Let the Search Begin

Posted on Wed Oct 23rd, 2019 @ 3:11pm by Major Samuel King
Edited on on Wed Oct 23rd, 2019 @ 6:40pm

Mission: Mission 1 - One Step forward
Location: MACO Barracks, Deck F
Timeline: After "Not In Kansas Anymore Part 3"
694 words - 1.4 OF Standard Post Measure

It had taken Sam a while to get down 4 decks to reach Deck F. When something of this scale happens, even though to them it was not a common occurrence, the MACO's are to regroup back on Deck F at their barracks and await orders from superiors.

The route down had some debris littered in the tubes that transported them. Therefore it took some time to arrive but as the hatch opened a hand flew in to help Sam out. "King, you son of a bitch! You made it!" Came the exclamation of his First Sergeant, Gunnery Sergeant Billy Rhodes.

Looking up as he exited the hatch he smiled, trying not to make much of a deal about having to climb through a ship with a 40 year old body. "Rhodes, you old bastard. Still managing to avoid Death I see?" he returned in kind with a laugh.

"You know me sir. Ain't nothing killing me but Sandra!" Billy said as Sam straightened himself up.

"Gather the troops Sergeant. I have news from upon high." Sam ordered as Billy gave a quick nod and went off to gather the MACO's of Atlantis.

Upon entering the room he saw his men and women. Some were battered and bruised, others seemingly lucky enough to have escaped harm. However his XO was nowhere to be seen. Turning to Billy he made a 'where is he face' to which Billy shook his head solemnly.

Sighing Sam looked out at those who were staring at him, at attention they looked a rigid bunch eager to hear the words of their commander. "At ease. We've been through enough recently to not need to stand with a stick up our arse." He was British after all, no ass here.

"As you know we had to bunker down to ride out the spacial phenomenon that we ran into out here. Good news is that it has passed and we are on the other side. Sadly the bad news is rather more concerning than we'd like." he paused for effect. "I'll be blunt, you all know I do not see the point in spoon feeding you. Captain Morgan is dead, sacrificing herself to save the ship and her crew and for that she will forever be remembered and we will honour her for that. Also Lieutenant Delaney is missing and at this stage is MIA, as are many other members of the crew. Lastly... we are 9.5 thousand lightyears from Earth, and are looking at a journey of 150 years at warp to return."

He looked at them, their eyes widening at the shock of the information he'd just given them. It was a bomb to drop on them, all of it. Sadly he couldn't let the thoughts linger, he had a job for them to do.

"I know this is a lot, but we cant dwell on that now. We have a job to do, a mission to find the souls on board that may be trapped and assist ships armoury personnel in securing this vessel. There are only a limited number of us so we will split in to teams of 3 and work our way through each assigned deck. Any crewmembers found are to be taken to each designated safe area so we can tally numbers and attend to injured. We are to liase with Commander Sloan as we don't have access to personnel records and we ensure everyone is accounted for. Dead, or alive. Are we clear?" he asked.

There was a roar of affirmation threw back at him. He was proud of them.

"Good. Sergeant Rhodes will give out deck and personnel assignments. Rhodes will be surplus to team 3 on Deck D and I will be the same for team 4 on Deck E as these are the higher risk areas on board with more to search than the others. If you need assistance, use the people around you or designate a runner to find appropriate help." he said as he moved out the way of Rhodes.

"Good luck people, and God speed! Find our people!"

OFF::

Major Samuel King
MACO Commanding Officer
NX Atlantis

Gunnery Sergeant Billy Rhodes
First Sergeant
NX Atlantis