. Heh. Oh, I think so.
It’d be one heck of a WAG bro.
You're gonna have to fill me in on that one... WAG?
Sorry.. WAG stands for Wild A$$ Guess.
Your guess is as good as mine Muffinhead.
That's "Captain Muffinhead" to you...
Do you think that would really work on Immy? Come on...
A minute later Nalia replied, “No. No, everything checks out, why, you getting something wrong on the board?”
Somehow, Nalia just doesn't seem like the "chief engineer" type, to me. Despite her "slumming", I just wonder if she'd really go in for the repair tech angle... but hey, whatever.
When I started to write this, I was debating between Nalia and Jan as the chief engineer. And while Jan might make a little bit more 'sense' I just can't write the stream of nonsense. Also figured that I would convert mages into techs. More history will appear later.
“Cold. Darkness. Hunger. And patience. Oh yes. Patience. Very safe.”
So is Aerie just a teep, or is she a teek, as well? (Just telepathy or telekinesis and other neat stuff?)
You want me to give it away? Come on now. I promise, you will find out more about the Doc's powers.
Anyhow, good place to stop... it's just -starting- to get good. It's like showing a thirty second teaser trailer and telling everyone they'll have to wait until next week for "the exciting conclusion"... ooooohh, the suspense...
Glad its working.
By the way, (Warning: shameless plug) I just threw a piece up myself... it's largely sci-fi, like yours, but a little less of the "adventure" and a little more of the gritty shooting stuff... just figured I'd mention it.
Coolio, will check it out.
#5
Guest_VigaHrolf_*
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Posted 21 December 2003 - 05:54 PM
VH,
More priceless this turn around, my friend. Although I still question the veracity of Immy being put in charge of communications.
MG
Thanks MG. But Immy isn't the comm officer, she's sensors and operations. Jah sits at the comm console.
She's no Uhura though... she'll tell you off right good
#8
Guest_AlphaMonkey_*
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Posted 22 December 2003 - 06:35 AM
Do you think that would really work on Immy? Come on...
In my sci-fi universe? Possibly... maybe not likely, but possibly... then again, there's always the whole "Show proper respect to a superior officer or we throw you in the brig" angle... you never know.
When I started to write this, I was debating between Nalia and Jan as the chief engineer. And while Jan might make a little bit more 'sense' I just can't write the stream of nonsense. Also figured that I would convert mages into techs. More history will appear later.
Sound reasoning, there. I happen to agree that since Jan is the one inventing all the illegal technology in the actual game, that it's not too much of a stretch to make him chief tech. But yeah, it's really hard to write Jan, mostly because you have to be good at coming up with some of the craziest off-the-wall anecdotes if you want to really capture him. Of course, in a pinch, you could always just make a turnip reference. Your call. For what it's worth, I've turned Jan into the chief tech for the Omegas, so... yeah... I may just end up regretting that.
You want me to give it away? Come on now. I promise, you will find out more about the Doc's powers.
Can't blame me for being curious. I keep wondering if she's going to get dragged off by the PsiCorps or something. (Cough) Where's Bester when you need him? (Cough)
Jah sits at the comm console.
I get the impression she's the ship's Executive Officer, too... that wouldn't surprise me. She's certainly bossy enough.
#9
Laufey
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Transcendant
Posted 22 December 2003 - 10:33 AM
Never looking up from the nav console, Valygar said in complete deadpan, “On Charesh V, they execute people for making bad jokes. And it would only take… 3 days to get there at max speed. Shall I plot a course Captain?”
Imoen gave out a hearty fake laugh, “A good one Bran Flakes. Or should we just call you Jah’s Bran Muffin?”
Thought Immy would turn it around.
Valygar replied, “Another half hour. I could push it, but the nebula is messing with the engines. And I really don’t want to explain to Nalia what I did to them.”
Tell you what, it really should have been Korgan down that engine room!
Not just accent wise, but can't you just see him using an axe to kickstart the pesky things? The comm clicking off brought a hush down on the bridge as everyone dealt with Imoen’s report. Bran stared ahead as the others worked over their consoles, trying to glean more information to solve this growing mystery. He stared at the clock over the viewscreen, glared at the readout as it tortured him by moving so painfully slow. Every second was like a year as he waited, waited for more information, for action.
Very Kirkish?
Aerie looked down at him as if seeing him for the first time. A slight, mad smile was plastered on her lips and even wilder look glazed over her eyes. It was enough to make Bran take an involuntary step backwards and his hand drop to his pulse pistol. The smile widened as she watched the tall man back away. She tittered, “Safe? Oh yes, it is safe to approach the ship. Very safe. Very safe. Oh yes.”
He was very aware of the others turning around at their stations and of Minsc getting up out of his chair. Looking right back at Aerie, Bran asked, “What is it that you sense Aerie? What is it?”
“Cold. Darkness. Hunger. And patience. Oh yes. Patience. Very safe.”
Oh, spooky! I like it!
Rogues do it from behind.
#10
Guest_VigaHrolf_*
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Posted 23 December 2003 - 05:11 PM
Imoen gave out a hearty fake laugh, “A good one Bran Flakes. Or should we just call you Jah’s Bran Muffin?”
Thought Immy would turn it around.
One of the great blunders: Never get involved in a pun war with Imoen. You just aren't going to make it.
Valygar replied, “Another half hour. I could push it, but the nebula is messing with the engines. And I really don’t want to explain to Nalia what I did to them.”
Tell you what, it really should have been Korgan down that engine room!
I can, its why he's not down there. The ship needs to keep running... not be in a dozen seperate parts....
The comm clicking off brought a hush down on the bridge as everyone dealt with Imoen’s report. Bran stared ahead as the others worked over their consoles, trying to glean more information to solve this growing mystery. He stared at the clock over the viewscreen, glared at the readout as it tortured him by moving so painfully slow. Every second was like a year as he waited, waited for more information, for action.
Very Kirkish?
Could be a bit of inspiration, yes
Aerie looked down at him as if seeing him for the first time. A slight, mad smile was plastered on her lips and even wilder look glazed over her eyes. It was enough to make Bran take an involuntary step backwards and his hand drop to his pulse pistol. The smile widened as she watched the tall man back away. She tittered, “Safe? Oh yes, it is safe to approach the ship. Very safe. Very safe. Oh yes.”
He was very aware of the others turning around at their stations and of Minsc getting up out of his chair. Looking right back at Aerie, Bran asked, “What is it that you sense Aerie? What is it?”
“Cold. Darkness. Hunger. And patience. Oh yes. Patience. Very safe.”
Oh, spooky! I like it!
Glad you do. Hopefully more spookiness to come.
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