Ship's Log, January 24th 2554, Captain Sally Acorn Officer Commanding - The Knothole has been dispatched to the Andreas System, a colony reported lost to the Covenant advance in 2526, to investigate and report on any findings we discover. I am pleased at the performance of the new crew we took aboard from station DS-7, and I hope to accomplish our mission without incident.

...

"Oh man, what I wouldn't give for a bottle o' Admiral Archer's right about now..."

Ensign D'coolette trailed behind Lieutenant-Commander Rabbot as the two officers made their way through the ship, passing by busy crewmen as they headed for the ship's recreational facilities. The coyote-mobian's ears flattened, the young man unnerved at the taller humans who crowded the deck.

Bunnie glanced and offered the Ensign a buck-toothed grin. "What's the matter, 'Twan? You look like a saddlebeast headin' into the knacker's yard!"

Antoine ducked his head as a pair of armoured Marines trooped by, boots ringing from the deck as the meaty humans passed, "I... I am sorry, Commander..." the coyote stammered, glancing back at the chatting Marines, "I am... not used to being around so many humans..."

Bunnie smirked. "Ah, bunch o' crazy space monkeys? They're good once you get used to 'em. Lot o' folk I served with were of the Homo Sapien variety!"

"Yes Commander... but my academy was mostly other mobians... this is very new for me!"

"Ah, buck up boy!" Bunnie chuckled, giving the younger officer a nudge in the arm, "wait 'til you come across a Sangheili, or a Jiralhanae! Or, Soleanna help ya, a Lekgolo! Those are some BIG ol' critters right there!"

Antoine shuddered at the thought of encountering the aliens in question, such species making humans look like children in comparison. "My studies inform me they are very... frightening, Ma'am..."

"Yeah... they're tough customers..." Bunnie's tone darkened, her usual good cheer slipping momentarily... before she turned and grinned. "Anyhow, cheer up will ya?" the Lieutenant-Commander palmed the door controls to the changing area, the twin metal sheets bleeping and sliding apart at her command, "we're off-duty! Nothin' to do but kick back an' enjoy the slip-shine!"

Antoine frowned at the Commander's expression. "Slip... shine, Ma'am?"

Bunnie winked as they entered the changing rooms, offering an easy wave to another half-dressed officer who greeted her, "still wet behind the ears, huh 'Twan? Slip-shine! 's what you call it when ya take a look outta an open window durin' Slipspace travel!"

Bunnie had to fight back a laugh, the Ensign clearly puzzled. "But... there's nothing to see in Slipspace, Ma'am?"

"Yup!" Bunnie grinned, beginning to remove her uniform, "yer' gettin' it! An' don't call me Ma'am, Antoine. I ain't old enough to be treated like yer' grandma yet. Bunnie's fine!"

Antoine's face flushed beneath his muzzle. "Y.. yes Ma'... Bunnie!"

The Lieutenant-Commander smirked in reply as she slipped out of her one-piece uniform. Antoine released a small squeak as he realised he hadn't averted his eyes. Gendered changing areas had long been a thing of the past, males, females, and others all regarded equally and sharing the same facilities, but Rabbot was still his superior officer, and Antoine couldn't help but feel-

Shock. Pure shock is what the Ensign felt.

Bunnie glanced at Antoine as he stood rooted to the ground, unable to remove his eyes. " 'S the matter, 'Twan? Never seen a gal with prosthetics before?"

Prosthetics. The Lieutenant-Commander's body appeared to be mostly machine. Her left arm, both legs, a large portion of her left-side torso... all gone, replaced with white synthetic components. Scarred, criss-crossed bare flesh where fur had been unable to grow back. Antoine couldn't imagine how his fellow officer had survived whatever had caused such extensive injuries.

The Ensign shook his head and removed his eyes, suddenly very interested in the deck panelling. "I... I am s... sorry, Commander... I did not mean to look..."

Bunnie shrugged, the motion more noticeably stiff as the exposed prosthetics hummed quietly, "eh, pay it no mind 'Twan. I ain't the only unfortunate who had to be put back together by Navy docs. I never ended up suckin' vacuum, so I guess you could call me lucky."

Antoine continued to study the floor panels, only returning his attention to the woman after she had changed into more casual overalls. "May I ask, Commander... how... how did-"

"I'd rather not talk about it Antoine, if it's all the same to you..." Bunnie interjected, not angrily but rather more... sorrowful. "Maybe some day... if you behave yer'self!" The rabbit-mobian's grin returned, and she clapped Antoine on the shoulder. "Now come on, Ensign! Get yer' fuzzy ass changed. I'll buy ya a drink."

Antoine flushed beneath his fur, offering a nervous little smile in response as the Lieutenant-Commander strode away. He noticed now, that her movements were only slightly stiff. He wondered how many other people in the service had had similar experiences, their bodies being so broken by the violence they would have to rely on synthetic prosthetics for the rest of their days... and marvelled at the dedication of individuals like the Lieutenant-Commander to continue leading their lives with confidence even after such events.

The Ensign made a mental note never to approach the subject again, and unzipped his uniform jacket.

...

Captain Acorn grimaced as she took a swig from an aluminum mug, the bitter taste of the contents unpleasant to say the least.

"Don't we have any good coffee on this ship?"

Commander Julian Snively Robotnik shrugged from the First Officer's chair beside hers. "I would presume fresh crew, supplies, and fuel would be higher on your list of priorities than your caffeine intake."

Sally wagged a finger. "A good Captain needs good coffee, Commander. What are they teaching you boys in the Academy these days?"

Snively lowered his brow and pouted. "I have been in the service nineteen years longer than you, Captain. And I have never had any need for that foul stuff."

Sally allowed her muzzle to tweak with a smile. "Your refusal to indulge in life's little pleasures is no business of mine, Mister Robotnik."

The Commander did not appear amused. He declined to comment further however, and peered down his hooked nose at his chair's personal computer. "It appears we are to receive a new Bridge officer..." the human said, his usual business-like tone returning, "the one we picked up from DS-7."

"Lieutenant Michael Excelsior Tallen..." Sally said lightly, "yes I remember the name. Unfortunately I haven't had time to meet the man yet, but his record seemed impressive... from what I was able to glean from it in the time I had."

"Perhaps..." Snively said airily, "you would benefit from sleeping once in a while instead of being glued to that chair."

Sally turned and eyed the human curiously. "Commander Julian Robotnik. Are you displaying concern for your Captain's health?"

The hook nose sniffed. "I am merely reminding you that along with your duty to your ship and your crew, you also have a duty to yourself..." the human said haughtily, as though offended at the very notion of being concerned for another's well-being, "a good Captain makes sure she is well-rested. You aren't a machine, Captain."

"Perhaps if I was I wouldn't be saddled with this damn headache..." Sally replied, triangular ears flattening as she rubbed her temple. "Very well Commander, you win. You have the Bridge..." Sally stood from her chair and stretched, casting a tired look around the humming command centre of the Knothole. Consoles blinked and chirruped and crew chattered quietly, but otherwise all was quiet. "Notify me of any developments. And try not to drive her into anything while I'm gone?"

The Commander raised an eyebrow as he also stood, offering the Captain a very unamused look. "Of course, Captain."

Sally quietly chuckled to herself as she departed the Bridge, the Commander taking his place in the command chair as she left. The Human was a hard man to pin down, but Sally had to admit. He was growing on her somewhat.

The ship was relatively quiet at this hour, the normally bustling halls quite empty as the Knothole ran through her 'night' cycle. Becoming used to GUNSC standard of twenty-four hours a 'day' had been a challenge for the chipmunk-mobian when she had first joined the service, her home colony of Green Hills having a daytime cycle of seventeen hours in comparison, but after her years of service it had become the norm. The dimmed lights of the night cycle and the hum of the ship were oddly soothing, sounds that spelled Home to Sally.

Home. She hadn't thought of that for a while.

"Agh..." Sally hissed as a dull pain throbbed in her head. As soothing as the ship around her was, it wasn't saving her from her headache. Maybe she really had been staying awake too long these last weeks.

