Ship Full
Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2021 4:05 pm
I've been having a bit of writers block lately, so this week I decided to upload the start of a story I kind of left just started. This first part in a prologue to establish the world. The next part is the first chapter, I hope you enjoy.
Prologue:
"Command crew to the bridge! Command crew to the bridge!” The automated request sounded over the PA system on the Bounteous.
Captain Mitten watched as her team leads took their positions. They were sent to study the third planet from the yellow star coded CWM2856. Such an aberration was this planet that they allowed her to pick her crew for this small research vessel. It was so close to how their planet was at the same level of development that even one of the languages almost matched up.
"Approaching the planet's moon. Coming around to hide from their scans." Navigator lead Conrad announced.
"How close can we get before we have to activate the reflection device." She asked.
The reply came from Analyst Marou, "We can skim along the moon's surface. But once we have to arch away from the surface we will have to turn it on." She put in a few commands, "The planet is surrounded with a mass of satellites and debris. I would suggest caution Commander Conrad."
Conrad replied from the navigator position, "Thank you. Can you scan a possible path to the best orbital position?"
"Already calculating, friend." Marou replied.
Chief Tactical Flower spoke up, "Clearing the moon, turning on reflection shields."
"Good good." replied Captain Mitten. She was looking forward to this. Like sneaking a peek into her planet's own past.
"Huh." Tactical sounded.
"What's wrong Chief?" she asked the tactical officer.
"The reflection shield fluctuate." Flower replied.
"Are they stable?" She asked.
"All readings come back good." Flower replied.
She pressed to contact her Chief Engineer, "Engine Room?"
"Commander Stain here." She replied.
Mitten asked, "We had an odd reading from the reflection shields. Could you spare someone to do a diagnostic?"
"Gladly." was the chipper reply.
"Entering the high orbit. Weaving through their scattering of things." Conrad admitted.
"Captain, we might want to weave back behind their moon?" Flower suggested.
"Are the shields failing?" Mitten wondered.
"No, but the readings coming off them are odd?" Flower explained.
"Confirmed, the system shows the projectors are reading fine. But, the readings off the shields are not matching the frequency listed." Marou announced.
"Dang it, Conrad turn us around. We can't be discovered." Captain Mitten finished just before the ship rocked. The viewer showed the ship was spinning in space. "Report?"
"Port engineers are discharging. I am not able to shut them down or compensate." Conrad announced.
Suddenly a flash went across the viewer. Sending the stars whizzing. "Captain, Had to eject the Upper port engine. It was about to overload. Attempting to salvage Lower Port."
"Commander Stain, can you help stabilize the ship?" Mitten asked.
"My team are all hands on deck." Stain replied.
"Captain, we are descending toward the planet!" Marou declared.
"Conrad, can you balance us out?" Mitten asked.
"Seems my commands to the Port thrusters are not being received." Conrad explained. "We are going to enter its atmosphere."
"Can we eject?" Mitten questioned.
Marou pointed out, "We are too close to the atmosphere."
Mitten pressed the PA system, "Crew, strap yourself down. We are entering the atmosphere."
"Marou give me a countdown to when we will start to enter?" Flower requested.
"Fifteen" Marou started.
"Will switch to a rotating battle shield to take the brunt of the entry heat." Flower annoched. "Once we're through give me a count to switch back to reflection shields."
"Seven" Marou called.
"Accepted, good plan." Mitten praised.
"Five" Marou called out. Followed, "Four, three, two, one."
Suddenly the ship lurched as the mass started plowing through the air. The viewer went red. The ship's gravity hit the planets. Making all stomachs flip, but shielded them from the full G-forces. The ship vibrated hard as the walls were not designed for air.
"We made it through." Marou announced.
"Reflection shields back on." Flower replied.
"Captain, the lower Port engine is whipping us hard." Conrad screamed.
"Stain? That engine, what is going on with it?" Mitten inquired.
"Ship is stable." Conrad started but before she could finish they heard the boom and the ship started spinning again.
"SORRY CAPTAIN, had to release that engine." Stain explained.
"Port thrusters are not responding again." Conrad decreed.
"Stain, we need to stabilize." Mitten bellowed.
"Navigation, Hit a full Port thruster burst." Stain barked over the response.
