06-16-2026, 08:05 PM
The journey with the Lowry in tow had been thankfully uneventful, if drawn out. The coordinates that the Captain had given hadn't seemed any different to any other headings Flint had processed, but it had become clearer the further they travelled off of the beaten path that their destination wasn't going to be one of the usual tourist traps.
The second the ship dropped out of warp. There was nothing. No local system with planets. No dust clouds or nebula. In fact the external sensors detected even lower than average hydrogen particles per square centimetre. This was the back end of beyond.
"Flint, I want thrusters at full for five seconds, then cut all thrust.” Said the Captain without a beat. “Take us to Condition Grey, but keep the warp core on minimal output. Shut off exterior lights and override polarisation on viewports, set to maximum. From now on, we're just a hole in space. Signal Lowry to come to full stop and enter Grey Mode until ordered otherwise."
“Aye aye, Ma'am.” He replied signalling the Lowry to follow suit. Though he still wasn't too happy that they were still only communicating via text message.
After the five second burn, the task of powering down the ship was simple. The audible hum of ship fell away as major systems, structural integrity, life support and so on all powered down to minimal levels, and the ever so queasy feeling as the reduced gravity took over.
“All systems secured. We are in, Grey Mode.”
== Right, I assume it all turned off okay. ==
The second the ship dropped out of warp. There was nothing. No local system with planets. No dust clouds or nebula. In fact the external sensors detected even lower than average hydrogen particles per square centimetre. This was the back end of beyond.
"Flint, I want thrusters at full for five seconds, then cut all thrust.” Said the Captain without a beat. “Take us to Condition Grey, but keep the warp core on minimal output. Shut off exterior lights and override polarisation on viewports, set to maximum. From now on, we're just a hole in space. Signal Lowry to come to full stop and enter Grey Mode until ordered otherwise."
“Aye aye, Ma'am.” He replied signalling the Lowry to follow suit. Though he still wasn't too happy that they were still only communicating via text message.
After the five second burn, the task of powering down the ship was simple. The audible hum of ship fell away as major systems, structural integrity, life support and so on all powered down to minimal levels, and the ever so queasy feeling as the reduced gravity took over.
“All systems secured. We are in, Grey Mode.”
== Right, I assume it all turned off okay. ==