U.S.C. MARINE FILES: GOTHIC
Antecedent I: "Off Course"

.o.o.o.

Dr. Watkins sat in the back of the shuttle, going through his digital itinerary. He had completed gathering research and was preparing it for presentation in the upcoming days.

The small shuttle- a light cruiser built for speed and efficiency-was en rout to rendezvous with the Star-Liner 'Artemis' and return to the Galactic Confederation's primary planet to present his findings at the upcoming summit.

"Vaszhir, I take it that you've made sure to catalogue and organize the data?" He asked another scientist across from him in the passenger area.

"Of course Doctor Watkins, the information is prioritized for you." The dark-skinned man replied. "It's stored securly along with the rest of the gear."

A woman walked between the seats and sat down in front of Watkins. She had her hair up and was wearing glasses. "Tell me Allen; are you really this confident about the data?"

"Of course Bernice, this could revolutionize science as we know it." Watkins replied.

The woman looked over at a younger girl. "And you Phillips, you must be excited to be part of this?"

The young blond woman smiled. "Oh yes, Doctor Bell." She breplied enthuaistically.

The other woman smiled. "I'm glad your so cheerful about this."

Everyone leaned back into their chairs and preapaired for the next stage of the voyage.

.o.o.o.

The pilot and co-pilot began making final checks in the shuttle before setting the final destination.

"We are within scanner range of the Artemis now, sir." The co-pilot informed him.

"Good, set to manual, we'll lock onto its guidance beacon and let the autopilot take us in for the rest of the way."

"Right." The co-pilot replied and programmed the controls on the panel in front of them.

"It looks like the passengers and their cargo are alright." The captain observed, looking through the security camera.

"That odd," The co-pilot spoke, noting a few strange notes on the monitor.

"What?" The captain asked.

"There's a spike in the external readings- a power surge outside the shuttle." He answered."Sensors idicate increasing levels gravetic disterbances around us."

"Let me check it." The pilot turned on the viewing system. "Wait, we're off course!"

"What!" The other man exclaimed. "How- where!"

The captain checked the scanner. "We're heading towards a planet surrounded by some sort of haze," He explained. "Quick, switch to manual and make immediate coordinate corrections!"

The co-pilote began trying to work at the controls, but quickly became nervous. "I can't, the controls are locking, there's something interfering with the system!" The co-pilot answered.

The captain's glance,confirmed the statement. "We're being pulled into the planet's gravitational field!"

"Retroactive controls are not responding!" The co-pilot announced. "The systems are failing, brace for orbital entry and descent!"

"We're going into an uncontrolled planet-fall!"

.o.o.o.