Arrival at Binary Neutron Stars

Posted on Tue Sep 1st, 2015 @ 1:49pm by Captain Enalia Telvan & Commander Angelica Fairchild & Lieutenant Commander Ethan Chaparral MD & Commander Sinek & Lieutenant Daln Hadren & Lieutenant Dylan Santiago & Lieutenant JG Karina Sha’ha’zen & Lieutenant JG Ellery Bretton M.D.

Mission: Where Angels Fear to Tread
Location: Bridge/various

Captain Enalia Telvan sat in her chair on the bridge of the USS Hera, staring at the viewscreen. It wasn't every day one saw a pair of binary neutron stars, let alone got this close to them. Any closer would put the ship at risk of being sucked into them but alas, they needed to get a whole lot closer. The ship that the intermittent distress signal was coming from could barely be seen orbiting this pair of gravitational nightmares, presumedly unable to escape but not having been sucked in just yet. From what sensors had shown, this thing had been in that same stable 23 minute orbit for hundreds of millions of years, as unlikely as that seems.

"Magnify that ship," Enalia said, standing and taking center stage on her modified Galaxy series bridge. As the ship came into clear view, it was obvious that it was artificial - no known natural phenomenon could create a white metallic hull like that. It was covered in arches and even had a recognizable engine array of at least a dozen horizontal pillars scattered around the cathedral-like main body. Glancing at the Operations display, her jaw dropped at the computer's estimation of her size. "Lt Sha'ha'zen, is that readout correct? This thing is over two hundred kilometers long?"

Karina had been working on determining just that. Her fingers traced tiny lines over her console, sending sensor pulses out to the massive vessel ahead, to have them bounce back in order to be studied and analyzed. All attempts confirmed near-identical results. The Hiigaran tilted her head to the side as she worked on how to confirm the Captain's belief. "Uh, yes, ma'am. Two hundred, thirty-seven kilometers long from bow to stern." Unbelievable she added mentally. Even the Federation Starbase at earth capped at 6900 meters!

"Whomever built this..." Captain Telvan mused for a moment before refocusing on their task at hand. "Plot a course to bring us alongside that thing. Maximum transporter range. I don't want those stars crushing us if we can help it."

"Well I can officially say that I've never seen anything like that." Dylan commented from his station as he gazed at the viewscreen. One thing was for certain, whoever had built that thing had an eye for artistic design.

Ellery normally didn't spend an extensive amount of time on the bridge, as her clinical work kept her quite occupied. That said, as counselor, she knew the command staff needed her to be available to offer guidance concerning their missions, whether such guidance was diplomatic in nature or had more to do with the crew's overall state of mind. And sometimes? Sometimes the happenings were so unusual, so unexpected, they were worth witnessing in person. "I hope no one's hurt over there," Bretton remarked softly.

Daln was at the tactical station, working with his console. "Captain, their weapons are partially online, but I can't read their shields. They're too close to the stars."

"I want the age of that ship confirmed. The Solstice estimated several hundred million years, but I find it hard to believe that even these stars have been around that long." Enalia demanded as the ship slowly worked her way in closer, the image on the viewscreen growing.

Daln shook his head. "I can't confirm exactly how old it is, but I can say that it is older than anything I've seen before." He looked towards the science console. "Commander, can you confirm?"

Sinek pinched the bridge of his nose. The headache caused the readout at his terminal to blur, then it became double-vision. He fought the pain off, then stated, "The ship is of considerable age. I am running it through a database of known races. Apparently, it was too large for its engines to pull it away from the gravitational pull of the binary star." He gasped as pain shot from his forehead back to the his brain stem then recollected himself. "Sensors are not picking up any known life forms."

"Captain, three minutes until we're in transporter range." The Ensign at the helm said, paying close attention to his console.

Enalia nodded and headed towards the turbolift. "I need volunteers for an away team to meet me in transporter room seven in EV suits. I'm going over there myself but this is risky - I'm not going to order anyone to head over there with me."

Sinek heard the Captain and gave a somewhat loud and stern, "No!" Regathering himself, he evenly added, "I must advise against it Captain. The gravitational pull of the twins could bring that ship down any minute."

"Are you insane?" Angel hissed at Enalia, following the other woman into the turbolift. "If you think I'm going to let your crazy ass go over to that... thing, I've got news for you, and you're not going to like it!"

"Captain's prerogative." Enalia said simply, smiling to the surprise occupant in the turbolift.

"Yeah well my prerogative is to keep you from doing stupid things and getting yourself killed," Angel growled back, crossing her arms over her chest. She knew Enalia wasn't going to actually obey her recommendation to stay on the Hera, but she could damn well try.

