"There was a loud noise in the universes. Generations of stars were born and died under the gaze of telescopes addicted, electromagnetic fortunes were squandered in a moment of helium empires rose and vanished civilizations' molecular gas gang overexcited sowed panic, the galaxies fleeing roared from their place of origin, the holes blacks drank energy and fractal bubble universes born dissidents, each with a physical self-legislation. " (Stefano Benni, Elianto)
systems of life support stopped working almost simultaneously.
screens and fields of integrity 'structural disable it.
The central computer run' a brutal shutdown without being able to complete the procedures for data recovery.
Finally, with the unwinding of the last auxiliary battery, the ship became a sophisticated hardware and useless adrift: the wreck, which was spinning in a huge empty ocean.
No Gravity ', light, warmth and a breathable atmosphere: people on board held their breath for an unconscious reflex and exchanged terrified glances.
Someone shut the visor and the lights of space helmet, other, more 'simply wept. The medical board, authorized by the captain, beginning 'to distribute one tablet of "calming" color carmine red ...
A week before - Starfleet Command
A sparkling morning in January.
Air City 'which looked out over the bay of San Francisco was cold, but at least the wind had swept the sky and ground with his eyes you could see the ocean beyond the pale red pillars of the bridge. " An elderly
Starfleet captain was on his way to headquarters to receive orders for the mission. - Personally, and im-me-dia-ta-men-te! - So 'had marked the admiral in message video. In
if such a procedure, familiar to the units 'operations, but it was quite unusual, at least for an obsolete vessel for Astronomical Research as the USS Fortuna and this increased the curiosity' officer.
- ... and you will go up to the only planet in the system to release the buoys with sensors, the orbital module and a beacon of control. Your passengers will disembark and return to the Starbase 103.
E "above all", Captain Winter, no question. After the detour route will cost you no 'more' than two days on the plan scheduled sailing ...-
USS Fortune survey vessel downgraded to a training ship and a platform for astrophysical research - from parts of the nebula Crab
A ship 'as a small country, everyone knows everyone and secrets do not have a long life.
Cosi 'the presence of the team "scientific" that the USS Fortuna was carrying to a destination "unspecified" had raised the level of "rumors".
Newcomers, however, 'had fraternized with the crew, with the Cadets and the researchers on board, merely to work in the cargo bay to develop the tools of delivery, eating meals at a time reserved in the lunchroom and passing the remaining free time locked in their homes.
only the third night of the voyage Captain Winter was able to exchange a few words in a tone of "informal" with the person responsible for the shipment.
She stood silently, arms folded, to look beyond the panoramic windows of the observation room.
- Captain, let him!
- I do not want to bother you, every time I come here when I want to reflect on its own.
- Gia ', and' very ... quiet ...
Soon after, breaking the awkward silence that had followed the first exchange of words - Dr. Norton, there 's something I can do for you or your team?
- No, 'just limiting the curiosity' crew for another twelve hours.
- Okay, urge 'greater respect for your privacy. - Replica 'in tone piqued Captain Winter.
- I did not mean to be rude captain, but it 's better for everyone, believe me: tomorrow we will arrive at your destination, put into orbit on equipment and facilities and you can resume your regular duties.
- The one thing I would ask. One of his has entered the software that manages the ship's logbooks.
The expression of women is not traditional 'no emotion: - Hmmmm is usually' a procedure that is not detected. But I assure you that it is not sabotage, will simply 'removed any trace of these last three days of travel. And 'the standard ...
- And what about the personal memories, how will you?
The laughter of women is' more 'disturbing amused: - There will be' provided a little blue pill ...
A system without a name, initials of the star catalog NGC 0315A -
USS La Fortuna had entered into orbit around the one standard ternary system of a remote planet.
The world below was a gas giant which reflected the blue light on the band of the main elements that made up the atmosphere, it was probably a tramp space captured by the gravity 'of the main star and that, for a very rare combination, had stabilized in the only Lagrangian point of the system.
The image of huge trees and lightning storms on a global scale, filled the main screen of the dashboard while the calm voice of the captain gave the go- operations: - Start the sequence of release of the buoys. At my signal ... now!
consoles traced the positioning of the series of these satellites as they unfolded in high orbit activating their transponder.
From the hold, the place chosen by the team at the trading desk scientific point came the confirmation that the officer assigned to the operations of the transporter make the next beacon.
- Captain ... - A young ensign interrupted the silence that reigned on the bridge - ... because it 's so many orbital platforms? I mean, if it were a simple planetary surface would be enough coverage for less ... -
Some heads nodded as if to confirm review common. The commanding officer
around 'eyes slowly, as if to consider that no one else could hear his answer: - In fact, their sensors are not pointing toward the planet ... but now no more speculation: we have work to do and perform the first and before we leave from this system! - He added in a low voice - I do not know about you, but this whole thing, this place is sending me the chills ...
In orbit around the planet
The orbital module control consisted of a series of pressurized cylinders with hatches and engaging.
