Episode 25. Running on Empty
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Tuesday, July 16, 2024 - 23:42
- Location
-
- Space
- Earth-Moon Transfer Orbit
- USS Mercator
- Bridge
- Timeline
- Unknown Timeline
- Previously
-
After surviving the nuclear apocalypse and leaving a wounded Earth behind, the USS Mercator has managed, at the cost of radical ethical choices, to climb onto a trajectory toward the Moon. Thousands of refugees have been forced into sleep to preserve energy, while Agnes has had to face the hostility of political leaders, including the President of the United States, who challenge her authority. Even so, the course is holding: reach NATO's secret base on the far side of the Moon, their only hope of survival.
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 |
| Charlene Savea | NATO / Special Fleet | Lieutenant |
Manifest
| USS Mercator | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO |
| Location | Earth-Moon Transfer Orbit |
| Captain | Agnes V. Rodriguez |
| First Officer | Angie Chen |
| Pilot | Eric Corda |
| Communications | Emilie Flores |
| Operations | Charlene Savea |
| Advanced Weapons | Eros Vitos |
| Infirmary | Victor S. Calpel |
| Counselor/Consultant | Manu (unofficial) |
| Custodian | Manu |
| Passengers | 12,000 Refugees (Estimate) Leaders (Hillary Clinton and other heads of state) |
TL;DR
Agnes and her crew improvise a breath-hold mode to squeeze out every last ounce of energy for the lunar approach: reduced gravity, shutdown of nonessential systems, cutting the climate control... Everything now depends on pilot Eric Corda's precision and on the endurance of a vessel running on empty.
Story
Despite the countdown constantly ticking away in a corner of my mind, the hours stretch on. Slowly.
Sitting in my chair, I watch the main screen that Lieutenant Commander Corda managed to restore.
Earth is receding. It grows smaller as we move toward the Moon.
From here, we can still make out the atomic mushroom clouds blooming over the last territories that had been vaguely spared. The few patches of green still left are disappearing one after another.
Seeing that, I cannot help wondering.
How did we get here?
When did everything tip over?
And above all... what am I supposed to do with the future now?
I have no answer. None.
What I do know, however, is that the world as we knew it no longer exists.
Exhaustion is starting to settle in for good. I ended up imposing two-hour rotations on the bridge.
Right now, Emilie is sleeping on the cot in my office while Angie replaces her at her station.
As for the rest of the crew, Charlene has set up regular breaks by team. We are holding on however we can.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Mr. Corda, how much distance do we still have to cover?
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
We have already covered about two thirds of the trip.
We have just under one hundred and twenty thousand kilometers left, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Can we go any faster?
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
No, Captain.
With the energy engineering is sending me, I am limited to simple course corrections.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Will you have enough left for the approach?
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
No idea, Captain.
You will have to check that with Lieutenant Savea. She is the one handling resource allocation.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Lieutenant Savea, did you hear that?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Yes, Captain. The computer is continuously recalculating our reserves based on the trajectory.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Yes, I know.
But will there be enough energy for the approach?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
No, Captain.
Our current consumption is too high.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Thank you, Lieutenant.
We are going into breath-hold mode.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Breath-hold mode?
I do not know that procedure, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
It is not a procedure, Lieutenant.
Mr. Corda needs energy. So we are going to give him some.
But before that, I want a full status report on the refugees.
And on what has been put in place for their comfort.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
After non-lethal measure 1.3 was activated in the modules, the medical teams took charge of the occupants.
They were laid down on the floor and given nutrients through IV drips.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Excellent initiative, Lieutenant.
I had not thought of that. I had assumed the trip would be shorter.
Did everyone get their dose?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Yes, Captain.
As far as we can tell, we no longer need to worry about those passengers.
For those still awake aboard the vessel, we distributed the military rations stored in the hold.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
In short... you pampered them.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
The teams simply applied the emergency protocols you triggered, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Very well.
At this point, is that phase complete?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Yes, Captain.
Only the infirmaries remain on standby, with security deployed in the passenger sectors.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Perfect. Then we move to the breath-hold plan.
Cut the lighting in every sector except those still active.
Reduce artificial gravity by twenty-five percent.
Then isolate every unused compartment: galleys, showers, locker rooms... everything.
Before executing, recalculate the whole thing for me.
I want to be certain these measures will be enough.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Aye, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Number One, inform the teams of the measures we are about to take.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
I will handle it immediately, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
So, Savea.
What do we have?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
We will be right on the edge, Captain.
Hard to say whether it will work.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Damn...
Is there a leak somewhere or what? I feel like I am captain of a Playmobil starship powered by an alkaline battery.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
To be honest, Captain, the vessel only received the resources required to execute the initial plans approved by the political decision-makers.
The scenario we are experiencing was never considered.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
We do not have much choice. We will make do with the battery.
Lieutenant, you may begin applying breath-hold mode.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Preparing the breath-hold plan now, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What else can we still shut down?
Any ideas?
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
The shuttles, Captain.
We could potentially use them to tow us.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Clever, Mr. Corda.
Lieutenant Savea, your opinion?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Impossible, Captain.
The engineers already reassigned those resources when we were still in Earth orbit, to restore the systems that had failed on us.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
You have a real talent for undermining morale, Lieutenant.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Sorry, Captain.
That was not my intention.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Captain, I suggest climate control.
We could shut it down for the entire approach procedure.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Thank you, Number One.
Lieutenant Savea, what do your calculations say?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
It could work, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
You do not sound entirely convinced, Lieutenant.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Captain, there is always a gap between theory and practice.
It will mostly depend on Eric... and on how he handles the approach.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
She is right, Captain.
I cannot predict in advance how many corrections I will need to make.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Very well.
In that case, get your sweaters ready.
Lieutenant Savea, you will also shut down climate control as soon as Mr. Corda begins his maneuvers.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Yes, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Number One...
Still no word from the starbase?
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
No, Captain.
It is unlikely we will receive an answer to our distress call.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I know.
That is consistent with their protocols in the event of lost contact with Earth.
But you never know.
Keep going anyway.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Yes, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Savea, I believe it is your turn to get some rest.
Once your task is complete, wake Flores in my office.
Commander Chen will take over your station.
I want you fresh and operational in two hours.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
I will skip my turn, Captain.
I am still fit to do my job.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Denied, Lieutenant.
I cannot afford to have you collapse from exhaustion at the crucial moment.
Mr. Corda will come pry you out of the arms of Morpheus in two hours.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
But Captain... uh...
Yes. All right, Captain.
Without adding another word, Savea finishes entering the data on her console.
She locks in the parameters, then reluctantly rises from her seat, leaving her place to Angie.