"Done, still no response!" Conrad replied.
"Rotate hard bursts." Stain advised. "I'm attempting to reroute signals."
"Tactical, sending display reading for when we are too low for their signals to detect so you can reactivate the battle shield." Marou announced.
"Prepared, the shield will rotate toward the greatest chance of impact." Flower informed.
"Rerouted." Stain explained.
"Response is weak." Conrad, "Unable to fully stabilize. We are going to crash."
"All crew impact is imminent. Secure yourself!" Mitten ordered.
"Directing toward an uninhabited location as best I can." Conrad briefed.
"Shields switched. Hope that helps." Flower wished.
The sounds of minor impacts clapped through the hull. Harder hits rocked the limping vessel on it's way to the ground. Ending only as the ship dug itself into the planet's outer crust.
"How is everyone? Bridge crew sound off!" Mitten ordered.
"Tactical Officer Flower unharmed." Flower responded.
"Navigation Officer Conrad unharmed." Conrad responded.
"Analyst Officer Marou unharmed." Marou responded.
"Communications Officer Cash unharmed." The silent till now Commander Cash responded.
"Bridge Staff appear fine. Staff heads reply?" Mitten called over the PA system.
"Medical Officer Baker is fine. Scans show all sixity crew alive." Doctor Baker signaled back.
"Security Chief Crabtree, any crew trapped please send a signal for assistance." Responded her security chief.
"Engineer Stain hip deep in repairs, but otherwise alive." Stain responded.
"Status of the ship?" Mitten asked hopefully.
"We have two engines. But one of them is questionable. Ships haul amazingly reads intact from here. With a week's hard effort we might make it back to space. Other words, we are trapped on this planet for a while." Stain explained.
"Confirmed from here, structurally the haul is intact. Outer shell held. Good flying Conrad." Marou confirmed.
"Communications, announce our situation to Fleet command. Can we launch a relay beacon without being detected?" Mitten asked.
Marou examined her reading, "Minor chance of being detected. I'd be surprised if visual sightings haven't already happened."
"Notice sent sir." Cash announced.
"They will attempt to rescue. We are advised to avoid contact if possible."
Security Chief Crabtree interrupted, "All crew report remarkably unencumbered and only minor injuries. Security members are now under Engineer Chief Stain's command for repair assistance."
"Medical will also assist once the scrapes and bruises are tended to, Captain." Doctor Baker informed.
"Cash, note in the day report the remarkable skill of our head Navigator." Captain Mitten requested.
"Oh no." Marou exclaimed.
"Were we spotted, Analyst?" Mitten asked.
"No, and I was wondering why. We are lucky in a seemingly wild area during a temperate season for this area." Marou explained with a strained voice.
"Then the reason for the outburst." Mitten asked.
"A miscalculation. Without a known reference we assumed the population and fauna would be similar to home. And they are similar in nature, only approximately twelve times in size. We are mice on a planet of giants." The Chief Analyst explained.
"So, development corruption is now a secondary reason to avoid contact." The nervous Captain replied.
"Yes, simply stating. What would be interesting animal sights elsewhere are now deadly predators." She repeated her warning.
"Understood. Cash, update command." Mitten directed. Over the PA she announced, "Crew, we are on this planet for an unconfirmed amount of time. As usual we are to avoid contact with the native race since they are behind us technology wise. But due to our unique vantage point we have now been able to determine we need to avoid all life here due to the fact it is massively larger then we are. Analyst teams will announce shortly the sidearm settings to disable any, visitors we might encounter. Senior staff to conference room one ASAP. Captain Mitten out." She sighed, so much for the mission of a lifetime.
Mitten had been sitting in the conference room for at least fifteen minute in silence. What was she going to do? Her entire crew of sixty ladies were in grave peril and she hoped her division chiefs would have some idea.
First in was security Chief Crabtree. Her face explained she was just as lost as she was. Communications Officer Cash followed. She was reading a pad. What was she researching? Flower, the Tactical Chief entered also going over data. Engineer Chief Stain came in followed by her two shift heads Marie Parriot and Marca Bell looking like they had rough news. Medical Chief Angela Baker and her second Mary Freeman. Their great pilot Debbie Conrad came in just ahead of Analyst team Juliette Marou and Yvonne Lewis. All the department chiefs were at the table. But none of their faces seem to carry any good news. "Well ladies. We're in a pickle. Anyone want to start?" Mitten asked.