As she suffered internally, Sally's eyes flicked up to regard the ship's wall-mounted directions. One word stood out to her in particular - 'Sickbay'.

Sally considered a moment, before making a decision and following the sign's wisdom. It might do her good to seek out some relief from her pain... and a talk with an old friend.

...

"Oh, hello there Captain! What can I do you for?"

Sally smiled to herself as she entered Sickbay, a white-haired human male in the white coat of the GUNSC Navy's Medical Corps smiling wide as he greeted her.

"Well for a start, Doctor Thorndyke..." Sally said as she crossed the medical quarters of the ship, "I could use a something for this damn headache..."

Doctor Chuck Thorndyke raised his brow and grunted. "Well, I suppose I could prescribe a little something..." the doctor waved Sally over to his office, where he gestured for her to sit. "Oxyprofen, Paramol..." Chuck took his own seat behind his desk, retrieving a datapad and tapping at the screen. "But most importantly, proper rest. I know you've been a little too eager burning that midnight oil, miss Acorn."

"Yes, so I've been told..." Sally said, suppressing a yawn with the back of her arm, "why does everybody on this damn ship think I need babysitting?"

"Even Starship Captains need their beauty sleep, Sally..." the doctor chuckled, "even you. You aren't a robot, you know."

Sally shook her head and wore a tired grin. "Commander Robotnik said all of this, very much the same," she said, "I'm beginning to think all you old men are desperate for a granddaughter to nag."

"Hmph, Commander Robotnik..." Chuck grumbled, "perhaps you should send him down here. I could prescribe him a lubricant to get that stick out his ass."

Sally gawped, barely containing a laugh at the doctor's remark. "Chuck!"

The human laughed, amused by the younger woman's expression. "Oh hush, I don't hate the man. But I have never met quite as humourless an individual, if I may say no Captain. He's like a damn solid bar of Titanium-A. Anyhow, for your headache. I prescribe rest, and water." The Doctor poured an aluminum cup full of water from a nearby jug and slid it across the table to the Captain, "something that will keep you hydrated." A nagging finger raised. "Not caffeine!"

Sally smirked, but accepted the cup nonetheless, "so you can keep the ship's coffee stores to yourself?"

Chuck scrunched his face in response. "Bah, if you could call that synthesized slop coffee... now. Run along Captain. I have another patient due shortly."

Sally sighed and nodded, clutching her cup of water in hand. "Will do. Thanks, Chuck."

Chuck grunted and waved her away, presently absorbed in his datapad. The chipmunk swivelled from her chair and took her leave, exiting the doctor's office and moving through the empty sickbay. She yawned once again, eyes screwing shut and covering her arm with her face - before promptly colliding with a taller individual entering the sickbay. She yelped in surprise, her water spilling from its cup as she danced backward.

"Oh jeez... Captain, I'm sorry! I didn't see you coming!"

Sally cursed herself inwardly, understanding she was clearly more tired than she thought, and looked to the person she had so carelessly walked into. The glint of Lieutenant's insignia caught her eye. "No no, it's perfectly fine Lieutenant. I wasn't looking where I was going..."

The Captain's eyes tracked up the grey uniform, over the Lieutenant's insignia and up... up toward blue fur, tan muzzle, and vibrant emerald eyes.

"S... Sonic?"

...

The Lieutenant cocked his head and eyed the Captain, a bemused expression over his face. And Sally realised.

"Oh... I apologise, Lieutenant. I mistook you for somebody else."

The blue hedgehog-mobian before her nodded and offered her a nervous smile. "It's okay Captain, I understand!" Sally ran her eyes over the man's face again, realising that this mobian definitely wasn't the man she had thought. His fur was a darker blue, his face hard-angled, his clipped and tidy quills bunched into three close 'spines' behind his head. The Captain kicked herself inwardly. She must have appeared a fool.

"Ah, Captain!" The sound of shows on deck tiles signalled the arrival of Doctor Thorndyke, clutching his datapad as he approached the two mobians, "I see you and Mister Tallen have made one another's aqaintence!"

"Lieutenant Tallen?" Sally turned back to the man stood awkwardly before her.

"Yes, Captain! Lieutenant Mike E. Tallon!" The hedgehog extended his hand, still wearing a nervous smile, "it's a pleasure to meet you, Ma'am!"

"Yes... yes! Of course!" Sally accepted the man's hand and they shook. "I'm sorry I couldn't see you aboard the ship when you transferred, Lieutenant. I've been extremely busy with my duties."

"I understand, Captain!" The Lieutenant stepped back smartly, hands clasping above his short tail, "I've read about your career, Captain!" the young man beamed, confidence blooming now his initial awkwardness melted away, "your actions during the war inspired me during the academy! One of the only mobian Captains to command a human ship? It was extremely inspiring, Ma'am!"

"Well..." Sally glanced to Chuck who hovered patiently beside her, "I'm glad to hear I had a... positive effect on your career," the chipmunk said uncertainly, while the Lieutenant grinned happily.

"Seems you have a fan, Captain!" Chuck said gleefully, clearly enjoying Sally's awkward disposition. "Mister Tallen is here for his medical review. The Captain..." Chuck placed a hand on Sally's shoulder and gave her a gentle nudge toward the door, "was just retiring to her quarters. Isn't that so, Captain?"

Sally sighed and nodded, Chuck giving her a pointed glare. "That's correct. I understand you will be joining us on the Bridge soon, Mister Tallen?"

Tallen grinned sheepishly, a gap in his teeth showing, "yes Ma'am! 07.00 Standard!"

Sally nodded and looked the man over, impressed with his confident demeanour. "Very well. See you on the Bridge, Lieutenant." Sally extended her hand again, and the two mobians shook. "I expect you will do well."

"Yes Ma'am! I won't let you down!"

The two mobians' hands remained locked, while the Lieutenant positively beamed with joy.

"Lieutenant..."

"Yes Ma'am?"

"You're still holding my hand."

"Oh! Jeez, sorry..." Talion's hand jerked from hers and the Lieutenant stepped back, straightening as though on parade and blushing. "Uh, Captain!"

The doctor chuckled, gesturing the Lieutenant to enter the sickbay. "Come on now son, I'm not made of time. Get your ass in that chair over there and let's get you checked out..."

"Y... yes sir!" Talion nodded once to Sally and scurried off at the doctor's orders, while Chuck offered Sally a raised eyebrow.

"Bed, Captain?"

"Of course..." Sally watched the blue mobian as he walked away, still reminded of the man she had mistaken him for, "of course Doctor. Thank you."

With that, Sally palmed the door controls, and promptly exited Sickbay.

...

Ship's log, January 25th, 2554. Commander Julian Snively Robotnik, Executive Officer. Our voyage goes without incident, systems and crew performing adequately. Awaiting arrival of new Bridge Officer Lieutenant Talion. Nothing additional to report at this time.

"Mister D'Coolette..." Antoine jerked with a start, ears perking like a wild animal's as the clipped tones of Commander Robotnik called across the Bridge, "I trust you aren't dozing at your post?"

"N... no Captain- Commander!" Antoine stammered, straightening in his seat and rubbing at his bloodshot eyes, "I am sorry Commander!"

The Commander grumbled as Antoine continued his duties. Beside the Ensign, Bunnie smirked and exchanged a knowing glance with Lieutenant Polski at the communications console. Kid needs to learn to hold his liquor, she chuckled quietly as she thought.

Snively reclined in the command chair and crossed his legs, tapping at the Captain's computer. The systems bleeped softly as he pinged the inter-ship communications, opening a line to Engineering. "Mister Rotor, this is the Bridge..." Snively said, almost sounding bored, "anything to report, Commander?"

"Not a sausage, sir. Runnin' smooth as grazebeast butter down here!" the gruff walrus-mobian responded heartily, " 'cept this coffee's a disgrace. May as well start suppin' on the engine coolant as drink this slop..."

"Thank you, Commander Rotor..." Snively replied through grit teeth, "that will be all. Report should anything come up."

"Aye, will do sir. Engineering out."

Snively released an impatient sigh, unable to care less about the ship's caffeine problems. The human's attention was thankfully diverted as the Bridge doors slid open behind him, and a grey-uniformed figure bearing Lieutenant's insignia strode in.

