Flight of the Intruders (Part 1 of 2)

Posted on 16 Jun 2022 @ 3:30pm by Chief Warrant Officer 3 Lamar Darius & Commander Scarlet Blake & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Commander Marisa Wyatt & Lieutenant JG Tris Shizn & Lieutenant JG Karras & Lieutenant JG Sofie Ullswater & Ensign Amanda Turell & Petty Officer 2nd Class Donald Andrews & Petty Officer 3rd Class Constantin Vansen

4,060 words; about a 20 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: Alcyone Sector, USS Galileo-A
Timeline: MD 10, 0540 hrs

Previously, on Cold Roids...

In the hazy, particle-filled sector of the Alcyone Sector, USS Galileo snapped back into warp and left a trail of cosmic dust in her nacelle's wake. The tiny Nova-class vanished from view with only a faint burst of light in the far distance to serve as a reminder of her brief presence. The vessel's two deployed shuttlecraft, launched moments ago, were now hardly visible against the spacial backdrop as they entered the asteroid field in search of Cold Station 31.

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

Galileo's two Type 6 shuttlecraft were now on their own. Left to their own devices without support from their starship, both support craft had a daunting flight in front of them with an unknown outcome once they reached their secretive destination. If they managed to survive the multitude of moving asteroids and debris directly in their flight paths.

Inside shuttlecraft Livia, conn officer Lamar Darius kept both of his hands hovering mere inches above the flight controls. He maintained an echelon formation with their sister shuttle, Virginia, but as he looked through the cockpit and at the dense moving asteroid field in front of them, he grit his teeth. Twinges of uncomfortable anxiety started to mount.

"Commander, we're not really going in there, are we?" he couldn't help but say to the Vulcan science officer sitting next to him. "We'll be a ham sandwich by the time we make it through."

Vansen gave a small smile from where he sat, looking over at Darius. Truth be told, he had faith in him flying them through it. It wasn't even Vansen's first asteroid field. What you had to watch out for was what his father had called floaters. The smaller bits of rock moving, that you didn't easily see. Would dent your hull unless your shields were up. All things considered, he was relaxed, keeping a general eye on what was going on. But he wasn't the navigator, or the pilot, so the best thing he could do was to sit there and keep his mouth shut until he was told to do something. Or keep an eye on something.

Karras sat quietly, a bit alarmed at hearing Lamar express anything akin to doubt for the first time since they'd met, but trusting in the flight team to see them safely through. He was more worried about the phaser holstered at his side. It was standard issue, true, but he hoped he would not need to use it.

"That's a lot of asteroids..." Donald said, he glanced across at Constantin surprised at how calm he looked. "Everything to shields and SIF?" He asked the flight crew knowing that a solid hit from even a relatively small chunk could do some major damage to the shuttle.

"Yes, we're going in there and yes, there are a lot of asteroids," Marisa replied with a half-smile. "As long as we stick to coordinates and keep our shields up, we should be fine." They also had weapons if they needed to remove any larger rocks, but since they were following the other shuttle, she hoped that wouldn't be necessary.


Shuttle Virginia

Just a few floating rocks away, the Virginia started to venture into the murkiness, already half hidden in the haze that began to envelop the forward shuttle. The glow of the light from the vessel cast an eerie hue against the turbulent backdrop as it slowly but surely started the treacherous journey.

As Allyndra peered toward the front, if it had been any other than Shizn at the controls she probably would have taken over. There was nothing like also having the innate biological development of flight. Still she knew him well enough to know he had gotten good enough to try to navigate through this swarm of rocks. Even so it made her a little anxious.

Shizn sat utter silent behind the flight control console. His antenna angled at 90 degrees to help provide any uncertain change that he could personally perceive. Tris concentrated on the provided flight-plan with micro second adjustment being provided by the shuttle’s own active navigational sensors. Yet, knowing that, not every tiny nuance could be predicted, Shizn was in active control of the shuttle’s course with fingers tapping and touching the console to keep the shuttle on the intended flight path.