Stain looked at her team and sighed. "Well, the good news is we can get back into space. But, now comes the list of bad news. By into space I mean orbit, with luck maybe as far as their moons orbit. But we will not be travelling space without a tow. Second, we will not make it that far without a tower to point us up. With only two engines we need all the help we can get. And there is the third problem, we don't have the materials to build either the tower or the means to connect the ship to it."
Crabtree asks, "Those trees out are giants, could we use them?"
Shaking her head Stain noted, "Sadly, only if we wanted to set ourselves ablaze. As dense as they would be, they are still wood."
"So, we need to leave to scavenge some materials. Can we use the shuttle to lift the ship into position?" Mitten asked.
"They will be a big help with the construction, and assistance in the lifting and positioning. But they don't have the power to lift the ship even in unison." Stain admitted.
"So, I would look to security at this point to keep the crew safe. But I think they are waiting on you two." Mitten noted looking to her Analyst team heads.
Lewis and Marou looked at each other. Lewis looked at the hopeful faces and replied. "I hate to say it. But our side arms are going to be of little use out there."
"What, we have the most powerful side arms in the known universe. How can they not help on this backwater planet." Crabtree balked at the Analyst's report.
"Powerful for our size. The scale is against us. Most insects and small rodents, they will be great. With luck and teamwork we could take out something as large as one of their house cats. But for many creatures they will be just like insect bites. The rifles and Security Gauntlet connection will fare better, but not by much." Lewis explained.
"How is everything on this planet so big?" Crabtree asked.
Marou shrugged, "This planet is larger than our world, but their star is smaller. The planets are a different mix. But without years to study it, it is hard to say."
"So, we have little to no defense out there. But we need to send crew members out there or wait and hope not to be found before rescue arrives. Do we have any good news?" Mitten asked.
"Well, we still have full ability to communicate with home command. And they are preparing a rescue. The beacon is launched and scrambled from local interception." Communications Chief Cash happily annouched.
"So, we could just hide here and wait hoping not to be discovered?" Crabtree asked.
Captain Mitten shook her head. "The fleet is not going to risk losing two ships on this planet. We will need to get off the surface if we are to get home."
"So, we need to find materials to use to build a tower and replacement parts for the ship." Crabtree sighed.
"Chief Cash, have a couple of your people monitor local communications to see if our arrival was spotted." Mitten requested knowing the response.
"Done, have two of my team scanning for any reference of us. Including short wave and radio communications." Cash stated as Mitten expected.
"OK, since we are not flying, Navigation is now under Engineering's command to help get us flying. As is security and Tactical. Analyst team will attempt to find ways to keep our shuttles hidden from the view of locals and upgrade our weapons so they don't just annoy the creatures of this planet. Medical, please help Communications not just monitor the broadcasts of this planet, but to see what we can find out about it while we are stuck here. And have your team members ready to be assigned to away teams for scouting and collecting supplies from the local area." Captain Mitten directed.
"Captain, I have some more good news." Chief Stain noted.
"That is?" Mitten wanted all the good news she could get.
"The trees could be used to help lift us up to a vertical position. It will still take the scuttles as well. But it can be leveraged into a standing position. A scaffold could be built with the wood as well till a better tower is constructed." Stain explained.
"OK, do that. If possible, treat the wood to resist the heat of take off. I would like an emergency option if possible." Captain Mitten requested the unlikely.
Stain nodded. "It would be a stop gate at best. I would strongly recommend not using that plan unless we had no other choice."
"Same, form teams. Good luck to us all. Marou, I'll be joining your team." the Captain noted.
"Captain." Security Chief Crabtree spoke.
"Yes?" Captain Mitten asked.
"As we will need to scout for savage, may I suggest we do that during the night. As such we should have a skeleton crew for the day while the bulk of the crew adjusts to evenings." the Security Chief noted.
"Fine idea. Marou, try to determine this location's rotation time compared to what we operate under. We will then set crew rotations to match for optional nocturnal operations." Captain Mitten requested.
"Will do." Analyst Chief Marou replied.
"Everyone let your teams know of the coming change. Till that is figured out, let's see what we can get done without scavenging past the immediate area." The Captain commanded.
