The Ticonderoga Class Cruiser Valley Forge rolled almost 15 degrees to port as a dangerously large swell swept across the deck. The hull beneath Captain Bradley Burnham was practically humming from the vibrations of the engines pushing through the storm, the stress on the hull, and the wind pressing against the superstructure. The largest waves were nearing thirty feet now, and they were more than a hundred nautical miles from the nearest port, not that it was a friendly one. They didn't have much choice, though, and he ordered a course change.
Lightning flashed outside, highlighting a massive wave sweeping almost directly towards the ship. Someone sounded the collision alarm, the loud klaxon sounding several times accompanied by red emergency lights. The bow lifted, 10 degrees, 15 degrees... 20 degrees. The wave peaked, water splashed against the window, and the bow cut through, and then they were angling down into a wave trough.
Burnham called for reverse thrust, and beneath his feet, the vibrations reached a fever pitch. There intercom from engineering rang once, and the bow hit the bottom edge of the trough. Then there was a metallic groan, a snap... And every light and screen on the Bridge winked off.
It was only for a few moments that darkness reigned, Valley Forge entering an uncontrolled drift for a few moments before emergency lights snapped on and basic interfaces powered up. Now, nearly half an hour, radio blasting a distress signal, Engineering called back with how severe the damage truly was. Flooding had been localized and contained, and posed no permanent threat to the ship beyond hull damage, but the ship's keel had fractured under the pressure, and if the weather got any worse, or any more damage was sustained, the ship would likely break in two.
Another heavy wave smashed over the bow, and Burnham could hear the hull groaning in unfamiliar and disconcerting ways. There was the sound of something snapping outside, on the port side bridge wing, followed by... A loud knock? Had something come loose and was hitting the door in the wind? One of the Enlisted men near the door moved to investigate, a runner to supplement the unreliable intercom. He opened the door and found himself practically soaked by rain, and while Burnham's view was obscured by the man's body, when he cried out in surprise and stepped backwards further into the bridge, that was no longer the case.
Maybe 5'6", with bright pink hair and wide purple eyes, the Idol Singer and renowned War Fighter Saratoga stepped onto the bridge, water slicking off her without any apparent effect. She gave a happy little wave. "Hey! Sister Saratoga is here to help! I don't think your radio is working properly, I could hear you but got no response. Everything's going to be fine!"
Written 06/25/21