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O.C. Tango Red: Out of the Freezer into the Fire
Posted By: Shinai Purugganan<hybrid_phoenix2k2@hotmail.com>
Date: 29 July 2003, 5:38 PM
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Operation Crew Tango Red: Chapter One
Crew Chief Paul Meiser awoke as the cryogenic tube opened and released a chilling mist. He lay back while regurgitating the fetid bronchial stuffing lodged inside him. Immediately after exiting the gel bed, Paul dashed directly to the showers and expunged the unpleasant substance. He activated the showers momentarily, and then properly groomed himself. After refreshing himself, he unlocked his personal compartment and selected the proper attire.
"Everything seems like a normal cycle," he thought while climbing the ladder to the operations deck. Paul approached the duty station and the machine requested clearance. He promptly input the correct authorization on the keypad.
>COMMAND OPERATION/CRYOGENICS/CLEARANCE/MEISER, PAUL C. /SN: 25739804811-P.
>PANEL CODE: "PIGS DO FLY"/PROCESSING…
>CLEARANCE ACCEPTED. ALL CRYOGENIC OPERATIONS REMAIN AT OPTIMAL STASUS.
The computer correctly complied with his assumption that everything seemed normal; however, he distinguished the few empty tubes that divulged the truth. He lost his trustworthy engineer and a couple technicians while they were repairing systems on D Deck. Paul recalled the blue lightning that struck the starboard side of the ship, decompressing three decks and numerous sections. He yearned to rescue his comrades, but any hope of recovering them faded when the order to seal the sections ensued.
"There was never time for recovery; never a time for anything anymore," he muttered as he leaned over in regret and sorrow. His mourning ended when the intercom hailed his station. He pressed the communication control and answered, "Crew Chief Meiser reporting."
"Chief, this is Lieutenant Hall. Paul, I need you to wake your team and gather your gear. The Cap has another job for your crew after they get their mess," she asserted.
"Any heads-up this time?" Paul asked.
"All I can say is that we're out of the frying pan and into the fire. The Old Man wants you up in twenty. Take care, Paul. Hall out." The communications officer acknowledged and faded.
The expression Lieutenant Hall used was an old one, but he remembered that it meant trouble. The Chief released the button and mumbled, "More like out of the freezer and into the fire you mean." He sighed as he typed in commands to awaken his crew. In consistency with protocol, he had observed their status prior to the new order. Now Paul monitored the team as they arose from their chilling comfort.
A man yawned and stretched, then coughed out the mucus blatantly. Another crewman across from him swallowed the protein complex and then exclaimed, "Mmm, that stuff tastes like chicken!" The officer next to him bolted straight the showers and vomited.
"You're either sick or delirious, Sanders," a woman nearby flouted him, "and what is a chicken anyways?"
Sanders shook his head and responded, "Ugh, you colonists, I've been away from Earth far too long.
The Chief bellowed over the intra-com, "Come on you two, cut the chatter and put some clothes on." His crew dwelled on farce, but he learned to morph it into abetting the team's morale. Paul grinned and tapped the control again, "Mess hall in five minutes people. Last one in gets Chef's Special."
"Jeez, Sir, that's harsh!" a crewman shouted. Meiser knew how much the crew relished Chef's Special cooking and the team double-timed to the mess hall. Sanders struggled to reach the door to avoid the unfortunate ordeal, but the female crewman thwarted him.
"Colonists, huh? You Earth boys are all the same," she said as she pushed the "Turkey Dinner" option. The rest of the crew chose their respective meals and gathered at their usual table. Sanders scoffed while he sat down with Chef's Special and Surprise laid on the table for him. The technicians chuckled, yet the cafeteria was eerily silent. The Chief ate with vigor and the crew chatted.
"So Chief, why are we up so early?" a technician inquired.
"I don't know Feng, but I'm going to find out real soon," Meiser answered. He finished his meal then reported to the bridge. He walked past the weary bridge crew and approached the Captain.
"Captain Keyes, Sir!" he saluted. He had worked with the Captain previously and respected the man, but rarely met him.
"At ease, Chief," Keyes ordered calmly. He tapped on his pipe.
Meiser relaxed and asked, "What can I do for you Sir?"
"I need you to link up with Lieutenant Hikowa at tactical. She'll give you the details on what you need to do," Keyes ordered.
"May I ask why Sir?" Paul questioned.
A tiny holographic figure shifted colors as it uttered the sound of a calm, feminine voice throughout the bridge. "Sensors show inbound Covenant boarding craft. Stand by to repel boarders."
"Aye, aye Sir." Meiser acknowledged with alacrity. He sprinted around the corner and consulted with the tactical officer.
"I need you to transfer maintenance access to my station. That includes atmospheric and blast door controls," Lieutenant Hikowa demanded.
"Yes, Ma'am. I'll relay access from the outside. Ship systems will be under your control in about five," The Chief responded.
"Thanks, Chief. Hurry, they could be here any minute now," Hikowa replied.
Paul rushed back to the mess hall where his crew already finished eating and stood at attention. "All right, you heard it. It's time to get working. Sanders, Yamira, Feng, Hebert, and Reyes, you're with me. The rest of you with Officer Keating secure the cryogenics bays and set up barricades leading to the bridge," the Chief instructed. "Let's move it people! Good luck out there."
The separated crew exchanged gestures and farewells. Tech Officer Keating led his contingent out to their assigned area. Chief Meiser brought the five chosen crewmen into the control station adjacent to the Marine armory. He transferred the necessary controls to Lieutenant Hikowa at the bridge while his company prepared to repel the Covenant invaders.
A colossal explosion rocked the Pillar of Autumn furiously. "Brace yourselves, they're coming!" Hebert yelled, brandishing his pistol.
To be continued…
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