Blake studied the readouts across her console, absorbing what lay ahead from that rather than focussing on the viewport. It wasn't so much what was ahead of them that she found disconcerting, it was more that they were alone with the Galileo's rapid exit. "There's no bonus for arriving there quickly, so let's take it slow and steady," she said across to Shizn, assuring him that she'd rather he take the time he needed. They also didn't want to risk leaving the Livia behind, not when they were unable to hail her. "I dub thee Pathfinder," she added in a murmur to herself.

Her comment made Tris smirk uncertainly as one and antennae angled toward her before returning to its previous and continuous scan. Only he, most likely, heard the comment. He took it as a compliment and her way of encouragement toward him, which gave him renewed focus.

While a blaze of glory was how Amanda preferred to meet her end the idea of that blaze being the shuttle exploding brilliantly in the blackness of space around her wasn't what she had in mind. She concentrated on tweaking her rifle to try and take her mind of potentially getting smashed into space dust.

"Lots of volatiles, normal carbonaceous things, more hydroxyls and methane than I'd expect." Sofie softly read out the spectral indications of composition. She found herself speaking aloud more to calm herself than for anything else, the soothing motions of spectral analysis reflected in a soothing tone. "Probably low in density. Can't tell for sure unless we detect some orbit-captured objects. Nothing unusual about them, nothing to worry about."

To Ens. Ullswater’s comment, Tris tried to provide a humorous reply, “I’ll try not to ignite anything while we are here.” He glanced over to the shuttle’s external shield display, finding it already down to 95%. He grimaced in frustration. Shizn knew it had been the constant barrage of micro-meteoroids and sand-sized elements constantly striking the shield. Yet, after a quick confirmation, Shizn calculated that they would arrive at their destination with about 25% left to the shields, if everything remained consistent. If that was the case, they would need several minutes to repair the exterior hull and to recharge the repulsive field for the shields.

"The Livia is matching course and still maintaining good proximity," Blake updated Tris; she wanted him to be able to concentrate on the flying without worrying about the other shuttle's situation. With a comms black out, they were relying completely on the shuttle following in their wake. "Approaching the first waypoint, power levels on target."

Shizn replied in a focused monotone, “Confirming first way-point. Power levels . . , check.” Tris glanced out of the corner of his eye to see the sensor description on the object before them. It was a massive oddly shaped asteroid about 26 kilometres in diameter. The read out was as expected; pebble sized stones of varying composition covered the exterior surface. The Andorian could assume that they had fallen to it over multitudes of centuries. Yet, below the first kilometer or so was a solid Iron-Copernicium core, which held an intense gravity well. The intended flight plan was to approach the lower right quadrant, utilising its gravity well to bring them around to the next barring for their intended flight-path. Tris was just a touch uncertain about what might be on the far side of the asteroid. Sensors were not picking up anything unusual, yet they wouldn’t know for sure until they were half way through the banking maneuver.

The large asteroid began to fill the forward viewport as the Virginia dove below on its approach.


Shuttle Livia

In the cockpit of shuttle Livia, Darius was diligently working his console to maintain proper formation with their sister shuttle. Mostly though, he was trying to keep them from colliding with the plethora of small fast-moving micro-roids which were appearing with little-to-no navigational warning. He was normally a calm and collected individual, but his upright seating posture and hawkish eyes revealed the intensity of his maneuvering.

Pulling Livia to starboard, Lamar narrowly avoided a collision with a large asteroid directly in their flight path. He brought the shuttle's nose back around to port to correct and catch up with Virginia, whose bright red impulse engines served as a visual nav beacon.

"Nice avoidance," Marisa said. "Well done." She was doing her best to filter out much of the particulate pollution affecting their sensors. So far, she was only marginally successful. "How do the shuttles manage to get in and out in one piece?" It was a rhetorical question. The ones who knew that were probably on the cold station--or the information was classified.

