Screams Through The Dark

Posted on Thursday 31 March 2022 @ 09:19 by Captain Melody Jones & Captain Hans Andersson
Edited on on Thursday 31 March 2022 @ 11:25

Mission: Disaster!
Location: USS Iwo Jima
Timeline: 0530 hrs
1283 words - 2.6 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Pete Mitchell manned his station on the bridge. He was a fighter pilot, and a Top Gun to boot, in some ways being a helmsman was beneath him. The only bonus he had at the moment to this position on the USS IWO Jima was that he was a Flight Leader a stepping stone to what he really wanted which was CAG or Commander Air Group. Alas, that will have to wait.

The Iwo Jima was on standard patrols, which meant there was little or nothing for the air group to do except sit around and play cards. This suited Nick Bradshaw just fine. He loved his job, but war and battle that sort of thing could wait. On the Bridge Maverick was actually resting his head on his hands out of boredom, when Lieutenant Commander Grey from the Operations console called out. "Sir I am receiving a distress call. It is from the USS Merlin."

Captain Thomas Paramour looked up from the PADD from where he had been reading his daily reports as his eyes went to the viewscreen out of habit. " Helm, lay in an intercept course to the Merlin at warp five. Engage! " He turned and to look about the bridge briefly. " Tactical, I want a long range sensor sweep of the area and full reports of the situation and weapons o standby in case we have to come in hot. "

Maverick laid in the course and and tapped the button that as he put it made the magic happened. In space the Akia Class vessel hung in space at a stop briefly as the warp field built and created a warp bubble. The ship then lurched forward into warp drive. The pilot was smiling as this was finally something to do, something exciting. He felt for the crew of the Merlin and wondered what could take a ship of that magnitude out.

His hand moved to the Com button. " All crew, we are responding to a distress call from the USS Merlin. The situation is unknown at this time, YELLOW ALERT!! I want Security, Medical And Engineering standing by to assist in whatever way possible. Captain out. "

Thomas checked his display and the course plotted. " We should be there in just a touch over half an hour. Lieutenant Mitchell, I want your head on a swivel. I don't like the feel of this one so we need to be ready for anything as this might turn into a hostile situation before we're done." He walked over behind Mitchell and spoke softly. " I was the CAG that lead the Death Stalkers squadron against the Borg at wolf 359, We came home with the squad intact. Remind me to tell you about that furball sometime lieutenant."

Pete smiled. "Yes sir sounds like quite the tale. I am relaying Alert 1 status to the airgroup. They will be able to launch within seconds once the order is given." Deep within the Iwo Jima a series of hatches opened the exposed space could be viewed through the azure forcefields. A group of men and woman ran to their Talon Class fighters among them was Nick Bradshaw. He hoped into a fighter that had the words Goose and Maverick stenciled on the side. This was the moment that a fighter pilot lived for.

From the ops position, Lieutenant Commander Grey was monitoring the comm frequency. Sir! I've managed to isolate the Merlin's distress call. A loud burst of static came over the speakers followed by the voice of Captain Jones.

"To anyone within the sound of my voice, this is Captain Melody Jones of the USS Merlin. This is a priority 1 distress call. We have been heavily damaged by an unknown event and require any and all assistance."

"Sir the distress call seems to be on a loop and is originating at co-ordinates...." He was cut off as the ship was rocked hard. "What the?! Sir the warp field just collapsed!" Grey reported, scowling at his console "I'm picking up major subspace distortions all though this sector of space. I'm sure they weren't present the last time we were in this region. We won't be able to use the warp drive> Even at full impulse, it's going to add at least another 6-7 hours onto our arrival time. "

Lieutenant Rees at Tactical tapped his console quickly. "Sensor readings are coming back now. It seems that the entire sector is littered with..." His voice trailed off as he double checked his readings but the insignia on his console was unmistakable. "...Omega particles. That is the reason that warp drive cannot be used."

Maverick had his hands wrapped around an old fashioned flight stick, the kind that would be used in 21st century jet fighters. This was his preferred method of flying anything. At the moment he guided the ship down from warp speed to impulse power. "Sir I have an idea to get us there a tad quicker it is unorthodox but should work. While at impulse we can engage the maneuvering thrusters and give us a burst of speed. Since there is nothing in space to slow us down our speed should increase exponentially."

Rees continued his report. "Long range scans show the Merlin to be derelict. Save for life support and minimal systems. If these scans are to be believed there is no way the Merlin gets out under its own power."

Thomas sat in the command chair staring at the screen before him. " Magnify. " He watched as the Merlin hung there, drifting lifeless in space. " If there's life support and minimal systems, then there are survivors. " His vision shifted to the helm station. " All right Maverick, let's hear this idea of yours. "

"We can use the thrusters as a burst of speed of sorts. Newtons Laws an object remains in motion etc... In space if there is nothing to slow you down, simply put you don't slow down. So if we go to impulse and periodically engage the ship's maneuvering thrusters we should gain speed exponentially. It should take some of the time off our arrival. Of course it would take some pinpoint flying." Maverick turned from the conn as he spoke to the Captain. Now this was something worth flying for Maverick thought.

At Ops, Lieutenant Commander Grey had been reviewing the figures. "Sir. It's still going to take us over four hours to reach safe transporter distance."

" Understood. " He tightened his grip on the arms of his chair. " Lay in course for the Merlin, best possible speed. We have people depending on us so let's go. "

"Alright Maverick, If your idea can shave off some time and get us there in one piece I'm willing to give it a try. Engage!"

Maverick took hold of the flight stick. "Right ladies and gents buckle up. Intercept course laid in for the Merlin at maximum impulse. Thrusters on standby." He took the ship on course by pressing a button on the top of the flight stick. "And here we go..." Moments later he pressed a green button that caused a small burst of speed as the thrusters engaged and disengaged. So the journey to save the Merlin began.

●●●● Captain Thomas Paramour
Commanding Officer
USS Iwo Jima

●●●● Captain Melody Jones
Commanding Officer
USS Merlin

●● Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell
Chief Flight Control Officer/Commander Air Group
USS Merlin

●○ Lieutenant Junior Grade Nick "Goose" Bradshaw
Tactical Systems Operator
USS Merlin