It Is Hardly A Ghost Ship Part 1

Posted on Tue Sep 17th, 2019 @ 5:31pm by Captain Rueben Gregnol & Dixoho Saa (*) & Dodian Carli & Chief Operations Kendra McIntyre & Executive Officer Jake Ford

Mission: Mission 10 - Temperance
Location: Between SS Mary Rose and USS Temperance
Timeline: MD02 10:00
1515 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

It still impressed the Captain every time he saw the manoeuvre to connect two ships via the evacuation corridors happened. It was such an old-fashioned idea but perfect to a situation as there was no way people could be transported that quickly. It still gave him shivers despite how many times he had seen it happened; it was one of those things that stuck with him. Maybe it was the adrenaline of the situations that led to them being deployed? “Good job Bridge. Corridor is active.” Gregnol said into the speaker.

“Why are we doing things this way?” Dixoho asked softly as she peered out the docking doors and saw the dimly lit corridor suddenly light up bright confirmed that it was pressurised properly and that it was okay for them to go.

"The ship's been dark for an indeterminate period of time, we can't remote access the main computer for whatever reason, and...well, I guess the boss wanted to avoid the risk of beaming over into the unknown," Jake explained, easing past her. He checked the phaser at his belt. Totally unnecessary, but it was funny how the sciencey-types liked having the appearance of protection with them.

"None of our command codes work." Jeassaho offered helpfully as a reason as to why they could not access the ship remotely. There were enough Officers onboard Rosie with active Commissions to make something work, but it also could be access to the main computer which would make the ship semi-useless.

One of the things Kendra could never give up was her old phaser. Sure the ones of today were more useful, but the handle grip just felt so at home. She checked to make sure it was set to blue for stun as she smiled at the corridor in front of her. "Feels like home," she said, "we used to do this all the time. Fastest way to changeover crew and equipment." Nodding to Jessaho, she replied, "Makes sense, none of my codes worked on this ship."

"All right, just let me go first," Jake said, taking the first step forward towards the derelict starship. "She was around during the war, that means there could be all sorts of ordnance, biological contaminants..." he trailed-off, realising he sounded like a fearmonger. "Let's just try not to blow anything up!"

"We can try my codes if you like?" Dodian offered. "I was active in Starfleet for over 50 years from 29 to 82..." she trailed off noting some looks. She did look young but not many would have guessed she was anything but Human. She passed her code, Carli-5-2-Beta-6, to whomever could use it best. It probably wouldn't work either but she still wanted to offer.

The Captain tried the code quickly but just like him and anyone else with codes it didn't respond. Gregnol shook his head frustrated, he was pretty sure if his codes did not work, no ones else's would but this would get them across and into the midst of the ship. It would be so much easier. "Let's go then," Reuben announced taking in a deep breath of air before he stepped up and unsealed the airlock.

Following the Captain, Kendra stepped into the airlock. Even though she knew it offered no help, her hand drifted toward the phaser pistol at her hip. It made her feel a little safer.

There was a blast of air? Rushing out of air? Dodian was never sure what the correct term was, but all the same she air changed as the airlock was opened. There was a musty smell of old ship, like a cologne that no-one really ever wanted to wear and yet it hung to the air like that wet dog smell. "I hope it smells better the further we go in..." she said, her hand over her mouth and nose a little.

"May need to restart the air scrubbers before that smell comes out," Kendra stated, wrinkling her nose at the smell. Realizing that technology may have changed a bit, she added, "Or whatever filters the environment."

"Environmental controls aren't particularly close to the airlock," Jake noted. "Maybe something we can fix from engineering."

"Once we know what happened Engineering will be over here checking the ship over fully," Gregnol assured. He had chosen the crew, particularly for skills. Dixoho to secure the flight controls, Dodian for medical purposes, Jake for security and the fact he was trained the same way as him and Kendra because she had been bold enough to ask to come along and from what he had been seeing the woman was a jack of all trades.

Jake went first, feeling as though it was his responsibility as the security lead to be the one at the front. It was strange stepping from the old-style architecture of the Mary Rose into a far more modern design. And he could feel a faintly unsettled chill creep down his back at the sudden thought that this was a bit of a ghost ship, floating out among the stars for so long.

"Stick close and be careful," he urged. "Without power there aren't likely to be any emergency force fields. We could open a door and decompress an entire deck if we're not careful."

Kendra took the next spot in line, her training taught her that the Captain should never be made to take point. While she did not draw her phaser pistol, her hand stayed close. "Right behind you," she confirmed with Jake.

Gregnol said nothing as Kendra stepped in front of him. For such a small thing, she was a lot braver than she or anyone gave her credit for but that fact she stepped in front of him was adorable. "Looks like I am taking the end then." The man looked at Dodian and indicated for her to go in front. He wasn't sexist but the woman was a counsellor, not security and Gregnol didn't expect anyone to attack from behind. He wanted to see his crew if they couldn't see him.

"Thank you," Dodian replied kindly. She could hear noises, creaking and moaning from a ship that had been empty for quite a while. In front, she had protection, behind she had her Boss. If she wasn't sure she would say they were forming a subconscious protection triangle. True she had no security training, nothing like that at all. She'd try and talk someone down long before resorting to anything like that. "Am I heading to Sickbay alone? If the ship is empty I don't think I need someone to watch my catalogue medication if there is any left." she offered as they continued to move along the corridor.

"I'd gladly escort you," Jake replied with a reassuring smile. "Though it makes sense for us to secure the ship and bring power back up first. Besides...it's a little creepy in here. Need you to keep us safe, Doc," he remarked with a wink.

"We all go to the bridge first." The Captain called from the back leaving no room for an argument. It wasn't worth the risk of splitting up just yet. The group made slow progress down the corridor until they got to the door at the other end and onto the ship.

"Oh, I didn't mean right now." She said with a soft laugh. "I'm all for making sure I don't get sucked out into space before taking a walk down dark, sinister corridors."

"Speaking of dark and sinister corridors," Jake responded, motioning along the unlit hallway. "Let's keep our eyes peeled. There could be any-" he hesitated. He could have sworn he saw something scurry into one of the side hallways. Sort-of man-sized, ethereal and white-hued. A shiver ran down his spine. With their utility lights, there were all sorts of dancing shadows and weird illusions around them. "Never mind. I'll be glad when we get the power back up." He continued forward towards the access point to the bridge, a half-step slower this time.

"What was it?" Kendra asked, gripping the handle of her phaser pistol a little more tightly. She held her utility light with her left hand as she scanned the hallway with her eyes. Her heart was beating a faster and she almost regretted volunteering for the first team.

"Probably just a trick of the light," Jake replied, unconvincingly. "It's hardly a ghost ship..." he added, glancing over his shoulder at her.

Gregnol stayed silent. He had seen ghost ships and the ship was giving him the strange feeling as that one did. It wasn't anywhere near as dark and dingy as this one did but suddenly the Captain didn't feel anywhere near as relaxed as he had been moments before as they had started across the evacuation corridor.

OFF::

Dixoho Saa
Chief Navigator
SS Mary Rose
(PNPC Gregnol)

Reuben Gregnol
Captain
SS Mary Rose

Jake Ford
Chief Armoury Officer
SS Mary Rose

Dodian Carli
Ship's Counsellor
SS Mary Rose

Kendra McIntyre
Communications
SS Mary Rose