One in Twelve Thousandth Percent

Chapter 12:

"What? Why would they be sending a distress beacon? Are they in trouble?"

"Your guess is as good as mine." Lewis says.

"Parker to Cannon."

"Cannon here."

"Do we have main engines?"

"Yes, ma'am. I was able to resolve the issue so we're back on track."

"Cannon, can it. I'll have a word with you later. As long as we can move, that's all I care about right this second."

"Yes, ma'am. We can move."

"Any speed restrictions?"

"Right now, the Auxiliary Thrusters are out of order and we have ¾ of our normal speed."

"Good enough. Parker out. Bray, set a course for Janus Colony... or where it used to be. Get us there as quickly as Angel will take us."

"Yes, may'yum." Kaz spins her chair and gets to work. Meira turns back to Ilirora. "When you get some kind of pin on what year we're in, let me know."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Barclay?" Lieutenant Eliza Barclay, the Shields officer, looks up from her console. "Ma'am, right now, shields are holding at 35%."

"See what needs to be done to get that number up to at least 70." "Yes, ma'am."

"Bray? Actually, don't push it. Get us there at half speed. Give Barclay enough time to reroute some more shield power. Lieutenant Valzeiros?"

"Ma'am?" Lieutenant Tiriana Valzeiros, the Weapons officer speaks up. "What's the status of the weapons systems?"

"Well, the Photon Rifles are functional. However, the Phase Grenades are out of order for now. They'll be under repair once Cannon gets a handle on his crew down there."

Meira looks at me then back at Valzeiros. "Don't worry, I'm going down to take care of that right now." She looks over the bridge crew. "Good work, folks. Keep me posted if there are any major changes."

Across the room you hear a united "Yes, ma'am!" Meira and I get onto the lift and head down. When we get to the Engineering level and get off, she heads for the main engine room. I tag behind because I have nowhere else to go. As we pass the FTL room, Misaki sees us through the glass window and rushes out, walking with us. "Is everything okay, hon?" I shrug. "Yeah, I think so. Other than what we just discussed a bit ago, yeah. So far, so good." Meira acknowledges Misaki's presence, but doesn't say anything.

We walk through the door to the main engine room and all you can hear is Meira's voice booming throughout the entire room. "CANNON!!!" People everywhere scatter like mice. Even Misaki cowers behind my shoulder, and I'm shorter than she is. In seconds the main floor of the room is empty, except for us and Cannon. He sees me and struts over, smirking. He obviously thinks that he's got something on me. When he gets into range, Meira grabs him by the collar of his shirt and pulls him in close.

"What the hell did you think you were doing arguing with Craft about repairs on this damn ship?"

Panicking, Cannon stutters. "Ma'am... s...she... told me... I was an i..id...idiot." Meira releases his shirt.

"Well, first I doubt she actually called you that. But if she did, she was right to do so. A clogged flux capacitor? I even know that's a basic Engineering repair."

"Ma'am, I had given her direct orders to stay here, but she was so concerned with the FTL drive."

"Do you know how to diagnose the FTL drive?" He shakes his head no. Meira looks over at a couple of people she can see. "Do either of you know how to diagnose the FTL drive?" They shake their heads no as well.