In practice it was a complex structure (laboratory, central command, the core of fusion reactor components housing and central services) that was positioned and joined directly to the predetermined amount.
The difficult part of the operation was this: pick up one by one cylinder out of the hangar on board, using the tractor beam of a shuttle, and then, once in the polar orbit, assemble the complete structure.
latter phase of the operation was performed by members of the team of Dr. Norton who used this for some exoskeletons with small arms and rocket-directional drive systems.
The efficiency of the "supposed" scientists soon had surprised the crew of Fortune: in less than seven hours in the primary structure had been connected and activated. Without delay
members team then began to turn on the system board and transfer material tecnicno and personal effects in less than an hour the lights of the orbital module indicated its full operation '...
USS Fortuna, from the panoramic window of the housing
captain - Captain, I want to thank you and your crew for the assistance and hospitality '. The phrase
ritual, uttered in a tone so 'Formal seem ironic, annoyed' the senior official had invited him to breakfast, Dr. Norton to be able to leave in a manner in harmony with the ancient traditions of the navy which still inspired the Earth Starfleet.
courtesy, but the presumption can be opened although a 'minimum crack in the privacy of women.
The fact is that the table prepared with care, they specially cooked meal, nor the wine reserve captain, had opened a breach in the hard shell of the woman.
- Doctor, I can only wish ... The sound intercom
prevents' a Kalt Winter to end the sentence: - Captain, we have a problem: it should be on the bridge, possibly with its host. Instinctively
the officer and the doctor turned my gaze to the picture window of the dwelling and what 'they saw that fully justified the interruption of their lunch.
few paces separated them in reality 'from the bridge of the ship in the short time the two reached the bridge, on the main screen was already 'showing of a tactical diagram of the system: the three stars (a giant brown and two small red dwarf stars - was a "old"), the gaseous planet and a wide area colored in blue, a large field of 'asteroids.
And it was the latter who, swept away by a sudden tidal gravitational orbit of the planet was about to fall like a tsunami of space dust, debris, ice and gigantic rocks ...
USS Fortuna, dashboard
- How long do we have?
- Minutes! - Said the officer frantically setting calculation instructions to the console - seven, six minutes rather the impact!
- What ... what it 'can does not predict a phenomenon of this magnitude?
The question of the captain expressed some uncertainty 'and mistrust in the work of his men.
- Lord, analysis of data at our disposal it would seem that a sequence of tiny holes in the system appeared to be blacks. - Continuous' the young lieutenant trying to apologize - it was impossible to even imagine such a phenomenon and a meteor shower of this magnitude ... Dr.
intervened: - News of my team?
- They are currently on the orbital module, but we have time to beam aboard the Fortuna and position ourselves on the opposite side of the planet with its mass should provide adequate shielding.
- Cosi 'lose all our equipment! We must remain to protect the instruments!
- Putting pero 'at risk the entire ship and its crew? Doctor, frankly I do not think a viable option ... - Winter is the captain face 'to order the evacuation of the small orbital station control; an order that he could not' never give ...
The coup
- under 'General Starfleet Eighth Directive, at 14.00 today's date, I Admiral Paula Norton, takes command of the USS Fortuna. Helmsman, directing the ship toward the orbital module and alongside the more 'close as possible. Operations officer, emergency early repositioning of buoys already 'dropped! Activate the shields of ship to the maximum extent possible and at the last minute.
astonishment crossed the bridge, all eyes went to the captain Winter by Dr. Norton and again to the doctor and the military ID card that was showing.
- The Eighth ...?
Vulcan was a young cadet to break the impasse in the situation: - Eighth Directive general staff of Starfleet and 'obliged to investigate every case of suspected espionage, sabotage and terrorist act against the Federation and its allies ...
-... in practice - interrupted annoyed the captain - counterintelligence officers have the authority 'to cancel a routine mission and take command. -. A decision was urgent, and immediately knew Kalt ' beyond: - Gentlemen, you heard the Admiral: We have a job to do. - And then turn directly to the top - Lady, will write down 'my objections to his orders in the logbook.
- Do what you like captain, the only thing that matters and 'that from now on, the crew obey me ...
A vessel concealed
directional thrusters USS Fortuna were beginning to show signs of overheating.
for hours in fact kept the vessel in tow and the orbital module, in orbit around the planet.
Surfing the midst of a meteor storm was in fact out of the question if you wanted to save the laboratory and then only the efficiency of shields stood between the death "Stoning" and the lives of the crews.
The team doctor, indeed, the admiral had Norton continued to scan the system for investigating the causes of the phenomenon: - We suspect that a hostile force is experiencing a new type of weapon of planetary destruction, in theory controlled the activation of a number of tiny singularities 'and' able to deform the fabric of space-time and generating a storm of enormous proportions. Look below the planet's atmosphere is as upset by the meteorite impacts and imagine the Earth in its place, or Bajor ...
- Lady, a communication from the orbital laboratory.
- Admiral, here we come! The final mark is still active has just revealed a vessel in concealment in the system.
