(Limping into ready)
The frosted doors hadn't yet thawed. Instead, they creaked back with the sound of ancient bones, rather than the smooth operation of a ship of the Avenger's age. Rrahng stepped through, still encased in her EVA suit until the warmth could spread to the full hull and its contents.
Underneath the blanket of white from the deep space-freeze, the computers winked their multi-colored lights at the former Tactical Officer. "We're here." they called cheerfully to her. "Here to protect and to serve," they said.
First the phasers. She made certain of the computer configuration to automatically lock the weapons. She verified it all in a relatively short period of time. Then, she did the same thing to the Torpedo Launchers. The primary difference was that she directed the computer to pay close attention to the state of temperature in the torpedo rails. When the temperature reached 10 C and the relative humidity dropped below 90% again, the computer would signal the Helm and the Tactical stations that the torpedoes would be ready to fire. The machinery would automatically load them as needed.
Rrahng knew they would arrive late to the dance. She wanted to make the entrance as grand as possible. She stepped back into the turbolift to return to the bridge.
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Lt Rrahng, XO, USS Victoria
Lt Erasmus Gue, CEO, DS-168
Joe McCauley
gryphonpoet@gmail.com
