Death Rock
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Table Of Contents

Mission : DEATH ROCK

 

The contents of the Ship Logs are considered to be a "compilation" under the provisions of Title 17, U.S. Code (known as the Copyright Act): that is, "A work formed by the collection and assembling of preexisting materials or of data that is selected, coordinated or arranged in such a way that the resulting work as a whole constitutes an original work of authorship." As such, it is the property of the ship’s Captain; however, automatic transfer of ownership to STARSHIPS OF THE THIRD FLEET is effected upon publication of this mission by the ship’s Captain ipso facto.

As outlined in Circular 1 (Copyrighted Basics, Library of Congress, Washington DC, USGPO 1989-262-309/12), "copyrighted in each separate contribution to a periodical or other collective work is distinct from the copyright in the collective work as a whole and vests initially with the author of the contribution."

This mission may not be reproduced in any form without the express, written authorization of STARSHIPS OF THE THIRD FLEET.

 Prologue

From the Ship’s Log of USS EXCALIBUR (NCC-2005), August, 2314

Captain's Log: Stardate, 2314.20.04.

How nice to have some peace and quiet aboard the ship. I swore to myself I'd never have any children after spending time with some of my crew after Barabin's enfulence. Thank heavens everyone is back to normal.

We are in Quadrent 3 survying an unmapped section. Normally, this would be a boring mission, but right now I'm enjoying it. There are some gumbles here and there, but everyone is doing a good job. After all, that's what's most important.

I think that some…

"Captain to the bridge"' Interrupted Commander Spenser Hawkes.

"On my way. Computer, end report." Lawrence walked briskly from her office and headed for the turbolift.

When Lawrence walked onto the bridge, Spenser Hawkes motioned to her from the communication console.

"Captain, we picked up some interference from communications about an hour ago. I had Timofeyeva initiate a search and she recorded a message sent real space. Sir, ... the communication is over two years old."

Lawrence turned to Yura Timofeyeva. "Play it."

This is Captain Malcolm MacGregor of ...(static). .. cargo ship BIG MAC. We have come under ... by Orion pirates. Our subspace communication is down ... engineering is trying ...are drifting. We are heading ... asteroid field in third quadrant. Our position is 105.5, 150.3, + 42 .5. If you .. Red Alert! Red Alert!

"There was nothing after that, Captain," Yulia reported as she looked up from her console.

TE ordered her Operations Officer, Somerville to check the computer on any information that was available on the BIG MAC.

"West, set a course of 245, mark 25.0, warp 7."

"Aye, aye, Captain."

"Somerville, I'll be in my office. I’ll meet you there. CDR Hawkes, you have the Conn." Lawrence ordered as she left as quickly as she had entered.

Scott Somerville entered the Captain's office twenty minutes later. "I searched the computer files Sir, and this is what I found. May I ...?" He asked pointing to Lawrence’s computer.

Lawrence nodded in reply.

Scott punched some keys on the desk computer and pulled up the entry on the missing cargo ship. TE leaned forward to read.

Stardate: 2312.8.07- The Third Dimension Space News.

The search for the cargo ship, BIG MAC, has been called off. The ship is presumed lost. The BIG MAC was a Monarch Class freighter privately owned by Captain Malcolm MacGregor. MacGregor was carrying a high priority cargo to the third quadrant. Because of the type of cargo that MacGregor hauled to high risk destinations, he frequently traveled far off the spacelanes. Twenty-five crewmen were lost. His wife, Sally and two children, Anna and Scott survive Malcolm MacGregor A private ceremony is being held at the White Hills Chapel at 2000.

'I wonder what he was carrying.' Lawrence thought.

The next morning at 0500, Lawrence was again summonded to the bridge.

"What is it, Harrison?" TE asked as she entered the bridge.

"Sir, sensors have picked up a lifeboat drifting dead ahead."

"Any ships or vessels known in the area?"

"No, Sir."

"What's the ETA."

"Fifteen minutes, Sir." Answered the Helmsman.

TE sat in the command chair and hit the comm. button. "Medical! I want a team to Shuttle Bay 4 in ten minutes. Engineering! Send a team to Shuttle Bay 4, ten minutes. CDR Gwawren, gather a team and meet me in Shuttle Bay 4, in ten. She next contacted Security.

She wasn't at all surprised to see her CMO Kora Natevera and Sullien Macinis in the Shuttle Bay with the crew.

"What did you get from the scan, Kora?"

"There are two humans aboard. No life signs, Sir."

"OK beam it in," Lawrence ordered.

The lifeboat beamed into the shuttle bay was heavily damaged. There were dents and scrapes along its body and a small hole in the frame.

"Jesse, it's from the BIG MAC," said Macinis.

"Those poor devils," TE commented. "Fortunately, they couldn't have lasted more than a month."

"A month too long, Sir," said Mon'Teith

Engineers were scurrying around the lifeboat working to open the doors.

"Kora, take care of the bodies." TE turned to Gwawren, "Stand by in the lab for samples. Mon'Teith, I want a guard on this lifeboat. I don't want anyone near it."

"I'd like to take a look inside after the bodies are removed," spoke Soen. "I don't expect much, but I'd still like to look.

By 0800 the crew was well aware of the early morning visitor in Shuttle Bay 4. It was the conversation at the mess hall tables during breakfast.

Soen Mon'Teith didn't expect to find anything, but find something she did. It was a small recorder that had been jammed in the back of the lifeboat bench. The Captain called a meeting for 0900 in the Ready Room.

Kora Natevera, T'rri Gwawren, and Sullien Macinis sat at the right of the large table. Soen Mon'Teith, Scott Somerville, and COL TJ Morrison sat on the left. They all look at Lawrence as she entered the room.

"While searching the lifeboat," she began, "Mon’Teith found a recorded message. We assume the two found in the lifeboat recorded it. Soen...?"

Mon'Teith leaned forward and sat the very damaged looking recorder on the table and hit play.

This is Corey Waite of the cargo ship BIG MAC. With me is Sarah Pinkerton. Our ship was attacked by Orion pirates and our cargo taken. The ship was severely damaged and left to drift by the Orions. Despite our desperate attempts to restore power and communications, in the days following the Orion raid, we failed. When alien beings offered assistance, we jumped at the chance and welcomed them aboard They promptly overpowered us. The captain and crew were taken from the ship, l presume to one of the asteroids. Sarah and I were able to hide undetected. When the aliens, with our crew, abandoned the ship we wafted until the ship was close to the field and escaped in a lifeboat. The BIG MAC struck an asteroid and exploded. Sarah and I know we have no chance of making it, but maybe someone will find us and search for our crewmates. We don't know if they are alive or dead. The battery is running out and I'd like to tell my wife, Cindy, I love you. A woman's voice sounded next. Phil, I love you and the kids. .............

Soen turned the recorder off.

"We're going to find out what happened to that crew. There may be a chance that they are still alive. It would seem that these aliens may not give them up easily so I want all departments ready for a confrontation. I don't want any surprises with our ship. Let's get busy folks! We're going on a field trip!"