Alien: Lockdown

Part 9~ Lockdown

U.S.S Anna-Lee Status Report
Crew: 38, 1 missing, 1 incapacitated, 8 KIA
Arrival Time N/A
Ship Status: Immobile
Alarm Status: Quarantine

The Bridge

"Captain...?" A voice tore Stone from his nightmarish daydream.

"Yes?" he asked.

"What are your orders?" asked Conway.

Stone finally looked up and saw his bridge crew gathered in front of him. Lieutenant Wirth was there too, with Evans.

"Wirth, Evans, are there enough sidearms to arm everyone aboard?" Stone asked.

"I believe so. We've some spare Pulse Rifles as well," said Wirth.

"Okay, you two set to work on arming the crew. Then I want to issue a lockdown. All non essential crew are to remain in their quarters. Then we're going to issue an alert to Gateway Station. I'm officially placing us under quarantine from the outside world," said Stone.

"Captain, what about the creatures?" asked Grant.

"We're going to lockdown the sub-deck. Seal all the vents and doorways. Gateway will send out a team to discern the situation, someone more equipped for this. Our job will be to make sure they don't get out from there and keep the crew safe," Stone replied.

There was a general murmur and nod of agreement among everyone. Stone wasn't going to put anyone in harms way again. Too many men had died already, he didn't want there to be anymore.

His crew dispersed to commence their orders. Only Stone and Grant remained on the bridge now. Grant twiddled his fingers as he stood there, as if considering saying something. Finally he sighed and began.

"Things aren't looking too good, sir," Grant spoke.

"No, I'm afraid not," Stone said.

"I hate this feeling, Captain. There's a heaviness in my chest, and it only gets worse every time someone dies."

"You never get used to it. But you learn to cope. I've been doing this for almost thirty years. I've lost more men on this run than in all my other runs combined. But if I just focus on that, I can't focus on the rest of the crew. Other people need me to lead them, to reassure them. It's not an easy task, son. That's why I made you my XO."

"I appreciate that, Captain. I just wish we could've done more to stop this from happening in the first place. I keep telling myself 'this can't really be happening' but it is. I really want this to just be a dream, for me to just snap my fingers and this all be over," Grant's voice wavered.

He slumped in his seat and popped his back. The young executive officer suddenly looked much older, more akin to a rough and tough captain with decades of experience. He reminds me of myself, Stone realized.

"You're doing fine, son. This'll all be over one way or another. I'm proud to have you as my second," said Stone.

"Thank you, sir. Captain, can you access the flight recorder?" Grant asked suddenly.

Stone looked at him with a bewildered look. What did he need that for? Stone asked him as much.

"It's the only way to find out who allowed the creatures on board. It was one of us on the bridge. Or hell, maybe there's a plant in the crew, someone who's in the system that we don't know about. We have to solve this. Because as long as whoever did this is still roaming freely, we'll never be truly safe," Grant said.

Stone rubbed his chin and then stood suddenly. He made his way for the door.

"I can get you in."