by Dabin Reece
80628.1900
Concurrent with Just Barely
-=Bridge, USS Serendipity=-
80628.1900
Concurrent with Just Barely
-=Bridge, USS Serendipity=-
"Well look what the cat dragged in!" Dabin Reece said with glee, as, at last, Salvek and Blane graced the bridge with their presence.
Reece gladly vacated the Command chair, allowing Salvek to sit, with Blane on his left. Dabin took his spot at science.
"Report."
"We're working on some ideas." Rada said. "Our warp field is holding this all together as you know. If we stop, the trap will collapse in on us."
"What's so important you can't answer your calls, by the way?" Reece interjected.
"I cannot discuss it at this time. Please Mr. Dengar, continue."
“We had a thought. We don’t think we can stop the bubble from collapsing, but we can at least control how fast it does so.”
Rada activated the main viewer to show Salvek the diagram. “The Sylph sent us this information on the structure of their prism. Reece and I ran some calculations and determined that, if we stop the ship, the prism’s collapse will accelerate continually until we are crushed.”
The animation played out, with the Serendipity being destroyed on the viewscreen.
“Not the best possible outcome.” Reece said.
“But watch this.” Rada reset the animation, and again the bubble started to collapse.
“This time, the Sera will send out pulses of energy from the warp engines. Enough to slow the collapse to a crawl. We’ll use our own energy to prop up the prism and ease it gently down around us as opposed to the uncontrolled collapse from before.”
Salvek watched the animation again, with the prism slowly coming down around the ship, then vanishing, leaving them in normal space.
“Looks great on the viewscreen, but will it work?” TC asked.
“We think the theory is sound. The computer models show the ship taking some structural damage, but nothing that puts the ship or crew in any serious danger.” Reece said.
Salvek stood up from his seat and walked to the engineering station. “Your calculations Mr. Dengar.”
Salvek looked at the numbers, and saw Rada tapping his foot nervously out of the corner of his eye. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, Lieutenant, but it never hurts to have a second set of eyes in circumstances like this.”
He continued his review, and was satisfied that this solution appeared both plausible and executable. “Well done.” He said to Rada finally. “How soon?”
“I’ll need Lair Kellyn in engineering to monitor the reaction temperature while I control the pulses from here.” Rada looked at Reece. “Anything else?”
“Not from me, looks solid, and if it’s not we won’t be alive to second guess ourselves.”
“Proceed. Inform me when you are ready. You have the bridge Mr. Blane.”
Salvek crossed the bridge to the ready room, while the crew made their final preparations. He sat in Zanh Liis’ chair, and looked around silently for a moment before activating her terminal.
“Computer, begin recording.”
The computer chirped, and Salvek began his dictation.
“Captain, with all the discussions of jumping and altering the timeline lately, I have become acutely aware once again of just how much I owe to you for the work you’ve done. Were it not for you, I would not have my wife, my child, or anything I hold dear in this life.
I therefore cannot help but feel I have a responsibility to protect you to ensure that your life from here on out is free from the pain of the past. I hope I have succeeded somewhat, I know I have tried my best. This is my way of repaying a debt.
If I should ever fail you, I apologize. But know I thank you for all you have done for me and my family.”
“Computer end recording.”
^Recording ended.^
“Encode message and transmit to the archives on Earth. In the event of my death being recorded at the archives as well, set message to transmit to Zanh Liis at that time.”
^Message transmitted.^
Salvek turned off the computer and returned to the bridge.
“We’re almost ready.” TC said. Salvek nodded and took the Command chair. He thought for a moment about checking their progress, but resisted the urge, believing the situation was under control.
“Ready.” Rada announced.
“If this doesn’t work, it’s been nice knowing you.” Reece said, then sent a private message to February, *I love you, Bru.*
*I love you too,* She thought back.
“Begin.” Salvek ordered.
“Slowing to Warp 1.” Rada announced. “The prism is beginning to contract.”
Reece displayed the sensor readout on the main viewer. They watched at the collapse began to accelerate.
“Firing Warp pulse.” Rada said. The engines briefly ramped to full power, for just an instant and the collapse was halted in its tracks, then the prism began to contract slowly again. “How’s the temperature down there, Commander Lair?”
[Stable, everything looks good.]
Rada repeated the process several time, until the boundary of the prism was just meters outside of the ship. He fired one last pulse, stopping the prism.
“That’s the best we can do,” he said.
“All hands brace for impact.” TC announced to the ship. Salvek placed a hand on each armrest, as the prism slowly contracted down over the Serendipity. The ship rattled as the impact occurred, sending some tumbling to the floor. The process continued on for a minute, until the prism finally winked out of existence.
“Engineering, report.” Salvek asked, anxious to hear the Kellyn’s voice.
[Warp core is down. Life support is stable, nothing we can’t fix.]
“I should get down there.” Rada said. Salvek nodded to excuse the Chief Engineer.
“We’re exactly where we were when we supposedly entered this prism.” February announced. "Not far from Earth."
“I’ve got micro fractures along the hull.” Reece said. “We’ll need time to repair them.”
“Very well. Proceed with the repairs,” Salvek said.
[Sickbay to bridge,] The LMH was hailing.
“Go ahead,” TC answered.
[Mr. O’Sullivan is awake and alert.]
Blane and Salvek exchanged a glance.
“Thanks, Doc, any change in the Captain?” TC asked.
[Not yet.]
“Acknowledged.”
Salvek turned to TC and lowered his voice. “Mr. Blane, please assemble everyone with... knowledge... of the Captain’s condition in the conference room near Sickbay in one hour.”
“Yes sir.” Blane said, knowing exactly what Salvek meant.
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Commander Dabin Reece
Chief Science Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012
Commander Dabin Reece
Chief Science Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012