Oojoung feet left the floor as the section he was in lost gravity. He flailed him arms as he tried to get to the door that led to Main Engineering. When he realized he wasn't going anywhere he rolled his eyes and stopped flailing his arms. He looked around for something, anything, so he could get himself in motion. But, he was floating in the middle of the room and there was nothing in reach.
The room rotated around Oojoung as the ship tumbled in space. Lights flickered as the ship tried to maintain power to the important systems. The tumble was making Oojoung sick to his stomach.
"Too many spinnings," Oojoung gasped. He closed his eyes tightly trying to ward of the nausea.
He heard one of the doors open and opened his eyes a bit. On the ceiling, well maybe it was the floor he thought, was one of the medium spider bots. It was headed towards Main Engineering. Oojoung reached over and deactivated his stealth unit. His sudden appearance made the spider bot stop for a second and cock one of its eyes in his direction.
It issued a series of whistles and beeps as it studied Oojoung.
"Oojoung need helps, you come here help poor Oojoung!" Oojoung said.
Another series of beeps and whistles, then it turned and continued towards the door it was heading to.
"NO! You help Oojoung that is order! NOW!" Oojoung yelled.
The Spider bot stopped for a second as it turned to Oojoung and issued a series of beeps and whistles.
"Yes, come to poor Oojoung nice bot thingy," Oojoung said. "You come help Oojoung, be good little bot."
The spider bot turned away and walked up to the door which stayed shut. It issued a series of beeps and whistles.
"NO! No leave poor Oojoung floatings and sickenings. Come get Oojoung stupid bot," Oojoung whined.
The spider bot flipped a panel open and reached into it with a utility arm. It turned slightly to have Oojoung in view as it started adjusting something.
"Uh, oh," Oojoung said. It was the only thing he got out before he suddenly slammed into the floor as gravity was restored. Oojoung moaned as he tried to regain his breath.
The spider bot beeped and whistled again as the door slid open as it sealed the panel again.
"Stupid bot thingy, that hurt Oojoung," Oojoung moaned. He slowly stood up and stumbled towards the door. "Oojoung going to deal with dumb bot later right now Oojoung has more important things to do."
The spider bot beeped and walked off before Oojoung could reach it.
Minutes later Oojoung entered Main Engineering and gasped at the sight. Several of the consoles tossed sparks while some of them had flickering holographic screens. The catwalk on the level he was on had fell and had Mike pinned by the leg in a small pool of blood. Brad was lying against the wall multiple burns covered his hands and arms where he had shielded himself from something. The front of his uniform had protected his chest from whatever had happened. The damage seemed to be contained to this level as Oojoung looked over the edge of the catwalk at the other levels.
Oojoung turned to the main reactor control panel, it was missing. The inside of the panel showed signs of damage. It was then that Oojoung knew what had happened and he sighed as he glanced back at Brad.
Oojoung turned his attention back to the control panel and pulled the fried circuit board from it. He dropped it to the floor as he lined the circuit board he had up and slid it back into place.
'Main reactor circuits restored ... Reactor start up sequence started, ' a bland computer said.
Oojoung started over to where Mike was pinned. One of the spider bots was working on freeing Mike and Oojoung rushed over to it.
"NO!" Oojoung shouted. "No, free hoomen, much bleedings if you do." He grabbed the spider bot by the leg and tried to pull it away. It slid back an inch and immediately tried to move back. When nothing happened it turned around to see what was holding it back. This caused an unprepared Oojoung to be tossed into the wall.
The impact caused Oojoung's vision to swim as he started to pass out. The spider bot look over where the sound came from and watched Oojoung slump to the ground.
"Stoopid bot thingies, always hurting poor Oojou..." Oojoung muttered right before he passed out.
Terri moaned as she started to come around. She had been thrown against the wall when they jumped. She couldn't feel anything broken as she started to pick herself up off the floor. She shook her head to clear it as she looked around the room.
The large upper catwalk had snapped at the mid point and crushed the planning table. She saw an arm sticking out from the debris and her blood ran cold. She stood up on shaky feet and stumbled over to the arm.
"Jon!" Terri said with concern.
Terri reached down and moved a piece of the debris and almost puked as what was left of Ensign Dean Baker's head came into view. She reached down trying to find a pulse even though she doubted she would find one. She set the piece of debris back to cover his remains as she scanned the room.
