Commander Wil Ukinix - Frozen
Wil Ukinix
((Shuttlebay, Section Beta, Amity Outpost))
Ops: =/\= Commander Ukinix, we’ve received a distress signal from a vessel two systems away. Long range scanners haven’t detected any vessel near there for several weeks. =/\=
Ukinix: =/\= Any idea who it is? =/\=
Ops: =/\= None Commander. It’s an automated signal, no identifying markers, no message... nothing. Shall we dispatch a vessel to investigate? =/\=
A little smile came to his face, as he looked at the pair of senior officers in front of him.
Ukinix: =/\= Yes you shall. And it will be myself, Commander Hopper, and Commander Stros investigating. =/\=
Ops: =/\= ... sir? =/\=
Stros: =/\= You heard the man. The Daintree will be leaving berth in ten. =/\=
Hopper: Ahem. Skipper, are you sure this is a good idea?
Wil though it over for a micro-second. There was the whole “the command trio probably shouldn’t be an away team thing”, but... meh.
Hopper: =/\= Load the latest data on the distress signal and the surrounding area into the shuttle’s computer. =/\= If we’re going to go poking around, we should at least have a clear idea of what's out there.
It seemed his First Officer had the same thought.
Ukinix: Well, then “leftenant” commanders, as I’ve been told I should be pronouncing it given where I’m from. Get your arses on board. Want me to take helm?
Stros: If we plan on returning in one piece, perhaps I should take that honor, sir.
Before Wil could say anything, Stros was off-- and here he was, better at helm, but still not trusted. His hands went onto his hips. oO C’arn. Oo
Hopper: I’m happy to take one of the science stations and keep an eye on our sensor readings. Wil, maybe you should take tactical – given the circumstances, it might not hurt to be prepared?
He nodded - in defeat - and also resolved he’d also keep an eye on engineering as well, just like the old Veritas days. He followed behind Robin a metre or so to head onto the vessel, then selected a station and activated the console.
Stros: All systems showing green, Commander. Receiving departure authorization from Ops now.
Hopper: And I have transferred a flight path that should get us to the location of the beacon as quickly as possible while avoiding the highest concentrations of benamite in the field. Neurodynium upgrades or not, I’d rather not tempt fate.
Ukinix: ::Nodding, tapping console to bring up security/tactical:: No worries, let’s head.
The scout came to life, the engines hummed, and Wil smiled a little.
Stros: I should perhaps quote regulation on the station’s command division leaving the station unattended…but I don’t think I will. ::Turning towards the others:: This is much more exciting, wouldn’t you say?
Wil poked his tongue into the side of his cheek, and didn’t dare look up.
Hopper: “Exciting” isn’t the word I would choose. However, the regs don’t explicitly prohibit this sort of away team composition, they merely recommend against it. Strongly. ::An unamused look at Wil:: Technically, it’s up to the CO’s discretion.
Ukinix: ::Wry smile at Robin’s unamused expression:: CO’s privilege it is. Bugger the regs. Besides, the regs also say team building is a thing. ::Tapping at console to being up mini-engineering display in corner:: We’re team building.
Stros: Authorization received. Destination… ::Pointing towards the shuttlebay doors, a smile crossing his face:: Out there.
Ukinix: Set a course, and engage warp when ready.
((A Few Hours Later… ))
On their way to the location of the signal, Wil had spent some time checking out the nitty gritty details of the upgrades. You can take the engineer out of the CO, but you can’t take the CO out of... wait--
Hopper: Skipper, we’re nearing the point of origin for the signal – still receiving it on the lower-level subspace bands, but the drop off in bandwidth suggests whatever is sending it may be losing power…
(Plus on the way he’d done a sweep of the area, there were no ships or anything unusual anywhere near the signal. Unless they were hiding).
Ukinix: Area’s still clear. ::To Stros:: Commander, let’s drop out of warp.
The he belatedly realised Robin had called him “Skipper” again, and it didn’t even register. It was becoming normalised... it was becoming normalised!
(“Skipper” sounded like the name of a pet pony or something).
Stros: Response
The starline streaks on the purple background fell back into white dots of different sizes shining through the nebula. Somewhere “behind” them was Amity. In front of them was the unknown vessel, which seemed very small, spinning slowly through space end over end.
Hopper: Based on its size and the lack of warp engines, I’d guess it’s an escape pod of some kind. ::Thinking:: Stros, can you increase magnification? Get us a clearer view of that thing’s hull?
Wil looked at the magnified version of the vessel.
Ukinix: Interesting. ::Stroking beard:: Get a load of that design. Boxy. And plain brown. I think the designers must have been bored.
Stros: Response
Robin tapped away at her console making it go beep-beep-boop.
Hopper: I’m not reading any lifesigns. Whoever activated the distress call… They may not have survived – that or they don’t read as ‘alive’. ::Pause, pursing her lips:: I don’t know which option is creepier.
Ukinix: Yeah... ::slight grimace::... well then Stros, me and you better get our EVs on. ::standing up:: We’re going over. Robin, we’ll keep a channel open, at the first sign of trouble, beam us out and-or congratulations on becoming CO of Amity Outpost.
Stros: Response
Hopper: Response
Wil gave Stros a little playful nudge.
Ukinix: I have to admit, this is more exciting than admin work behind my desk. ::small chuckle::
Stros/Hopper: Response
((A few minutes later - Unidentified vessel))
There were no consoles, no seats, ,nothing. Just flat surfaces. Everything was plain gun-metal grey inside. The roof was low, so much that Wil had to stoop down a centimetre so that the top of his helmet didn’t keep dragging along it.
At each end of the area were two huge, rectangular bulkheads. Wil waved his tricorder around, and while there were some strange energy readings, he couldn’t make heads nor tails of them yet.
The atmosphere was breathable, but thin. The EV suits were a thankful call. The bonus was that Robin could see whatever Stros and Wil could see.
Ukinix: =/\= Anything? =/\=
Stros: =/\= Response =/\=
Hopper: =/\= Response =/\=
Wil’s tricorder trilled, sounding through his helmet speakers.
Ukinix: =/\= These bulkheads are the source of the energy readings. =/\=
Stros/Hopper: =/\= Response =/\=
Wil looked around again for any sort of screen, or dials, or anything that would show any sort of information. There was nothing. He’d have to rely on his tricorder. With a few taps, it determined that the bulkheads were protected with some sort of shielding.
Ukinix: =/\= It’s blocking our tricorder readings. Hang on... =/\=
With a few more taps, his tricorder trilled again, and displayed something new.
Ukinix: =/\= ::Looking at tricorder:: They aren’t bulkheads. ::Looking up at Stros:: They’re stasis pods, with shielding to stop anyone detecting life signs. =/\=
Stros/Hopper: =/\= Response =/\=
Tags/TBC!
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Commander Wil Ukinix
Starfleet attache and Commanding Officer
Amity Outpost
V239511WU0