Damage Control

A hideous boom rocks The Warden, Bianca despite being braced against a nearby console is thrown to the floor.

Sarah climbs from her seat, rushing over to the Corporal and helping her to her feet.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck…” she mutters as she goes back to the first console, that Sarah had been stationed at jaw dropping as she reads the status of the ship. Sarah glances at the screen and even she can admit it’s a scary sight, the portion of the ship that’s labeled as the engine room is flashing red.

“FUUUUCK!!! We’ve lost the engines… we-“

“Warning; gravitational pull detected, impact in 30 minutes.” Says Mother, her voice staticky and fuzzy.

“We steered into the planets pull… we’re being dragged down to LV-114! We gotta get to escape pods, now!” Shouts Bianca as she stumbles away from the console, heading down the hall towards the lift.

Sarah goes to follow, passing by the door to the AI core when it slides open with a hiss to reveal Danials.

“Escape pods, NOW!” Sarah shouts, turning to pursue Bianca when a robotic hand lands in her shoulder.

“I’m afraid that will not be possible Sargent, the escape pods are under repair, they should not by used.” Replies Danials, his voice calm as ever.

“Then… then what the fuck do we do?!” Asks Sargent McClintock, in all her years of service, she had never encountered something like this, the entire crew are trapped in a titanium cage that’s being dragged down to the planet below.

“I advise that the crew gather in the galley, it is the most central location in the ship and is thus the furthest from potential harm.” He says before turning and beginning the walk down the hall towards the lift, encouraging Sarah to follow behind.

The pair reach the Crew Deck, where chaos reigns, rushing down the hall is Milo and Bianca, presumably heading towards the defunct escape pods.

Sarah gives chase while Danials continues riding the lift down to Engineering Deck, what he could fix down there is beyond Sarah.

Turning the corner Sarah is confronted with the scene of further chaos, Private Johnson is tugging on the lever to open one of the pods to seemingly no luck meanwhile Bianca and Milo are gathered around a closed pod, screaming.

“Lieutenant open the fucking door! You got plenty of room in there, let us in!” Shouts Milo as he slams his fist against the glass.

“I… I can’t… I can’t get it open…! I… I’m sorry…!” Replies the lieutenant, whether it’s the truth or not doesn’t matter especially not to those outside the pod.

“You piece of shit! I hope you starve in that pod!” Shouts Bianca, as she delivers a kick against the pods door to no effect.

“Wait… don’t..!” Shout Sarah, rushing into the room but it’s too late, the sound of a switch being flipped is heard followed by the sound of decompression. The pod has been launched, the lieutenant is gone.

Bianca and Milo turn to Sarah now, the lieutenants cowardice induced suicide leaving her the ranking officer on this sinking ship.

“The pods are broken! Danials told me we can’t touch them! We gotta gather in the galley, it’s the safest place on the ship right now!” Relays Sarah just as Johnson manages to win his battle with the escape pod door, managing to flip the switch and allow its use.

“The fucking synthetic? Sorry sarge but that things been decomposing for years, if we stay we’re fucked, nothing else to it!” Says Milo as he steps over to the now open escape pod to climb inside.

“Yeah, I’m not buying it, if you want a ride out of here there’s enough room for all of us.” States Johnson.

“I… I don’t know… maybe the synthetic is right..? Everything else is busted to shit around here… maybe the pods are too..?” Says Bianca, thinking out loud.

If Sarah doesn’t do something here and now, Milo and Johnson are gonna get themselves killed, experience tells her that being a hard ass will only drive a wedge between them, if this is gonna work, she needs a more agreeable approach.