Carla was sitting up across the room shaking her head.
"Carla you ok?" Terri called.
"Yeah, doesn't feel like anything broken," Carla said as she started to get to her feet.
"Dean's dead," Terri said as she continued to look around.
"I think Sara is too," Carla said. She approached the other side of the collapsed catwalk and bent down. "Yeah, she's dead. Bill and Jon are over here too."
Terri's heart leaped as she ran along the catwalk until she could duck under it. When she got to the other side relief flooded her. Jon was lying in the center of the floor, Bill not far away. They both looked ok as she knelt at her brother's side and checked his pulse.
Jon moaned as his eyes fluttered open.
"Thank God," Terri said as tears filled her eyes.
"I'm ok sis," Jon said as he sat up. Jon reached out and wiped a tear from her face. "No need for that, I'm fine, nothing broken."
Terri wrapped Jon in a hug and squeezed him as hard as she could.
"Ouch, ok I was ok now I think I have some broken ribs," Jon said. "No, really I'm fine it's ok."
"It's just I was so worried when I couldn't find you and then I found Ensign Baker dead," Terri said.
"I'm fine really," Jon said as he rubbed her back.
Terri finally released him and they both stood up. Bill had gotten to his feet by that time and was helping Carla check on the rest of the Command crew.
"Looks like only two casualties in the Bridge crew," Bill reported.
"Bridge?" Jon said with a questioning look.
"Well this is a starship," Bill said.
"I guess so," Jon said with a small grin. "Ok, people lets see where we stand. We've lost Tactical and Air/Space Control. I want those stations transferred here and manned." Jon pointed at two of the back up stations. "Engineering, get me a report on the ships status."
"Yes sir," the Ensign sitting at Engineering said.
"Tactical, find out where the hell we are," Jon said.
"Yes sir, I'll try," an Ensign said. The Ensign sat down at one of the backup stations and transferred Tactical to it. Then started to work as he accessed the information he needed to run the station.
'Main reactor online, ' the computer said.
"Where the hell is Atlanta?" Jon said a bit of annoyance in his voice.
{Jon?} Andie said.
{Thank god, I keep forgetting we can do this. Are you ok?} Jon replied.
{Yes, the medical teams are spreading out to help people. I'm headed to Main Engineering to check on them. Is everyone up there ok?}
{Yes, Bill is fine. We've lost Ensigns Baker and Halloway but everyone else seems to be ok, other than minor scrapes and bruises.}
{Ok, I'll keep you posted.}
{Be careful.}
{Yes sir.}
"What is the status of the computer core?" Jon asked.
"Computer core is currently rebooting, all we have are emergency secondary systems," Engineering reported.
"I think I got this, Main Screen on," Tactical said.
Everyone on the Bridge stopped what they were doing and stared at the large hologram that popped up in the front of the room. The front of room if you considered the way the stations were slightly slanted towards that wall. The two Con stations faced the wall complete and left little doubt.
The hologram filled with stars that moved from the bottom left to the top right of the screen.
"Why are the stars moving like that?" Terri asked.
"The ship is tumbling," Carla said. She had sat down at one of the Helm (Con was its designation as a base) stations. "I don't have any controls here, everything seems to be offline."
"The computer is still booting we should have main systems back online shortly," Engineering said.
"Weapons and shield systems are offline still," Tactical reported.
"Spiders are active and responding to damaged sections," Engineering reported. "Engineering Chief Anspach has reported repairs are underway in Main Engineering. Computer Chief Anspach we injured when a catwalk collapsed and is now being transported to Main Medical, Andie is in route. He has also reported and intruder and is requesting a security detail."
"Have Lieutenant Anders dispatch a security detail to Main Engineering to pick up the intruder," Jon said. All this was being relayed per nanites as the ship itself had no internal communications. There was no need when the nanites acted as one while everyone was on board. Visitors with out nanites communicated through special communication devices that they were required to wear at all times.
'Main systems online ... Main engine warm-up commencing ... Main engines will be online in ten minutes ... Fold drive charging ... Fold drive will be ready in one minute ... Magnetic stabilizers online ... Correcting ship drift, ' the computer said.
On the screen they watched as the stars slowed then stopped.
