Stardate: 70617:2230
Title: Scorched Earth (Part 2)
Author: Scott Deadilus
Time: Current
Scene: Horizon Bridge
"Sir, the energy build-up in the sphere has started to increase at an
unprecedented rate," Ensign Ralari called out from the Science console. "I would
say 'weapon systems hot', but I don't know if that is technically accurate."
"Keep a close eye on it," the Captain ordered. "Autumn, any luck in getting our
away team located?" Only a few minutes before had she relayed the fact the the
away team had been lost.
Given the size of the sphere and its computer's display of power (and insanity),
they realised the computer could potentially have transported their crew to the
furthest corner of the sphere. Although they had continued to scan, much of the
sphere was shielded to their sensors, and so locating the crew was a fruitless
task, but one they would carry out anyway.
"No, Sir, and we are unable to obtain a lock on Ensign Sparky - every transport
we initialise is being reflected away, almost as if the computer doesn't want
him to leave!" Autumn explained.
=/\= The Morgue =/\=
Doctor Matthews opened the morgue drawer containing the body of Ensign Varrn.
Whilst he had good information that Corren was not dead, all his scans seemed to
indicate otherwise. True, he was completely alien and a most unique species,
especially given his distance from home, but nonetheless his scans indicated
otherwise.
The energy from the phaser that had hit the Terraxian officer had caused
extensive neurological disruption, and had ultimately been the cause of the
Ensign's death. But, whilst their earlier efforts to revive him had proven
useless, the Doctor had been relayed information by Ensign Cochran that seemed
to indicate an even higher shock MIGHT revive the seemingly-dead Tactical
Officer.
Ted was a little sceptical at the source of the information; he didn't have any
distrust for Benjamin, but such 'flashes of inspiration' had proven to be
nothing but a waste of time previously. However, given that the Security Officer
that had fired the phaser had in fact been under the control of the Sphere's
computer, he did wonder if the sphere had been attempting something else
altogether. Given what had happened to the crew of the Loyalty, maybe it was
trying to do something similar here...
As the Doctor placed the cardiac stimulators onto the cold chest of the Tactical
Officer, he found himself quietly praying it would work.
=/\= The Virtual World =/\=
As Three accessed yet another previously closed and hidden section of the
computer, he found the resistance lessening more and more. The computer had
begun to grow either weaker, or more distracted. He didn't know which, and he
found he didn't care...
~
With the ion disruptors and particle beams fully charged now, the computer
needed to input no target co-ordinates, needed to specify no power settings; it
simply gave the order to fire, unleashing a veritable hell on anyone and
everyone inside the sphere's domain...
=/\= USS Horizon =/\=
"Shields up. Red alert!" Deadilus called as the first of the energy lances
reached out from the sphere to the planet below.
They had entered the sphere wanting to know what it did, how it worked, who had
created it, where they had gone... the list of questions went on. Now, they bore
witness to exactly what it was the sphere did, watching on as the energy lances
between the sphere and the planet grew in numbers.
"Mr. Hill, plot a course directly over the inhabitants settlement. Autumn, get
Engineering to give us every bit of power they can and get those transporters
online asap. I need all that power and anything else you can divert relayed to
the upper shields. Security, prepare the holodecks and Cargo Bays 2 and 3 for
habitation."
The Captain's orders were, everyone knew, to take them into harm's way to defend
those unable to defend themselves on the planet below, but even with all their
power diverted to only the upper section of the shield, it still might not be
enough...
~
As the small Nova-class vessel picked its way quickly and directly to the
co-ordinates above the settlement below, the viewscreen showed the runabout
Britain being swallowed into a section of the planet undergoing heavy
bombardment, causing the landscape to undergo massive seismic activity whilst a
rain of fire from above pour down; Captain Deadilus couldn't help but think of
the biblical similarities.
=/\= The Settlement =/\=
When the first beam of energy reached out from the sphere, the inhabitants
thought it was simply lightning, a rare but occasional occurrence on their
sheltered planet. But, as the beam continued to reach from the heavens to the
earth, accompanied by more and more, they realised something was horribly wrong.
And yet, they seemed to be spared. No beams of light had yet hit their
settlement, but still they huddled together in the shelter of their largest
building...
=================
Captain Scott Deadilus
Commanding Officer
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
=================
