Episode 22. The Hardest Choice
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Monday, July 15, 2024 - 7:56 PM
- Location
-
- Space
- Low Earth Orbit
- USS Mercator
- Module 3
- Timeline
- Unknown Timeline
- Previously
-
After surviving the nuclear mushroom cloud and a desperate maneuver that hurled the Mercator into orbit, Agnes and her crew manage to regain partial control of the vessel. In Module 3, she saves Angie at the last possible moment, while Manu proves to be an ally as useful as he is unpredictable. But riots break out in the other modules, and the crew must use unconventional means to maintain order.
Characters
| Name | Affiliation / Branch | Title / Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Agnes V. Rodriguez | NATO / Special Fleet | Captain |
| Angie Chen | NATO / Special Fleet | Commander |
| Eric Corda | NATO / Special Fleet | Lieutenant Commander |
| Emilie Flores | NATO / Special Fleet | Ensign |
| Charlene Savea | NATO / Special Fleet | Lieutenant |
| Manu | NATO / Special Fleet | Requisitioned Civilian |
Manifest
| USS Mercator | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO |
| Location | Low Earth Orbit |
| Captain | Agnes V. Rodriguez |
| First Officer | Angie Chen |
| Pilot | Eric Corda |
| Communications | Emilie Flores |
| Operations | Charlene Savea |
| Advanced Weapons | Eros Vitos |
| Sickbay | Victor S. Calpel |
| Custodian | Manu |
| Passengers |
|
TL;DR
On the bridge, Agnes gathers her team and makes a heavy decision: apply Protocol 1.3, forcing thousands of passengers into sleep to save the vessel's vital energy. The Mercator then sets course for the Moon... at the cost of an ethical choice that could break the survivors' trust.
Story
Angie is still weak, so I help her walk. We leave the cockpit.
In the module, medics, officers, and even civilians move around the thousand evacuated passengers. The wounded are being treated, and the most shaken are being comforted. Despite the chaos, the organization is holding. They are in good hands.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
We're going back up to the bridge.
Are you coming with us, Manu? I still have a couple of things I'd like you to do.
Manu Requisitioned Civilian
To the bridge?
Uh... but that's forbidden.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
You have my authorization this time, Manu.
Manu Requisitioned Civilian
In that case... I accept your offer.
We cross the corridors in relative silence, broken only by the hum of systems restarting and the murmurs of survivors. Lights still flicker in places, casting trembling shadows across the damaged walls. The traces of the nuclear storm we faced are still visible: torn cables hanging loose, warped bulkheads, and, here and there, technicians working to restore order.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Looks like the engineers have things under control.
The lighting, some access to the vessel's sections, and even the elevator are working again.
You trained your teams well, Angie.
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
They're professionals.
But there must have been quite a mess while I was away for there to be this much damage.
Did you go through a cyclone or what?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Not a cyclone, Angie.
A mushroom cloud.
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
Damn! And to think I missed that!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
If you'd been there, you would have scared yourself silly, believe me.
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
That bad?
Manu Requisitioned Civilian
Ladies, instead of chattering away, maybe you should get into the elevator!
I'm waiting for you!
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
We're coming, Manu.
Manu Requisitioned Civilian
I have a slightly indiscreet question.
You seem to know each other pretty well. Are you friends?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Angie and I are more than just friends.
We're a couple, Manu.
Manu Requisitioned Civilian
Ah... uh... yes... uh... I see.
I wasn't expecting that kind of answer.
Sorry for prying.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Don't be, Manu. We're used to it.
Come on. We've arrived on the bridge.
And above all, don't touch anything.
Manu Requisitioned Civilian
I promise, I won't touch anything, Agnes.
Uh... I mean, Cap'n.
As soon as we enter the bridge, the atmosphere contrasts sharply with the chaos we left behind. Nothing is fully operational yet, but efficiency is gradually returning.
Corda stands near his station, busy recalibrating the navigation controls.
Savea, bent over a console, reviews a series of diagnostics.
A little farther away, Flores adjusts communication frequencies, her face drawn with fatigue.
Despite the exhaustion, everyone works with renewed focus. We still have a vessel to save.
I glance toward Angie. She sweeps her eyes across the bridge, assessing the situation. Her expression says it all: the Mercator took the hit, but she is holding, and the work is moving forward.
Beside me, Manu makes himself discreet, hands buried in his pockets, absorbing the scene with a mixture of astonishment and respect. This is a world completely foreign to him... and yet he now finds himself at the heart of the machine.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Manu, this is Lieutenant Commander Eric Corda, our pilot.
Lieutenant Charlene Savea, head of operations, and our communications officer, Ensign Emilie Flores.