Unaware that the ship was in any immediate danger, Ethan had decided to bring Dylan some chocolate chip cookies. But of course he couldn't just bring them for his fiance, he had to bring them for everyone on the bridge, He was just about to get off the turbo lift and onto the Bridge when the Captain walked into the lift besides him. "Volunteers for what?" he asked.

Enalia smiled brightly as she looked at her doctor. "To join me for a jaunt on a planet sized ancient ship in an EV suit on the verge of being sucked into binary neutron stars."

Ethan smiled, shrugging his shoulders. Oh, is that all? After some of the crap I've been through that doesn't sound half bad. I'll volunteer." Ethan wasn't sure what Dylan would think of the idea, but he didn't care too much. Dylan was constantly putting himself in danger, it was Ethan's turn. Not to mention the fact that Ethan found the whole thing fascinating.

"Excellent. You can tell us what kind of beings built this thing."

~I am an epidemiologist,not a xenoarchaeologist~ he thought to himself, but then with more confidence than he felt said, "I'll do my best. Er, is Dylan volunteering?"

"I don't know. We're meeting in EV suits in transporter room seven." Holding the turbolift door open a little longer, she looked Sinek over worriedly. "Commander, if that ship has been there for as long as sensors indicate, I think it'll last a few more hours while we investigate. Also, are you ok? Do you need Doctor Chaparral?"

Ethan cut his eyes between the two, wondering if Sinek would share that the pair had already met and waiting to see his reaction, so he could asses the situation. If Ethan felt his condition posed a danger to the crew, he wouldn't hesitate to use his authority to bench him.

"I'll go." Dylan commented, glaring at Ethan as if unable to believe that he'd volunteered.

Ethan felt his lover's intense gaze and knowing Dylan as much as Dylan knew him, was instantly aware that the other man was not happy. He couldn't help but be amused by the irony of the situation. While he was inclined to glare back, instead, he just smiled.

There was something decidedly off about the way Sinek was acting, and Angel found herself torn between whether she should continue trying to make Enalia listen to her or stay on the bridge and figure out just what was wrong with him. She'd had a distinct feeling that he was hiding something, and looking at him now she had a vague idea of what it could possibly be. She might not be any sort of expert on Vulcan physiology, but there were certain biological quirks that were rather well known.

Being the chief of security, Daln was dead set on going. "Hadren to Hernandes, meet me in transporter room seven. Bring Tito with you."

Sinek look at the others volunteering. Normally, he would be there himself. The curiosity he had in this instance was no different. However, this time logic told him different. If he were to go in this state, he knew he could put other's lives in danger.

Sinek glanced at the sensor display. His vision became blurred by the pain in the lobes of his brain. Slamming a fist down on the panel, he called the on call officer to the bridge. Gathering his composer, he looked at the others' startled faces and announced, "I am not well; I must retire to my quarters."

"You need my help?" Ethan asked,"Are you going to be okay?"

Before Sinek could answer, Dylan chimed in "Guess this means you won't be able to go on the away team." He looked pointedly at Ethan.

Ethan took a deep breath, not wanting to display his growing anger in front of the others, "If he needs me, it means that and I'll gladly stay. If he doesn't need me then I'm going. Do you have a problem with that?"

Sinek turned a glare full of daggers toward lieutenant Santiago. He didn't care to be placed in what seemed to be a lover's quarrel.

"No problem at all." Dylan replied as his eyes met Ethan's defiantly.

"The Captain may need you more than I," Sinek responded to the Doctor. He was not certain how the Doctor could help. At this point, he wasn't certain if it was physical. ~ It cannot be Pon Farr; it is too soon. Perhaps some meditation will help. Besides, he was Vulcan and unaccustomed to asking anyone for personal help. The Vulcans were a proud race, although they would never admit it.

Ethan fought hard not to roll his eyes now that the shoe was on the other foot, and he was mostly successful. Keeping his face as neutral as possible, he said, "Good, then there is nothing more to talk about is there." Then he turned his back on his fiance and started walking towards the turbolift.

"Yeah...let's save it for later." Dylan replied under his breath before heading off after Ethan to join the rest of the away team.

If Ethan heard his lover, he gave on indication of it.

What in the name of the universe was going on today? Angel looked at Enalia, Ethan, and Dylan and then back toward Sinek. It would be irresponsible for both her and Enalia to leave the ship while Sinek was apparently unable to command in their absence. And she knew Enalia was dead set on going to that ship. "Be careful, Enalia. If you'll excuse me, I believe I have a personnel issue to address."

Enalia was having second thoughts about going herself at this point but she knew that she couldn't show it. She had faith in her crew and that's what she had to portray right now, even if she was worried as hell.