"Maybe they're not all expected to," Karras offered from his seat in the back. "I mean, given the high level of secrecy? This asteroid field is likely another layer of security. A sort of guarantee to keep out any unwanted visitors."

"A valid point," Marisa replied. "It is an effective deterrent." At least it had been. Something or someone had likely breached the asteroid field to get to the research station itself. She was curious to learn what it was as much as she hoped to avoid it.

"The universe's own security grid," Vansen said lightly, still relaxed before he shook his head. "Most likely, where they are located, they've managed to monitor for long enough to do projections. It wouldn't be perfect, because nothing is, but it would mean the computer could keep up with the majority and the pilot could focus on the smaller...obstacles."

"That is logical," Marisa replied. "The computer is scanning the area in case we need to find our own way back. I would rather not have to rely on there being personnel still alive, or even a working computer, at our destination."

"We're at waypoint one," Darius called out to the cabin. He glanced over to the lieutenant commander in the adjacent front seat. "Recommend transferring shields forward until we get through this."

Sandoval nodded. "Agreed. Most of the damage we will encounter will come from that direction. We will still need some shields, but the majority should be forward." There was always a chance that something would hit them from the side and she didn't want the aft to be completely vulnerable.

"On it, Commander," Vansen said, moving to line up the transfer the power to the forward shields, but keeping some back for the other shields. "Ready on your command."

"Make the transfer," Sandoval said, nodding to Vansen.

"Yes, Commander," Vansen said, moving to do as instructed. He loved the way the shuttle was responding to him. She was a good little shuttlecraft, and did the job well. He kept an eye on the readings. "Forward shield's reinforced, still maintaining the rest of the shielding.

"Thank you. Let me know if anything changes." She had every confidence Vansen knew his job and would keep them safe, but she didn't trust the asteroid field, or what may be in it. It just felt...off. Or, more likely, it was what she was afraid they'd find when they got to the cold station.

"Yes Commander," Vansen said, a small smile coming to him as he kept an eye on the readings. He was still relaxed where he sat, but there was now a laser-focus in the way he was watching the console and readings.


Shuttle Virginia

Shizn found the approach to the second waypoint to be inconsequential. Even with the slow yet constant barrage of micro meteoroids, the shuttle’s shields were holding strong at 95%.

With a close look at the sensor readouts, Tris observed that the next waypoint was quickly approaching. This was definitely a different situation from the last. Sensors were tracking 9 major asteroids that seem to be swirling about each other, trapped within their own gravity well. They ranged in size from 8 meters across to 1 kilometer. The Andorian watched the recommended flight-path alter every few seconds as the positioning of the asteroid cluster transitioned. Due to the constant movement, the flight computer continued to alter its recommendations.

Tris glanced over at the Commander then back to the console. He was feeling a bit uncertain at that moment. He truly didn’t want to make the wrong choice and spoke up a little softer than he intended, “Uh, Commander? Do you have any recommendations here?” He glanced over to her again, hoping she didn’t take this lack of confidence to sternly.

Blake's mind unhelpfully pushed 'don't get us killed' to the forefront of possible answers, but she'd long ago learned not to let her impulsive thoughts reach her mouth. She was getting the same shifting flight path results on her display, and wondered if his question was literal in the sense of flight technique, or more to do with the uncertainty that the ambiguous computer options was causing. She decided the skilled pilot had meant the latter. "Trust your instinct," she replied in the same soft tone back to him, but despite the simplistic reply she was deadly serious. "I trust it. You don't need the computer to plot the best route for you. You're the pilot, you can find it."

Tris felt encouraged to continue to use his talents. They were still several minutes out from the spinning cluster. He watched intently and began to pick-up a cyclical trend. Using the sensor data, he quickly began to enter a program into the computer to anticipate the rotations. After a minute the computer provided the answer. Without looking up, “Commander in 2 minutes and 40 seconds all of the asteroids will be in a position to create a whole bearing 0-1-5 mark 2-5. With that we can swing through the cluster and pull to 3-5-0 mark 1-9, and on toward the 3rd waypoint. We just need to slow down to meet this point properly.” The Andorian glanced toward Cmdr. Blake hoping for her approval.