"Well, looks like that was simple enough," Carla said.
'Weapons systems offline ... Dispatching maintenance bots ... Shields offline ... Rerouting power through secondary systems ... Shields online ... Shields at five percent and charging ... Switching from back-up systems to main systems, ' the computer said.
Jon stood there listening as the computer droned on through the various systems as it switch from back-up to the main systems, running diagnostics on each as it did so. Atlanta had yet to make an appearance and Jon was starting to get worried.
"Engineering, have Engineering Chief Anspach ... You know what that is confusing as hell, have Chief Brad see what's wrong with Atlanta," Jon said.
The Ensign grinned as he responded, "Yes sir."
A queen spider and some of the medium spider came out of the transportation tube and began to repair the bridge. Jon and a few others watched as they raised the catwalk and repaired the connection points that had failed. Two of the larger bots gathered the dead Ensigns and ambled off down the tube. Smaller versions scoured the floor free of blood and debris.
"Where are they going with the bodies?" Terri asked.
"I have no idea," Jon answered. He spoke to the queen spider, "Where are they taking the bodies of the dead Ensigns?"
The queen stopped what it was doing and let out a few beeps and whistles.
"Any idea what it just said?" Jon asked. The question wasn't aimed at anyone person, everyone shook their head.
When the queen realized they didn't understand a hologram of the ship popped into existence above it that show the ship. The image shifted as it zoomed in and showed Main Medical and then shifted until it displayed a detailed picture. A room was outlined in red and began to blink, it read 'Morgue'.
"Wow I didn't know they could do that," Terri said.
"Yeah this base is just full of surprises," Jon said dryly. "Ok, thanks. Please continue."
The queen returned to her duties once again directing the smaller drones and building the needed part for the repairs.
Brad stood in the midst of chaos as the few engineers he had scrambled to get systems back online. The spiders were currently repairing the downed catwalk and cleaning up the debris. A small pink line, what was left of a gash on his cheek, was disappearing. It itched as it healed and he absently scratched it.
One of the spiders beeped at Brad as he filtered through the AI routines.
Brad turned and looked at the medium spider and rolled his eyes. "Didn't I tell you to go down and check main power conduits?" Brad asked it.
A small hologram popped up above the spider as it zoomed into a series of power relays. Half of them were marked offline.
"That's fine repair them first then check the main power conduits. I don't want any surprises," Brad said.
The spider warbled as it turned and ambled off to do the task it had been given.
Brad turned his attention back to the series of code scrolling before him. Something was odd about it. However, he couldn't quite put his finger on it. This was his brother's area of expertise. It looked as though Atlanta was in hibernation of some sort and secondary AI routines were in the process of booting up.
"Ensign Daniel, come over and look at this," Brad called.
Daniel was one of the newer computer techs attached to Mike's department. The guy had been studying everything he could get his hands on since getting to the base. He was as the second best computer tech on the ship, Mike being the first.
"What do you have sir?" Daniel said. Daniel leaned in and took a look at the code scrolling across the screen.
"What can you make of this?" Brad said as he stepped out of the way.
Daniel studied the scrolling code for a few seconds. He opened a few more files and scanned them too. "This is strange, it's AI code. However, this isn't Atlanta," Daniel said as he continued to scan the code.
"It's a different AI altogether?" Brad said.
"Well, not altogether different. It has similarities to Atlanta, certain routines are the same while some are new," Daniel said.
"Could the Invaru have implanted the code before we jumped?" Brad asked.
"No, there's too much and the system doesn't show any breeches. That was one of the first things I checked," Daniel said.
{Chief.} a female voice said.
{Yes Ensign.} Brad replied.
{I think we found the main engines and the jump, fold, drive.}
{Good, where are they?}
{Two decks down. Remember that sealed door that wouldn't open?}
{Yeah.}
{They're located behind it, were running diagnostics now.}
{Ok, you're in charge. Keep me informed; when I'm done here I'll be down.}
{Yes sir.}
"So what do you think is going on?" Brad asked.
"I think there is another AI that is coming online. The main routines are loading now, but it hasn't accessed recent memory yet," Daniel said.
"Atlanta is in a type of suspended animation and a completely new AI is coming online," Brad said.
"As far as I can tell, yes," Daniel said.
