- #1
256bits
Gold Member
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At least a go at it...
Arch was in his study room contemplating the contents of the last message from Central. The message was brief, only a few words with no outllining explanation - URGENT. RETURN TO BASE. END - and no signature as to whom had sent it. Verification of the encryption code and secure channel had determined its authenticity. But why was he being called back after only just 3 weeks into the 4 month assignment of a tour of the SYSTEM. He had asked Cracker to listen to and track any communications or conversations out of the ordinary, but so far nothing but the regular user static had been picked up.
Still puzzled, Arch was about to get up to make himself another hot cup of coffee when Cracker knocked and said "Captain, it isn't much but you might as well come and see this." Cracker continued on the short walk to the control room "The radar picked it up less than a minute ago. It's a regular wave of spamites traveling towards our location but since they cover distance so quickly it should be upon us shortly, maybe 2 minutes tops. But what is unusual, is the size of it. It's not a blurp on the screen, more like a blob. I would say there is a bit of power behind this one."
Arch looked at the approaching blob on the radar screen. It seemed to be breaking up into different sections with one section still in line with their position. His ship, with its defences, was not under any real threat, but the size of the wave and the spliting into sections had him worried. " Send the regular warning out to the users. And Central, with indentification."
"Sorry sir. It's a new one. Central will have to do their magic on this one," Cracker responded.
Arch continued, "Well, send out the user warning out anyways. Maybe some of them will be smart enough to close their ports."
Arch then addressed Bug, "Raise security to Level 3. We have an unknown."
Bug, who looked nothing as much as his name, was a senior in his line of work and good at it. He knew all the procedures and protocols by heart and no one ever could recall him opening a manual for reference. And that explained his nickname, into which he surely relished, as his tendency to recit section, paragraph to senior officers and officials in a situation. Many a time an upstart, or for that matter, an oldhat, naive enough to attempt to confront him, was soon redfaced with embarrasment and scurrying away under the extensive utterings of Bug as he showed them explicitly their own lack of understanding and knowledge of what they were supposed to be in command.
Why he chose a scout ship to apply his trade was perplexing to those who knew him, if not to those who kenw of him, for he could command a post in any ship of the fleet he desired
Bug glanced back but before he could reply Arch stated, " I know Bug. Level 6 would be enough, but gut instinct on this unknown takes precidence."
"Aye Captain," Bug replied, and did his stuff.
to be continued...
Arch was in his study room contemplating the contents of the last message from Central. The message was brief, only a few words with no outllining explanation - URGENT. RETURN TO BASE. END - and no signature as to whom had sent it. Verification of the encryption code and secure channel had determined its authenticity. But why was he being called back after only just 3 weeks into the 4 month assignment of a tour of the SYSTEM. He had asked Cracker to listen to and track any communications or conversations out of the ordinary, but so far nothing but the regular user static had been picked up.
Still puzzled, Arch was about to get up to make himself another hot cup of coffee when Cracker knocked and said "Captain, it isn't much but you might as well come and see this." Cracker continued on the short walk to the control room "The radar picked it up less than a minute ago. It's a regular wave of spamites traveling towards our location but since they cover distance so quickly it should be upon us shortly, maybe 2 minutes tops. But what is unusual, is the size of it. It's not a blurp on the screen, more like a blob. I would say there is a bit of power behind this one."
Arch looked at the approaching blob on the radar screen. It seemed to be breaking up into different sections with one section still in line with their position. His ship, with its defences, was not under any real threat, but the size of the wave and the spliting into sections had him worried. " Send the regular warning out to the users. And Central, with indentification."
"Sorry sir. It's a new one. Central will have to do their magic on this one," Cracker responded.
Arch continued, "Well, send out the user warning out anyways. Maybe some of them will be smart enough to close their ports."
Arch then addressed Bug, "Raise security to Level 3. We have an unknown."
Bug, who looked nothing as much as his name, was a senior in his line of work and good at it. He knew all the procedures and protocols by heart and no one ever could recall him opening a manual for reference. And that explained his nickname, into which he surely relished, as his tendency to recit section, paragraph to senior officers and officials in a situation. Many a time an upstart, or for that matter, an oldhat, naive enough to attempt to confront him, was soon redfaced with embarrasment and scurrying away under the extensive utterings of Bug as he showed them explicitly their own lack of understanding and knowledge of what they were supposed to be in command.
Why he chose a scout ship to apply his trade was perplexing to those who knew him, if not to those who kenw of him, for he could command a post in any ship of the fleet he desired
Bug glanced back but before he could reply Arch stated, " I know Bug. Level 6 would be enough, but gut instinct on this unknown takes precidence."
"Aye Captain," Bug replied, and did his stuff.
to be continued...