Episode 19. Impact!
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Monday, July 15, 2024 - 7:20 PM
- Location
-
- Earth
- Brussels
- USS Mercator
- Bridge
- Timeline
- Unknown Timeline
- Previously
-
The Mercator, loaded with refugees and leaders, is stationed above Brussels as Russia launches nuclear missile salvos across NATO territory. In the chaos, the crew improvises: Vitos activates the DX-01-10 units to intercept the missiles, while Angie narrowly saves the damaged Module 3. But the situation shifts when a mysterious UFO appears, neutralizing ground defenses. Aware of the danger, Agnes orders Admiral Hamilton to lock down the bunker, sealing access to prevent an even greater threat.
Characters
| Name | Affiliation / Branch | Title / Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Agnes V. Rodriguez | NATO / Special Fleet | Captain |
| Eric Corda | NATO / Special Fleet | Lieutenant Commander |
| Emilie Flores | NATO / Special Fleet | Ensign |
| Charlene Savea | NATO / Special Fleet | Lieutenant |
| Eros Vitos | NATO / Special Fleet | Ensign |
Manifest
| USS Mercator | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO |
| Location | In flight above Brussels |
| Captain | Agnes V. Rodriguez |
| First Officer | Angie Chen |
| Pilot | Eric Corda |
| Communications | Emilie Flores |
| Operations | Charlene Savea |
| Advanced Weapons | Eros Vitos |
| Custodian | Manu |
| Passengers | 12,000 Refugees (Estimate) Leaders (Hillary Clinton and other heads of state) |
TL;DR
The missile strikes Brussels. The Mercator absorbs the shock wave, trapped inside a rising radioactive cloud. In an emergency, Agnes and Eric fly by sight, supported by a flight simulation. Vitos detonates a torpedo behind the vessel to push back against the suction. The ship dives, balanced between free fall and hope of survival.
Story
We are now alone, left to our own devices. Three nuclear missiles are rushing toward our position. A vessel of unknown origin is watching us. And we can no longer take refuge in the bunker, now locked down.
I have more than ten thousand refugees aboard and a crew of about a hundred men and women trying to maintain order.
My mission is simple. Get them to safety.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
Captain, the unknown vessel does not seem interested in us. It looks like it is exploring the area and systematically destroying our ground defenses as it detects them.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I can see that, Mr. Corda.
If we had to face it, we would be torn apart. It would be like an ocean liner defending itself against a Zumwalt-class destroyer.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
And we are playing the role of the ocean liner.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Exactly, Corda.
Lieutenant Savea, do you know more about the missiles' destinations?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Yes, Captain.
The first missile will reach NATO headquarters in one minute and twenty-seven seconds. The second will crash thirty seconds later, thirty-two kilometers southwest of our position.
As for the last one, its target may be a major city, such as Antwerp, London, or Dublin.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Thank you, Lieutenant.
I hope you recharged our batteries.
Activate shields.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Shields activated, Captain. But let's be honest... they were never designed to withstand this.
If we had followed the engineers' recommendations instead of the politicians', we might have had a chance.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
If we survive, we'll pass the message along to the people concerned.
Until then, focus on the shields, Savea.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Aye, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Mr. Corda, let's leave our little alien friend alone.
Get us out of this area, without any sudden movement, and gain as much altitude as possible.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
Propulsion engaged...
Disengagement maneuver in progress, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Flores, order all sectors to activate safety protocols.
We're about to be shaken hard.
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
Safety protocols are being deployed inside the vessel, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Distance and altitude, Mr. Corda.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
We are at twelve thousand three hundred meters altitude and three thousand seven hundred twenty meters from the estimated impact point, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Savea, how much time do we have left?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Thirty seconds, Captain!
We're never going to make it... Captain, we should engage warp!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Negative, Lieutenant.
To engage warp, we first have to leave the atmosphere, and we no longer have time to calculate a trajectory.
Not to mention we would risk colliding with the Moon.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Impact in ten seconds, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Fasten your seat belts.
We're about to see what this vessel is made of!
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Impact!
The first Russian missile crashes into Brussels.
An incandescent flash ignites the horizon, eclipsing the natural daylight for an instant. For a fraction of a second, everything seems frozen in a crushing artificial brightness... before hell breaks loose.
The shock wave rolls in without mercy. A radioactive cloud is hurled toward the sky at terrifying speed. The Mercator takes the impact head-on, shaken like a leaf in a nuclear storm. The air vibrates with the violence of the detonation. Alarms howl, screens flash frantically, and an oppressive heat floods the atmosphere.
On the bridge, chaos erupts. Structures give way under pressure, consoles explode in sprays of sparks, and the lights flicker, briefly plunging the room into stuttering semi-darkness. I instinctively cling to my chair as the entire vessel trembles under the blast.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Shield status, Savea.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Seventy-two percent, Captain. And dropping fast.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Corda, what's happening? Why aren't we getting out of the cloud?
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
We're slowing down, Captain.
Something is pulling us toward the heart of the mushroom cloud.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Engage propulsion at maximum!
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
Already done. The engines are at full power and beginning to misfire, Captain.
The rear of the vessel is lifting. We risk stalling.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Savea, shield status!
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Forty-eight percent, Captain.
They are not regenerating fast enough. In less than two minutes, we will be without protection.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Suggestions?
No one has any suggestions?
Savea?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Sorry, Captain.
I have none.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Flores, get me Vitos immediately.
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
Connection established, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Vitos, are you still with us?
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Obviously, Captain.
Tell me, what are you playing at up there? We're being shaken like a bubble in a soda can down here.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Vitos, you told me we could no longer use the torpedoes because of the DX system installation.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
That's correct, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Now that we have no DXs left, can we use them again?
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Negative, Captain.
The adapters we mounted are still installed in the forward launcher.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
The forward launcher?
And the aft one?
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
I didn't touch it.
It is supposed to be fully operational for torpedoes.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Perfect, Vitos.
Ask your team to program a torpedo. It will have to detonate five hundred meters behind the vessel.
How much time do you need?
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
A few seconds.
According to the inventory, a torpedo was automatically loaded into the launcher when red alert was triggered.
We just have to enter the data, and we'll be able to launch it.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Do it, Vitos.
And don't wait for my order to drop it.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
You're starting to know me, Captain...
Consider it done.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Corda, did you hear that?
When the torpedo explodes, you will nose-dive to regain as much speed as possible, then pull up before impact with the ground.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
But Captain, that's pure madness!
I'm not flying a fighter jet! The instruments are completely out of whack and I have zero visibility!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I'm taking flight control from the second station.
You will assist me.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
Uh... very well, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Corda, activate simulation mode on the main screen and overlay it onto the available data.
The simulator will compensate for the failures.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
Simulator engaged!
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Shields at eight percent, Captain.
They will fail in about ten seconds.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Copy that, Savea.
Buy us time. Draw from the auxiliary batteries.
Vitos has just dropped the torpedo. I wait for its explosion, the one that must tear us away from the suction of the atomic mushroom cloud. The Mercator is tilted at more than fifty degrees, her bow pointing dangerously toward the ground.
Eric and I are about to begin a daring maneuver. An insane one, perhaps.
But it is the only one we have left.