LOG ENTRY #202, 2133 Shipboard Hours, Stardate 16.04.2247 AD
There hasn't been any word from the maintenance crew we sent to check out the Argyle's ruined husk. I'm beginning to feel worried over their safety. I mean, they've been in there for more than three days! And not even a word from anyone? I had brought this up to Captain Darrachus, but he laughed it aside.
"Those old fools must have gotten caught up with their findings," he said with a grin. "It's happened before, hasn't it?"
I frowned. "Indeed it has," I remarked, reminiscing the panic we all got into nine years ago when the team didn't respond - all thanks to the numerous treasures they found. Sneaky bastards.
"But I must add that it may be different this time," I added. "I'm beginning to think that they may have been compromised-"
"Nonsense, Laynev!" the Captain heartily silenced me. "I doubt that the Argyle has anything dangerous in it. I mean, it's a wreck! And wrecks in the Ocanor System don't have anything infesting their insides!"
It was true. The system was still in the hands of the Force of Order mostly due to the "omniscient" Transdirectional Planetary Scanner System based on the primary world of Ocarina. The scanner ensured that all Warp anomalies or life signs would be detected with a precision rate of 110 percent. But to me, it seems as if Omnitech could come up with something so advanced.
Darrachus knew I was nervous. He consoled me with a smile: "Now I assure you, my friend, things would be alright later today. Trust me! Aren't I always right?"
I smiled hesitantly. Maybe he is.
But the gut feeling I had still weighed me down.
LOG ENTRY #203, 0534 Shipboard Hours, Stardate 19.04.2247 AD
We finally received a brief transmission from the team some two hours earlier. It wasn't something pleasant.
Darrachus had summoned me almost immediately after it arrived. When I arrived at the bridge, I saw him seated in his chair with a dark look.
He saw me approach and waved me to come closer.
"Listen to this," he said, and he played the transmission.
"...mayday, mayday.... on the move.... can't hold on.... we've lost.... -mund and Jacob's wounded.... request..."
It stopped. I felt my spine shiver in fear.
Darrachus rubbed his temples and sighed uncertainly. "I'm taking another team down there," he then said. "Whatever's got to Rodrick and his men may be lethal. And I don't want to compromise the ship."
"You are already compromising us, Captain," I said, a little shakily.
Ignoring my words, he said confidently: "If anything happens, Laynev, take the ship out of here and report to Ocarina Central Command as soon as possible."
I hesitated again. "Are you sure about this?" I asked him.
He looked at me with a steely gaze. And I knew he meant business. Whatever was down there was going to kill us all. I know that.
Darrachus was indeed brave. There was no doubt he had the balls to take on anything. But not an unknown enemy.
"Make sure everyone gets out alive, alright?" was the last words he said to me before he left.
God be with him now.
LOG ENTRY #204, 1021 Shipboard Hours, Stardate 20.04.2247 AD
It's happening.
It's the Darksun; they've actually been using the ship's wreck as some sort of decoy or scout. And we've unwittingly sprung the trap.
I should have known - I read through some of the old log recordings we salvaged from the Argyle earlier in the month, and I missed out one small entry. I still can't believe I missed it.
The Captain had wrote there that they were captured by the Darksun, and most of his crew was killed in the initial assault. They forced him to give the access codes to the ship. And he did so, fearing for his life.
The poor fool.
The ship was actually still active, but we were fooled by them. The Argyle was there waiting like bait. We were the unlucky prey.
I had ordered the ship to unhook itself from the Argyle. No word had come from Darrachus, so I'll assume he's dead. God bless his soul.
God save us too.
LOG ENTRY #205, 2016 Shipboard Hours, Stardate 25.05.2247 AD
I watched the news as the Ocanor System was invaded by the Darksun, my wife and kids beside me.
"Weren't you there only a month ago?" she asked me, concerned.
I looked at her sadly. As I stroked her cheek and gazed into her emerald eyes, I knew that - sooner or later - our turn would come.
I was lucky to have escaped then. But there may be no next time.
* * *
Michael Robert Laynev served with the scout cruiser Black Beauty as its Sub-Captain, alongside ex-war hero Richard Darrachus, for seven years until the Ocanor Invasion. He was soon reassigned to the warship Honourbound and joined the initial defense of the Handor System alongside DRONOS' Hyperion Fleet and several Imperial, Tau and other Terran battle groups. His last words to Handor High Command was: "Tell my wife and children I love them." He has been listed as MIA ever since.
