MERLIN
STARDATE 07.04.21
PRIME SECTOR
It didn’t take long for the Titan Graveyard to do its Job.
An enormous Ball of Plasma that seemed to be Alive immediately engulfed the Breithaupt, consuming it entirely. An unnatural Monster that resembled a Gargoyle ripped the Feihler in half and began to eat the remaining pieces.
That only left the Stumgeschultz, which was still wounded. Unfortunately, Merlin was in much worse shape than the Stumgeschultz. And they knew it.
Merlin headed toward a Patch of Space that seemed to be Swallowing Itself. Anything that approached was sucked in, funneled to who knows where.
The Stumgeschutz followed.
“Stay the course,” Captain Elizabeth instructed Fafnir. The small Dragonite nodded his head and complied, staring at the View Screen without blinking.
The entire Bridge was on edge. They knew their lives hung in the balance, depending on what happened in the next few moments.
“We have to go in,” Captain Elizabeth said, looking at Una, her Science Officer. “But we have to do it in such a way that the Stumgeschutz will be drawn in as well. With any luck, we’ll be able to pull out of the anomaly and they will not.”
Una stared into the binoculars attached to her station. Then she looked up at Captain Elizabeth.
“I’ve analyzed the data coming from the Patch of Inverted Space. It appears that the strength of the pull of objects into the area is lessened along a concave path close to the exterior of the region. I can program the route into the computer banks, if you wish.”
“Do it,” Captain Elizabeth said as she stared at the View Screen. The Patch of Space drew nearer and nearer to Merlin. There were no stars within.
“The Stumgeschutz is still trailing behind us,” Morgause reported. The Guardian Knight was visibly frustrated. She slammed her fist into the console. “I wish we had some weapons to fight them off!!”
“Stay calm, Morgause,” Captain Elizabeth said in a soothing voice. “We won’t get out of this one by combat. It will take wits. But we will get through it, if we work together and rely on each other.”
Merlin veered off slightly to follow the route that Una programmed into the computer. The Stumgeschutz followed clumsily, not having properly analyzed the pathway. They began to be drawn into the Patch of Inverted Space.
In anger, the Stumgeschutz fired a Disruptor Bolt and a Phaser at Merlin, but both missed. They launched a Drone as well, but it was drawn toward the anomaly as soon as it was launched.
Then the Stumgeschutz and the Drone disappeared into the Patch of Inverted Space.
Merlin began to slowly be drawn in as well.
Captain Elizabeth frantically activated the Intercom to Engineering.
“Daedalus, I need all the power we have from the Warp Engines! We have to escape this anomaly or we’re all dead!!”
“I’m giving her all I’ve got!!” the Fat Clockwork Engineer yelled through the Intercom. “She’s buckling and breaking at the seams from the strain, Elizabeth!!!”
A loud revving sound could be heard throughout Merlin, like an old car trying to accelerate past its limits. Merlin began to shake violently, causing crewmen in the hallways to tumble over.
Still Merlin continued to be drawn into the center of the Patch of Inverted Space.
“We need More!!” Captain Elizabeth cried through the Intercom. “Work your Miracles, Daedalus! The Crew is relying on you!!”
Daedalus went quiet over the Intercom for a moment. “I could cut Life Support, Shields, and Fire Control to give her an Extra Boost.”
“DO IT!!!” Captain Elizabeth yelled. She clutched the arms of her Command Chair tightly. Merlin was spiraling toward its Doom.
The Bridge went dark as every last iota of energy was transferred into the Warp Engines. The revving sound got so loud that everyone had to cover their ears. Then suddenly, Merlin was free from the Patch of Inverted Space.
The lights turned on again as Life Support was once again reactivated. Captain Elizabeth breathed a loud sigh.
Then she saw what was on the View Screen.
THE GARGOYLE CREATURE WAS ABOUT TO POUNCE ON WHAT WAS LEFT OF MERLIN.
