Subject: Grail: "The Great Brightness" - 'The GB part II: Conclusion'
OOC: Sorry it took so long, folks! Mandy and I had some pretty busy
schedules we had to work around. But here is, finally, the conclusion to
the Great Brightness. I think we should maybe start the 'Kerestria'
chapter now...
<<Stardate 47307.31 - 12:34>>
<<Main Bridge>>
"Approaching the last star, sir." François announced from the conn.
For the last two hours, he had been keeping the ship on course, while
Donucci had been rectifying the flight path with every new change in the
gravitational field. She was actually a very good navigator, excellent
even. François couldn't find anyhting wrong with the coordinates she
sent him. In fact, they made a pretty good team.
"Proceed with your plan, Lt." responded Epic from the central seat,
"Get us out of here."
"Oui, Capitaine." acknowledged François. Hargen and Hunt had had
time to restore some of the shields. enough to get them past the last
star, they all hoped. According to the sensors, the activity of the
different stars in the cluster hadn't ceased increasing since they had
entered the Great Brightness. And the last one was one of the most
active.
François eased the ship closer, waiting for Donucci to confirm the
entry point he had chosen. They had maintain their speed all the while
at the captain's request. He wanted them out of there yesterday. He
didn't seem to regret going through the GB, but it was obvious he didn't
want them to stay in it any longer than was necessary. Donucci's
confirmation came in, and François entered the dwarf's gravitational
field.
Alison did her best to make sure the flight-path that was chosen was
passable. Watching as François skillfully positioned the ship and began
to accellerate to break the gravitational pull once the Grail is on
the other side of the dwarf.
"The gravitational field is causing us to gain speed a lot faster
than expected, we are currently at warp 7.5 and climbing." reported
François.
With all the solar activity and little room to maneuver the ships
shields continue to take a pounding. "Shields down to 65%." reports
Hunt from ops.
François did an excellent job of keeping the ship on course as it
kept gaining speed."Warp 8.25 and increasing." announced François.
"We're clearing the star... We've made it thro..." but he was suddenly
interrupted when the Grail was violently shook. Some of the bridge
personnel were even knocked to the ground.
"What was that?" asked the captain incredulously.
The answer had to wait while everyone checked the readings at their
stations. Eve Mallory was the first to speak. "This is amazing sir...
the gravity pull from the Great Brightness is increasing... It's as if
it doesn't want us to leave!"
"Our speed has stabilized at warp 9 sir..." DeMontigny confirmed
from the helm. "No wait. We're loosing speed.... warp 8.5...8...7.5..."
he suddenly corrected himself.
"Increase power to engines!" Terrakian ordered.
"Increasing to full power!" acknowledged DeMontigny as the ship
continued to shake. "We're still loosing velocity, Capitaine! Currently
at warp 6... 5.5..."
At the tactical station, Alison Donucci furiously consulted the
console while trying to stay on her feet. "Captain, if we drop below
warp 3, there is no way we'll be able to make it out.!" she suddenly
said.
"Radiation levels are increasing dramatically, sir." added Hunt from
ops, "The shields are on the verge of collapsing!"
Tension was evident in everybody's voice as the ship continued to be
shaken by the gravity pull. "We're down to warp 4 sir!" DeMontigny said.
Even in his usually nonchalant voice was tinged with a tip of
nervousness. However, the smile on his face betrayed how much he was
enjoying himself.
"Commander Hargen!" Terrakian turned to his chief engineer, his calm
voice was like a sturdy island in the middle of a troubled sea, "Reroute
all power to the engines and the shields. ALL power. That includes
Sickbay and Life Support."
For a moment, everyone on the bridge turned to stare wide eyed at
the captain. But only for a moment. Epic turned back to face the
viewscreen and ordered, "Now." His tone left no room for discussion.
Hargen groaned as she executed the order. Soon, the bridge lights
went out and the ship seemed to die as virtually all it's functions
ceased. On the bridge, the silence was complete and all the eyes were
turned to François DeMontigny at the conn, waiting for the results. The
helmsman's hands were a blur on his console as he manually handled the
ship's speed and course, the automatic navigator having no power. After
what seemed like an eternity, he spoke.
"Speed stabilized at warp 3.25," excitement evident in his voice,
"We're going to make it!"
The bridge crew exhaled as one. "Speed is increasing to warp 3.5...
warp 4..." François continued as the ship slowly stopped shaking.
"Stabilize at warp 6, Lieutenant." the captain ordered as everyone
began to relax. "Commander Hargen, when we reach that speed, begin
restoring power to essential ship functions. Starting with Life Support
and Sickbay."
At the helm, François was silently jubilating. He had beaten the
Great Brightness. No, that was incorrect. THEY had beaten the Great
Brightness. There was no way he could have done it alone, and no way
they could have made it if they hadn't worked as a team. Still, François
felt an immense pride when he thought of everything that had happened in
the last few hours. But now it was over and it was time for Donucci to
reclaim the helm. And for François to celebrate!
Standing up, he turned to face the bridge crew, his smug grin almost
stretching from one ear to the other. "Thank you, thank you, " he
started, "It was nothing, really. And I invite all of you for the repeat
performance in ten years, on our way back!"
Joint post by
Alison Donucci and
François 'Ain't he a pisser?' DeMontigny