Posted by Lieutenant T’Sol (Second Officer / Chief Science Officer) in Main Sim: Aboard Shuttle Copernicus Ancient Derelict – Docking Chamber

Posted by Commander William Archer (First Officer / Nav Officer) in Main Sim: Aboard Shuttle Copernicus Ancient Derelict – Docking Chamber

Posted by Gamemaster Nosferatu (GM) in Main Sim: Aboard Shuttle Copernicus Ancient Derelict – Docking Chamber
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Snip
The shuttle glided through the final stretch of open space in near silence, its impulse engines barely disturbing the dust and microscopic debris suspended around the ancient vessel.

Ahead, the derelict no longer appeared lifeless.

As the shuttle closed the distance, pale blue-white light blossomed across the immense hull. Ancient conduits hidden beneath fractured plating awakened in sequence, each illumination flowing effortlessly into the next until ribbons of light traced a clear corridor across the battered superstructure.

The response was unmistakable, it was not random but aware.

The illuminated pathway wound between collapsed support trusses and slowly rotating sections of hull before converging on a broad recessed opening along the vessel’s ventral surface. There, concentric rings embedded within the docking structure brightened one after another, their steady pulse matching the harmonic signal that had guided the Chernov since first contact.

No weapons, targeting sensors or defensive fields came online.

Instead, the docking aperture continued its measured rhythm, as though patiently waiting for visitors who had finally answered a call left echoing across the stars for untold ages.

Science and engineering sensors reported no change to the earlier assessment. Power continued to be localized exclusively along the illuminated corridor and docking chamber. The remainder of the colossal vessel remained dormant, cold, and silent.

The path ahead was clear and the invitation remained open, ready for the shuttle to follow.

Nosferatu
Your Darkest Nightmare

John approached the vessel and he access the controls for final few moments before docking softly with a slight hiss and a click of the magnetic clamps locking into place “ docking complete magnetic clamps are in place and looks like we have a strong seal. I’m gonna run some scans on the interior of the vessel to see if there’s any sort of atmosphere that we can survive in. If not, we might have to take EVA suits.” He said as he instructed the console to do the scan.

Lt. John Forster (CWO)

“As a precaution I’d suggest we take EVA suits anyways. If the vessel has very little oxygen levels left to absolutely none, we should take them anyways.” She said with a straight face.

Lieutenant T’Sol
Chief Science Officer/Second Officer
USS Chernov

John looked at her and said “ how about a compromise except of hauling around a heavy EVA suit why don’t we just use the breathers according to the scans I am getting back. There’s a comfortable pressure system in there to keep us comfortable without the use of the EVA suit.”

Lt. John Forster (CWO)

“That is acceptable.” She replied back to him.

Lieutenant T’Sol
Chief Science Officer/Second Officer
USS Chernov

Will nodded in agreement. “Can you just confirm sensor readings that there is a suitable atmosphere, even if it’s not breathable.” he asked, keen to make sure his body didn’t freeze in the coldness of space, or worse dissolve in a pool of chemical gases.

Cmdr William Archer
First Officer

T’Sol nodded and went ahead and started scanning. “Sir. I can tell that there is something close by. Maybe a couple of klicks within the area that there is a suitable atmosphere. The area that I can tell is breathable. But it’s minimal. Once we move further inwards there will be absolutely no breathable air afterwards.” She told Commander Archer of her analysis of her scans.

Lieutenant T’Sol
Chief Science Officer/Second Officer
USS Chernov

The shuttle remained motionless as its magnetic clamps held fast against the alien docking ring. Outside the forward viewport, the concentric bands of blue-white light continued their slow, deliberate pulse, bathing the hull in an ethereal glow.

Inside the cockpit, the results from both Lieutenant Forster’s and Lieutenant T’Sol’s scans converged into a consistent picture.

The docking chamber beyond the shuttle maintained an atmosphere of approximately 0.86 standard pressure. Nitrogen and oxygen remained the primary components, though the oxygen concentration measured only nineteen percent—low, but sufficient for healthy humanoids. Trace inert gases and microscopic crystalline particulates drifted through the air, yet none registered as toxic or immediately hazardous.

Temperature held at a comfortable twenty-one degrees Celsius.

Gravity was present as well, reading just under Federation standard at 0.94 G.

There was, however, one important caveat. The breathable atmosphere extended only a short distance beyond the docking chamber. Sensor mapping showed it confined within a network of adjoining corridors spanning roughly two kilometers before terminating abruptly at an invisible boundary. Beyond that point, environmental systems ceased entirely. Vacuum reclaimed the vessel’s deeper interior.

No forcefields, blast doors, or pressure bulkheads separated the two regions. It was simply as though the atmosphere itself refused to exist farther within.

Engineering sensors revealed no active life-support machinery capable of maintaining such an environment. There were no circulating pumps, or atmospheric processors. No detectable power conduits feeding environmental systems.

By every known principle of engineering, the pocket of breathable air should not have existed. Yet it remained perfectly stable.

The scans also revealed something else. The faint harmonic resonance that had guided the Chernov was stronger inside the chamber than outside, permeating the hull itself. Every illuminated conduit carried the same frequency, spreading inward like veins beneath ancient metal.

Motion sensors remained silent showing no lifesigns, mechanical activity or evidence that anyone—or anything—was waiting just beyond the hatch.

Then, without warning, another section of the vessel awakened.

Several meters ahead of the shuttle, lights rippled along the floor of the docking chamber, illuminating a single corridor leading away from the shuttle’s airlock. One after another, the floor panels brightened into the distance, disappearing around a gentle curve as though the vessel itself were quietly indicating the route it wished its visitors to take.

The harmonic pulse continued. Patient, unhurried and waiting.

Nosferatu
Your Darkest Nightmare

Just bumping here: I think we should continue while a new CO is found, we have enough crew to stay busy. I can catch the new CO up.

Nosferatu
Your Darkest Nightmare

Will nodded, more to himself than anyone else as he read the scan results. “Ok, take breathers, but don’t activate them. The atmosphere should allow us to breathe, but any signs of feeling light headed, use your own oxygen supply.” he asked as he tapped in a few commands into the console. The shuttle door opened up, revealing the illuminated walk way.

“It appears we are being shown where to go,” he said as he led the team off the shuttle.

Cmdr William Archer
First Officer

“Commander, might I suggest using caution. We don’t know what is really going on out there.” She suggested to him.

Lieutenant T’Sol
Chief Science Officer/Second Officer
USS Chernov

John looked at her “ it is clear that an invitation has been extended. It would be rude to not accept it.” He said with a steady voice grabbing the breathing devices

Lt. John Forster (CWO)