"Commander!" The blue mobian smartly stood at attention beside the Captain's chair, "Lieutenant Tallen, reporting for duty sir!"

Snively grunted, eyeing the man over. The human didn't know if the man beside him was handsome or not by mobian standards, but he certainly held himself like the cocky, overconfident fly-boys who had ruthlessly tormented Julian in his younger days at the Academy.

"Yes," the human said idly, gesturing to the Communications console, "man your position, Lieutenant. Mister Polski? You are relieved."

The two Officers followed his command, the female lieutenant vacating her station for the mobian. Polski smiled and blushed at a wink from the hedgehog-mobian, before taking her leave and allowing Tallen to take his position. The Lieutenant happily acquainted himself with the systems, quietly humming a jaunty tune beneath his breath.

Snively's lip curled. Already the man was annoying him.

The Bridge fell silent, save for the usual blink and chitter of the instruments. The artificial atmosphere hummed. A perfectly ordinary morning-cycle shift aboard a GUNSC starship. The morning went by without incident, Snively merely ordering the odd report as the ship continued to plough through Slipspace, until the Bridge doors hissed open again.

"Cap... Commander! May I have a moment?"

Snively turned to find a tall, blond-haired human woman stride onto the Bridge, clad in an olive-green uniform and bearing the stripes of a Sergeant-Major. The woman stood smartly beside him, piercing blue eyes regarding the deck panelling across the Bridge. "I apologise Sir, I was expecting the Captain."

"Of course. What is the problem, Topaz?" Snively said patiently, regarding the tall human. The Sergeant Major was a veteran of the previous war, the chief of the ship's Marine security contingent, and about the only other person on the ship he really respected.

"Commander, my people are getting antsy..." the Sergeant Major said, "half of them are fresh outta boot, the other half saw action in the war. The young'uns are hungry to prove themselves, the older 'uns are more interested in talking about how indestructable they all are. And they're bored."

"Understood, Sergeant Major..." Snively adjusted in his seat, "do you have anything you would like to suggest?"

"The new training facilities on board ship are a little... lacking, Commander..." Topaz replied, "Small. Cramped. I'd like to get my Marines working in open spaces again. I was wondering if it would be possible while we're out here to make landfall at any worlds and carry out field exercises? It'd certainly be good to keep my people busy. Given the opportunity, of course."

"Hmm... yes, I understand..." The Commander leaned forward and rubbed his chin, "it is certainly a thought, Sergeant Major. Bored troops hasn't been a concern for quite some time."

"Yes sir, it's kinda strange not having an enemy to fight..." Topaz replied, "back in the day it wouldn't be too long before our Marines saw action."

Snively nodded. "I will speak to the Captain," the man said, giving Topaz a stern nod, "thank you for voicing your concerns, Sergeant Major."

"Aye Sir," Topaz replied, "don't want our people getting soft, after all..."

"Quite." Snively offered the woman a brief, rare tweak of a smile. "Just because we are no longer at war does not mean we can kick back and-"

"Commander!" Snively and Topaz' conversation was cut off, both humans looking to the source of the interruption. "Sir..." Lieutenant Tallen said screwing his face as he scanned his instruments, "You may want to take a look at this, Commander..."

...

The Bridge doors slid open once again, this time to reveal the sharp-eyed face of a freshly woken Captain Acorn. The Commander had, as per Sally's orders, informed her of the present situation, and Sally had swiftly readied herself for duty and made her way to the Bridge. "Status, Commander?"

Robotnik stood from the command chair and made way for the Captain as she strode briskly across the Bridge. "Transmission detected, Captain." Snively gestured to the communications station, signalling Sally to join him, "the Lieutenant will detail more."

"Captain..." Tallen offered a brief glance to Sally as she approached his station, "it's faint, but... it appears to be some kind of distress signal."

Sally nodded. "GUNSC?"

Tallen shook his head in thought. "I don't believe so, Captain... it's weak, I don't think it's one of ours... but it doesn't appear to be Covenant either."

Sally folded her arms, rubbing a hand over her peach muzzle. "Independent ship perhaps? Civilians?"

Tallen grimaced. "Unsure. I'm not reading the signal as anything recognisable, Captain. Human or Covenant. It's not like anything in our records."

Sally and Snively exchanged a glance. "Could it be Forerunner?" Sally enquired, voice low as she voiced the possibility.

"If there's a chance..." Snively replied, "we're obligated by GUNSC protocol to investigate. Forerunner technology is invaluable to Fleet Command."

Sally chewed her lip. "Perhaps," she replied, "but if this is truly a distress signal... I believe we are also obligated to investigate, and provide assistance if we must. Forerunner technology or no."

"It does mean delaying our mission to the Andreas system, Captain..." Snively reminded her.

Sally gave the man a pointed glance. "Andreas isn't going anywhere. Right now I'm more concerned with investigating this signal, right here and now." The chipmunk-mobian gave Tallen a pat on the shoulder. "Thank you, Lieutenant."

"Of course, Ma'am!" The Lieutenant offered Sally that gap-toothed grin, before returning to his duties.

Sally nodded, adjusting her uniform and making her way back to her command chair. "Very well. Mister D'Coolette? Adjust heading and drop us from Slipspace near the source of that signal. Mister Tallen will provide coordinates."

"Aye Ma'am," D'Coolette did as ordered, hands tapping at his console as he altered the Knothole's course, the ship being reprogrammed to exit the immaterial realm at the desired point in space. "Heading adjusted, we will arrive at the coordiates in two hours seventeen minutes."

"Very good," Sally exchanged a glance with Commander Robotnik, the two command officers taking their respective seats and looking ahead to the shuttered Bridge windows, "Mister Tallen, inform us of any changes in the transmission. Let's see what's out there."

...

Ship's Log, Captain Sally Acorn Officer Commanding... I have diverted the Knothole to investigate the source of an unknown transmission. It appears to be a distress signal, however further analysis has failed to uncover anything more about its nature...

The sleek gunmetal-grey shape of the Knothole emerged from Slipspace, slipping into the material realm without incident. The ship coasted through the empty black vacuum, her hull dark with the lack of any nearby stars to light her. Her rear-mounted engines pulsed blue, the primary Slipspace Drivers settling now she had returned from the other dimension.

"Transition to realspace complete, Captain..." Ensign D'coolette reported from the Helm, "Slipspace drives disengaged, raising protective shields..."

"Thank you Ensign," Sally replied, crossing her legs as segmented sheets of Titanium-A armour retreated from the Bridge windows, "Mister Rabbot, scan the sector. Mister Tallen? Continue monitoring the transmission."

Sally's orders were carried out swiftly, instruments clicking and bleeping at their operators' hands. Stars twinkled in the black void out the Bridge windows.

"Time to see what's waiting for us, I suppose..." Commander Robotnik muttered, one hand rubbing at his pointed chin.

"Signal's a lot clearer now Ma'am," Lieutenant Tallen reported from communications, "definitely not one of ours. Transferring coordinates to Helm."

"Thank you, Mister Tallen." Sally replied, crossing her legs as she shifted in her seat.

"Captain, sensors picking something up..." Bunnie spoke up from her own station, eyes locked on her scanning instruments. "coming into visual range, Ma'am."

"Onscreen."

Bunnie complied, tapping at her console. The holo-display before the Bridge windows became opaque, flickering into life and blinking as the Lieutenant-Commander adjusted the magnification. The image zoomed in, focusing on a metallic object almost invisible in the blackness of space.

"That's it, Captain..." Talion said from his station, "that's the source of the signal."

On the main viewscreen, a vessel hung in space. Dull grey, sausage-shaped, structures raising like steps just before what appeared to be finned main engines.

"Six-hundred metres, hull composition... very similar to Titanium-A..." Bunnie tapped at her instruments as she surveyed the vessel. "Minimal power. Reading a breathable atmosphere, Captain."

Sally adjusted herself in her chair. "Life readings?"

"Scanning, Captain."

"Certainly appears human..." Snively rubbed his pointed chin and frowned, "though I am unfamiliar with the design..."

