Project Unity: Project Unity: Search and Recovery, Chapter Two

Chapter 2

Meng Asada pinched the bridge of his nose and leaned back in the Captain's desk chair. Though it gave a squeak in protest, he found the chair surprisingly comfortable. More so than the one on the bridge at any rate. That one came with expectations and awkward staring. How many days had it been now? Nine, maybe ten? He couldn't remember what time it was at any given moment much less the day. One sleepless night had blurred into the next until he subsisted entirely on the cold coffee that came out of the dysfunctional synthesizer.

After reading the same words a half dozen times, he tossed the data pad onto the desk and fumbled around the mess for the light controls. He felt over the lip of each button, silently counting until he reached the third one. After a few light taps the lights dimmed to twenty percent and he let his eyes close and waited for the inevitable interruption.

He'd barely made it to thirty before the door chimed, jarring him from his moment of respite. "I'd bet my life that it's Jamison," he said, to no one in particular. "Come," he added as the chime sounded a second time, this time more insistently. When Lieutenant Rob Jamison came in he brought with him the noise and clatter of a busy bridge full of engineers. "Pay up," he said, dropping his feet to the ground.

"Excuse me sir?" Jamison asked, glancing around him for another person.

Meng just shook his head, "never mind. What is it Lieutenant? What couldn't wait for morning?"

Jamison's confusion deepened, "it IS morning Commander. It's oh-nine."

"Really?" Meng blinked several times, as if it would ward off the exhaustion he felt. "When did that happen?"

"Um... I don't... this morning?" Jamison offered with a pitiful shrug. When Meng didn't respond, he pressed on with his original intentions. "The engineer in charge of the refit has submitted a new estimate for completion..."

Meng groaned, "how much longer now?"

"An additional two weeks at least. Longer if you're serious about scrapping the third section and repurposing it," he said. "In total we're looking at another six weeks. But all the core systems and areas should be done by the end of this week."

"So the additional five weeks are for what exactly?" Meng asked, wondering if he should roll the dice on the synthesizer again.

"Primarily cosmetics and getting things like the new hologrid system online. They're also attempting to integrate their ship to surface transporter technology with ours," Jamison said, holding out the first of many data pads.

Meng took it but didn't look at it before adding it to the pile on the desk. "Ship to surface? As in through atmosphere? Is that safe?" Jamison shrugged but didn't look enthused by the idea. "Okay, I'll talk to him. Next?"

"Lieutenants Karstark and O'Neill offer updated training reports on their respective departments," Jamison said as he shuffled through the data pads until he found the two he sought. "Lieutenant O'Neill had some colorful words to offer but I suspect they didn't make it into his official report."

"I wouldn't be so sure Lieutenant," Meng said with a smirk. He glanced, briefly, at the pads as they were handed to him. "Anything else?"

"Doctor Azael sent another update on Mr. Ice's condition," he said. "And requests, again, that we contact Doctor Ryan to inform her of said update."

Meng shrugged, "I've already explained to him that they are too far out of range to make communication effective but send the update anyway. It should reach her in a few days, probably by the time they reach the hospital in fact. Maybe he should send the update to them – would be faster and more reliable."

"Would you like me to suggest that?" Jamison asked.

Meng shook his head, "No, I'll take care of it Lieutenant. Thank you. But could you ask one of those engineers out there to take a look at this synthesizer? Everything I input comes out cold."

"Perhaps it's user error?" Jamison suggested, earning a sharp look from Meng. "I'll let them know sir."

"Thank you," Meng muttered as the doors hissed shut. He reached out for the buttons again, restoring the dimmed lights to their usual blinding glare and then picked up the top data pad. With a sigh, he dropped it back on the pile. From beneath the mess an insistent and irritating beep echoed around the room. "What the hell?" he asked, pushing aside the pile of pads until he found the blinking red light that accompanied the noise.

He activated the switch and Doctor Azael's face appeared on the screen in front of him. "Commander, I'm glad I reached you. I need you to contact..."

"As I've already explained Doctor," Meng interrupted, "the transceiver on the shuttle pod is not strong enough to allow instantaneous communication at this range. All your messages will arrive when they arrive."

"I'm aware of that Commander," Azael said. "I received a message from the hospital. They were calling to confirm that Captain Hunt was, in fact, coming. After I confirmed the appointment, they reported that they have picked up no sign of an incoming vessel."

"Well they're still a few days away Doctor. I'm sure they're just not on the sensors yet."

"Doubtful Commander. Their sensors are very sophisticated," Azael said, clearly concerned. "They should have picked them up by now."

Meng sat up straighter and shoved the pile of work to the floor. "Right. Please contact the hospital again and ask them to scan again – as far as they can. Maybe they ran into a technical issue and just need a push." All need for caffeine dissolved as Meng began imagining the possibilities. "Jamison!" he shouted into the comm unit. "Initiate an alpha level scan for the shuttle pod. And for their emergency beacon."

