You begin to move towards Engineering. You look over your shoulder and talk to the young engineer, “You head to the bridge and notify them of the issue with the sublight engines. I will go to Engineering and see if we can't get the problem sorted out.”

The engineer steps into the lift, you turn to hurry to Engineering before the doors even close. You quickly step to the nearest Engineering panel and start some diagnostic programs. You notice some small power fluctuations in the fuel pump. The energy is within acceptable limits, but still behaving unusually. You shut down the fuel pump itself and reroute the flow through distant conduits to isolate the faulty pump. All of the engineers on the deck are preparing all of the systems for the transition to normal space.

You enter a note about the faulty fuel pump in the system's logs. With the minor crisis averted, you reach over to activate the intercom with the bridge. At the last second, you remember the internal communications system isn't functional. You turn around to head to the lift to the bridge and see Chief Engineer Griswold coming off of the lift.

You get his attention and direct him to the console you are at. “I was about to come up and notify you of the problem with the fuel pump.”

“Thank you. I saw your entry appear in the log as the engineer you sent to the bridge relayed his message. We have set up and verified a temporary communications system until the standard internal communications system can be repaired.”

Chief Griswold hands you one of the portable communicators that is used for away missions and any time someone is working outside of the ship. You take it just in time to hear Captain Hogarth make an announcement.

“Attention all hands. Boarding parties to their assigned airlocks. Medical staff and repair crews to standby stations. Docking umbillicals are being extended. We will initiate rescue operations immediately after a good seal is confirmed.”

You see the Marines down the hallway marching out of the wardroom in full environment equipment. Bulky suits up to round helmets and packs that contain everything to keep a person alive during an extended period in a hostile environment. The teams stand at the ready in front of the airlock entrance, From your position, you can see the indicator displaying the umbilical status.

If you volunteer to go with the boarding parties to the Star Settler, click HERE.

If you choose to go to the bridge and watch the boarding parties via remote monitors, click HERE.