"Affirmative, Commander..." D'coolette reported from his station, "ship construction does not appear in our records."

"Unable to translate the signal Ma'am..." Tallen spoke up, turning to face the Captain with those emerald green eyes, "it's highly encoded."

Sally nodded, staring into the image of the bloated grey ship, "quite the mystery we have here..."

"Captain, I'd like to get closer." Bunnie requested smartly, "see if we can't get a clearer scan."

"Understood," Sally replied, "Mister D'coolette, bring us within ten kilometers of the vessel. One third thrusters. Nice and slow. Mister Tallen, open hailing frequencies."

"Yes Captain, one-third thrusters..."

"Hailing frequencies open, Ma'am."

The Knothole cruised through space, slowly closing the distance between herself and the mystery vessel. Her communications array pinged the other ship, transmission beamed instantaneously across the void.

"Unknown vessel, this is Captain Sally Acorn of the GUNSC Knothole..." Sally spoke, the Bridge crew remaining silent as they stared into the viewscreen, "GUNSC Knothole to unidentified vessel... if anybody is aboard and able, please respond."

Nothing. The Bridge atmosphere hummed around her.

"Dead in space..." Snively said quietly, frowning as he surveyed the ship on the screen, "quite ominous, if I may say so Captain."

"Yes, just a bit..." Sally replied.

"Captain, I'm detecting life signatures..." Bunnie reported, brushing one of her long ears over her shoulder, "extremely minimal, but they're there Ma'am." The rabbit-mobian turned to regard her Captain curiously. "Human, looks like. Very low..."

"And the mystery deepens," Sally sighed, running a hand through her brown head fur as she regarded the strange vessel, puzzled. The chipmunk clapped her hands on the arms of her chair. "Okay people. Suggestions?"

"I reckon we should send a team over, Captain..." Bunnie said, swivelling in her chair as she spoke, "go over an' check it out."

"Perhaps it would be more prudent..." Snively replied, "to stand off and continue our scans." The human laced his fingers and reclined in his seat. "Rather than hastily running into an unknown situation." Bunnie set her jaw as the human looked at her pointedly.

"Personally, I'd like to see what's over there..." Lieutenant Tallen spoke up, joining the discussion from his station, "I doubt our scans will pick up much more than we already have... Captain!" the young Lieutenant perked his ears and straightened in his seat, "I volunteer to lead an away team!"

"Mister Tallen..." Snively droned, offering a condescending glare to the mobian, "if we are to dispatch a boarding party I would refer to send a more experienced officer..."

"Commander, I'm perfectly capable!" the hedgehog protested, "I've led over a dozen simulated missions! I know how to handle it!"

"The key word there would be 'simulated', Mister Tallen..."

"Captain?" the Lieutenant turned to Sally, puppy-dog eyed and ears drooped, "give me a chance?"

Sally remained silent as she contemplated the situation. "Well, congratulations Mister Tallen..." she said at last, locking eyes with the younger officer, "you're in charge of the away team." The Captain keyed her communications panel. "Sergeant Major Topaz? Ready your Marines. Six-man away team. Lieutenant Tallen will be down to brief you shortly."

"Aye Captain. Away mission will be ready in fifteen. Topaz out."

"Thank you Sergeant Major." Sally cut the line and looked back to Talion, who positively beamed back at her. "Well, Lieutenant? Go ready your team."

The hedgehog jumped to his feet and snapped a crisp salute at Sally's order. "Aye, Captain! I won't let you down!"

Sally smiled patiently as the Lieutenant left the Bridge, looking to Snively as the doors slid shut behind her fellow mobian. "Our new Lieutenant seems very eager," she said dryly.

"Yes..." replied the Commander, peering down his hooked nose at the ghost ship on the viewscreen, "yes he does."

...

The Knothole now hung suspended in the void, having come to a relative dead stop some ten kilometres from the unidentified starship. The daggerlike ship's engines glowed a light blue, ready to fire should the ship need to make a hasty retreat. Beneath the prow, at the very front of the cylindrical lower hull, the armoured shields of the hangar doors lay open, exposing the glimmering blue energy field keeping the atmosphere inside the ship.

In the large hangar bay, flight deck crew in their multi-coloured overalls readied a bulky green snubnosed craft. A Pelican dropship, standard vacuum-transit vehicle utilised by the GUNSC Marine Corps. The vehicle's engines whined, fuel pipes disengaging from their ports as the deck crew made her ready for operation. Behind the craft, a several squads of the Knothole's Marine contingent trotted into position, clad in olive armour and clutching their weapons.

"Marines!" The soldiers, each of them human and Earth-born, stood ready as Sergeant Major Topaz stalked before them, hands clasped behind her back as she addressed her men, "you apes have been sitting around with your thumbs up your asses long enough. Time to stretch those legs of yours. You will board and secure our mystery ship, so we can begin to figure out just what it is we are dealing with out here..." the woman stood tall, raising a hand to gesture to a shorter, blue-furred figure beside her. "Lieutenant Tallen here is in command of the mission. You will report directly to him. Nice and easy job people, let's get over there and get it done." One Marine raised his hand, garnering Topaz' attention. "Go ahead, Drake."

The Marine, a pale-skinned human with a misshapen nose, lowered his hand and glowered. "Confirmed no hostiles, Sarge?"

"What's the the matter, Drakey?" another Marine, a dark-skinned female with glowing prosthetic eyes, grinned and jibed, "trigger finger itching?"

Armoured shoulders shrugged. "Ain't used to goin' so long without a fight," the man replied.

Another Marine cackled, a broken-toothed grin showing from a tanned young face, "man, I hope there's someone over there!" the man grinned, setting his MA5 rifle onto his shoulder, "someone's gotta teach you guys how to kick some ass!"

"Be quiet Calzino, you ain't ever made a combat drop..."

"Y'know what they say, Hindi!" the cocky Marine, Calzino, grinned mischievously, "first time is always the best!"

"You're such a dumbass, Calzone..."

"Hey!" Topaz raised her voice, immediately regaining the attention of the squabbling Marines, "Mouths shut. Heads out of asses. Saddle up, we launch in five. Lieutenant?"

Tallen, who had been watching the display with fascination, jerked in place and pricked his ears as Topaz addressed him. "Y... yes? Ma... Sergeant Major?"

Topaz regarded him patiently, gesturing to the waiting Pelican. "Take them out, Sir."

The Lieutenant paused, momentarily taken aback at being addressed as 'Sir' by the older woman... before remembering his place and the job at hand. He cleared his throat and looked to the Marines. "Okay... okay, Marines! What say we go see who's waiting for us over on that ghost ship?"

Topaz watched the Lieutenant troop the Marines onto the dropship, impressed at the young man's apparent confidence. Kid'll go places she thought, as the dropship's boarding hatch clamped shut, and it was time to clear the deck.

...

Ship's log... Pelican 01 has launched without incident, presently on a course to dock with the unidentified vessel. I have dispatched a boarding party of Marines, under the command of Lieutenant Tallen, who volunteered for the mission without hesitation. He lacks field experience... but then again we must give our fresh Officers the opportunity to gain it. Nevertheless, I believe he will perform well.

"Dropship approaching the vessel now, Captain." Bunnie reported, console chirruping as she checked her instruments.

"Thank you Mister Rabbot," Sally keyed her chair's console, the systems blinking as she opened communications to the Pelican. "Pelican 01 this is the Captain... status, Lieutenant?"

Her screen crackled and popped, a familiar blue and tan face fizzling into view from the perspective of the Lieutenant's handheld communications device. "Captain, this is Mike! Status is green, picking you up loud and clear!"

Sally exchanged a glance with Snively, before her muzzle tweaked into an amused smile. "Glad to hear it... Lieutenant 'Mike'."

The hedgehog at the other end blanched as he realised his mistake, before grinning sheepishly into his commpad. "Sorry Ma'am! Just nerves, y'know? First field drop an' all!"

"I understand Mister Tallen," Sally replied patiently, lacing her fingers as she reclined in her chair, "keep us informed as best you can, please."

"Aye, Captain! Tallen out!"