Blake gave a swift, firm nod as she ran an eye over her own screen to map out the plan, clearly trusting his work as she took a second glance at the time. She just wished she could call the other shuttle to keep them in the loop. "Do it," she confirmed, taking the responsibility.

With a confirming nod, Shizn reversed thrust just a bit to be in the right position for the needed/timed maneuver. He was a bit concerned that the Livia would follow close behind. The intended window was only open for a short time, yet he trusted his friend Lamar to bring his shuttle through right behind them.


Shuttle Livia

Within shuttlecraft Livia, Darius' head was down in the LCARS flight instruments. The asteroid field's density had increased, causing visual navigation to become difficult. Their sister shuttle Virginia was still on sensors and slowed its acceleration before coming to a momentary halt and re-positioning itself. He maneuvered Livia alongside in close formation while attempting to extrapolate what the Andorian was doing.

"Something's spooked Virginia. They're holding position," he said to the lieutenant commander. "I'm checking the navigation plot." Darius briefly glanced up through the cockpit's viewport where he observed a cluster of large, fast-moving asteroids directly in front of their flight path. His attention returned to his console which showed the computer attempting to re-calculate a suitable course. "I think they're trying to find a way through these asteroids."

"Most likely," Sandoval replied. "Look for a pattern. If this is defensive, there will be a pattern. If it's natural, we may have to take our chances. Either way, our orders are to follow their lead. Stay close, but not too close. We both need to get there in one piece."

Lamar tapped a few commands into his LCARS terminal then observed the computer's new calculations. The very large asteroids were blotting out the distant stars and preventing any pathway forward. Fortunately, they were not stationary and their trajectories revealed signs of orbital patterns. "I think they're caught in each other's gravity wells. No idea if this is naturally-occurring or man-made," he informed Sandoval. It was hard for the Mark I eyeball to discern any sort of opening but the shuttle's computer was orders of magnitude more adept at such mathematics.

"Thank you. Keep close to the others. I think our best bet is to go in together." At the same time, she was also looking at the patterns and using the computer to analyze them in case they had to go in or come out on their own.

"Aye, commander. Going in together," he confirmed, privately concurring with her decision.


Shuttle Virginia

Shizn watched the chronometer, and at the right moment accelerated toward the intended and anticipated point where no asteroid was expected.

The Virginia made its way into the cluster. Without turning from the controls Shizn asked, “How is the Livia doing?” A second later the shuttle was on an adjusted course and out of the cluster.

"On the move," Blake shook her head slightly as she adjusted the data on her display to keep a sharper eye on the other shuttle, not wanting Tris to pull his focus away from theirs. It looked like they'd taken the cue and were on the same page. "They'll be fine," she said with confidence...hoping she was right.


Shuttle Livia

Back inside Livia, Darius watched the other shuttle suddenly accelerate. "Hold on!" he called out to the rest of his passengers. His dark fingers tapped at his console to manually control the shuttle's flight path and engines. There was soft lurch rearward as its impulse engines activated and he started to chase Virginia. Their window of opportunity was brief.

In space, the Type 6 Livia wobbled slightly on its y-axis before re-aligning directly aft of her counterpart. Darius increased speed and the shuttle rapidly closed the distance on Virginia. "Warning, proximity alert," came the klaxon from the computer. "Warning, collision alert," it repeated with flashing red strobes. The massive asteroids surrounding them were converging on their flight path.

Karras felt his stomach drop. He closed his eyes and tried to keep his breathing even. The rush of adrenaline made that difficult, but he was powerless to do anything except hold on.

"Not feeling a little space sick there are you Lieutenant?" Donald said suppressing a small chuckle, he'd felt a couple of pangs of discomfort but it was nothing he hadn't felt before.

