[Galaxy] FW: [Challenger] 2162.08.26 :: Final Log :: "And All That Could Have Been..."

[Kate Nicholson]

OOC: The voyages of the starship Challenger have been put on indefinite
hiatus. In this fine suspending log, we are left uncertain of her exact
fate. The entities responsible for these events are The Adanvaca, an ancient
race, now having achieved non-corporeal form. The Adanvaca have also
affected the lives of the people of New Darwin Colony over the past several
years. In their odd interpretation of ethical behavior, these aliens have
transported the USS Challenger to an uncertain fate. Separated from his
crewmates on an away mission, LtCmdr Richard McDonald, CEO, has suffered a
different destiny, and been transported to a new life among ³his kind², the
people of New Darwin Colony. Many thanks for Steve Baxter for his dedication
to the Challenger, in orchestrating and publishing the uncertain end. Is the
crew dead, or merely unconscious? Will the NCC-04 ever find her way back
through the stars to her homeworld? That remains to be written in those
stars.

Subject: [Challenger] 2162.08.26 :: Final Log :: "And All That Could Have
Been..."

> ~~~~~
> 
>> USS Challenger, Bridge
>> 
>> 
>> "Captain's log, Stardate August 25, 2162.  It has been over a week since we
>> arrived at an unsurveyed planet and lost our chief engineer on the planet
>> surface.  We are overdue to our next destination, and am forced to make a
>> decision that I have dreaded for a long time - leave a crewman behind.  The
>> Federation ambassadors on the Challenger have given their opinions, which run
>> the gamut between derision at our mission coming to a halt and asking why we
>> have not allowed them to travel to the surface to conduct their own
>> investigation.  Both have been difficult to counter.  And today, we are
>> forced to abandon our search for Lt Cmdr McDonald.  In his place, Chief Petty
>> Officer Martin has been given a temporary commission to ensign in order to
>> serve as chief engineer."
>> 
>> Capt Spearling closed the switch to the recording device, and pressed the
>> intercom panel.  "Ensign Martin, prepare to secure the engineering deck for
>> warp speed."
>> 
>> "Aye, captain," the voice answered, filled with a grudging acknowledgement of
>> the futility of searching for a man who was gone.  "Our maintenance crews are
>> finishing up down here.  You will have all warp factors at your command, and
>> we are good on periodic maintenance and inspections for the next month."
>> 
>> As good as his word from his old boss, Martin would be an outstanding officer
>> if he chose to make his new grade permanent, Spearling thought to herself.
>> "Thank you, engineering.  We will depart orbit in one hour."
>> 
>> The captain turned her attention to the helm.  "Lay in a course to Outpost
>> 12, helm."
>> 
>> Without a response, the helmsman complied with her orders.
>> 
>> "Anything new from the surface," she asked the science station.
>> 
>> "No, captain," Petty Officer Zhang reported.  Spearling had not seen the
>> young Asian woman smile in weeks, even in response to the odd joke that
>> floated around the bridge at calm moments.
>> 
>> "Maintain sensor readings until we depart the system," Spearling said in a
>> melancholic tone.  Slowly rising out of the captain's chair, she walked to
>> her ready room.
>> 
>> 
>> -------------------------
>> 
>> 
>> Time flew past for the Challenger.
>> 
>> Capt Spearling emerged, and proceeded back to her chair.  "Secure from orbit
>> operations, excepting sensors.  Engage course to our next destination."
>> 
>> "Aye, captain," the helmsman acknowledged.
>> 
>> An alert chime rang out across the bridge.  "Captain!  Sensors are detecting
>> a power buildup on the surface!  Point of origin is very close to the landing
>> site!"  Zhang hovered over the cowled monitor, feverishly trying to get more
>> data out of it.
>> 
>> Spearling sat down for stability.  "Belay the departure order!  Tactical!  Is
>> there any indication of a potential threat?"
>> 
>> A junior officer was on duty, and his nervousness was an open book.
>> "Scanning now, captain!  I suggest general quarters and hull plating!"
>> 
>> "Do it!"  Spearling, turned back to Zhang.  "Does this energy buildup appear