"This could be bad," Brad said.
"A new AI waking up that doesn't know the events of the past week. Yeah, I would say if it has as much control as Atlanta did, it could be very bad. It wouldn't know who we were or how we got here. It would look like we just took over, like invaders," Daniel said.
"Can you stop it or wake Atlanta?" Brad asked.
Daniel shook his head, "Nope. I already thought of that, whatever has started can't be stopped."
"Great," Brad muttered. He glanced back and watched the spiders finish the repairs of the catwalk as he thought about what they had just discussed. "Ok, keep and eye on it and let me know if anything changes. I'm going to go look at these engines and see what I can make of them. I don't have any information concerning these new systems that have come online. That makes us handicapped and I don't like it. Lieutenant Anders will be here to pick up the prisoner being held in my office. No one is to go in there but him."
"Yes sir," Daniel said.
Brad turned and walked over to the transport tube and stepped off, arriving two levels down in a matter of moments. He contacted Andie as he walked around the catwalk towards the newly opened doors.
{Andie.}
{He's fine Brad. The nanites have the break almost completely repaired. I set the bone while I was there and by the time we got him back to Medical he was already able to put light pressure on it.}
{Thank god.}
{He should be back down there in an hour. Now if you don't mind I have a few more patients to take care of.}
{Thanks Andie.}
{Hey no problem, if it was my brother I would be worried too. Sorry to cut this short but I have a job to do and the chatter is distracting.}
{Talk to you later.}
{Bye.}
Andie moved from person to person as she set bones and check on deep lacerations. There were a few that wouldn't make it. The nanites just couldn't repair that type of damage fast enough. She made them as comfortable as possible. She was standing over one of those people now.
"Hey Doc," the female Ensign said.
Andie reached down and held the young ladies hand. "How are you feeling?" Andie asked.
"The pain has mostly stopped. I just get a twinge every so often," the Ensign said.
The young Ensign's golden hair was burned completely off the right side of her face. The once beautiful woman's face was charred so bad the bone show through in places. Blood seeped from the sever wounds. She was missing her right leg from the knee down and she had lost her right eye, the heat making it burst. Thankfully most of the damage had been done after she passed out. The medical technicians had found her unconscious and had transported her to medical.
She had been caught in the section where the blast hit right before their jump. She reported three crew members being sucked out into space before the emergency force barriers snapped into place and saved her.
The damage was so great the nanites were working overtime trying to repair the damage done. They could heal small wounds and burns, but something this extensive was beyond their ability. It was only a matter of time before the Ensign's body gave up from her other internal injuries.
"Doc will you stay with me?" the Ensign asked.
"Sure, Marcella can take over my duties," Andie said. Marcella, who had been assisting Andie, nodded and continued her rounds.
"I know you have other patients it's just I don't have anyone here and I'm afraid," the Ensign said.
"Well, Ensign..." Andie said.
"Megan ma'am," Megan said.
"Well, Ensign Megan, it just so happens I was going to take a break and this just as good a place as any," Andie said. She smiled and winked at Megan.
Megan laughed, which turned into a coughing fit as she spit up blood.
Andie clean her face as she continued to speak, "So what is your occupation?"
"Botanist, I work in the upper gardens with Kelly Martin. We brought in almost every type of seed you could possibly imagine growing. It's been hard work but we have the area pretty clean now. I had went down to one of the storage bays to get some grass seed so we could start replanting. I was headed back when the fight broke out and I got caught in the explosion," Megan said.
Andie adjusted some of the controls on the bed as Megan continued.
"You're Bill's sister aren't you?" Megan asked.
"Yup," Andie replied with a smile.
"Kelly can't stop talking about him. She thinks he is so cute. I agree he is kind of cute. But, man to hear her go on it's like there's not another male on the base..." Megan said.
"Starship," Andie said as she winked.
"Yeah, sorry, starship," Megan said.
Megan drifted off to sleep for fifteen minutes. Andie was still holding her hand as she woke back up briefly then lapsed into a coma. Megan died one hour later. It took Andie half an hour to stop crying as she continued her rounds.
The bridge was almost completely repaired as Jon watched the planning table come online and display their current location. Jon made a note to have Brad get the catwalk reinforced so that a collapse wouldn't happen again. A couple of the stations were still out and he was told by the technicians that they required a complete overhaul.
