Lurker In The Void, Part 2

Posted on Sat Apr 24th, 2021 @ 5:16pm by Gunnery Sergeant Philibert "Fender" McCord

Mission: S2:3: Snow Drift
Location: Karank System

Gunner Sergeant Fender McCord gazed out the USS Plumbata's view screen. The USS Gorgon floated tranquilly over the orange and brown gas giant of Karank IV. The once great ship was now a tomb for its crew. Fender and his marines would get inside to confirm there were no survivors, turn off the distress beacon, and install a homer beacon if Ingram wanted to salvage the hulk.

"Gunny, platoon leadership is here." Sergeant Khatri politely spoke up.

"Thank you, Sergeant." Fender turned to face him and the NCOs of the platoon. Among the faces was Corporal Taznyryn Sh'vaazryl, the Andorian girl Fender and Bug had harassed on the USS Normandy. Skobelova saw potential in the young marine and had promoted her to Corporal. During the week of training Fender had minimal interactions with her. He wanted to apologize to her, but the time was never appropriate.

"Corporal Taz, First Squad and one medic will be part of the boarding party." Fender told the Andorian. "Corporal Hotchkiss, Second Squad will be on ready status and Corporal Ng, Third Squad will be at rest."

"Sergeant Khatri, you were a Starfleet engineer before you transferred to the marines, right?" Fender asked. "Why did you change over?"

"Yes, Gunny. I was a systems tech. I mostly replaced components and repaired plasma conduits. I just didn't find the work exciting enough, so I transferred branches." Khatri explained.

"Well, I hope exploring a two hundred year old derelict ship fills your need for excitement? You'll be with us on the boarding party." Fender told him.

"I'll beam over first." Khatri told Fender.

"You can't do that, Sergeant." Garcia spoke up from the pilot's station. "The Gorgon's shields are still up."

"Really? After all this time?" Fender asked.

"Yes, really. They are only operating at 50 TeraJoules. Probably just enough to deflect debris." Garcia explained.

"So how are we going to get in?" Fender asked.

"The shuttle bay doors are open." Morgav interjected.

"I don't claim to be any kind of pilot but I don't think the Plumbata will fit through those doors." Fender told the Tellarite.

"Even if the Plumbata could fit, it wouldn't try to land on a derelict. No, you can just float across the void in your suits." Morgav replied.

"Great." Fender sarcastically replied. "Nothing like a void walk to get the heart going."

Fender turned to Khatri. "You and I will go first, followed by the Lieutenant and the rest of First Squad."

"I will be here leading you from the bridge." Sternwald corrected Fender. "Ship captains do not go on away teams."

"The Plumbata isn't really a starship and we really aren't an away team. You place is with the boarding party." Fender advised Sternwald.

"I know my place, McCord. Remember your place." Sternwald snorted back.

Minutes later, the marines were out of the Plumbata's airlock. Fender and Khatri hit their maneuver thrusters. They slowly floated over to the Gorgon. Below their feet, Fender could see violent orange and tan cloud storms boiling the on gas giant. Fender had a bad feeling in his stomach as he reached the Gorgon. Something about the ship didn't feel right.

As Fender and Khatri passed into the Gorgon's shuttle bay, they immediately crashed onto the bay's deck. Pain shot through Fender's body. Khatri was motionless on the deck. Fender laid on the deck a moment as he tried to recover. Over his comm link he could hear Morgav having a deep laugh.

"Sorry Gunny. I forgot to tell you..." Morgav couldn't finish as he laughed hardily. "I forgot to tell you that the gravity generation was still active."

"I'm glad you found our pain amusing." Fender replied.

Morgav opened his comm link again but could only laugh. "Do not be angry, Gunny. It is only your dignity that was injured." The Tellarite spoke once he had some composure.

"Are you okay?" Fender asked Khatri as they moved away from the entrance. Khatri gave a positive reply.

"I want to see the blue girl crash." Morgav indicated Taz, animosity between the two species still evident.

As Taz and the first group of marines came into the gravity of the shuttle bay, they were pulled down to the deck. Most had difficulty keeping their posture. Taz, however, nimbly jumped back up in stride. Fender could hear Morgav grumble at Taz's success.

"Alright Khatri, make sure everyone makes it over safely. Taz, I want this shuttle bay searched before we go inside. Look for anything that might not belong." Fender ordered.

It was not long before Khatri had all the marines accounted for. Taz also reported in quickly.

"Except for some weapon damage to the walls of the bay, there is nothing here, Gunny." Taz reported. "I mean nothing. No shuttles, no tool boxes or tools, no spare shuttle parts. The bay is completely cleaned out."

Fender moved his search light around in the inky darkness of the shuttle bay. Taz was correct. They were not in a hard vacuum and the gravity was still on. There should have been at least some debris. They only marks left by the Gorgon's crew were laser burns on the shuttle bay walls. It was only confirming what Fender felt, something wrong happened on the Gorgon.

"Okay, let's get past the doors and into the engineering bay." Fender ordered.