Episode 42. Message in a Bottle
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Wednesday, July 31, 2024 - 8:17 PM
- Location
-
- Space
- Earth Orbit
- USS Enterprise
- Bridge
- Timeline
- Unknown Timeline
- Previously
-
After winning a perilous duel against the extraterrestrial vessel, the Enterprise and the Nauvoos retake control of Earth's satellites. As the mission draws to a close, Flores picks up a strange signal, a targeted message coming from... the Moon.
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 |
Manifest
| USS Enterprise | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO |
| Location | Earth Orbit |
| Captain | Agnes V. Rodriguez |
| First Officer | Angie Chen |
| Pilot | Eric Corda |
| Communications | Emilie Flores |
| Operations | Charlene Savea |
| Tactical |
|
| Science | N/A |
| Advanced Weapons | Eros Vitos |
| Infirmary | Victor S. Calpel |
| Counselor/Consultant | Manu |
| Custodian | Manu |
TL;DR
Flores's readings locate the signal in the Sea of Tranquility, precisely at the Apollo 11 site. Once filtered, the interference turns out to be an SOS in Morse code. Rodriguez orders the fleet to return to the starbase without the Enterprise and sets a course for the Moon. A secret mission is launched: Angie, Savea, and Eros will take a shuttle to explore the Apollo 11 landing site, while the event remains absent from the official logs.
Story
A quiet tension settles over the bridge when Ensign Emilie Flores announces she's picked up a mysterious signal, addressed directly to the Enterprise, and coming from the Moon.
Meanwhile, the dozen or so Nauvoo-class vessels in our fleet are still waiting for my order to return to Starbase.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
The surface of the Moon?
Can you be more precise, Flores?
Ens. Emilie Flores Communications
One moment, Captain. I'm calibrating my instruments...
I'm pinpointing the source of the interference in the Sea of Tranquility.
I'll scan the area for more precise coordinates.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Hmm... the Sea of Tranquility...
That's strange.
What do you have, Flores?
Ens. Emilie Flores Communications
I have the exact coordinates, Captain.
But...
...but...
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
What, Ensign?
Speak.
Ens. Emilie Flores Communications
Sorry, Captain... I'd rather verify it before jumping to conclusions...
But these coordinates correspond to the Apollo 11 landing site.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Mr. Corda, I believe you're familiar with that area.
Can you confirm?
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda Pilot
Confirmed, Captain.
That is exactly where Apollo 11 landed during the historic 1957 mission.
No crewed mission has landed there since that time.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Thank you, Mr. Corda.
What is the nature of that signal, Flores?
Ens. Emilie Flores Communications
No idea, Captain.
I'm running it through different spectral filters, but it doesn't match anything we know.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Put it on speaker, Ensign.
My officers listen carefully to the strange interference, trying to make sense of the distorted transmission.
After trying several filters, I suddenly recognize a familiar pattern in the stream of signals.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
But... that's Morse.
Number One, can you confirm?
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
It seems so, Captain.
The signal keeps repeating the same rhythmic sequence.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Flores, can you decrypt it?
Ens. Emilie Flores Communications
Yes, Captain.
Di-di-di... dah-dah-dah... di-di-di.
Three dots, three dashes, three dots.
It's an S.O.S.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Thank you, Flores.
Savea, do you have a visual on the site?
Lt. Charlene Savea Operations
Negative, Captain.
From our position, the lunar stealth satellites are blocking any usable imagery. The jamming is too dense.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Makes sense.
NATO does everything it can to keep foreign powers from observing the lunar surface.
That jamming certainly isn't making our job any easier.
Lt. Charlene Savea Operations
What are your orders, Captain?
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Flores, signal the fleet to depart.
All vessels are to return to Starbase without waiting for us.
Ens. Emilie Flores Communications
Orders transmitted, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Corda, set a course for the source of the distress signal.
Bring us in close.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda Pilot
We're leaving Earth orbit, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Number One, have a shuttle prepared while we're en route.
You will be accompanied by Savea and Ensign Vitos.
Once in lunar orbit, you will explore the Apollo 11 landing site.
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
Aye, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
This detour to the Moon is strictly confidential.
None of you will mention this mission in your logs.
Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One
Understood, Captain.
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