------

Meng leaned forward on the new situation table and hung his head. Around the bridge, engineers' tools clattered into their tool boxes and boots scuffled across the deck as they left. When the bridge grew eerily quiet, he looked up to see two or three bridge officers shooting him sidelong glances before turning their attention back to their stations. "Jamison," Meng said and the Lieutenant appeared beside him abruptly. "How long would it take to recall everyone from the surface?"

"Everyone?" Jamison asked. "At least a quarter of the ship's population is on the surface at any given time. The shuttles can ferry no more than six people and we're down a shuttle pod..."

"I know all that Lieutenant. I want to know how long."

"Days. At best," he said. "It would take days."

Meng shook his head, "we don't have days. Of the essential personnel – who's on the surface now?"

Jamison stepped over to a computer and quickly pulled up a screen that filled with names. "Doctor Hapsberg and her family are on the Southern continent," he offered.

"So we have no doctor?"

"Actually you do," Doctor Azael said, entering the bridge and surveying it quickly. "I would like to offer my services for this mission."

"No offense Doc, but I'm sure we can get our own medical staff back before we leave," Meng said.

"I doubt it Commander. She has not responded to your summons thus far correct? The south is notorious for being far from technology – which I think she was looking for," Azael said with a small shrug. "Beyond that, I also have extensive knowledge of the sector."

"Fine," Meng conceded. "Then tell me how we find them." He pressed a few buttons as a holographic projection of the sector materialized above the table.

Before the doctor could speak, Commander Katou thundered onto the bridge but for once, it seemed, her anger was not directed at him as Aryn Darcy stumbled out of the lift behind her. "You shouldn't be here," Katou snapped.

"I need to speak with Commander Asada, not you Hoshimi," Aryn said, pushing past the science officer to approach the table. "Commander, I've heard about the shuttle and I think, based on reports from around the sector, that I can tell you where they disappeared."

"How did you hear anything?" Katou demanded. "I haven't even been fully briefed and you've already surveyed the whole sector?"

"It's not like that Hoshimi! Honestly, I'm trying to help," Aryn said.

"Though I'd also like to know the hows," Meng interrupted, "I'm more curious about the where." He motioned toward the sector map in front of them. "Please Ms. Darcy, anything you know."

Katou rolled her eyes and crossed her arms across her chest with an irritated sigh. Ignoring her, Aryn leaned forward and pointed toward an area of space outlined in red. "Anywhere beyond here and their vessel would have been picked up by any number of planets, satellites or vessels. You see this area," she traced along the outer edge of the red all the way to their hospital destination, "is a fairly busy trade route."

"They would have passed through the red area only a few days after leaving though," Katou pointed out, leaning into the map as well to judge the short distance from Ne'Vha to the red zone.

"Actually, they should not have passed through the red at all," Azael said somberly. "That's Xinji space." A brief knowing look passed between Aryn and himself but neither offered further explanation.

"Okay, so who are the Xinji?" Meng asked, looking at both of them for several seconds expectantly. When neither offered an immediate response, Meng grumbled. "I could request the information from the colony but that wastes my time and theirs. Who are the Xinji and why is their space off limits?"

Aryn and Azael's eyes locked for a long moment, as if willing the other to go first. Finally Aryn broke the stare and turned her attention to Meng. "They're a xenophobic species in this three planet system," she said as she pointed to the three planets encased in red on the map. "Only one is hospitable toward life but they have a defense grid surrounding the whole system. If an unknown ship crosses their line of defense..."

"Automated weapons platforms fire on that vessel," Azael finished quietly.

"I'm sure they would have left any space they violated once warned," Katou offered, trying to hold onto hope. One look at both their faces though and her hope faded. "There's no warning?"

Azael shook his head. "They're extremely... xenophobic, as Miss Darcy suggested."

"And you think this is what happened to them?" Meng asked as he straightened up. "How long will it take Unity to get there?"

"There's unlikely to be anything left of the shuttle – if this is what happened," Aryn said, chewing on her lip.

"We can't be sure what happened without investigating," Meng said, slamming his hand down on the controls to turn off the display. "How long? Three days or so right? We leave in six hours, get rid of all our visitors."

"Commander, I have a better idea actually..." Aryn offered, avoiding Katou's irritated glare. "Unity is big and slow – by comparison's sake anyway," she said quickly.

"Well half the shuttles are under retrofit right now and they're not any faster," Katou argued.

Aryn didn't meet her gaze, keeping her focus on Meng instead. "I realize that. But there are a couple of a civilian ships we could hire. One in particular captained by a human woman named Kay – her ship is one of the fastest in the sector. A small team could go and...." she trailed off, hesitant to give them false hope.

"And why would she help us?" Meng asked, leery at the thought of asking for more help from strangers.

"A favor for a friend?" Aryn offered with a shrug. "She'd do it I think – if I asked her." Meng considered for a long moment before nodding and twisting away from them. "If you don't mind, I'd like to stay on board until they return... I think I could help."

"Fine, but the escort rule remains in place – anywhere you go, you better have someone with you. Same for you Doc," Meng said. "No offense," he added as an afterthought.

"Of course," they said in unison.

"What about the people on the surface Commander?" Jamison asked hesitantly. "Should I begin recalling everyone anyway?"