You can take the seat next to that console.
Ens. Emilie Flores Communications
Captain, I'm glad to see Commander Chen is still alive.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Thank you, Flores. Believe me, so am I.
Everyone sit down.
Since the meeting room is occupied by our leaders, we'll take stock here.
Savea, we'll start with you.
What is the vessel's status?
Lt. Charlene Savea Operations
We've lost nearly ninety percent of the hull and its thermal shield. I'm keeping our energy shield regenerating at three percent, and I have transferred the rest of our reserves to vital systems.
All told, we have approximately thirty-six to forty-eight hours of autonomy left.
As for the structure, we have failures on every level, and no way to reinforce the most damaged areas.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Thank you, Savea.
What about passengers and crew?
Lt. Charlene Savea Operations
No losses have been reported in the heads-of-state meeting room.
I extended their allocated space to the two adjacent rooms: the mess and the lounge, where additional bunks are being installed.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
And the refugees?
Lt. Charlene Savea Operations
At this time, we have no information on losses, but we know there are some.
We also applied Non-Lethal Protocol 1.1 in modules five, six, and seven, as you ordered, to contain the riots.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I suppose you don't have the exact number of survivors we recovered from Brussels?
Lt. Charlene Savea Operations
No, Captain.
In theory, our capacity is ten thousand people.
One thousand per module, and two thousand for the vessel itself.
Everyone was scanned during boarding and I just need to consolidate the data from every sector.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Flores, your turn.
Ens. Emilie Flores Communications
The internal communications system is restored, and I've been broadcasting a distress call toward the Moon.
I have not received any response yet, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Thank you, Flores.
Corda, were you the one handling the probes?
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda Pilot
Yes, Captain. I'm monitoring space.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Perfect, Corda.
If you notice anything unusual, or the UFO we crossed paths with over Brussels, you report it to me immediately.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda Pilot
Of course, Captain.
Manu Requisitioned Civilian
UFOs?!
Are you serious?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Please, Manu. Don't interrupt us.
Manu Requisitioned Civilian
Sorry, Cap'n.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Good.
Now let's focus on what matters.
Are we able to reach the Moon?
Corda, your opinion.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda Pilot
Captain...
Yes, the Mercator can fly in space, but it was prepared above all for evacuation and support missions in Earth's atmosphere.
It was never designed for extended operations in vacuum, let alone carrying this many passengers and systems this damaged.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I already know all that, Mr. Corda.
So I will ask my question again.
In its current state, and with the few resources we have left... is the Mercator able to reach the Moon?
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda Pilot
For now, we only have minimal impulse power.
Just enough to keep us in orbit around Earth.
Engineering is working to recover power.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Savea, does engineering have the ability to gradually transfer power to the engines so we can reach the Moon?
Lt. Charlene Savea Operations
In theory, yes.
But that would mean drawing from all our resources, including life-support systems.
If we head for the Moon under those conditions, we will all be dead before we get there, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Number One, any suggestions?
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
Yes, Captain.
We can consider applying Non-Lethal Protocol 1.3 to all locked modules.
That would reduce our power consumption by seventy percent, freeing that energy for the navigation systems, such as impulse drive and stabilizers.
All while coasting, making maximum use of inertia and gravitational trajectories.
We are at the point where every impulse, every course correction, will cost us dearly.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
That's an extreme solution, Number One.
I do not much like the idea of using 1.3.
They will all be plunged into a deep sleep.
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
We are also in an extreme situation, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
You're right.
What worries me are the consequences.
Waking up could be brutal. They will feel like we gassed them.
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
That is precisely why its use is authorized only in extreme situations, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What is your opinion, Manu?
What would you think if you were in their place?
Manu Requisitioned Civilian
I don't know, Agnes... uh, sorry, Cap'n.
I've never faced this kind of situation.
But I suppose I would be in shock... and that I would resent the people who made that decision, because I would not have understood what kind of mess we're in.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Thank you, Manu.
Savea, based on the figures you have, is this plan feasible?
Lt. Charlene Savea Operations
I'm finishing the calculations, Captain.
There... It's going to be close... but we can make it if we start right now.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
In that case, let's not waste time.
We'll move directly to a vote.
Who is not in favor of the plan?
Silence settles in.
I scan my crew. Everyone understands what this implies.
Not only forced sleep... but a loss of control. A temporary surrender of their fate.
One second passes.
Then two.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
No one?
Perfect. The plan is approved unanimously.
Savea, you may launch the procedure.
Corda, plot a course for the Moon and get our wreck moving.
Flores, keep sending the distress signal.
Ens. Emilie Flores Communications
Aye, Captain.