Episode 43. The Hatch Opens
Context
- Coordinated Universal Time
- Wednesday, July 31, 2024 - 21:40
- Location
-
- Space
- Lunar Orbit
- USS Enterprise
- Bridge
- Timeline
- Unknown Timeline
- Previously
-
Tasked with securing Earth orbit while the Nauvoo fleet repairs and retakes control of the satellites, the USS Enterprise suffered a sudden attack: an extraterrestrial vessel destroyed the USS Washington before directly confronting Rodriguez and her crew. Thanks to a bold maneuver, the Enterprise managed to break the enemy defenses, forcing the opponent to take refuge in Earth's atmosphere. As the satellite mission comes to an end, Ensign Flores picks up a Morse distress signal emitted from the surface of the Moon, in the heart of the Sea of Tranquility.
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 |
| Eros Vitos | NATO / Special Fleet | Ensign |
Manifest
| USS Enterprise | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | NATO |
| Location | Lunar Orbit |
| Captain | Agnes V. Rodriguez |
| First Officer | Angie Chen |
| Pilot | Eric Corda |
| Communications | Emilie Flores |
| Operations | Charlene Savea |
| Tactical | Eric Corda Charlene Savea |
| Science | N/A |
| Advanced Weapons | Eros Vitos |
| Infirmary | Victor S. Calpel |
| Counselor/Consultant | Manu |
| Custodian | Manu |
TL;DR
Arriving at the Apollo 11 site, the Enterprise discovers that no trace remains of the historical artifacts. In their place rests an unknown vessel, four times larger than a class-F shuttle. The exploration team led by Angie Chen lands nearby. As they approach the strange craft, an access ramp opens.
Story
After another Earth-Moon crossing of barely fifty minutes, the Enterprise now flies over the Sea of Tranquility. We stabilize exactly above the source of the S.O.S. signal, emitted from the Apollo 11 landing site.
But what we discover is far from what I expected.
There is no trace of the LEM.
No American flag.
No scientific instrument left behind on July 21, 1957.
Nothing.
In their place, resting on the lunar soil, stands a small vessel with rounded forms and a strange design. It immediately captures all my attention.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Mr. Corda, are you certain you brought us to the right place?
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
Yes, Captain. We are exactly at the coordinates of the distress signal's origin... and of the Apollo 11 mission.
I have no explanation for the absence of the equipment left by the astronauts at the time.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
That is... exceedingly strange.
Let us focus on this shuttle.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
Captain, I am not certain we can call that object a shuttle.
It is about four times the size of our class-F shuttles... and it does not appear to be of human origin.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
I do not care about its size, Mr. Corda.
I want to know whether it represents a threat to our exploration team.
Lt. Cmdr. Eric Corda (Pilot)
At first glance, no, Captain.
The energy signatures are extremely weak. The shield is lowered... and no weapons are deployed.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
In that case, the exploration team may go down there.
Flores, open a channel to Commander Chen.
Ens. Emilie Flores (Communications)
Communications channel open with the exploration shuttle, Captain.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Number One, Rodriguez here.
You are authorized to depart and land near the unknown object on the lunar surface.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Herbie 53 here. Message received.
We are leaving the Enterprise's Shuttle Bay.
Chen out.
In the shuttle, Angie is accompanied by Charlene Savea and Eros Vitos.
I usually worry whenever Angie leaves on a mission without me. But today, that anxiety does not appear. Maybe because I can follow her in real time on the bridge's main screen. Or maybe because, for once, something tells me everything is going to be fine.
Either way, I remain attentive.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Eros, you will find the new phasers in the cabinet at the back of the shuttle.
Hand them out, please.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Yes, Commander.
If I may... I would have preferred our good old pistols.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
You do not trust our weapons, Ensign?
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Not really, Commander.
With these phasers, all we will do is tickle the target's small intestine.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
That is the stun setting, Eros.
And you, Savea, do you know how to use those things?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Yes, Commander Chen.
It is part of our training... but I have never had the opportunity to shoot anyone.
Much less an alien.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
None of us have, Charlene.
As long as you know how to aim, that will already be very good.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Yes, Commander.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Fasten your seat belts. We are landing.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
You mean... you are making a lunar landing, Commander.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Thank you for the correction, Charlene.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
You are welcome, Commander.
The shuttle tilts slightly. Its shadow slides over the silver-gray ground, then a discreet breath raises a cloud of lunar dust. The stabilization thrusters shut down one by one, and everything becomes silent again.
Through the window, the Sea of Tranquility stretches out like a plain of ash, cold and motionless. Every particle falls back slowly, suspended in a dance without air.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Hello, Enterprise, this is Herbie 53.
We have just landed on the surface of the Moon and are preparing to deploy a passage between the two shuttles.
Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez
Copy that, Herbie 53. Be careful.
Rodriguez out.
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Commander, I have extended the shield to the unknown shuttle and deployed the environmental drones inside.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Perfect, Charlene.
Open the hatch and follow me.
A click. A brief breath.
The side hatch slides open slowly, releasing a flow of gray dust lifted by the decompression.
The outside appears, raw and still: a silver horizon dotted with craters softened by sunlight, drowned in absolute silence.
Angie moves first. Her foot sinks slightly into the fine layer of regolith. The weak gravity makes each step hesitant, almost graceful, like a dream suspended between sky and void.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Wow, Commander...
We are walking on the Moon. I never thought I would live to see this one day.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Stay focused, Eros.
Move behind me.
Ens. Eros Vitos (Weapons Engineer)
Yes, Commander.
The object is really weird...
It looks like a giant ring.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
You have quite an imagination, Eros.
And you, Charlene? What do you think?
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
In my opinion, the ring would be the equivalent of our warp nacelles.
The lower section could serve as a deflector...
And the upper section looks like a cockpit.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Stop!
The object is moving!
Lt. Charlene Savea (Operations)
Commander, I am detecting a thermal signature straight ahead!
The gray ground lights up in waves, as if the dust itself were reflecting an inner light. A line appears on the object's hull, thin at first, then slowly widening into a white glow.
The structure emits a soft light.
A panel moves aside in a fluid, silent motion.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
It looks like... an access ramp.
Light bursts from the opening, radiant, blinding for an instant, before stabilizing into a pale halo that cuts their silhouettes against the lunar ground.
A humanoid shadow steps forward.
Cmdr. Angie Chen (Number One)
Draw your phasers.
And do not fire under any circumstances.