The screen flickered off a moment later, Commander Robotnik appearing less than impressed. "Damn cowboys..." the human grumbled.

"He's just a young man, Commander..." Sally replied calmly, leaning forward in her chair to shift her attention to Bunnie. "Mister Rabbot? Any change in those life readings?"

"Negative, Captain..." Bunnie shook her head, frowning as she checked her scans, "life signs are still extremely low... but steady as a rock. And definitely human." the rabbit-mobian looked back to Sally, puzzlement in her lime-green eyes, "Not quite sure what we're lookin' at here Ma'am, but somebody's alive over there."

Sally nodded, eyes locking back on the ship onscreen. "Understood, Lieutenant-Commander. Continue monitoring the away team."

"Aye Captain."

...

"I'm tellin' ya... I got a bad feelin' about this..."

"Sure, Delgado, that's what ya always say..."

"Screw you man, I got a sixth sense for this shit..."

"What, like when we were ambushed back in NM?"

"Like that was my fault..."

Lieutenant Tallen ears perked, glancing around the cramped interior of the Pelican dropship at the chattering Marines. The soldiers, members of the Knothole's Marine security contingent, were all human. All larger, and stronger, than him. Some of them battle-hardened. The mobian couldn't help but feel a little out of his depth among these tried and tested warriors, and he suddenly found himself wondering if he had done the right thing in volunteering for the mission.

"Steady on, folks..." Corporal Drake, presently in charge of the squad beneath the Lieutenant, grimaced as he raised his voice to berate the squabbling soldiers, "I don't need yer' yappin right now."

Private Hindi grinned, Prosthetic eyes glinting and pearl white teeth flashing in the darkened Pelican interior, "That's what you get for tryin'a keep up with the Lieutenant-Commander, Drakey!"

"Commander Rabbot ain't no pushover, Hindi..." Drake grumbled, "could probably drink straight reactor coolant if you dared her."

"Rabbot?" Calzino spoke up, the young man scoffing, "you mean the Moby?"

"Stow it, Marine..." Corporal Drake's tone suddenly shifted, the human eyeing the younger man dangerously. An awkward silence descended over the platoon, though this didn't deter Calzino from looking to the Lieutenant and grinning broadly.

"Lieutenant! Hey, El-Tee! C'n I ask you somethin'?"

Mike turned and locked eyes with the man, recognising the challenging tone in his voice. The human maintained his grin, though his eyes twinkled with mischief. Corporal Drake said nothing, merely offering the hedgehog a pointed glance. Mike nodded patiently, understanding that this was his problem to deal with, and looked back to Calzino. "What is it, Private?"

Calzino's grin didn't waver. "So what brings you out here, El-Tee? The Navy giving out special discounts to Moby's these days?"

Mike's quills bristled. The Private was dangerously close to speaking out of line, and was probably banking on the fresh-faced mobian Lieutenant being too green to dare reprimanding him. This was a test, plain and simple.

Mike shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know," he replied evenly, "why don't you tell me why you joined, Private?"

Calzino leaned forward, seemingly baring his teeth hungrily. "To kill aliens, sir!"

The Pelican hummed with power around them, the rustle of fabric and the odd cough the only sounds permeating the atmosphere.

"Well... to answer your question, Private..." the Lieutenant laced his fingers and chewed his lip thoughtfully, "I'm here... for this," Mike raised a hand and gestured around the cramped troop bay of the Pelican."

Private Hindi was the first to speak. "A dropship, Sir?"

Mike grinned. "No Private, not the dropship... the adventure!" The hedgehog cast a look around the Marines strapped into their seats, the humans exchanging baffled frowns and cynical smirks, "going out into the unknown, exploring the galaxy... building a peaceful future for our peoples... who knows what we'll find out here! Sure, we were at war a long time, and it'll likely be necessary to fight again... but this is the thing that made me want to join the service."

Calzino merely smirked. "Sounds like we got an explorer, Corp!"

"Zip it, Private..." Drake grunted.

"Don't mind Calzone, El-Tee!" Hindi grinned, "boy's wet as a whistle! I reckon his mama were still breast-feeding him before he joined the Corps!"

The Marines cackled as Calzino flapped his jaw, bucking in his seat as the soldier beside him scuffed his helmet with a gauntleted hand.

"Attention, Marines..." the troop bay communications system crackled, the pilot's voice drawling through the speakers and demanding the attention of the dropship's occupants, "we are sixty seconds to dock and counting. Wake yourselves up folks, I want you off this boat so we can clear out the smell."

"Roger that..." Drake keyed his helmet-mounted commpiece and replied dryly, "okay people you heard them, saddle up and be ready to move soon as we're docked. Nice and easy folks, ain't nothin' we haven't done before." The Corporal shot an unamused look down his disfigured nose to a snoozing Marine at the end of the troop bay. "Somebody wake up Weirzbowski!"

...

The docking sequence had gone without incident, the Pelican turning slowly in space with gentle bursts from its thrusters, until it had clamped onto one of the vessel's underside airlocks. A pair of Marines had gone ahead to secure the insertion point, before the rest of the boarding party followed through.

Lieutenant Tallen's breath misted in the air, the interior of the ship dark and cold. The Marines stalked the empty halls, weapons readied, the silence around them like a thick blanket. A light mist danced in the spare overhead lights, making the mystery vessel seem even more like a ghost ship.

"Jeez, man..." Private Hindi whispered, MA5 rifle clutched close to her chest, " 's like a graveyard in here..."

"Quiet," the Corporal spoke up, hefting his own weapon with a grimace. "Hold here. Demarco? Plug into a terminal and find me a layout of this ship. I don't wanna be walkin' round in circles all day." The Marine in question jumped to his duty, retrieving a laptop-sized device and working on connecting it to a nearby console. The Corporal looked to his Lieutenant. "Might be a good idea to check in with the Knothole, Sir..."

Mike turned to regard the Corporal with a start, having been absorbed in the cold and dank atmosphere of the ship. He nodded patiently and retrieved his communications pad from his belt. "Yes... thank you, Corporal."

"O' course, Sir."

The device chirruped as Mike activated it, raising it as the screen flickered. "Tallen to Knothole..." Before long, the fuzzy brown and peach features of Captain Acorn fizzled into view, the Captain reclining in her usual position.

"We read you, Lieutenant..." the Captain said, sharp eyes alert as she regarded him through the screen, "status on the away mission?"

"The vessel appears abandoned, Captain..." Mike replied, glancing back along the misted halls of the ghostly ship, "no sign of activity. She could have been floating around out here for decades, Ma'am. That's how it looks, at least."

"Our scans have confirmed human life signatures," the Captain said carefully, her image looking into the top corner of the screen as she ran a finger down her chin, "stay on your toes, Tallen. Appraise me of any developments, no matter how minor."

"Aye, Captain. Tallen out." Mike thumbed the commpad, the device returning to his utility belt as he powered it off. His other hand rested on the grip of the pistol holstered at his hip as he cast a long look down the dimly-lit deck. "What is this place..."

"Corporal! Lieutenant!" Mike's ears raised at the sound of Demarco's voice, the Marine gleefully raising his device triumphantly, "I have schematics of the ship, Sir! Not much, but it should be enough to get us around!"

"Good work Private," Corporal Drake joined the Marine, looking over the information Demarco presented him, "least now we won't be chasin' our tails... no offence, Lieutenant."

Mike smirked. "None taken, Corp..." the mobian peered into the display, checking on Demarco's results. Deck plans of the ship, basic and spare. The hedgehog-mobian glanced back to Demarco. "Can you download any more information on this ship?"

Demarco grimaced and shook his head. "Negative, Sir... this is a basic access terminal. We want any more info, we'll have to head deeper into the ship. Find a main computer or something."

"And where would that be?"

The Marine considered a moment, and shrugged. "Well this appears to be the main Bridge..." a gloved finger pointed to the raised section of the hull at the rear of the ship, "probably our best bet. But I doubt they'd have stored all their records in one place. There are probably multiple access points throughout the vessel."

Mike exchanged a glance with Corporal Drake. "What do you think, Corporal?"

