Systems failure (Recovered archives)
08 Aug 2022Silvia Sharpe
+//Archive recovered replaying EventsAugust 8, 3308
'Warning! FSD operating beyond saftey limits'
'Warning! Taking heat damage'
'Warning! Taking internal damage'
While out exploring the galaxy disaster struck. Venus's ship, a Krait Phantom named Longshot, had just experienced a catastrophic FSD failure. Smoke and flames filled the FSD and thruster room. The emergency fire suppression system activated and extinguished the blaze before it could reach the fuel cell. Longshot was sent careening out of control at near supercruise speeds with no thrusters or flight assist. Commander Venus aka XxD3M0N3SSxX was knocked unconscious due to the concussive blast from the aft of her prized ship. After a minute she slowly regained consciousness, her flight training from her time in the imperial navy kicking into overdrive.
'VERITY! Systems update! And Make it quick!'
'Frameshift drive inoperable. Thrusters offline. Shields down. Canopy Integrity at 20%. Warning taking internal damage. Heat levels critical. Hull integrity critical.'
The source of the failure, her guardian FSD booster had backfired into the main drive causing superheated plasma to rupture the lining of her ships FSD and thruster modules. She was stranded, alone, and thousands of light years from any civilization. The worst part about it her comms array had been destroyed. Unless she could get the AFMS to boot up for repairs, she would be stranded until someone happened to jump into the system she was in or she ran out of fuel causing her demise.
'COME ON YOU PIECE OF SPACE JUNK!!! JUST FUCKING WORK!!'
Venus was beginning to panic, her training had not prepared her for this kind of incident while secluded in unfamiliar space. Finally after what felt like an eternity her AFMS came back online. Venus began the repair of critical systems starting with her comms and sensor array. After a few minutes of waiting, her comms and sensors came back online. A sigh of relief could be heard as she began broadcasting her emergency call out.
'-Sigh- Mayday Mayday Mayday! This is commander XxD3M0N3SSxX. I require immediate assistance. My hull is at 15% after an FSD explosion caused severe damage to my ship and systems. I am in the Synuefe KU-F........'
Her emergency broadcast was cutoff, her comms had gone down again. She could only hope there was someone near by that picked up the signal and was able to trace its origins. Her thrusters came back online after 20 minutes of waiting for her AFMS to repair them. The next item to come back online were her shields. Seeing that she was only a short distance from a planet she decided it was best to attempt an emergency landing to asses the extent of the damages to her ship.
2 hours passed as she made her way towards this unfamiliar planet. She forgot how long space travel could be without faster than light capabilities. Something so convenient, that until it's gone, you forget that it's necessary. Venus stares at her Data console trying to figure out why her comms kept cutting out.
'This doesn't make sense. Sensors and comms are back at 100%. Why are my comms dropping out?'
After another 4 hours of travel Venus made it to the planetary surface. Her landing, though rough, was successful. She shut down any unnecessary ship systems, checked her fuel reserves then proceeded to her quarters to suit up for a quick surface run to gather some materials needed for synthesis of AFMS ammunition to continue ship repairs. She made her way to SRV bay 1 only to find that SRV 1 had been destroyed due to the explosion. SRV 2 was in rough shape but was drivable.
Venus climbed into the cockpit of her SRV and departed from her ship. Once on the ground she took a moment to inspect the extent of the damages. A large hole could be seen where her FSD should've been. How the ship wasn't ripped in half was a mystery to her. After the inspection she proceeded to signal blips on the radar in her SRV. She spent several hours driving around gathering materials needed. Venus returned to her ship and checked on the status of her modules. Her FSD and guardian FSD booster were still unrepaired.
Venus decided to rest for a few hours. As she laid down in her bed she couldn't help but feel like she may be stuck out there for a while. Over the next few days she worked on repairing her FSD using synthesized parts produced by her AFMS. Her older but useful FSD service manual she had picked up just before departing on her expedition became an extremely valuable item allowing her to rebuild her FSD by herself. Venus quickly ran out of materials for her AFMS to synthesize, so she once again departed by SRV to gather more resources.
As she returned to her ship she heard the familiar sound of a ship dropping out of supercruise. Venus looked up to see an Anaconda heading straight for her landing site. A huge smile appeared on her face when she saw the name of the ship on her SRV targeting panel. THE LIFEBOAT. This ship is one she is very familiar with. It's one of her old squad mates from her time in the imperial navy. This ship is designed to quickly repair a ships hull and shields in combat while also providing heavy suppressive fire of its own.
Due to her inability to establish comms she used hand signals to direct the captain to land their vessel so she could explain the situation. THE LIFEBOAT touched down with a level of grace not expected from a ship so large. Once the ship had settled Commander Aventus ran down the stairs to greet Venus. Venus ran up to Aventus and embraced him, tears running down her face.
