SD 01/08/05 - "Space Derelict" aka "The Wrath of Ironbottom #4" It seemed like it took forever to get here, with nothing but the blackness of space to look at, and Ben Dover's constant groaning. We managed to teleport him off of Lynx's pod before the transporter shorted out. Apparently between his confession and her condition, she couldn't have been in a more ill mood. It took a while before we patched him up.
And then nothing but the waiting. Well, nothing but listening to Ben Dover moan. With Orlan branding him traitor, I don't know if it was from pain or self-pity.
Plenty of time to dwell. What would we find? It was a long time since the last survey way over a century ago. Was it rendered barely habitable by a calamity, or like Planet Cid a civilization hiding beneath their notice. And would something go wrong on the way over? And then, how long until we were discovered by Starfleet, if ever. And then when we were, would we be treated as criminals?
Eventually, we made it to the system. Thank the Great Bird of the Galaxy all the escape pods made it. Our course took us by a gas giant with thick ice rings. As we neared it, we detected something. We made a small ajdustment and headed to it, hoping for an abandoned derelect that was salvageable enough to get home. Maybe our crisis would be resolved much sooner.
Approaching it, things began to look strange. We picked up readings that were a mix of Federation, Kzin, and Ferrengi. There were also slight power levels, not a "dead" ship, but like one that was at minimal power, enough for emergency lights and life support. We found no sign of a crew, other than two Ferrengi. The other life signs were, strange. Not intelegent, but no known lifeform readings.
Seeing the thing up close, we found what looked a lot like a Kzin battle carrier, but bigger. The readings show Federation equipment as well as Kzin. The color wasn't quite right, it was half Kzin pink, half Federation steel. Docked at the side of it was a Ferrengi Marauder. It had a higher percentage of power running than the carrier, but a number of things had been turned off to presumably conserve power. The two Ferrengi we found are on there.
Naturally a lot of questions come to mind. How did this ship come to be, and why is it here? Also, why are there only two Ferrengi? Maurauders need a bigger crew than that? As the Ferrengi would have stripped the ship if they could have, something must have gone wrong, but what?
On another subject, it seems Lera and Droolin have had no problems keeping themselves busy. When I contacted everyone to let them know something was up, I heard what sounded like an ad for a porno movie in the background of Half's pod. I had trouble understanding her "frick and frack," until Orlan explained Lera and Droolin were going at it. In an escape pod? I swear, those two have no sense of shame. I just hope they had the sense to put up a blanket for a curtain. *sigh* It seems like those two were made for each other. What bothers me is Lera keeps going after me and expects me not to care she's unwilling to stick with one guy. Sheesh.
But enough of that. Someone has to open the hangar doors, and since this ship is the only one with an airlock and vacuum suits, Orlan and I flipped a coin. I got it. Looks like it's up to me.
I keep thinking of the last time this happened, after the Freedom "D" blew up, and Treki and us found a derelct. Looks like history is repeating itself. Back then, our only problem was Compy. Well, no Compy this time, so this should be a breeze.
I'm going in.