The Corporal wiped at his misshapen nose with a thumb and cleared his throat, breath misting in the frigid air. "Recommend we split into two fireteams, Sir. Cover the Port and Starboard, move through the ship, meet up on the Bridge. Leave a rearguard to cover the insertion point and protect the Pelican."

"Won't that make us more vulnerable to attack?"

"Begging your pardon Lieutenant, but I doubt whoever's on this tub has the means to repel a platoon of the GUNSC's Finest..." the Corporal offered the Lieutenant a half-smile, the battle-hardened soldier clearly confident in his peoples' ability. "We can handle it, Sir. And be done twice as fast."

Mike furrowed his brow, considering his options. Drake was right. The life signs aboard the mystery ship were faint - whoever was on board would pose no problem for the Marines.

"Very well Corporal," Mike looked to Drake and grinned. "Assign your teams. Last one to reach the Bridge buys the drinks?"

The human guffawed loudly. "Aye, El-Tee. Sounds like a plan."

...

Ship's log... the away team has divided their efforts and are proceeding to investigate the ship in two teams. Life signs aboard the vessel remain weak, but persistent. The Marines have been instructed to proceed with extreme caution in light of the mysterious nature of this ship...

"I'm tellin' ya man..." Private Calzino spat a gob of mucus into the grated deck panelling, grimacing as he hefted his MA5 rifle, "that new El-Tee thinks he's hot shit. Hear what he said 'bout 'goin' into the galaxy' n' all that Bravo-Sierra? Dumbass Moby..."

"Put a sock in it, Calzone..." Private Hindi swept her rifle around a corner, the rifle's flashlight cutting through the light mist filling the halls, "what you got against Moby's all'a sudden?"

Calzino shrugged. "I jus' don't like 'em, okay? I signed up to shoot aliens, not to take orders from 'em."

"You're jus' jealous..." Hindi smirked as the younger Marine swept by her, rifle raised as he moved, " 'cos he's cuter than you!"

Calzino guffawed, looking over his shoulder to flash her a shit-eating grin, "what, you got a thing for the furs now Hindi? You wanna marry El-Tee Ratboy-"

"Hey!" The Marines jerked at the raised voice of Corporal Drake, the older Marine glaring as he rested his rifle on his shoulder. "What is this, coffee morning at the pango club?! Mouths shut, the pair o' you! Weirzbowski? Take point from these jokers..."

The two cowed Marines fell behind as Private Weirzbowski sidled into their place, the Corporal not far behind. Hindi elbowed Calzino in the ribs and was rewarded with a hissed curse for her efforts, but otherwise the two soldiers fell back into line and continued their sweep.

Corporal Drake suppressed a shudder, swearing to a God he didn't believe in that the temperature had dropped another notch. His breath billowed into the air, joining the mist that had progressively thickened as the Marines made their way through its empty halls.

"This is too creepy, man..."

"Stay vertical," Corporal Drake muttered, eyes scanning the darkness. " 'Bowski, move it up..."

The Marines continued forward in silence, weapons ready to snap up at any moment as the interior of the ship gave way from barren, utilitarian corridors, to stranger machinery... snaking tubes that became more numerous as the humans ventured further, quietly blinking lights, thin green tubes that cast an eerie glow across the decks as they carried out their unknown function... and the mist grew thicker.

"What IS this shit, man?" Calzino waved his hand in the air, the young Marine becoming agitated as the squad's visibility fell to just a few metres, "somebody leave the refrigerator open or somethin'?"

"Quiet, Calzino..." Drake wafted his hand before his face, questioning much the same thing, "maintain discipline. Check your corners."

The Marines crept on, the increasingly unsettling environment rousing them into full alertness.

"Corporal... Corporal!"

"Weirzbowski?" Drake strode forward, moving to catch up with the Private manning point. The green glow permeating the atmosphere intensified, drowning the environment in its ominous light. Drake found Private Weirzbowski, pale-faced and wide eyed, portable scanning device held at arm's length to the wall. "What is it, 'Bowsk?"

"Corp..." the other human swallowed and jerked his helmet to the wall, Drake following the gesture and becoming still. "Take a look at this..."

Drake made his way through the mist, approaching his fellow Marine's discovery with furrowed brow.

"Huh..." the Corporal wiped his nose with the back of a glove and thumbed his helmet mic, "Lieutenant Tallen? Found something, Sir..."

"That's funny Corporal," the Lieutenant's voice crackled through Drake's earpiece in reply, "I was about to say the same thing..."

...

The Lieutenant stood, the Marines arranged around the deck, bathed in the green glow of wall-mounted cylinders. His hand rested on the grip of his Magnum, the hedgehog-mobian's brow furrowed... as he regarded the figure stood quietly before him.

One of the Marines, Private Derrick, leaned close to the figure, reaching out to poke it with the barrel of their rifle. "Man..." the human said quietly, helmet turning as they looked to the Lieutenant, "what are these things, El-Tee?"

Mike shook his head. "I'm not sure, Private..."

The fireteam stood in the green glow from overhead, shrouded in cold mist while on either side of the deck, arranged within small man-size alcoves, dozens of what appeared to be robotic suits of armour stood absolutely inert. The humanoid figures were connected to their alcoves, segmented tubes and pipes snaking around the deck. Each was human-sized, a dull shade of grey in colour, bare steel-grey servos beneath the carapace of their limbs.

Private Derrick's rifle made contact with the closest figure with a dull clunk, before the human shook their head and offered a puzzled look to the Lieutenant. "Some kinda power armour, Sir? Like the MJOLNIR series?"

Mike shook his head. "No... check the limbs..." the hedgehog gestured to the spindly endoskeleton showing beneath the carapace, "ain't nobody wearing that unless they go on a real strict diet... some kind of robot, by the look of it. Demarco?"

"Yes Sir?"

"Scan it. Let's see what we're dealing with."

"Yes Sir."

Mike stood aside as the Private retrieved his scanning device, the tablet blinking and chittering as Demarco held it toward the mechanical figure.

The Lieutenant keyed his commpad. "Captain, this is Tallen... we have found a number of what appear to be some kind of robots..." the mobian raised his communicator, screen toward the machines in question as he transmitted the footage back to the Knothole, "unsure of their function, but they appear inactive. Orders Ma'am?"

"Interesting..." Captain Acorn's tinny voice echoed in the darkness, the glow from the screen dimly illuminating the inert machine, "the crew, perhaps?"

"Unknown Ma'am, but they aren't responding to our presence."

"Understood... be careful over there Lieutenant. Keep us posted."

"Aye, Captain. Tallen out." The Lieutenant returned the communicator to his belt and sighed heavily. "I don't like this," the hedgehog muttered, running a hand through his military-cut quills, "status on those scans, Private?"

Demarco stared into his datapad, a bemused expression pasting his features, "I don't understand this, El-Tee... but I'm detecting life signatures. Human."

"What?" Mike approached the Marine and peered into the datapad, the human lowering the device for the shorter mobian, "internal organs. Brain, lungs, heart... like they were just taken out of a person and transplanted into the machine," Demarco grimaced at the thought.

"What about the others?" Mike gestured along the line of machines, the Private moving to scan two more units.

"Same, sir..." Demarco shot a nervous glance along the deck, as though the machines would spring to life at any moment, "what the Hell were they doing on this ship?"

Mike grit his teeth, hand now tightly gripping his Magnum. "Let's find out," the hedgehog gestured down the hall, the Marines following as he moved to investigate. The humans were silent now, weapons at the ready, carefully passing the rows of inactive machines. Their rifle flashlights strobed through the mist, checking their corners, while the Lieutenant led them onward.

"Look..." Mike ducked his head toward a pair of heavy metal doors, presently clamped shut. A blue hand gestured to what appeared to be an operations console mounted beside the door. "Demarco? Cover me."

"Aye sir," the Marine approached, rifle at the ready as the Lieutenant stood before the console. The other Marines covered the rear, rifle lights sweeping the frigid halls as Mike reached for the console. The mobian furrowed his brow, eyes scanning unmarked buttons, before making a decision at random and thumbing the controls. It took three attempts, but eventually a light blinked green in the frame, and the heavy doors slid open. Mike licked his lips, hand ready to retrieve his pistol, before he carefully stepped through the door.