There hasn't been any word from the maintenance crew we sent to check out the Argyle's ruined husk. I'm beginning to feel worried over their safety. I mean, they've been in there for more than three days! And not even a word from anyone? I had brought this up to Captain Darrachus, but he laughed it aside.
"Those old fools must have gotten caught up with their findings," he said with a grin. "It's happened before, hasn't it?"
I frowned. "Indeed it has," I remarked, reminiscing the panic we all got into nine years ago when the team didn't respond - all thanks to the numerous treasures they found. Sneaky bastards.
"But I must add that it may be different this time," I added. "I'm beginning to think that they may have been compromised-"
"Nonsense, Laynev!" the Captain heartily silenced me. "I doubt that the Argyle has anything dangerous in it. I mean, it's a wreck! And wrecks in the Ocanor System don't have anything infesting their insides!"
It was true. The system was still in the hands of the Force of Order mostly due to the "omniscient" Transdirectional Planetary Scanner System based on the primary world of Ocarina. The scanner ensured that all Warp anomalies or life signs would be detected with a precision rate of 110 percent. But to me, it seems as if Omnitech could come up with something so advanced.
Darrachus knew I was nervous. He consoled me with a smile: "Now I assure you, my friend, things would be alright later today. Trust me! Aren't I always right?"
I smiled hesitantly. Maybe he is.
But the gut feeling I had still weighed me down.
LOG ENTRY #203, 0534 Shipboard Hours, Stardate 19.04.2247 AD
We finally received a brief transmission from the team some two hours earlier. It wasn't something pleasant.
Darrachus had summoned me almost immediately after it arrived. When I arrived at the bridge, I saw him seated in his chair with a dark look.
He saw me approach and waved me to come closer.
"Listen to this," he said, and he played the transmission.
"...mayday, mayday.... on the move.... can't hold on.... we've lost.... -mund and Jacob's wounded.... request..."
It stopped. I felt my spine shiver in fear.
Darrachus rubbed his temples and sighed uncertainly. "I'm taking another team down there," he then said. "Whatever's got to Rodrick and his men may be lethal. And I don't want to compromise the ship."
"You are already compromising us, Captain," I said, a little shakily.
Ignoring my words, he said confidently: "If anything happens, Laynev, take the ship out of here and report to Ocarina Central Command as soon as possible."
I hesitated again. "Are you sure about this?" I asked him.
He looked at me with a steely gaze. And I knew he meant business. Whatever was down there was going to kill us all. I know that.
Darrachus was indeed brave. There was no doubt he had the balls to take on anything. But not an unknown enemy.
"Make sure everyone gets out alive, alright?" was the last words he said to me before he left.
God be with him now.
LOG ENTRY #204, 1021 Shipboard Hours, Stardate 20.04.2247 AD
It's happening.
It's the Darksun; they've actually been using the ship's wreck as some sort of decoy or scout. And we've unwittingly sprung the trap.
I should have known - I read through some of the old log recordings we salvaged from the Argyle earlier in the month, and I missed out one small entry. I still can't believe I missed it.
The Captain had wrote there that they were captured by the Darksun, and most of his crew was killed in the initial assault. They forced him to give the access codes to the ship. And he did so, fearing for his life.
The poor fool.
The ship was actually still active, but we were fooled by them. The Argyle was there waiting like bait. We were the unlucky prey.
I had ordered the ship to unhook itself from the Argyle. No word had come from Darrachus, so I'll assume he's dead. God bless his soul.
God save us too.
LOG ENTRY #205, 2016 Shipboard Hours, Stardate 25.05.2247 AD
I watched the news as the Ocanor System was invaded by the Darksun, my wife and kids beside me.
"Weren't you there only a month ago?" she asked me, concerned.
I looked at her sadly. As I stroked her cheek and gazed into her emerald eyes, I knew that - sooner or later - our turn would come.
I was lucky to have escaped then. But there may be no next time.
* * *
Michael Robert Laynev served with the scout cruiser Black Beauty as its Sub-Captain, alongside ex-war hero Richard Darrachus, for seven years until the Ocanor Invasion. He was soon reassigned to the warship Honourbound and joined the initial defense of the Handor System alongside DRONOS' Hyperion Fleet and several Imperial, Tau and other Terran battle groups. His last words to Handor High Command was: "Tell my wife and children I love them." He has been listed as MIA ever since.
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