U.S.S. EXODUS
STARDATE 01.10.21
SECTOR ZERO
Captain Moshe stared at the View Screen as the stars sped by quickly. His mind was quite unsettled.
The Entire Galaxy was Dying. Homeworld Suns were strangely reaching the End of their Lifetime ahead of schedule. A Black Plague sweeps across Entire Empires, decimating Whole Populations at a time. Constant War has taken its toll on Every Empire; their Economies were in a Death Spiral. Technological Advancement has slowed to a Crawl. Medical Capabilities have been pushed to their Limit. Planetary Resources have been nearly Depleted. Everyone was struggling just to Stay Alive. Every Empire in Sector Zero knew that their Days were Numbered. A Joint Commission has been formed to propose Emergency Plans to Save what is left of Sector Zero. Not All Empires have joined the Joint Commission.
“Penny for your Thoughts?”
Captain Moshe looked up from his Command Chair. Chief Medical Officer Owusua was staring down at him. Captain Moshe smiled.
“Doctor. Forgive me. I was…Contemplating the Future. Is everything alright in Sickbay?”
Doctor Owusua placed her dark hand on Captain Moshe’s shoulder. Her large afro extended out of her head in two different directions. “Everything’s fine, Captain. It’s you I’m worried about. I’m responsible for your health, after all. Now, you look Troubled. What’s Bothering you?”
Captain Moshe paused. He stroked his thick grey beard out of habit. His forehead crinkled. ‘
“I believe you already know, Doctor. Sector Zero is Dying. And there’s Nothing that You or I can do about it. Isn’t that enough to Trouble anyone?”
“Who designated you Savior of the Galaxy?” Doctor Owusua said laughing. Her smile was contagious. “Don’t put too much Burden on your Back, Captain…it just might Break from Too Much Weight!”
“Am I interrupting?”
Captain Moshe stared at his First Officer. She was tall with red hair and pink eyes. Her Powerful Psionic Abilities were tied to her Emotions, which she kept under Careful Control.
“No, Ruth. Of course not. The Good Doctor here was just…reminding me to Not be Too Serious. As usual. Did you have something to Report?”
“Just that we are approaching Gibeah. They sent their Distress Call less than 10 Minutes ago. Being the Closest Ship, we arrived in record time. Our recent communications to Gibeah have gone unanswered. They may be in Dire Trouble.”
First Officer Ruth’s Eyes glowed Bright Red for a moment. “Captain Moshe. I sense that you are Troubled about the Demise of Sector Zero. I assume that this is what Doctor Owusua is attempting to cheer you up about?”
Doctor Owusua gave First Officer Ruth a look of irritation. Ruth stared back at the Doctor with a blank expression.
“Not now,” Captain Moshe said to both his Doctor and his First Officer. “Our Primary Task is assessing what happened to Gibeah. We will continue this conversation later.”
Captain Moshe stared at the View Screen once again. The Planet Gibeah was only a distant dot, but it was steadily growing larger. The United League of Worlds had established a Colony on Gibeah. It was a peaceful Colony without any armaments. Captain Moshe feared the worst.
Suddenly, Three Daemon Space Submarines materialized out of the darkness of space.
It’s a Daemon Wolf Pack! Captain Moshe thought. We’ve been lured into an Ambush!!
“Captain, they are preparing to launch Plasma Torpedoes!” First Officer Ruth reported while staring into an extended binocular device at her station.
Don’t we have Enough Troubles in Sector Zero without resorting to Needless Violence?
“Red Alert!” Captain Moshe announced. A Red Triangle began to flash repeatedly above the Bridge.
“Charge Phaser Banks to Maximum. Arm the Photon Torpedoes. Full Sensor Sweeps of the Area for any other Daemon Space Submarines. Prepare a Wild Weasel. Let’s show the Daemon what the League is Made Of. Battle Stations!!”
Captain Moshe’s intense gaze was focused on the Tactical Position of each of the Daemon Space Submarines. They were slow vessels, but each carried a Powerful Plasma Torpedo. They were wisely not clustered together, but rather spread out so that their heavy weapons would hit the Exodus from different angles.
“Charge the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Power Absorbers to Standard Levels. Charge the First, Second, and Sixth Power Absorbers to Reinforced Levels. Ruth, prepare to channel Absorbed Energy into the Batteries on my Command.”
THEY PICKED THE WRONG PREY FOR THEIR TRAP THIS TIME.
