Inter System Salvage Corp.

" ~~This is Science Officer Jennifer Fairfield logging oral report for derelict #1313"

"Unlucky numba', eh?"

" sigh Captain Silvia 'Silver' Lancaster has successfully docked with the unknown vessel and we are preparing to board. The time is 13:26 C.C."

Hissssssss
"Air lock ready, we're a-go!"

"More to follow once access is established. ISSC ship Green Lady’s SO Jennifer Fairfield out.~~"

Two figures stepped through the doorway into the darkened bridge of the ship. One figure was clad in a bulky white space suit, and waved an instrument in the air while watching a glowing display. Looking towards the other figure, dressed in a black and silver combat suit, she reported "Oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, . . . No bacteria, viruses, or poisonous gasses detected. Air is breathable."

With that the black and silver clad figure removed her helmet with a hiss, and took a deep breath, adding "If not a lil' stale." This was Silvia "Silver" Lancaster, captain of the Green Lady. She was a relatively short, muscular, powerfully built woman with deep brown skin, and jaw-length wavy black hair streaked with blue and yellow. She spoke in the lazy, heavy accent normal for Earthers. She looked about the bridge shining her flashlight onto the dark, dust-covered terminals, saying "Looks old."

Her companion, Science Officer Jennifer Fairfield removed her helmet, replying "Yes, it looks like an old Earth vessel, 2- perhaps 300 years old. I'm not familiar with the configuration. It was probably custom built." Jennifer was tall and slender with pale skin and long white hair. Her features were angular, and beautiful, the product of generations of Martian genetic engineering. She spoke and carried herself with an air of superiority, as was common for the Martian people, and often scowled at her Earther captain's lack of regiment, but she was the captain after all, and rules stated that her orders must be followed.

"What kinda' ship was this?" asked Silver, looking closely at the rather ancient looking equipment.

Jennifer replied, "I am unsure captain, but I should soon find out. Our scans showed the vessel's power cells to still be active. Hopefully the computer has retained it's information." She then sat in a chair next to a console at the back of the bridge. The material of the chair cracked dryly under her pressure as Jennifer touched the screen. With a static hiss and a low whir the computer woke up from a several year old sleep mode, and the screen slowly began to glow.

Silver peered over Jennifer's shoulder as information began to appear on the screen. It was the ship's engineering station. Once the station had warmed up, Jennifer went to work, her long slender fingers dancing across the screen, opening windows relating to various ship systems. Silver stood up straight, and let out an exclamation, drawing the proton rifle from her side as the bridges lights and computers came up all at once. She chuckled at her own jumpiness as she turned her attention back to Jennifer who had windows belonging to several of the ships systems open, studying them.

"Power has been restored, Captain," she reported "all systems are nominal, though there are several lower decks to which power cannot be restored due to physical damage. Damaged deck specifications include Botany, Biology, and Stellar Cartography. In answer to your earlier question, this was apparently a scientific exploration vessel."

Silver nodded, asking "Any idea what they were workin' on?"

Jennifer shook her head "No Captain, that information doesn't seem to be in the ship's database, but many of the files are corrupted, and there are several severed data links. Despite the perfect state of this bridge, the rest of the vessel seems to be in far worse condition. Information on the individual labs may still exist within the labs' computers, but I have no way of telling from here."

Silver checked her weapon, saying "'Right then, you stay 'ere and keep workin' on the ship's computer. I'm gonna check out those damaged sections."

Jennifer turned from the screen, "Captain, should I not come with you? There may still be preserved specimens of scientific interest."

Silver frowned "Yeah, and there may be not-so-preserved specimens that are responsible for whateva' happened to this ship's crew. Now ya have yer orders!" With that, Silver headed out, closing the bridge's door behind her.

Jennifer returned to the computer terminal begrudgingly. Though she could never voice it, the captain's militaristic mindset, often upset her. As if an Earther could know better than a Martian.