"Nearest I can figure is we're somewhere on the other side of the galaxy," Science said. "We're about twenty thousand light years from home."
"Wow," Jon said astonished. That far in that short of time, he thought.
Carla looked at her display as it beeped. Their speed was steadily increasing as their heading changed.
"Sir, were moving," Carla said. She and Terri were manning the Helm stations for now. They had figured out some of the controls on their own but a lot of it was beyond their grasp. Terri was having an easier time because it was very close to flying a shuttle.
"What do you mean moving?" Jon asked.
"She means the ship has picked a heading and turning us in that direction. It looks like were heading to this point," Terri said. The hologram shifted and showed their destination. "The fold drives are coming online and prepping for a jump."
"Well, stop it," Bill said.
Carla shook her head as she glanced over at Terri who just shrugged her shoulders. "Helm isn't responding sir. The controls have been locked out," Carla said.
"Engineering?" Jon asked looking at the Ensign.
"She is correct. Brad is working on it," Engineering said.
"Well, who the hell..." Jon said.
"I did," a voice said behind him.
Jon spun around and came face to face with Atlanta. Well it looked like Atlanta but her hair was blonde and her eyes a starling blue.
"Atlanta?" Jon asked.
"Who are you and where is Captain Daneos Itcar?" she asked.
"I'm Commander Jonathan Hunter as far where that other person is I have no idea," Jon said.
"Commander Hunter? I have no record of you being station on board this ship," she said.
"It was a base when I was stationed here and Atlanta transferred command to me," Jon said.
"Ah, the base AI, accessing those records now," she said. "Yes, I see now."
"Now if you don't mind who are you?" Jon asked. Everyone was staring at them as they waited for orders.
"I'm sorry Captain Hunter. I'm Atlantis, the controlling AI of the Starship Atlantis. The Atlantis is a Heavy Battle Cruiser of Eutharan design and it looks like one of the last around. I can see the Invaru have laid siege to your world. That is unfortunate," Atlantis said.
"Yes, it is and as soon as I can I plan on going back," Jon said.
"That would be a mistake, the shape I'm in we wouldn't last for a minute in a major battle. The crew compliment you have isn't enough to run a ship this size effectively. I'm in need of major repairs and as such I'm taking us somewhere to get those repairs done," Atlantis said. "We will be folding in one minute."
"Uh, I don't know about that the last time we jumped..." Jon said.
"Folded," Atlantis corrected.
"Folded, it didn't go so well," Jon said.
"That is because the inertial stabilizers were offline. This fold will be much different," Atlantis said.
"Ok, but where are we going?" Jon asked.
"Ghost Station, if it's still there," Atlantis said. "It is a large military base where starships were constructed under an automated process. It is capable of repairing me and assisting you in pushing the Invaru back."
"Well, I guess we have to trust you," Jon said.
"And I have to trust you," Atlantis said. "Retrieving remote drones, nice addition, who came up with the concept?"
"Out Engineering Chief and Computer Chief," Jon said.
"I'll have to look over the specifications and speak to them about improvements on the devices," Atlantis said. "Fold in thirty seconds."
'All hands prepare for fold in thirty seconds, ' Atlantis' voice echoed through the ship.
"Uploading, data to all personnel relevant on their current postings," Atlantis said. "Captain, if you would please take you seat. We're preparing to fold."
"Captain?" Jon said.
"Yes, even though you hold the rank of Commander. You are in command of this vessel and there for you should be referred to as captain," Atlantis said. "When we get to our destination I'll transfer command to you and give you the command codes."
"I see," Jon said as he sat down. He wasn't too sure about trusting this new AI, he had grown to like Atlanta even though he had only known her a short time.
"I'm sorry Captain; this is an automated process due to the attack. My program makes me choose the nearest repair dock. This is only because I wasn't launched correctly and the Atlanta Base emergency launched me to keep me from falling in enemy hands. I couldn't stop it even if I wanted too," Atlantis said.
"I understand and it's ok," Jon said. "Let's just get to where we're going so I can get back to Earth and smack some bad guys around."
Atlantis smiled, something told her she was going to like her new Captain and crew.
A brief flash enveloped Atlantis as she folded out, still trailing debris.