Transient Signal

Chapter Two: Dangerous Cargo

CSNS Morrison

Cargo Bay Six

        The cargo bay was filled with the sound of gunfire and shouting voices. Section commanders had their teams running through live fire clearance drills, using the large cargo containers to replicate the cramped confines of a starship's halls. Crude cut-outs of Dominion soldiers were placed at random in these impromptu mazes. It kept the commandoes sharp and taught them to always expect the most random things to happen. As Jack and Captain Miller entered the bay, Jack saw one of the sections getting a talk to by their commander, who had popped out of a small nook in the maze and blasted the point man with a paint sprayer that represented some kind of industrial torch.  

        "Alright bring it in," Jack shouted over the din of the training. As senior Sergeant of the platoon, Jack was expected to be responsible for the overall discipline of the soldiers in the platoon. That meant that everyone recognized his voice and safely stopped what they were doing and headed over to where Jack and the Captain were.

        Jack took a mental count of the commandoes as they gathered in. Once the thirty commandos plus the SCU Quartermaster Sergeant and his assistant were all standing around him and the officer, Jack nodded to Miller. "Everyone is here sir," he announced.

        "Okay so let's put some things to rest," started Miller. "Yes we are now beyond known space. We pasted the last outpost world about six hours ago. Now, the reason we've been sent out into the ass end of nowhere space is because of this."

        Miller triggered a small holographic projector on his wrist plate. A small image of a ship appeared. It was a combination of a sphere and a rectangle; the layout, Jack identified, of a standard civilian science vessel.

        "This is the CCSV Scholar," he announced. "Approximately two months ago, it was sent out in uncharted space. It was due back about four weeks ago. It has not checked in and no response signal has been sent or received. So the Morrison's job is to find it and our job will be to find out why they aren't answering our calls. Commander Riley and I have been briefed on the path the Scholar was suppose to take so the Commander estimates sometime within the next ten hours we should be making contact. Now, I will be turning you all over to Platoon  2 I-C, Sergeant Wells here. I will be in the bridge with Commander Riley. COM me if there are any problems."

        "Yes sir. Group!" Jack said, raising his voice for the second part. Everyone stood up straight at attention and Jack gave Miller a salute, which was returned. Miller turned and walked out of the cargo bay. Jack tapped a few buttons on his wrist pad--making sure he had the layout of a science vessel--before turning to face the platoon.

        "Okay you heard the sir," he said. "Section commanders, on me. The rest of you lot, clear out and begin your preps."

        Jack walked with the three section commanders just out of earshot of the rest of the platoon. Jack transferred the file with the layout of he science vessel to the wrist pads of the three section commanders before speaking. "Okay you each now have the layout. I want you to start running your sections through a mock-up of the Scholar. I don't care if you have to do it by small pieces, just make sure your guys know more than just where the shitters are. I'm trusting the three of you to come up with a plan for which section will take which area of the ship and pass it up to me so I can get the sir's approval. Make sure you have all the gear you need. I don't know what QMS brought with them but I'm sure they brought everything we need for boarding a ship and dealing with any kind of hostiles. Now, any questions?"   

        Sergeant Elias Zaidan, 1 Section commander, raised his hand slightly. "What the hell were these people doing out here in the first place?'

        "I asked Captain Miller and he said it was classified beyond his or Commander Riley's clearance," replied Jack. "Which could mean a list of possibilities. If QMS has any kind of haz-mat gear, I recommend stocking up, especially if this turns out to be a secret nuclear or chemical warfare R and D ship. Anything else?"

        Sergeant Leila Sen, 3 Section commander, raised her arm slightly. "Are we to treat everyone on there as hostile, unknown or what?"

        "We're going in under the assumption that this was some kind of accident or malfunction," answered Jack, wishing he knew for sure. "Bring any extra medical supplies you can carry. However, be prudent. This could be piracy so don't skimp on the ammo. Anything else?"

        The two section commanders looked out of the corner of their eyes at the third one, Sergeant Wesley Zed. He shook his head.

        "Okay, final points from me," said Jack. "This ship is over two kilometres long and it's a maze. Once we're on board, boost your personal COMs as high as they can. We can't get too spaced out, but we'll need to secure the whole ship before we can get back to the barn. I'll ride in with Captain Miller and any techs we take with us. Once on board though, I'm going to attach to one of your sections. I will set up a casualty collection point, just in case, in whatever medical facility they have. That's it for me. So have your objectives to me within the hour and start doing dry runs."