This room was devoid of the machines, Waist-high consoles bathed in the green glow from overhead were arranged before a cylindrical column, bearing computer consoles and blank screens, at the far end. The Marines swept the interior of the chamber, covering the Lieutenant as he made his way deeper inside.

Demarco ducked his head, helmet bobbing as he gestured to the column at the far end. "Looks like a major access terminal, Sir."

Mike nodded. "Check it out, Private." Demarco moved in, cautiously approaching the console while gripping his equipment. The Marine began his work, the Lieutenant casting a wary gaze around the chamber.

"The sooner we're done here the better..." Private Derrick muttered, rifle trained on the open door behind them, "man... this place just reeks of wrong..."

Inwardly, Mike agreed with the Private's sentiments. He swallowed, supressing his own nerves. "Steady on, Private. Demarco! Status?"

"Working on it Sir," the Marine tapped at his datapad, licking his lips as he worked, "attempting to break into the system. Give me a moment and... bingo!" The Private turned and grinned toothily. "I'm in, El-Tee! Piece o' ca-"

"INTRUSION ALERT. INTRUSION ALERT. INTRUSION ALERT."

Every Sentient in possession of ears winced as a stiff, robotic voice blared from loudspeakers situated in the upper reaches of the chamber, accompanied by a shrilling alarm and flashing lights. Mike clasped one hand over a triangular ear, gesturing frantically with his free hand as the mobian's more sensitive eardrums were assaulted. "SHUT IT OFF!"

Demarco's fingers batted at his console, the mechanical voice echoing in the chamber as it was finally silenced. The interior of the ship became cold and still once again.

The Marine grit his teeth, a pained expression plastering his face as Mike regarded him. "Sorry El-Tee..." Demarco said, "but I think I got it..."

Before Mike could respond, the interior of the starship echoed and rattled. Something pinged from the deck panels elsewhere in the ship. The dull hum of the atmosphere grew louder. The Marines exchanged startled glances, weapons raising to their shoulders and clicks and whirrs resounded... from the deck outside the still-open entrance to the chamber.

The Lieutenant's hand gripped tightly to the grip of his Magnum, ears pinned as he and Demarco stared wide-eyed toward the door. "Dear Chaos..." he whispered, "please don't let that be what I think it is..."

...

"You wanna go? Eh? You wanna come get some?"

"Charlie Foxtrot, Calzino..." Private Hindi leaned her head back and sighed, peaked helmet swinging around to regard the other Marine with a look of reproach, "can ya clam the hell up?"

Behind her, separate from the other Marines, Private Calzino bounced before one of the immobile machines as though sparring with it. The cocky young Marine turned and grinned, apparently completely unconcerned with their present predicament. "What's the matter, Hindi? Scared that Tin Man here's gonna wake up an' get ya?"

Hindi lowered her head and glowered. "I ain't afraid of nothin', Calzone..."

"Keep it down..." Corporal Drake shot an infuriated glance over his shoulder, finger jammed into his helmet communicator as he again tried and failed to hail the Lieutenant, "Calzino, get back in God-damn line. Lieutenant... lieutenant Tallen, come in please..."

The young Private hefted his MA5 rifle, pausing as he turned to sweep the hall to lean close to the machine to stick his tongue out.

Hindi shook her head and sighed. "Such a child..."

Calzino shrugged. "What?" He smirked, armoured shoulders shrugging petulantly, "what's it gonna do?"

SNAP.

"CHARLIE FOXTROT!"

Hindi screeched as, in one instant, the previously inert machine's arm snapped out, clamping around the collar of Calzino's armoured torso like a vice. The Private squealed, pop-eyed as glowing red optics flickered into life inside a black visor, boring into his eyes as it lifted him like a paper bag and stepped from its alcove.

"JESUS CHRIST!" The human's feet kicked, rifle clattering to the deck as he struggled in the robot's grip, "HELP ME!"

"PRIVATE!" Corporal Drake raised his weapon as Calzino screamed, the other Marines following his lead as their attention was instantly diverted to the performance. Rifles pointed at the machine, remaining silent as the Marines hesitated, their fellow right in the line of fire. "PRIVATE! PRIVATE CALZINO!" the younger Marine continued to scream for help, gauntlet uselessly batting at the silent robot's featureless face. "GOD DAMMIT!" Drake lunged forward, raising his rife butt to club the machine's arm... and was promptly send flying across the deck as the robot's other arm whipped him across the helmet.

"KILL IT!" Calzino pleaded, the machine beginning to carry him away, "FOR GOD'S SAKE KILL IT!"

Rifle fire sputtered, single shots ringing out as the horrified Marines aimed and fired. Armour-piercing bullets slammed into the machine's back, cracking through the grey carapce and ripping apart internal systems. After a dozen rounds it seemed as though the thing wouldn't stop, the Marines now pursuing... before its head exploded and Calzino plumetted into the deck. The headless and bullet-riddled remains swayed in place, sparking as its former cargo quivered on the deck, a smoking Magnum sidearm in hand.

"Cease fire... CEASE FIRE!" Corporal Drake wheezed orders as he heaved himself to his feet, swaying as he surveyed the carnage. "Report! Somebody tell me what the Hell just happ-"

"CORPORAL! LOOK!"

Drake spun around, rifle unsteady... to find a dozen more of the machines stepping from their alcoves, glowing red eyes blinking as the robots activated.

Hindi's mouth flapped, as red-eyed machines began to march toward them, "Drake? Drake what are we doing?"

The Corporal shook his head, clearing stars as his rifle butted against his shoulder, "what do you think?! Kill 'em all!"

...

Chaos reigned in the computer chamber, the fireteam desperately ducking behind waist-high consoles as grey-armoured figures stomped into the room, glowing-eyed mechanical zombies single-mindedly coming for them.

Mike's hand was numb, the mobian hedgehog's pistol smoking as it deposited explosive-tipped rounds into another of the advancing cyborgs. The thing sputtered and fell, knees buckling as it leaked fluids from its shattered chest cavity. He fumbled with his weapon, struggling to exchange the empty clip, as rifle fire roared around him.

The hedgehog winced, the Marines pouring a wall of fire from their cover. He kicked himself into action, retrieving his communicator as Private Demarco ducked down to reload beside him. "Tallen to Knothole, come in! Tallen to Knothole this is an emergency, do you respond?" The screen flickered. the device remained silent. Mike raised his hand to his earpiece, triangular ears flattening from the noise. "Corporal Drake?! Come in! Corporal, do you read?"

Nothing. Their communications must have been jammed. Mike realised too late that the entire away team was now split up and in immense danger of being destroyed piecemeal by the ship's defenders.

"Lieutenant!" A green-armoured shape ducked beside him, Private Demarco wide-eyed and breathless as he struggled to reload his weapon, "look out!"

Mike flattened himself to the deck as the human's rifle raised, a burst of armour-piercing rounds sailing over his head... before in intense screech split the air, and the ballistic fire ceased. Mike rolled onto his back, pistol raising, finger clamping on the trigger as his sights landed on the bullet-stricken carapace of his attacker. The machine released high-pitched bleeps and whistles, red optics flickering out as the pistol roared and the hedgehog put it down for good.

"Private? Private!" Mike looked to find Demarco sprawled on the floor, eyes closed, the Lieutenant crawling on his elbows to check the man's pulse. The human was out cold, but alive. More high-pitched squeals sounded, the officer scrambling to his feet to investigate and re-join the fight.

The machines advanced, arms raised, electric-blue beams of light lancing from their thick forearm carapaces. A Marine danced as he was hit square in the chest, mouth open in a silent scream, before he collapsed to the ground. Stunned. The cyborgs marched on.

Private Derrick was hit, quivering as they spun, finger clamping onto the trigger of their MA5 and spraying bullets in a wild arc. Mike inhaled sharply, his pistol clattering across the deck as a stray round took three of his fingers. The mobian's eyes bulged, his other hand clamping around his wrist, as the other humans were cut down by electric lasers.

