Living The Dream
The Cerberus-Class USS Archangel proceeds at Full Impulse through the Sol System, casually passing by Neptune on her Maiden Voyage from space dock following her most recent and extensive upfits. On the bridge, the turbolift opens up and a stern human male steps out. His adorned white shoulders que the crew to quickly rise at their stations, as a boatswain whistle rings out
“Captain on Deck” the Senior Officer, a Red Headed Human woman spoke out, rising herself from the captains chair. Commander Elisa Flores smiles at the captain, who gives her and the crew a nod, “As you were” he stated warmly. As the rest of the bridge crew return to their stations, Commander Flores makes way for the captain to take his seat. “Report, Ms. Flores?” he states, sitting down and taking in the new upholstery.
Elisa smiles and takes her own seat at his left, “Zarva reports that it probably would have been quicker to just peel off the hull of the Archangel, and put it on a stripped Hestia Class, but none the less we are ready to test the new systems. I was thinking a quick trip to Andoria? I could go for a snow cone right about now.”
The captain chuckles, but does not respond. In the rapid military advancement of Starfleet, every time a new ‘model’ of a particular class of starship comes out, it was a race for captains to get into drydock to quickly update their ships so that they weren’t put behind the curve. The Hestia was the newest model of Advanced Escorts to come out, and the Captain had paid a steep price to get his ship in for upfits before the Prototype NX-Hestia had even completed its dry run. Thought the tactical applications were relatively the same, the Hestia increased Scientific and Engineering capabilities, giving them more multi-purpose functions out in the field.
“Captain, I have received communique from Captain Shon. The Enterprise is requesting we join them in a patrol of the Eta Serpentis Sector.” Came a voice from the turbolift. The long haired Second officer T’Vrell came around, taking her seat at the Captains right. “Oh Va’Kel better be careful, he keeps letting us take all the spotlight, the Federation might strip the Enterprise of her ‘Flagship’ status and give it to us.” He jokes. The Archangel and the Enterprise-F could have very well been considered sister ships, given the number of Galactic Level missions they had taken together; and the level of trust between the two captains couldn’t be stronger.
“Helm, lay in a course for the Eta Serpentis Sector.” Elisa ordered, flawlessly reading her captains intentions as a perfect first officer should. “Engineering, lets see what these new engines can do. Ready for maximum warp.” The captain called out over the intercom. A reply back echoed through the bridge, “Engines Hot, ready for full throttle captain!” Chief Engineer Zarva called back.
“All right then. Computer, activate ship wide broadcast” the captain ordered, rising from his seat. “Shipwide broadcast now commencing” the ship responded in a cool female voice.
“Attention all officers. This is Captain Johas Mith. We are beginning our new Tour of the Galaxy. We have faced many hardships together. The Borg, The Elachi, The Iconians, and even Time Traveling Na’kuhl were not supposed to talk about. In all that we have prevailed! So no matter what new threats we may face together, know this. As long as we are together…nothing can stop us!”
As the transmission ended, the bridge crew gave a small round of applause. As it died down, the captain pointed forward, “Lets see what this ship can do now. Floor it when ready Helmsman!” The young and impressionable ensign at the helm smiled, “Aye aye captain. Initiating warp drive in three…two…one…”
His head was splitting, he could taste copper in the back of his throat, and pain pulsed through every limb. Jonas grunted as he struggled to raise himself off the floor. His ears were ringing, but he could hear the klaxon alarms ringing. He struggled to make sense of the specific alarm tone, was that an Abandon ship alarm? “REPORT!” he managed to yell out as he rose off the middle of the bridge. The lights were out, only the feint outline of emergency lights illuminated the room, along with blue error screens on nearly every terminal. The helmsman was gone, ops was gone. He tried to take in what was happening, but it only made his head worse. Not receiving a response, he turned around to the rest of the bridge. The air was clouded with smoke, as if they had been in a fire fight, but there was no damage to be seen, everyone was gone. No bodies, no personel effects, he was just alone on the bridge with the blaring klaxons. “Computer! Report!” He called out again, this time he received a response.
“Warning, Power levels critical, Life Support Critical, Emergency Evacuation in progress. Please make your way to the nearest Escape Pod.”
As Captain Mith staggered to the turbolift, he was somewhat relieved at hearing a response, however, the context of the message almost made him wish otherwise. “Computer, What happened? Where is the crew?”
“There are no crew aboard this vessel, an unknown spatial anomaly has disabled the ship, if we are to have any chance of survival, you need to make it to the emergency exit. I will remain with you Jonas, but please you need to get out!”
The fact the computer called him by his first name didn’t even register. The loud noises, the pain in his body, and the worry for his crew distracted him from nearly everything else as he struggled down the hallway to his designated escape pod. Breathing was becoming more and more difficult, and the pulses of pain through him were more prolonged with every step. “Computer…Did the rest of the crew make it out?” he labored out.
“You are the only one in danger, the faster you get out, the faster we can identify and fix the problem. I will be there with you every step of the way. You will see your crew again Captain, but please, hurry.”
That was a good enough answer for him, using the wall as support, a new vigor of energy allowed him to hobble the last 20 yards to his illuminated escape pod. Throwing himself inside and rolling into place for the security buckles, he watched as the door sealed itself.
“Uploading Reverie Computer Core to your Escape Pod now.” the computer announced.
“Reverie? Who’s that?” He inquired between heavy breaths.
“That is my designation. You didn’t think we were all called ‘Computer’ did you?”
Jonas painfully chuckled, his eyes closed as he tried to hold back the immense pain he was in, “Must have missed that in the upgrade notes."
“Please relax Jonas, we will be out in a moment. Standby for Innervation Protocols.”
Jonas could barely understand what the computer was saying, let alone have a chance to get his questioning out as he felt the escape pod rush out from the ship. The G-force of the launch was more than enough to fully disorient him. The only thing he could really register was his head and limbs flailing about with his back to the pod. Yet amidst the calamity, he could faintly hear the computers voice calling out…
“You need to wake up now Jonas!”
