Issuing the Orders

Posted on Sun Nov 15th, 2020 @ 5:46pm by Captain Abigail Laurens & Commander Ichiko Gail
Edited on on Sat Dec 5th, 2020 @ 3:27pm

Mission: Enforced Intermission

It had been becoming increasingly apparent that the systems failures were starting to affect more and more systems across the ship. While the temperature on the bridge had become increasingly cool, the temperature inside Abigail's ready room had been steadily increasing to the point that it was nearing an uncomfortable level. With her jacket removed and laying carelessly on the couch, Abigail had twisted her hair up into a messy bun to keep it off the back of her neck while she paced back and forth in front of the windows.

Reports were now coming in with alarming regularity and every report painted a picture that was growing increasingly grim.

As the doors to her ready room parted, Abigail looked up as Ichiko entered, a grateful expression passing over the commanding officer's face. "Give me some good news my friend," she said quietly.

A smirk, "We've dispatched a comm buoy with our current situation on a transmission loop, and a warning that attempting direct contact with us may risk systemic compromise. Until we know for sure this isn't a malignant virus, I still suggest we treat it as such. Speaking of buoys... With the aid of Gunnison and Aschail, and by the Emperor's graces, we managed to contact the Buoy network indirectly through pulsecode. We received the standard single ping reply, which at least indicates they got our message."

Ichiko then muttered something under her breath. A phrase, a single word perhaps, but she said it a few times in succession quietly.

"Environmental controls are malfunctioning," Abigail said quietly, walking across to her desk and picking up a PaDD, handing it across to Ichiko. "It's snowing in the aft section of deck five. Something about humid air from deck four meeting freezing air on deck six." She sighed and shook her head. "What the hell is going on with this ship?"

"Honestly, best case is this is a parting gift from Kessig Three." Ichiko pointed out, "Because worst case is a malfunction can cascade into total systemic failure. I would think Starfleet would be able to catch a glitch of that nature on time. Which leads me to lean more towards a purposeful cyberassault."

"I think it might be prudent to start considering evacuation. At this rate, there'll be hail on deck five by gamma shift. Any colder and the crew there will be in danger."

"Warning. Life support failure imminent on decks sixteen through eighteen."

Without hesitating, Abigail reached up and tapped her commbadge. "All hands, clear decks sixteen through eighteen immediately," she warned before looking at Ichiko again. "I think you're right, we need to clear as many people out of this ship as we can."

Ichiko, however, had another idea. She was already on her feet, and turning. "I don't have much faith in the comm systems. I'll assume people are looking for a way out, but I'm going to deliver the message personally. I recommend security pulls a manual sweep of the region and gets everyone out. Failing doors, errant lighting... and now this."

Abigail nodded. "I'll have security assemble a team for a manual sweep of the decks and notify the crew to prepare to evacuate. We can keep senior staff behind to contain the failures with less risk to the general crew populous." She paused for a moment, a steady gaze on the Rabbitess who was not only her first officer but also had become her friend. "Stay safe Ichiko," she said quietly. "I'll see you back on the bridge."

Ichiko returned the glance to her Captain, her Shipmaster, her friend. "That you will." and with that, Ichiko had started off towards the door, and then off to the affected decks.

Walking across to her desk, Abigail sat in the chair and rested the PaDD on the desk before leaning forward, taking a few moments to cover her face with her hands and just breathe. Her heart hurt at the thought of the announcement she was about to make, an announcement no Commanding Officer ever wanted to make.

Sitting upright, she keyed in her access code to the console and accessed ship wide communications, taking a deep breath before she opened the channel.

"All hands, this is Captain Abigail Laurens. All non essential personnel are hereby ordered to immediately begin evacuation procedures and report to your nearest evacuation point. I repeat, all non essential personnel are hereby ordered to immediately begin evacuation procedures and report to your nearest evacuation point. This is not a drill."

As the red alert lights started to strobe in a sick and offbeat fashion, Abigail leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes for just one moment, trying to quash the sick feeling residing in the pit of her stomach.

Deities willing, they would be able to contain the malfunctions and retrieve the crew quickly. She didn't even want to consider the alternatives.