Adrift

Posted on Mon 13th Apr, 2020 @ 4:08am by Lieutenant Meghan [Maggie] Jericho
Edited on on Sun 30th May, 2021 @ 2:25am

1,042 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Resolution
Timeline: Prototype Mission Day 3 [A back story]

Maggie felt the craft shudder as the blast from another explosion reached her. She’d barely gotten away and wasn’t sure if she was safe yet. She quickly pulled herself together and got the shuttle in the air, jumping to warp as soon as she knew she was safe. She couldn’t believe what had just happened. Her heart was caught in her throat as she fought the breakdown that was sure to come when the adrenaline wore down.

She should have been there with him. She wanted to be there. They were right there by the prototype. They were safe, but something went wrong. When the fire fight broke, Elliot pushed her into the darkness and ordered her to run. She didn’t know what he was going to do but she could tell by his determination that he wanted her gone. She knew by his tone it wasn’t an order she could disobey. She headed away and didn’t look back. There was the sound of chaos and then shouting. As she reached the shuttle, she saw the bright flash of the explosion. The entire area went up in an orange fireball. She knew the shockwave would throw her back and didn’t want to risk an injury, so she hurried through the hatch and shut the door.

She didn’t see anyone chasing her, but she couldn’t be sure. She took off and set course out of the sector. She kept the ship at warp 5 for as long as she could. Slowing to warp 2 only when she felt she was safe. She did a quick security scan and assured herself that she was safely away. She was able to relax and assess the situation. She was looking around and it hit her, she was alone. Elliot was down there, in the middle of the fireball that was once the prototype. She was sure he didn’t make it out. He would have contacted her by now.

How would she go on without him? Her heart physically hurt. Sheer adrenaline had gotten her this far. Now, alone in the darkness of space, she wept. She wanted to die. How could he be gone? How would she go on without him? Maggie sobbed into her arms for nearly an hour until she felt like she was out of tears. She felt weak and tired as her body regulated her breathing forcing short stuttering breaths, her head pounding from the pressure of her tears. She found herself running to the lavatory and kneeling on the floor retching as the sadness and fear overcame her again. She splashed water on her face and tried to relax her mind. Perhaps, by some miracle, he survived. Perhaps, he couldn’t get a message to her because he was on the run. He couldn’t be gone.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the shuttle dipped and rolled. She quickly went to the console and attempted to stabilize the ship, being careful to hold tightly to whatever she could to keep her balance. There must have been some damage from the shockwave. She’d have to see if it was something she could repair. She slowed the craft to impulse which seemed to solve the problem for now. She kept her shields up and had the computer continue to scan the area for any craft that might have followed her.

Looking over the operating system, she could find nothing that would explain why the ship shuddered the way it did. The dampeners seemed to be online, the buffers in place, the navigation controls were in perfect working order. Perhaps there was an anomaly that she flew through. There was no way to know for sure.

“Computer, run a level 3 diagnostic on the drive system.” She ordered.

A level three diagnostic will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. You will not be able to engage the warp drive until it is completed.” The monotone voice of the computer made Maggie feel even more alone.

“Run diagnostic.” She said flatly and moved out of the pilot’s chair to take a break. She had no idea how long she’d be in the shuttlepod and she needed to assess her situation.

The food slot worked. She knew that much. The computer diagnostics seemed to be working properly, as were the environmental systems and the shields. Oh how she missed Elliot. He would have known right away what was needed. She found herself falling into despair again and had to focus on something else.

“Computer, lower the lights in the aft compartment to 50 percent and play Charzee’s symphony 6 for the piano.” She sat on a plush chair that she assumed had been put there for the owner of this shuttle. The aft compartment had been completely modified for the man’s comfort yet still remained functional. After sending out a quick distress call, she settled in. Sitting in the chair, her hands on her belly, she whispered. “Come home to me love. I can’t do this without you.” She sobbed softly until she fell asleep.

The shuttle drifted along on impulse engines, keeping on course. Maggie slept for nearly two hours and never even heard the computer complete its diagnostic. The shuttle bounced again jolting her from her sleep.

“Computer, what’s going on?!” She was startled, but this time she was not panicked as she moved to the Pilot’s chair to navigate.

“The damage to the Starboard nacelle has not been repaired. You have lost inertial dampeners. If the nacelle is not repaired, you are at risk of losing all secondary systems.”

Secondary systems?… Maggie tried to remember what systems were primary and secondary. Oxygen, primary...air recyclers, primary...environmental controls primary...food slots, primary. She should be okay; at least for a while. The problem would come if any of the primary systems went down. Without the secondary systems, she would have no back up, no weapons, no shields, and no warp. Her distress call wouldn't have lasted long. She would be alone and adrift. How was she going to repair the nacelle? She couldn’t fix the nacelle on her own, not in her condition.

[to be continued]

 

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