>> to be stationary?"
>> 
>> The alert klaxon half-drowned out her reply, which she repeated with more
>> volume.  "It is growing in intensity, and spreading from underground to the
>> surface!"
>> 
>> "Helmsman, put some distance between us and the energy source!
>> 
>> Slowly at first, Challenger began to break out of geostationary orbit, but
>> thrusters alone could not do the job.  Her impulse drive began to power up
>> and nudge her away from the planet.
>> 
>> "Energy surge headed for us!"  Zhang's shrill cry was almost immediately
>> followed by an electrical storm that enveloped the ship.  Several auxiliary
>> panels erupted in a shower of sparks, followed by the tactical station.  The
>> young officer fell back to the deck, unconscious.
>> 
>> Spearling felt the static electricity in the air pull her hair away from her
>> scalp.  "Damage control, report!"
>> 
>> =^= We're losing power, captain! =^= Martin's call from engineering was
>> frantic, accompanied by screams in the background on the engineering deck.
>> =^= Systems are shorting out everywhere!  Cooling to the warp drive is out!
>> The reactor is shutting down! =^=
>> 
>> "Full impulse power," Spearling shouted to the helm.  "Direct line away from
>> the source, as much distance as possible!"
>> 
>> 
>> -----------------------
>> 
>> Fortunately, the ship's reactor was equipped with physical safeguards, which
>> immediately separated the matter and antimatter in the reaction chamber.
>> Strong magnetic fields ensured that no stray particles would escape the
>> critical separation necessary to bring the ship's reactor down to a safe
>> temperature.  Even as the chaos surrounded it, the bronze-colored cylindar's
>> glow softened in the nightmarish scene around it.
>> 
>> With three men suffering from second-degree burns, Acting Ensign Martin and
>> others spilt their all-too-short time in getting power back to the ship and
>> saving the lives of their shipmates.
>> 
>> "How long will it take to bring the impulse packs back up," he yelled across
>> the expanse of main engineering.
>> 
>> "Five minutes, chief!"  Most of his engineers still called him 'chief' in
>> spite of his recent promotion.  He didn't see any point in correcting them.
>> 
>> "Faster!  I think we were attacked!"
>> 
>> 
>> ------------------------
>> 
>> 
>> The Challenger's bridge was quiet, save for the emergency ventilation fans
>> that whirred in near silence.  A few lights steadily blinked, indicating the
>> ship still had some power, but very little.  The mist of acrid smoke had long
>> dissipated.  Nothing moved.
>> The bridge crew were slumped over their consoles, sprawled across the deck
>> where they fell, or sat motionless in their chairs.  The main viewer was
>> dead, along with all other secondary screens.  One battle lantern cast an
>> eerie glow near the turbolift.
>> 
>> -----------------------
>> 
>> In main engineering, several battle lanterns ensured a red hue over the
>> otherwise grey room.  The bronze-colored reactor was cold and silent.  As on
>> the bridge, the engineering crew were scattered all through the maze of
>> ladders and catwalks.
>> Still at his station at the main panel, Acting Ensign Martin's body covered
>> the source of his livelihood.  Aside from a few ventilators and a incessant
>> chirping from a monitoring panel, there were no sounds.
>> 
>> ----------------------
>> In Space, Challenger Exterior
>> 
>>  The once-graceful starship, third of her class, slowly drifted in space just
>> out of her orbit of the planet.  Her attempt to run had been cut short, and
>> now only a faintly visible yawing arc gave any sign of movement.  Out of
>> nowhere, another bright burst of energy speared up from the planet surface
>> and enveloped the powerless vessel.
>> With no witnesses to herald or celebrate her fate, the USS Challenger
>> disappeared in a flash of light.  No debris would give any indication of her
>> fate.  As starships sometimes do, as their sailing ancestors of centuries
>> ago, the pride of the newly-formed Federation simply vanished.
>> 
>> 
>> This is the final log for USS Challenger.
>> All parts played by Steve Baxter.
> 


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