The crew of the Bounteous began their work towards leaving this planet.
Prologue:
"Command crew to the bridge! Command crew to the bridge!” The automated request sounded over the PA system on the Bounteous.
Captain Mitten watched as her team leads took their positions. They were sent to study the third planet from the yellow star coded CWM2856. Such an aberration was this planet that they allowed her to pick her crew for this small research vessel. It was so close to how their planet was at the same level of development that even one of the languages almost matched up.
"Approaching the planet's moon. Coming around to hide from their scans." Navigator lead Conrad announced.
"How close can we get before we have to activate the reflection device." She asked.
The reply came from Analyst Marou, "We can skim along the moon's surface. But once we have to arch away from the surface we will have to turn it on." She put in a few commands, "The planet is surrounded with a mass of satellites and debris. I would suggest caution Commander Conrad."
Conrad replied from the navigator position, "Thank you. Can you scan a possible path to the best orbital position?"
"Already calculating, friend." Marou replied.
Chief Tactical Flower spoke up, "Clearing the moon, turning on reflection shields."
"Good good." replied Captain Mitten. She was looking forward to this. Like sneaking a peek into her planet's own past.
"Huh." Tactical sounded.
"What's wrong Chief?" she asked the tactical officer.
"The reflection shield fluctuate." Flower replied.
"Are they stable?" She asked.
"All readings come back good." Flower replied.
She pressed to contact her Chief Engineer, "Engine Room?"
"Commander Stain here." She replied.
Mitten asked, "We had an odd reading from the reflection shields. Could you spare someone to do a diagnostic?"
"Gladly." was the chipper reply.
"Entering the high orbit. Weaving through their scattering of things." Conrad admitted.
"Captain, we might want to weave back behind their moon?" Flower suggested.
"Are the shields failing?" Mitten wondered.
"No, but the readings coming off them are odd?" Flower explained.
"Confirmed, the system shows the projectors are reading fine. But, the readings off the shields are not matching the frequency listed." Marou announced.
"Dang it, Conrad turn us around. We can't be discovered." Captain Mitten finished just before the ship rocked. The viewer showed the ship was spinning in space. "Report?"
"Port engineers are discharging. I am not able to shut them down or compensate." Conrad announced.
Suddenly a flash went across the viewer. Sending the stars whizzing. "Captain, Had to eject the Upper port engine. It was about to overload. Attempting to salvage Lower Port."
"Commander Stain, can you help stabilize the ship?" Mitten asked.
"My team are all hands on deck." Stain replied.
"Captain, we are descending toward the planet!" Marou declared.
"Conrad, can you balance us out?" Mitten asked.
"Seems my commands to the Port thrusters are not being received." Conrad explained. "We are going to enter its atmosphere."
"Can we eject?" Mitten questioned.
Marou pointed out, "We are too close to the atmosphere."
Mitten pressed the PA system, "Crew, strap yourself down. We are entering the atmosphere."
"Marou give me a countdown to when we will start to enter?" Flower requested.
"Fifteen" Marou started.
"Will switch to a rotating battle shield to take the brunt of the entry heat." Flower annoched. "Once we're through give me a count to switch back to reflection shields."
"Seven" Marou called.
"Accepted, good plan." Mitten praised.
"Five" Marou called out. Followed, "Four, three, two, one."
Suddenly the ship lurched as the mass started plowing through the air. The viewer went red. The ship's gravity hit the planets. Making all stomachs flip, but shielded them from the full G-forces. The ship vibrated hard as the walls were not designed for air.
"We made it through." Marou announced.
"Reflection shields back on." Flower replied.
"Captain, the lower Port engine is whipping us hard." Conrad screamed.
"Stain? That engine, what is going on with it?" Mitten inquired.
"Ship is stable." Conrad started but before she could finish they heard the boom and the ship started spinning again.
"SORRY CAPTAIN, had to release that engine." Stain explained.
"Port thrusters are not responding again." Conrad decreed.
"Stain, we need to stabilize." Mitten bellowed.
"Navigation, Hit a full Port thruster burst." Stain barked over the response.
"Done, still no response!" Conrad replied.
"Rotate hard bursts." Stain advised. "I'm attempting to reroute signals."
