LTJG Josh Herrick: Who's There? [Act II End]
Mark P
(( Null-Time Sphere, Ancient Outpost - Interior, Alpha Brenkelvi II ))
There, hung in the air, was the
image of the vessel Josh called home for the better part of a year. It was hard
not to be too affected by seeing signs of scarring and signs of battle, she’d
almost become a family member to him — attaching too quickly to a ship was a typical
engineer’s problem. His eyes scanned the Oumuamua until they stopped at an unexpected
development; the deflector wasn’t its usual ‘Toxin’ blue, but more aquamarine.
Herrick: The deflectors have been activated.
Arlill: Chronitons? ::looking at Herrick.::
Herrick: Perhaps;
it looks like they’re using the deflectors, and the bussard
collectors since it looks like they're stationary, to scoop something into the ship. Chroniton interaction might
explain why the Moo… er… ship’s deflector’s a bit off in colour.
Etan: Why would they be collecting them?
Maxwell: Could be trying tae build up a charge? Perhaps tae give out
some kind ae chroniton surge or charge?
Arlill: Is it possible our crewmates are attempting to reach these
beings using the chronitons similar to those of these beings?
It was a good supposition from the ACOO; they’d been out of contact for an extended period of time with the ship, who knew what was happening in the stars above.
Arlill: {Are you the same beings that attacked our ship?}
W. Herrick / Being: {We do not understand.}
Arlill: { It looks like our ship was attacked, did your people do that? }
W. Herrick / Being: { We are not of that moon’s existence. }
Interesting, was the first thought that came to Josh’s head. He remembered the moon from the shuttle ride down, and the beings had linked the moon with the attack on the ship. What… or who was responsible?
Arlill: { So there are others? } ::Toxin looked at Etan::
Etan: It’s certainly possible that another species could have evolved on
the planet either before or after our friends here did. :: he motioned to the
Spirits of the Deceased for effect.:: They might not have discovered this
outpost- but prolonged exposure to or being close to- a null-time sphere might
have some effects that we don’t yet know.
One ethereal species was enough for Josh’s second away mission, but the gods dealt the cards and tended not to stack the odds against him. He wanted to hear an answer to the burning question at hand.
Etan: Are you aware of any other species that ascended?
Maxwell: Arrivals
like you, that is....
W.Maxwell / Being: { The others are not of our nature or compassion. }
(beat) { They seek only control of this place, they seek an existence they
believe is greater than our own. }
The commander scanned each of the
away team with his eyes. The notion of perhaps getting caught in an intra-system
war of some sorts was not welcome news to him or anyone else judging by
everyone’s facial expression. Arlill seemed to take the news a bit worse than
the others, and Etan placed a reassuring hand on the man’s shoulder.
Etan: :: he spoke quietly. :: Sherlock’s in command and she’s not about
to let anybody destroy the ship or hurt the crew. Trust me, if there’s anyone
you don’t want to cross- it’s her.
Maxwell: Ne'er scrap with a Irish lass if you can help it. ::He smirked.:: A word frae the wise.
Herrick: She’s a proven ship and crew. Can you protect them?
W.Maxwell / Being: { We are limited by the effect of this place. We
can see beyond it, but we cannot travel beyond its reach. Its energies sustain
us. Without it, we would cease to be. }
Etan: You would pass on. :: he said, quietly. ::
Maxwell: So they are truly tied tae this place now?
Arlill: Response.
Herrick: oO
Ascension seemed to have some downsides. Oo If they’re dealing with some unknown
foe, I think we need to head back up.
The XO shook his head.
Etan: Believe me, I am just as eager to return
to ‘Oumuamua knowing what we know. But there
is nothing that we can do for the moment. We are deep inside the
planet’s crust and our route to the surface was blocked off. And even if we do
find an alternative way out and get back to the shuttle- we won’t be
able to return to the ‘Oumuamua during a crisis- the shields will be
up. :: he sighed. :: Our best course of action will be focus on our efforts
here. This is essentially a First Contact situation.
Maxwell: Cannae drop shields long enough to bring us aboard without
risking the ship. ::Max nodded to the XO.:: Either way, sir. We're with you,
wherever ::he glanced at the spirits:: or whenever this mission takes us.
Arlill: Response.
W.Maxwell / Being: { We will keep watch over your
craft. }
Max nodded his head in thanks.
Herrick: And, perhaps let us know if it gets into another fight?
Observation was passive, and it was obvious the Oumuamua had seen action and she’s made it through herself. With these beings tied to the planet, she could end up in the same situation again.
Arlill: Response
Etan: You said that you do not know who created this place. But you
exist outside of time; why not simply look back and find out?
Josh raised an eyebrow, it was a good question — perhaps the figurative elephant in the room.
Obasaan / Being: { We cannot access it. It is… locked to us. }
Arlill: Response.
Herrick: oO Locked?! Oo
Etan: Locked?
Maxwell: How do you mean, locked? Is it unclear, or completely invisible tae you?
Then a new voice entered a
picture; one that seemed rather soothing. Not unlike his dad or mom, perhaps a
mixture of two, that reduced some of the edge that he’d been feeling.
Disembodied Voice: Yes…. by me.
[[ Act II end for Herrick ]]
---
Lieutenant JG Josh Herrick
Acting Chief Engineer
USS ‘Oumuamua
O240005JH3
he/him/his (player/character)