A House Built On Sand.....

Posted on Sat Aug 22nd, 2020 @ 3:57am by

617 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Broken
Location: Ready Room / Bridge
Timeline: Current

Everything one moment seemed as if it was business as usual in the day to day scheme of things but Will had no idea that everything was literally about to come crashing down from the walls around him when the ship came to a sudden and harsh stop. When it happened though from his seated position he was lurched forward into his desk, any harder and it might have cut him in two.

Leaning back in the seat again, though unable to relax, Bianca fixed her attention on the large view port in front of her as she reached up and tapped her commbadge. "Captain Hood, please report to the bridge. Sir, we seem to have hit a snag."

Struggling to breath because the edge of the desk had knocked the wind out of him he saw his office in a state. Pictures, his beverage cup, books and other effects to make the office warmer than the standard bland appearance all now lay strewn across the floor. Arm under his ribs, face contorted with the strain of uneasy breathing Will managed to cross the minefield of effects to the door to the Bridge.

"Someone want to explain to me what just happened?" Will managed to get out as he took the first few steps onto the Bridge.

"We dropped out of warp Sir," Bianca replied calmly, standing up to meet him. "Apparently gravitational distortions from the Gamma Tauri sector are affecting our warp drive and we can't maintain a warp bubble." She motioned for him to take a seat. "Unfortunately we have to complete our journey at impulse and hope that holds out."

"Damage?" Will asked. "Casualties?" Given the sudden stop he suspected there could be plenty of both and the new Chief Engineer would have a field day telling him all about Starfleets inadequate protocols for warp travel.

"Reports are still coming in Captain, at this stage I don't believe we have suffered any major structural damage and no hull breaches are being reported but minor damage is being catalogued all over the ship. Casualties seem to be ranging in severity but no fatalities reported, yet."

Will knew it wouldn't be a pretty report or two and with a ship of over 6,000 people he was confident Sickbay could handle the wounded, just the initial surge might be a problem. "Inform Major Snyder that I'd like medical teams made up of qualified officers and ratings to sweep the ship. Sickbay will need its staff there. Have transporters prepare to priority requests as they come in."

"Already done," Bianca replied calmly. "All transporter rooms are standing by for emergency transport if needed and all medical personel have been recalled." She looked across at Hood. "I've never known a distortion that could affect warp travel from this distance," she added quietly.

"Well it certainly explains the readings that lead Starfleet to send us here." Will replied. "Prepare a probe, I'd like a little more advanced warning should we hit anymore bumps in the road. Launch when ready."

Bianca smiled. "I thought you'd say that," she offered. "Science is preparing probes as we speak. They'll be ready for launch as soon as possible. Our current status leaves us two days from Gamma Tauri at maximum impulse, providing that that is sustainable."

"Good, you have the Bridge. Keep me informed of any developments. I will go see our new Chief Engineer before she hunts me down." Will had yet to meet the woman, a Banean in fact. From what he had read she was remarkably skilled in the realms of Engineering and warp subjects. He was confident she would have a few things to say....her record certainly revealed as much.

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