"Tactical, sending display reading for when we are too low for their signals to detect so you can reactivate the battle shield." Marou announced.
"Prepared, the shield will rotate toward the greatest chance of impact." Flower informed.
"Rerouted." Stain explained.
"Response is weak." Conrad, "Unable to fully stabilize. We are going to crash."
"All crew impact is imminent. Secure yourself!" Mitten ordered.
"Directing toward an uninhabited location as best I can." Conrad briefed.
"Shields switched. Hope that helps." Flower wished.
The sounds of minor impacts clapped through the hull. Harder hits rocked the limping vessel on it's way to the ground. Ending only as the ship dug itself into the planet's outer crust.
"How is everyone? Bridge crew sound off!" Mitten ordered.
"Tactical Officer Flower unharmed." Flower responded.
"Navigation Officer Conrad unharmed." Conrad responded.
"Analyst Officer Marou unharmed." Marou responded.
"Communications Officer Cash unharmed." The silent till now Commander Cash responded.
"Bridge Staff appear fine. Staff heads reply?" Mitten called over the PA system.
"Medical Officer Baker is fine. Scans show all sixity crew alive." Doctor Baker signaled back.
"Security Chief Crabtree, any crew trapped please send a signal for assistance." Responded her security chief.
"Engineer Stain hip deep in repairs, but otherwise alive." Stain responded.
"Status of the ship?" Mitten asked hopefully.
"We have two engines. But one of them is questionable. Ships haul amazingly reads intact from here. With a week's hard effort we might make it back to space. Other words, we are trapped on this planet for a while." Stain explained.
"Confirmed from here, structurally the haul is intact. Outer shell held. Good flying Conrad." Marou confirmed.
"Communications, announce our situation to Fleet command. Can we launch a relay beacon without being detected?" Mitten asked.
Marou examined her reading, "Minor chance of being detected. I'd be surprised if visual sightings haven't already happened."
"Notice sent sir." Cash announced.
"They will attempt to rescue. We are advised to avoid contact if possible."
Security Chief Crabtree interrupted, "All crew report remarkably unencumbered and only minor injuries. Security members are now under Engineer Chief Stain's command for repair assistance."
"Medical will also assist once the scrapes and bruises are tended to, Captain." Doctor Baker informed.
"Cash, note in the day report the remarkable skill of our head Navigator." Captain Mitten requested.
"Oh no." Marou exclaimed.
"Were we spotted, Analyst?" Mitten asked.
"No, and I was wondering why. We are lucky in a seemingly wild area during a temperate season for this area." Marou explained with a strained voice.
"Then the reason for the outburst." Mitten asked.
"A miscalculation. Without a known reference we assumed the population and fauna would be similar to home. And they are similar in nature, only approximately twelve times in size. We are mice on a planet of giants." The Chief Analyst explained.
"So, development corruption is now a secondary reason to avoid contact." The nervous Captain replied.
"Yes, simply stating. What would be interesting animal sights elsewhere are now deadly predators." She repeated her warning.
"Understood. Cash, update command." Mitten directed. Over the PA she announced, "Crew, we are on this planet for an unconfirmed amount of time. As usual we are to avoid contact with the native race since they are behind us technology wise. But due to our unique vantage point we have now been able to determine we need to avoid all life here due to the fact it is massively larger then we are. Analyst teams will announce shortly the sidearm settings to disable any, visitors we might encounter. Senior staff to conference room one ASAP. Captain Mitten out." She sighed, so much for the mission of a lifetime.
Mitten had been sitting in the conference room for at least fifteen minute in silence. What was she going to do? Her entire crew of sixty ladies were in grave peril and she hoped her division chiefs would have some idea.
First in was security Chief Crabtree. Her face explained she was just as lost as she was. Communications Officer Cash followed. She was reading a pad. What was she researching? Flower, the Tactical Chief entered also going over data. Engineer Chief Stain came in followed by her two shift heads Marie Parriot and Marca Bell looking like they had rough news. Medical Chief Angela Baker and her second Mary Freeman. Their great pilot Debbie Conrad came in just ahead of Analyst team Juliette Marou and Yvonne Lewis. All the department chiefs were at the table. But none of their faces seem to carry any good news. "Well ladies. We're in a pickle. Anyone want to start?" Mitten asked.
