"Emergency, this is Captain Rosenberg of the cruise ship 'Pacifica', we have sustained heavy engine damage and are drifting with four thousand passengers," the man on the screen said, his short dark hair combed back and wearing a white uniform with blue collar.
The Pacifica was an interstellar cruise liner. She was big, the size of a bulk hauler and just as slow, just made to be a moving vacation spot, moving from astronomical wonder to astronomical wonder. Not anywhere near the size of a GSV, but still pretty big. Well over a kilometre in length and pretty fat, made for comfort, not efficiency like an Island class.
"Pacifica, this is Commander Drake of the GCU 'Random Encounter'," Drake said as I opened a channel. "We have your coordinates and are on our way."
Our ranks didn't really work like that, but it was the closest translation. Compared to Starfleet, it was actually more like 'specialist' as he was security and away missions expert. But in case of AI failure, he would be in charge.
"Thank you, Commander," Rosenberg said. "Be advised, we are in orbit around a neutron star."
I formed a hologram next to Drake's chair, "We have your location. Are you clear of the polar jets?"
The Captain looked at me before he nodded, "We are. We are in an equatorial orbit, so unless something even worse goes wrong, we should be fine. But radiation is high and our warp core was ejected, so we are on fusion power."
I did some quick calculations and flicked my tail tip in annoyance, "That's a problem. Did it blow? How's your impulse drive?"
Rosenberg sighed and tapped his console, "Sending over all information now. Impulse is down, but we should be able to get it online again during the next ten or so hours."
Okay, that's both worse and better than I expected. They were having a core breach, but the safeties worked perfectly and ejected the core.
It detonated at a safe enough distance that it only weakened the shields, not brought them down. If they had gone down, everyone on board would have been fried from being that close to a neutron star.
To get to warp, they would need a lift or a new core and a couple of weeks to get things repaired. Neither of which I could do.
"Ivy isn't that big of a ship," Drake said as he stopped eyeing through the information. "But we can tow you away from the star at sublight and help supply you with power until someone that can actually help with repairs shows up."
Damn it. Why was I always too small!? I swear, next time I'd ask for a GSV just to avoid this situation!
"Thank you, Commander. What's your ETA? I have a lot of worried people over here."
"Ivy?"
"Stepping it up to maximum warp. Estimated time to arrival... five hours," I reported. "We'll be there soon."
He nodded, "Thank you. Pacifica, out," and I closed the connection.
Drake sighed and leaned back in the chair seemingly floating in empty space, "Merchant shippers."
I shrugged one shoulder, "Accidents happen. I seem to remember assisting the Enterprise herself not too long ago. Space is dangerous and equipment can fail."
He nodded, "True. Still, they were lucky and the safeties worked like they were meant to."
"It's what they are there for."
Even so, they were not a hundred percent. They were meant to work, but it was always possible battle damage or something could break them. Or just shoddy maintenance on a civilian ship. Still, it was an expensive cruise liner. I liked to think they were taking good care of their ship, even if she wasn't an AI.
Drake nodded and stood up, stretching, "What does Merilyn say?"
I flicked my ears, "She is still reviewing the technical information of the 'Starliner' class, but she thinks we should at least be able to repair everything but the new warp core. You need something like an Island class to have the manufacturing facilities for one of those. She also sent everyone that's not absolutely needed off to rest, because when we get there, things will be busy for a while. You should do the same."
He nodded, "Yeah, I think you have a point. Tell me an hour before arrival?"
"I'll wake you with plenty of time."
As he left the bridge/holodeck, I canceled the hologram, no longer having any reason to keep it active.
Space warped around me as I hurled through it at the better part of fifteen thousand times the speed of light.
"Merilyn, you should follow your own advice. Get some sleep."
She sighed and brushed her red hair back, "Ivy, I need to get to know the class if I'm to help in repairs."
I formed a hologram next to her and crossed my arms, "Mer, they have a chief engineer. We are just there to help, go sleep. We need you energized when we get there. I can keep my own engineering running without help for a few hours."
Merilyn frowned before she nodded, "...Fine," and got up, "It's been a long shift anyway."
"Don't worry, I'll wake you with time left."
"Thanks Ivy," she said and gathered her hair up in a ponytail on her way out the door. "God, I need a bath."
Hmm. She should wear those shorts more often. She looked great in those.
I canceled the hologram again. It was likely not needed, but I wanted everyone at their best when we arrived at the Pacifica. The damage didn't look that bad from what they sent over, but it would still take quite a bit of work.
Ten minutes after relaying the distress call, I got an answer.
"'Random Encounter', this is the U.S.S. 'Dancing in Starlight'. We have received your relayed call and are changing course to rendezvous with you at the coordinates of the Pacifica."
Oh.
AN// Big thanks to Pietersielie for betaing this section.