"Issue a general recall for all hands. In the event that Captain Kay can't or won't help us, we'll go after them ourselves. If she can, I want to be ready to disembark at a moment's notice – just in case." Meng said. "And get Lieutenant O'Neill up here," he said.

------

"Hoshimi! If I'm going to be on this ship – we're going to have to work together. You're going to have to forgive me!" Aryn Darcy argued, taking long strides to keep up with Commander Katou's angry pace.

Katou swirled around, her mouth set in a firm line, "No one! No one has said ANYTHING about you being on this ship for any length of time. So just, no, I don't have to do anything."

"Not yet! But you said yourself, it's under consideration. And I've read your ship history – you don't turn able-bodied crew away. You simply don't," Aryn said, placing her hands on her hips defiantly.

"This is a generational ship Aryn, that means we have limited resources and we can't just take in every stray who begs for passage," Katou said before spinning around to resume her anger-fueled departure.

"We're not strays! We're human beings just like you all – which is all the more reason we won't be turned away by Captain Hunt," Aryn said, still matching Katou's pace. "Besides, some of your own crew have begun to consider settling on the colony. If even a handful of them do decide to stay..."

"Where did you hear any of that?" Katou asked, stopping again and turning, only to find herself an inch from her former partner. She took a hasty step back and then glared, "have you been snooping in personal logs again?"

"What? No! It's just the talk Hoshimi! It's hard to keep something like that a secret," Aryn pointed out. "We wouldn't be taking up anymore resources than they would. And if they're civilians – well we could be more productive crew members."

"Why are you even arguing this with me? Still?" Katou asked. "I don't make this decision! My opinion is insignificant," she spat bitterly.

Aryn shook her head, "it's not insignificant to me Hoshimi," she said quietly. "I'd like it if you actually wanted me here..."

Katou bit her lip and looked away, unable to meet her eyes. "Well I don't," she said to the ground. "I won't protest but I won't fight for you either." Without looking back, she turned away and shoved through the laughing group of pilots that were in her way. This time, Aryn didn't follow. She hung back and slumped against the railing feeling defeated.

"Everything okay Commander?" one of the trainees called after her but they received no response. "What's up with her?"

"Lover's quarrel," someone else suggested with a snigger. She jutted her chin toward the stooped form of Aryn Darcy and a couple of the others giggled.

"Speaking of lovers..." Coy Mixon said, clapping Ash on the shoulder. "How's that girl of yours? I saw you slipping out of your bunk last night," he said with a teasing grin.

Ash shrugged, "she's not my girl. She's just a friend," he protested weakly. Admittedly he had left his bunk the night before to meet her in the hydroponics bay but it wasn't what his squad was imagining at all. They'd stayed to watch the late night bloom of one of the plants and spent a few hours talking about nonsense.

"Uh-huh," Coy said, shaking his head in disbelief. "You keep telling yourself that Swanson, maybe it'll be true."

"She's leaving in a couple days – and we've known each other less than two weeks," Ash said firmly. "Just friends, sorry to disappoint."

"Eh, I think you're the only one disappointed," Coy said, gaining a few chuckles from the others. "I bet two laundry shifts he kisses her before she leaves."

"I think she'll kiss him," Dominguez countered. "She's older than you right Swanson? An older, more experienced woman... yeah, she'll make the first move."

"Anyone else want a piece of this?" Coy asked, glancing around the group to take wagers.

Before anyone else could chime in, a voice cracked over the speakers throughout the ship. "All hands report to your duty station or quarters and await further instructions. Space dock crew, report to the airlock immediately."

The pilot trainees glanced between each other and then turned as a unit to jog past a group of confused space dock engineers toward the hanger bay. "The ship isn't done yet though?" Birch called out.

"Maybe it's a drill?"

"Or an attack."

"By who?"

"Who else? The only enemy we have around here are the Quuvarii."

Ash's stomach flipped but he remained silent. To this point the Quuvarii had appeared to be friendly, even allies. Had they just been waiting for the opportune moment? "I'll catch up with you all, I need to take care of something," he called, breaking away from the group. He was sure a few cat calls followed him but he didn't stick around to hear them.

"Ash!" Vii'ala gasped as they collided a few steps from the hydroponics bay. "I was going to the airlock. I thought I'd miss you. What's going on?"

"I don't know," Ash said, frowning. "But I wanted to see you before you left. I..." he trailed off, fumbling over thoughts in his head.

"Me too," she said with a chuckle. "Maybe it's nothing?"

"Somehow I don't think so," Ash said. "It feels like something is wrong but I don't know what it is. I need to go – they'll be looking for me. I'm glad I met you Vii'ala."

"Me too Ash," she said, swiping at her eyes quickly. "I meant what I said before. You should come to Nejuo sometime. Look me up if you do?" she asked. Then she held out her hand, palm side up. Ash mirrored the gesture automatically but before she could drop her hand, he grabbed it and pulled her close to him. The kiss was quick, as if they'd done it a thousand times before, but it brought a creeping blush to both their faces. "I'll be waiting?" she whispered afterward.