UNCLAIMED SPACE- UNK322 SYSTEM

HIGH-ORBIT AROUND UNK322-3

John directed the shuttle along the length of the Riptide. For the last four hours, he and twenty crew members and marines had been EVA all around the hull repairing fractures and microfractures. John was out with Lieutenant Brady from engineering checking all the work that had been done. Chief Letts had finally been commanded by Dr. McHaney to go get some food and sleep and not report for duty for eight hours at least. The whole crew needed some downtime, it would take the Riptide nearly twenty-four hours before they reached the next system they were supposed to explore UNK425. So John planned on working with a skeleton crew as much as possible so he could rest the crew.

Brady's nose was buried in the sensor station checking all the work that had been done over the last ten hours. A couple of the PDCs were still firing random shots out checking alignment and mountings to make sure all the repairs were completed. "Work is solid, the only thing we could do better is if we put into a yard and get all the platting replaced," Brady said.

"Ok, then lets head back in 'Lieutenant O'Hansen as soon as we are back on board set a course for the edge of the system and get us on the road for UNK425' Glad we are finally done with this system," John called out over the inter-ship comms.

As the shuttle sat down on the hanger bay doors crew members worked to secure the shuttle and the XO with the Marine Commander strode over. They both looked tired and worn "Ok people, Lieutenant Brady gave us the ok to leave the system. I want us to use a skeleton crew since we have twenty-four hours before we get there. I want to rest the crew and marines as much as possible before we get there. I want everyone to have a minimum of ten hours off before we hit UNK425. That includes you two, got it!!!" The nodded their heads saluted and left while he headed to the medical bay.

The medical bay was sealed off from the rest of the ship, in emergencies, it could be jettisoned into space and had enough water, air, and food to support twenty people for two weeks. Lieutenant Commander James McHaney got up from his desk and strode over to John "How is everything going Captain?"

John smiled "Better Doctor, much better. We are finally done with all the repairs and will be on the road for UNK425. I already told Lieutenant Commander Stein and Smitt to rest everyone for at least ten hours. We are going to be working with a skeleton crew for the next twenty-four hours that includes you and your department Doc. How are your patients?"

McHaney responded quickly "Good our people need rest. Now all the none critical cases have reported back for duty, the four critical cases are in the clear and should be back on duty in twelve hours. They are getting their last treatments from the nano pods and will get mandatory rest before reporting for duty. You need to rest to Captain, I hope you will take your own advice because in eight hours if you are no in your rack I will be relieving you of your command." John smiled and walked out of the medical bay and toward the bridge.

As he strode onto the bridge Lieutenant O'Hansen was calling out orders to the other crew getting the Riptide ready to leave UNK322. He could feel the thrum as both the Fusion plants came on and the Pulse Engines started up. "Lieutenant O'Hansen please avoid any gravitational anomalies, I would like to keep the Riptide in one piece after we put her back together. Ensign Daniels, please make sure the Lieutenant knows where they all are and pull the sensor drones back once we are clear to go to warp." John called out as he brought up the Ship status and alerts he had put off.

Ship Status- Riptide

Shields- Running 10% Capacity

Hull- 100%

Engines- Standby Mode

Warp Engines- Standby Mode

Fusion Generators- Online/Operating

Missile Tubes- Unarmed/Unloaded

Pulse Cannons- Standby Mode

Point Defense Cannons- 50% Manned/Standby Mode

Stealth Suite- Operations/Offline

Alert: Due to crew exhaustion accidents are likely to happen, make sure your crew gets some rest

Mission Complete: Emergency Repairs

Description: Due to the Riptide having a close call with a micro-singularities, emergency repairs were immediately needed. After many long hours and exhaustive work, the Riptide has been fully repaired.

Rewards: All crew members receive 500 Exp, Crew is less likely to break under stress, Skill Unlocked Wrench Hand

Skill: Wrench Hand (Level 1)

Description: Through long hours of work and repairs you have unlocked the most basic concepts of Engineering (Repairs and Engineering jobs will finish 5% faster)

Mission Complete: Arms Training (Stage 1)

Description: Through mandatory training for your naval crew members, you have reinforced their basic knowledge of small arms.

Rewards: All crew members receive 100 Exp, Naval and Marine crew members are less likely to fight, Naval personnel are 5% more proficient in Small Arms

From: FleetComm

To: Captain John Port, Commander of Riptide

Due to transmission burst toward the unexplored systems (UNK400, 327, 601), you are to avoid those systems. They will be scouted in-force at a later date, continue to explore the other systems listed in your orders.

We will advise UNK322 to be off-limits for civilian traffic until a long-term study has been completed of the gravitational anomalies.

"Ensign Daniels please send an acknowledgment to FleetComm on the revised orders. ETA to the edge of the system O'Hansen?" John called out.

"We will be at the edge of the system in one hour, then twenty-four hours until we reach UNK425." Lieutenant O'Hansen called out while the Comm officers typed away at her station. Here we come UNK425, hopefully, you are not a pain in the ass like UNK322 was John thought as he started to read system and department reports.