Stain looked at her team and sighed. "Well, the good news is we can get back into space. But, now comes the list of bad news. By into space I mean orbit, with luck maybe as far as their moons orbit. But we will not be travelling space without a tow. Second, we will not make it that far without a tower to point us up. With only two engines we need all the help we can get. And there is the third problem, we don't have the materials to build either the tower or the means to connect the ship to it."
Crabtree asks, "Those trees out are giants, could we use them?"
Shaking her head Stain noted, "Sadly, only if we wanted to set ourselves ablaze. As dense as they would be, they are still wood."
"So, we need to leave to scavenge some materials. Can we use the shuttle to lift the ship into position?" Mitten asked.
"They will be a big help with the construction, and assistance in the lifting and positioning. But they don't have the power to lift the ship even in unison." Stain admitted.
"So, I would look to security at this point to keep the crew safe. But I think they are waiting on you two." Mitten noted looking to her Analyst team heads.
Lewis and Marou looked at each other. Lewis looked at the hopeful faces and replied. "I hate to say it. But our side arms are going to be of little use out there."
"What, we have the most powerful side arms in the known universe. How can they not help on this backwater planet." Crabtree balked at the Analyst's report.
"Powerful for our size. The scale is against us. Most insects and small rodents, they will be great. With luck and teamwork we could take out something as large as one of their house cats. But for many creatures they will be just like insect bites. The rifles and Security Gauntlet connection will fare better, but not by much." Lewis explained.
"How is everything on this planet so big?" Crabtree asked.
Marou shrugged, "This planet is larger than our world, but their star is smaller. The planets are a different mix. But without years to study it, it is hard to say."
"So, we have little to no defense out there. But we need to send crew members out there or wait and hope not to be found before rescue arrives. Do we have any good news?" Mitten asked.
"Well, we still have full ability to communicate with home command. And they are preparing a rescue. The beacon is launched and scrambled from local interception." Communications Chief Cash happily annouched.
"So, we could just hide here and wait hoping not to be discovered?" Crabtree asked.
Captain Mitten shook her head. "The fleet is not going to risk losing two ships on this planet. We will need to get off the surface if we are to get home."
"So, we need to find materials to use to build a tower and replacement parts for the ship." Crabtree sighed.
"Chief Cash, have a couple of your people monitor local communications to see if our arrival was spotted." Mitten requested knowing the response.
"Done, have two of my team scanning for any reference of us. Including short wave and radio communications." Cash stated as Mitten expected.
"OK, since we are not flying, Navigation is now under Engineering's command to help get us flying. As is security and Tactical. Analyst team will attempt to find ways to keep our shuttles hidden from the view of locals and upgrade our weapons so they don't just annoy the creatures of this planet. Medical, please help Communications not just monitor the broadcasts of this planet, but to see what we can find out about it while we are stuck here. And have your team members ready to be assigned to away teams for scouting and collecting supplies from the local area." Captain Mitten directed.
"Captain, I have some more good news." Chief Stain noted.
"That is?" Mitten wanted all the good news she could get.
"The trees could be used to help lift us up to a vertical position. It will still take the scuttles as well. But it can be leveraged into a standing position. A scaffold could be built with the wood as well till a better tower is constructed." Stain explained.
"OK, do that. If possible, treat the wood to resist the heat of take off. I would like an emergency option if possible." Captain Mitten requested the unlikely.
Stain nodded. "It would be a stop gate at best. I would strongly recommend not using that plan unless we had no other choice."
"Same, form teams. Good luck to us all. Marou, I'll be joining your team." the Captain noted.
"Captain." Security Chief Crabtree spoke.
"Yes?" Captain Mitten asked.
"As we will need to scout for savage, may I suggest we do that during the night. As such we should have a skeleton crew for the day while the bulk of the crew adjusts to evenings." the Security Chief noted.
"Fine idea. Marou, try to determine this location's rotation time compared to what we operate under. We will then set crew rotations to match for optional nocturnal operations." Captain Mitten requested.
"Will do." Analyst Chief Marou replied.
"Everyone let your teams know of the coming change. Till that is figured out, let's see what we can get done without scavenging past the immediate area." The Captain commanded.
The crew of the Bounteous began their work towards leaving this planet.