- Take a vessel in that situation? No defense system would be able to identify all the debris from a ship, let alone hidden!
- I'm sorry captain, but the subject and 'top secret: forget what you heard. - And then turning to the laboratory staff - Prepare to leave your desk. Now, Captain Winter, we will launch the latest probe and 'left in the cargo bay.
- I suspect that is not a peaceful instrument of detection ... do not say anything, Admiral, and also this' top secret ...
Wave return
- "probe" and game en-route!
- We just have to wait ...
- Yes, but what?
- This is aside the pulse sequence of singularities', to stop the car engine generating stellar storms.
- will involve 'a risk to us? Remember that we are in a rather awkward situation.
The woman shrugged and said nothing.
- five seconds of activation, four, three, two ....
- I did not return from the mark detection! No, here ... the singularities' have been annihilated. Admiral, we did it! - The crew of the Fortuna and the team cheered in unison and the voice of Admiral of the work was covered for a few seconds - before vo ... ISOLIT on arrival and a possible tear of the fabric of space time ...
The only possible decision
The battle in the "Bramble" Commander Riker of the Enterprise and the ships of the Son'a matter was now teaching the first year of the Academy, one of the points Key was the fact that a laceration of subspace ISOLIT caused by weapons could be closed with the ignition of the warp core of a starship.
- But between theory and practice ... - I think 'Captain Winter - ... there is' a great distance. Lieutenant, to start the team's transporter from the orbital laboratory. Engine room, the captain here: Get ready to expulsion of the warp core. Helmsman, set a sub-orbital route: put the planet between us and the explosion.
Everyone knew what it meant that order: even if the tear had been sealed and that the ship had survived the explosion, would find themselves suddenly isolated in the system, to tens of light years away from any rescue.
- Captain, will be sure to save us, not 'it? - The voice of the cadet who had betrayed the hope of all.
- I'm afraid not. This time we get away from yourself: I doubt that Starfleet knows our exact location at this time: the standard procedure. I say good admiral?
- Captain, I beg you to accomplish what needs to be done and make arrangements to release the buoys with the records of past events. At this point the important thing 'to have the "Services" the outcome of our "research". For what it's worth the release command of the ship.
- Thanks Admiral. Engine room, lifting the warp core, now! Helmsman, full speed 'on impulse ...
A ship adrift
La Fortuna had survived.
Despite little chance 'to get out, the antiquated ship had not been disintegrated by the immense explosion when matter and antimatter nucleus had come into contact.
now floating in space, navigation lights turned off, no energy, propulsion, life support ...
- Captain, this time, and 'ugly.
The voice of the chief arrived in the ear of the helmet slightly distorted, with tones more 'acute than usual.
- at least hope to reactivate the internal communications?
- No sir, we can only create "radio links" with the transmitters of our helmets. A deep rumbling sound
'on the bridge.
- And this cos' ...
- I would say that we bumped into a debris. Moving
fatigue Kalt Winter reached one of the portholes' and grab 'at the top to see the outside world: so he saw' the source of the noise.
- I'll be ... And 'the wreck of the laboratory.
- The tractor beam was working until the last and we are dragged behind like a dog with the leash ... does not appear in good condition, but '.
- Never say, when there are "services" of the way, surprises are not lacking.
- Gia ', I guess ... watch captain - said the officer who had reached the porthole 'observation - those are not solar panels? Some cells are fused, but those on the starboard side seem intact.
- Commander, find a couple of volunteers: I think it's time for a little excursion spacewalk ... And, Admiral, I would ask you to communicate officially to the emergency and that his men 'over and that I take the command of my ship . From now on we must demonstrate a spirit of sacrifice, adaptability 'and altruism. America will survive!
Space, the final frontier ... The emergency radio beacon
USS Fortuna was picked up by a merchant Tellarites six months later was the great astonishment of the captain and his entire crew when they arrived at a sufficient distance to see with optical sensors, an old ship of the Federation who hobbled to a tenth of speed 'd 'pulse in the middle of nowhere interstellar.
dented hull and toasted some plates missing, visible signs of temporary repairs and certainly not "standard" criteria for Fleet Stellre.
- Hello, and here 'the USS Fortuna, happy to see you.
- Fortuna Um, here the cargo "Last Chance": you need assistance?
- There would be grateful: the subspace radio and 'out of order, we are short of water and food replicators idling. Between us some of the crew went on to sell his mother for a shower, a sandwich with sausage and a coffee 'boiling.
- Received Fortune, we are contacting Starfleet to let you send a rescue ship. In the meantime, get ready to receive a container of food rations and a few extras, with the compliments of the captain.
- With "Last Chance", a round of beer Romulan paid for when we meet again in better times ...
- For our journal, and you can tell us what 'happened?
- Oh! - Winter said the captain, winking to an angry admiral intelligence, surprised in the act of sipping the last drops of the herb boliano - A small setback that sparked a routine cruise. And we solved that with a lucky roll of the dice in a situation not very favorable.
... These are the voyages of the Fortune ...
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