- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Chapter 10
0723 Hundred Hours (MILITARY CALENDAR) March 27th 2536 (Present Day)
1. Location: CLASSIFIED/ UNSC Prowler Midnight/ Enrout to lost Frigate UNSC Knight Owl/ ETA to Pelican launch Nine hours
The Midnight cruised silently above the green planet, the bridge crew was exhausted from their long trip, only seven hours in. The Captain hadn't been back at all. Surprisingly, Elizabeth always returned to the bridge with in a couple hours. Perhaps she needed the sleep Faulsen thought. His mind thinking of back home, he stared day dreaming out of his huge observation window that dominated the bridge. In front of him lay a small moon, a spec indicated the Knight Owl had not moved, not surprisingly. The ship he was on was quiet for a space craft, her sleek engines made a soothing sound, something Faulsen could get used to. With out the constant yapping of the captain serving on the Midnight was relaxing, even for being at war with an alien race that had a single goal to wipe out him and all other humans.
A mans voice woke him from his dream, he came back into the there and now. A beeping at Strikers station.
"Sir?" The second lieutenant said slowly, seeming surprised.
"Yes lieutenant what is?" Replied Faulsen annoyed of the disruption.
"I'm detecting a UNSC transponder signal coming from directly below us, moving at a great rate of speed." Striker said
Doug got up from his seat, casually walking over to where Striker was sitting.
"That's not likley." he said looking at the display, around him lay several screens monitoring everything from radar to com channels.
"Where the only troops out here, well us and those idiots on the Owl. Probably a malfunction Striker, file a report in the ships log and then be done with it. Don't disturb me until something important comes up." Doug started to return to his seat.
"Yes sir." Striker replied
BOOM! The ship shook violently! From Faulsen's observation window he could see a large blast come from the planet. The shudder threw Doug off his feet hitting the metal deck below him! Quickly he stood, blood drained from his forehead dazing and confused. "Report!" he yelled, wondering what the hell was happening.
"No damage sir, all bulkheads are sealed. Hull integrity at 100 percent, but I am detecting strong levels of radiation below us sir, seems the blast came from the city. " Ensign Micheal said at Ops.
"Alert the captain!" Doug commanded wiping his forehead with a cloth he kept in his pocket.
"Striker, wheres that signal now?!" he asked him fast and loud.
The second lieutenant checked his visual display. "It's heading away sir, off planet. Towards what seems to be an old long range communications space station. Only one in orbit too.
A crewman entered the bridge saluting Faulsen, catching his breath. "Sir, the captain..." he gasped for more air. He tried again. "Sir, the captain has had some sort of stroke or heart attack! They found her dead in her quarters." he said, his face was pale white.
"Your in command now sir." He finished.
"The hell do you mean a stroke?" Faulsen asked him, he towered over the man. His voice echoeing through the bridge. So everyone could hear.
"Medics preparing an autopsy now sir. I'm sorry."
"Jesus Christ." Doug whispered.
The First Lieutenant turned at Ensign Micheal at Ops.
"Ensign, are we within launching range of that station?" Faulsen asked him sternly
Micheal checked his monitor, confirming his math. He turned to face his new CO. "Yes sir." he said "Just inside launch range."
"Very good, I want you to signal for the strike teams to intercept that ship. Who ever is on it just killed a lot of people. I want that Son Of A -blam!- tracked down. Probably insurrectionist. " he added
"Yes sir!" The ensign replied
Faulsen turned to the crewman still standing there not knowing what to do.
"Can you fly this thing son?" Doug asked him
The man looked up at Doug stunned.
"Yes-yes sir." he studderd. "I used to fly freighters back home, before i joined the navy, but I'm no officer sir." he added nervously.
"Non-sense." Faulsen said "I'm giving you a field promotion ensign, a name would be nice too." Doug smiled at him.
"Chief petty officer." he stopped "I mean ensign Philip Ryan sir."
"Get to your station Ryan." he said softly. The new bridge crewman jogged over to Doug's old seat. Taking up the ships controls. "Micheal I wanted those pelicans launched 50 seconds ago!" he yelled.standing in the middle of the bridge, the promotion sinking in quickly under the stress of the situation.
"Sir! Last teams are boarding now. Prepping outbound vectors, opening hangar doors on five, four, three, two, one.
Faulsen could hear the ship rumble as the hangar doors opened.
"Come about Ryan heading three-three-nine degrees. Give me 90 percent engines. "Three-three-nine degrees aye aye. Ryan repeated to him. "Engines at 90 percent sir, running hot Micheal added.
"Lets go hunting boys." Faulsen said