"Maybe," the Counselor allowed. He hadn't gotten sick during the shuttle drop simulation with Lamar a few days prior, but that didn't mean it wasn't a possibility now. But that had been a simulation. Now they were swerving between actual chunks of rock that could kill them. "This is certainly, um, bracing. Yeah, let's go with bracing." It sounded better than terrifying, after all.

Marisa kept glancing between the view ahead of them and the sensor data. They didn't have much leeway with the approaching asteroids. "If we get back in one piece, something like this should be made into a holodeck program for pilots. It'll definitely keep you on your toes." While her comment was given lightly, she was intensely aware that if they were too far behind or too slow, they'd be in trouble.

Vansen smiled weakly to himself, but kept an eye on the power of the shields. He did briefly glance up before he looked back at what he was doing, his left hand going to rest gently on the side of the console. The movement inside the shuttle didn't bother him and thankfully he had taken a large dose of his medication. At this speed, he felt no ill effects. But he didn't engage in the conversation, knowing well his social skills could end up with him saying something wrong to upset people.

"Adjusting course," called out Darius. They weren't going to make it through the same opening Virginia was taking without some improvisation. His attention was focused entirely on the shuttle's short-range navigational sensors and helm controls. His right-hand fingertips tapped repeatedly against the rotational controls while the fingers on his left manipulated the support craft's translation trust. He kicked the aft quarter of Livia into a slide to port to avoid an incoming protrusion from one of the asteroids then increased power to the impulse engines to clear the obstacle.

Livia dodged the obstruction with several meters to spare and approached a new one. Lamar furiously tapped at the translation controls to descend below a micrometeorite only seconds away, then rotated the nose of the craft up to accelerate ahead of the final large asteroid. He put the shuttle in a slow roll to starboard and the asteroid field's horizon started to visually rotate. "I'm juicing it," he informed the cabin again, then brought the shuttle's engines to maximum power for a one-second burst. The Type 6 lurched forward through the small opening at rapid sub-light speed before slowing back to standard cruise velocity.

Darius released several breaths of tension through his nostrils. They'd finally escaped the obstacle course and the computer ceased its warning klaxons. He looked back down at his instruments. "We're still alive and the asteroid field density is decreasing. But I don't have Virginia on sensors anymore..."

Marisa's heart began to pound, but she wasn't ready to give up on the other shuttle. They'd run into too many anomalies to make assumptions. "There's every chance the asteroid field is interfering with sensors. Keep on course for the station. Virginia may still be ahead of us."

He chewed the side of his cheek then grit his teeth with frustration. Lamar wasn't one to blame himself for mistakes, but maintaining visual sight and situational awareness of Virginia had been his duty. He'd failed that task and now shook his head with exasperation. They had no idea if their sister shuttle was still intact or not, which added to his apprehension. "Heading to the station," he confirmed to Sandoval.

Vansen frowned at the mention of the Virginia, but kept any words on it to himself. "Shields are still holding and power is stable. We should be fine on our way back out of here," he said aloud, pushing back slightly to turn and look at the viewscreen, more with curiosity.

"That's good to know," Karras said, focusing on the positive. There was nothing else he could do, really. He had to trust the other shuttle had survived, and he had to focus and be ready to provide medical aid if needed when they arrived. Especially if he ended up being the only medic on site.

Donald smiled to himself as the ship came out of its series of maneuvers, Darius was certainly a good pilot and whoever had built the Livia had built it good.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

CWO3 Lamar Darius
Conn Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Saalm]

Ensign Amanda Turell
Sec/Tac Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Mimi]

PO2 Donald Andrews
Engineering Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Mimi]

Ensign Sofie Ullswater
Science Officer
USS Galilleo-A

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo-A

Cmdr. Allyndra illm Warraquim
Second and Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo-A

PO3 Constantin Vansen
Operations Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Rice]

Lieutenant Commander Marisa Sandoval
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

LTJG Karras
Chief Counselor
USS Galileo-A

LTJG Tris Shizn
Conn Officer
USS Galileo-A

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