'I received your emergency distress call a couple days ago. I tried for hours to make contact. When you didn't respond..... I thought your ship had been detroyed. I decided to track the distress beacon location. Hoping that you were still alive. When I dropped into the system your ships ID tag popped up on my nav panel then disappeared.'
'Sorry *sniff*, my comms have been on the fritz...... and I have been working on rebuilding my FSD. I figured if I could at least get the main drive rebuilt I would be able to limp her home.'
The two talked for a while before Aventus let Venus know there was some warm food being served on the mess deck of his ship. Venus departed while Aventus took a walk around Longshot inspecting the hull and modules for any signs of damage. After about an hour of brief checks Aventus returned to his ship and located Venus on the bridge sitting in one of the gunners chairs. He smiled and walked over to her
'Reminiscing about old times?'
'Ya, well no, idk kind of. I miss it sometimes you know? The fights we went through. The systems we saved. It all seems so distant now. I'm kind of glad I'm not involved with it anymore.'
'Things are different. Salvation is due to unleash the Proteus Wave on the Thargoids. People are going to need help.'
'I don't care about the Thargoids. My place is out here away from all of that mess. Away from the never ending struggle of power.'
'I envy you Venus. You get to see soo much of this beautiful galaxy without any concerns for what is going on back home.'
'Back home? Sure Cubeo is my home system and the Empire is a part of who I am, but I have no one back home waiting for me. I wouldn't exactly call that home.'
Venus and Aventus conversed for a few hours, talking about the adventures they had both been on. Aventus had taken up a rescue role with one of the independent squadrons in the bubble. Venus talked about how she had made her way out to Colonia and the Galactic center. She mentioned that she had made several new discoveries along the way. At the end of the day Venus departed from Aventus's ship returning to hers for the evening and some much needed rest, for tomorrow would bring forth a new set of challenges.
The next morning Venus woke up and proceeded to Aventus's ship to discuss the game plan. Aventus explained that he would fire a few repair limpets to repair Longshots hull. Venus stated that she would need a few moments beforehand to reboot her ship systems as it seems the cause of her buggy comms and sensors was due to a glitch common after emergency repairs.
'Ok Venus. I am standing by ready for your signal'
'Copy that. Stand by for limpet launch in..... 3........2.......1. Fire'
'Firing first drone. Standby...... and contact. Drone attachment successful. Drone 2 firing in 3.......2.......1. Drone 2 away.'
'Copy. Hull at 50%. Wait this can't be right.'
'Warning! Heat levels rising. Taking internal damage.'
'I think I'm going to have to leave her here. Something is wrong. My temps are still increasing.'
'Oh no you don't. We are getting that ship home together. Stick with me just in case something goes wrong.'
'I can't make hyperspace jumps like this. My thruster heat isn't being exhausted. Fuck I'm shutting her down she is too hot. I'm going to end up roasted at this rate.'
After several hours of troubleshooting and additional repairs Longshots temps began to remain stable.
'Thanks Aventus, I probably wouldn't have noticed that heat vent shutter was busted. I guess it pays to have a tech savy friend.'
'Ya I mean I can't really call myself a rescue operator if I cant fix simple shit.'
Several hours of prep and navigation planning later, the two proceeded back to the bubble 30ly at a time. The journey was uneventful save for a few sketchy Neutron star boosts. The two returned to Medupe City, Cubeo where Venus proceeded to the Ship yard officer. The pudgy man in the chair was staring at his data pad. The picture of a Fer De Lance on the screen. The man seemed to not notice Venus. Venus clears her throat startling the man
'Oh uhm uh. Sorry how may I help you miss?'
'I am in need of severe repairs on my Krait Phantom located in Bay 20. Also do you happen to have a ship catalogue for currently available ships?'
'Certainly, I'll have a couple of my guys head over there to check her out for you. And as far as available ships here is the datalog for all currently available ships for purchase. Have anything in mind?'
'I'm actually looking to buy an Imperial Clipper. Have you got any left?'
'Just the one. Might I say she is a beauty. Not nearly as good looking as the Fer De Lance in my opinion but everyone has there own taste. That'll be 22,295,860 CR. Might I get the Surname on the account?'
Venus rolls her eyes as she was certain the next bit of dialogue was going to entail her family lineage. Begrudgingly she replied
'Duval.'
'First name please.'
To her surprise the man didn't seem to care about her family name.
'Venus'
'Alright miss Duval, CR transfer complete. Your new ship is available for you should you choose to use her right away.'
The man picked up his data pad again and began reading technical data on the Fer De Lance. Venus walked away from the counter, she knew it would be a few days time before her ship was fully repaired. She decided to head down the commanders lounge where Aventus said to meet once she checked in Longshot with the shipyard officer. She noticed a large crowd gathered around a Broadcast Monitor just as she was approaching the commanders lounge. When Venus approached she was terrified by what she saw on the screen. Salvation had been destroyed. The Proteus Wave had failed and a New threat was heading straight for the Heart of Humanity. The Thargoids had been angered.