Oblivion

Posted on Sun Jul 6th, 2025 @ 7:40pm by Commodore Jacob Kane

Mission: Pandora's Box
Location: USS Athena - Bridge
Timeline: MD-08
688 words - 1.4 OF Standard Post Measure

When his Science team had said they were implementing a plan, Kane hadn't expected it to take them nearly 9 hours to actually deliver. His blind spot for their technical jargon aside, he'd been expecting a miracle. Instead, they were working up some complex workaround with Keating that he hadn't desired to know the full details of.

In the meantime chunks of the neutronium shell had started to dissolve, for lack of a better word, into the anomaly hiding underneath. While those observing likely felt relief that there was nobody left down there while this was going on, Kane couldn't help but feel the losses they'd suffered to get there. Including the ship's assistant chief engineer.

It wasn't until Lt Bailey appeared on the bridge and gave him the nod that he felt like he could breathe.

"All right let's get this show on the road."

The flight plan had been pre-arranged by Ryan and Keating, via Ensign Brewster on the helm. The mild frustration as a Commanding Officer was watching and having to wait to see what would happen, even when you trusted your people to do their jobs.

On the main viewscreen, the moon spun and twisted as the ship began a curved swing towards its surface. A readout on his armrest showed their relative altitude: it was getting lower into orbit now, and despite the moon's lack of atmosphere its gravity would start to strain the ship's structural integrity. They'd planned ahead for that, as much as they could.

"Quantum Slipstream drive is charging," Brewster noted as they brought the ship almost level with the horizon, angled downward.

"The closer we get the more tachyon fluctuations we're encountering," Bailey added.

"Shields able to compensate?" Kane asked.

"For now, but the anomaly is a lot more intense than it was a few hours ago. It could be a rocky ride."

"Divert any spare power we need to maintain shields and flight control," he replied, watching the viewscreen start to shudder slightly as the shields took impacts from the temporal bubbles; the ones that had torn people into atoms, now shattering against the Athena's shielding. For those that knew, it was unnerving.

"Fifteen seconds until we're in position..."

"Structural integrity is straining against the gravitational effects. That anomaly is all over the place..."

"Slipstream drive is charged, just need a few more seconds."

"Shields now down to 52% and dropping. Those bubbles are starting to wear us down."

The various reports only served to increase the tension rather than defuse it. Kane felt his jaw tighten as he shared another look with Zora. This wasn't a comfortable ride.

"Lieutenant Bailey, how are we looking?" he asked, trying to quieten some of the other voices.

"We're close, Commodore. Diverting warp power to the integrity field should help lessen the damage but we're going too fast; as much as we accounted for the temporal distortion elements of that thing, we might need more time for the slipstream drive to neutralise it."

It wasn't news he wanted to hear. Another jolt, and his readouts flashed another warning about their shield strength. 33% and falling. The closer they were, the more of those bubbles were draining it. Like plowing through a minefield.

"Steady as she goes, Ensign." An unnecessary command, but one Kane hoped would shore up some nerves.

"In position...now. Slipstream drive is about to discharge-"

Another shudder. This time sparks flew from somewhere behind him.

"We've lost shields! Those gravitic bubbles are-" Another crash somewhere else in the ship. Maybe some hull damage, or perhaps worse. The vibrations were too urgent to tell.

"Lieutenant!" he barked.

"Stand by..." Bailey responded, equally shaken. "Slipstream discharging. It'll be just a couple of-"

The ship suddenly lurched to starboard, pitching as she did. Those not holding on already were thrown from seats as the main bridge lights went out. Suddenly nobody was calling out updates, nor were any visible on the blackened screen of his armrest.

Holding on for all he was worth, Kane could see the viewscreen light up with a blinding flash, and then everything went black.



...TO BE CONTINUED...