Transient Signal

Chapter Seven: Nightmare Brought to Life

CCSV Scholar

Uncharted space

        Jack could only stare at the horrid abomination that he saw on the mission recorder. A humanoid shape, formed of a bone white, coral looking substance that moved with unnatural speed. Through the eyes of Corporal Vine, Jack watched as Sergeant Zaidan was stabbed several times in the space of only a few seconds. Zaidan crumpled to the ground, blood oozing from his wounds.

        Another blurring white flash and one of 1 Section's troopers went down; their right leg and left arm surgically sliced from the knee and elbow joints respectively. Another trooper went down—this one missing their head and arterial blood spraying everywhere in a crimson geyser. The third trooper was butchered, completely bisected like they had walked into a ban saw. Jack felt nausea wash over him as he watched the two halves of the body quickly empty of blood and slippery organs. Finally, the fourth trooper from 1 Section was sliced open and gutted. Blood and viscera leaked out and the trooper collapsed into a heap. The mission recorder continued playing, showing Jack the frantic and hasty retreat Vine orchestrated. Whatever the shape was, it was clear that by the time what was left of 1 Section made it into the engineering sub-corridor, it had stopped following them.

        "Captain Miller," said Jack over the COM. "I'm sending you a video taken by Corporal Vine, acting commander of 1-1 Alpha. You have to see this." He transmitted a copy of the video file to the Captain's helmet.

        There was a pause that lasted several moments before Jack heard Miller mutter "my God". Jack could not make out what else the Captain said, but he heard Nishi's voice as well, meaning the Captain was clearly trying to find out what the hell that thing was. Nishi seemed to be the best source for that info. Meanwhile, Jack looked around at the faces of the survivors from 1 Section. Nominally, he was now in charge of them. At least until they got their casualties to Medical, then it would be the Captain's prerogative if Jack would assume command, or Corporal Vine would keep it.

        Break it down Jack, he thought. Get these guys to Medical alive, then deal with whatever Captain Miller decides. Jack pointed to Corporals Burns and Raleigh. "You two, grab Sergeant Zaidan and prepare to move him. Levine, Kaufman: fall in behind me. Vine: you have our six. Slow and smooth people. Back to Medical we go."

        The loose line formation moved along the corridor at a snail's pace. It took them just under fifteen minutes to get back to Medical, but Jack was just glad to arrive with no one exacerbating their injuries. Jack found Corporal Alex O'Brien, 2 Section's 2 I-C, directing things in Medical when they arrived. He also noticed several civilians moving about, often helping the SCU troopers.

        "Where's Zed?" Jack asked O'Brien, "And who the hell are these people?"

        "He's on the bridge right now," replied O'Brien. "Captain Miller called him back for a sitrep. As for these people, they're more survivors from the crew."

        "Wait, why didn't Zed call it in over the COMs? And why the fuck weren't they with the other survivors you found?" Jack was getting snappy. Things were going bad and it was starting to get to him.

        "No idea Sergeant," answered O'Brien. "The Captain ordered him back to the bridge before we could pass it up. As for these guys, they were originally in their quarters"

        For fuck's sake...thought Jack. He had worked with Miller once before and had thought the man a solid officer. Now he seemed to be making snap decisions that were not making any sense. I'm going to have to sort this out after I deal with the wounded. And there's still 3 Section...