Mike gaped around in shock, his hand numb with pain, as the last Marine slumped. The machines scanned the chamber, eyes glowing sharply, before advancing. The mobian took action, ignoring the pain in his shattered hand as he lunged for a fallen MA5 rifle... and promptly took a beam to the back.

The Lieutenant groaned, dazed and barely able to move yet still conscious. The mechanical swarm chittered and bleeped, marching forth to claim their prize. It was over.

...

The Bridge of the Knothole was at its usual calm, officers going about their work as the instruments chittered and blinked. The bulky grey hull of the mystery ship hung in the viewscreen, as quiet and inactive as it had been when the Knothole had found her.

"Continuing scans Captain," Bunnie reported from her station, "no change."

"Thank you Mister Rabbot," Sally checked her computer, noting no further attempts at communication from the away team. She sighed, leaning back in her command chair to appraise the vessel onscreen, "I don't like this," she muttered, brow furrowed as one hand rubbed at her muzzle, "something's not right?"

"What is it?" Snively raised an eyebrow, hands clasped behind his back as he returned from checking a crewman's station, "everything appears to be in order."

"Indeed Commander," Sally reached for an aluminum mug of caffeine and took a swig, the bitter contents not helping sway the unease in her gut, "I still don't like it. They should have reported back by now."

The Commander pinched the bridge of his hooked nose, wiping sleep from his eyes as he stood. "They would have reported," he replied tiredly, "had they anything to notify us of."

Sally chewed her lip, considering. "Perhaps..." she admitted, reminding herself that her human Executive Officer was well-qualified for his role for a reason. "Nevertheless," Sally continued, "continue monitoring the ship. Hail the away team again in-"

"Captain!" Sally's ears pricked as Bunnie cried from her station, "I'm detecting energy spikes! Unidentified ship is powering up!"

"Yellow Alert!" Sally raised from her chair and strode toward Bunnie's station, glaring into the viewscreen at the ship, "raise shields!" Onscreen, the bloated grey ship began to glow with external lighting, the rear-mounted engines building into a dim blue glow. "Polski! Hail our people!"

"No response, Captain!"

"Captain!" It was Ensign D'Coolette's turn to raise his voice, eyes frantically scanning his instruments, "the vessel's Slipspace drives are engaging! They are preparing to disengage!"

"Can you track them?"

"Negative, Captain!"

"Weapons!" Commander Robotnik strode forward, eyes locked on the now active ship, "do they have shields?"

"No Sir!" Bunnie regarded her own scopes, "but I don't recommend-"

"Arm forward energy projectors. Precision beam, mid-intensity. Target and disable their primary Slipspace Drivers. Captain?"

Sally, who had been regarding her Executive Officer with intense scrutiny, took one moment to consider before she nodded, leaning back over the weapons console. "Do it, Mister Rabbot!"

Bunnie complied, spinning the ship to bring her nose to bear on the retreating vessel. The mobian tapped the required calculations into her console, and licked her lips as her eyes locked on her target. "... Firing."

Instantly, thin beams of white-hot red light slashed across the empty vacuum distancing the Knothole and the other vessel, connecting the Knothole's prow with the bulbous rear-mounted engines of the ship. The beams worked like a scalpel, slicing through the plating and severing internal components, disconnecting the units from the power that fed them with the energy needed to drive the vessel into the Slipspace realm. Space crackled and warped with extradimensional light a hundred metres from the ship's prow, dimly building into a disfigured portal... before collapsing back into nothing. The ship's hull flickered with the dying light.

Silence blanketed the Bridge as the crew gaped at the vessel, drifting as its rear engines pulsed and died. The ship became seemingly inert once again, it's hull lighting flickering out with the engines.

"Ship disabled, Captain..." Bunnie reported, "her power is returning to previous levels..."

Sally released her breath. "Status on the away team?"

"Scanning..." Bunnie checked her scopes, searching for the boarding party's life signs. "Unable to detect. I'm no longer able to scan the interior of the ship. Reckon we're being jammed, Ma'am."

Sally grunted, before offering Bunnie an appreciative grip on the shoulder. "Noted. Thank you Mister Rabbot, continue scans..." The Captain stood and turned, scrutinising Snively intensely. "Mister Robotnik... inform Sergeant Major Topaz I want a rescue operation assembled and underway as soon as possible." The Captain set her shoulders, ice blue eyes boring into the human's along his hooked nose. "We will speak later in my ready room..." she added quietly, before striding for her command chair. "As of now our mission is to rescue the personnel aboard the unidentified vessel," the mobian said loudly, addressing an entire Bridge of anxious crew before setting herself back into her command chair, "let's bring our people home."

...

It was quiet. Too quiet.

Drake clasped his canteen, gulping a mouthful of water as he surveyed the now empty halls of the ship before him. Behind him, Hindi worked to patch up the arm of a shaking Private Calzino, who gripped his pistol in his free hand like a vice. Nothing moved in the deck now. It was quiet.

Three of them left. That was it. The other Marines had been shot with the robots' beam weapons, their bodies falling limp, before being carried away as remaining Marines were pushed back. One man was confirmed dead, having fallen on his own grenade. The machines had taken the others, to where... Drake didn't know. All he knew now was that he and his remaining troops were the last ones left, lost in the guts of the vessel.

But they still had to get out.

"Come on..." Drake returned his canteen to his belt and hefted his rifle, regarding the other two Marines with fatigue, "let's keep moving..."

Calzino's helmet clunked against the wall, the young Marine white-faced and exhausted from the fighting. Hindi looked up the the Corporal with wide brown eyes. "Where to, Corp?"

Drake looked up and down the hall, before armoured shoulders shrugged. "Anywhere but here..."

The three Marines rallied and continued investigating the bowels of the vessel, now utterly lost - Private Weirzbowski had been in possession of their map of the ship and he had long been taken, and they were now hopelessly lost. There were no internal directions of the ship, its mechanical crew seemingly not needful of such a thing. There had been no signs of the machines themselves, the robots having seemingly retreated for now. Perhaps they had powered down once again. Drake didn't know, no did he care so long as he could get his people out alive.

"Drake..." Hindi's rifle swept the hall, her flashlight landing on the headless body of one of the mechs. The machine stood still, filled with holes and leaking fluid that pooled around its feet.

"Keep moving," the Corporal grunted, "don't touch it."

Calzino eyed the thing as they passed by, his hand gripping his pistol like a vice. The Marines moved on, weapons ready as they crept through the deck, passing by more signs of battle. The bodies of destroyed robots lay here and there, shattered with gunfire, black and red fluids leaking from their corpses.

"Drake..." Hindi whispered, gingerly creeping around a pool of red, "that... that's blood."

"Corp... Corp!" Drake turned to Calzino, who stood over one of the downed machines, "look..."

The Corporal approached Calzino's discovery, the robot below missing much of its torso canopy... inside, he made out something that shouldn't have been there.

"Dear God..." Drake muttered, nudging the machine with a toe. Inside the machine's exposed torso, a case filled with organs had been shattered, displaying what appeared to be lungs and a heart.

Calzino shuddered, staring up at the Corporal wide-eyed. "What's goin' on here, Corp?"

"Nothin' good..." Hindi murmured as her MA5 covered the hall.

Drake stood, setting his shoulders as he stared at the wrecked machine. "Let's get the Hell outta here..."

The Marines continued, the ship remaining as dark and quiet as it had been when they had arrived. It seemed it was again operating on minimal power.

"Corp..." Hindi spoke up, one hand clutching her helmet as her prosthetic eyes scanned the walls, "I'm picking up IFF tags... Drake, it's the other team!"

Drake stopped, checking his own helmet's eyepiece, noting that indeed Hindi was right - the signature of several of their own, close by... and alive.

"Drake?" Hindi said quietly, "what do we do?"

Drake set his jaw and looked around the deck. "We find our people. Whatever we have to do... we're gettin' them out with us."

Calzino opened his mouth and drew a breath to protest... but just as swiftly clamped it shut at a look from Hindi.

The Marines moved on, following the trail of their comrade's digital tag. The signal led them to an open door, the Marines carefully covering each other as they crept into the room.

A long line of man-sized pods were arranged along the far wall, bathed in green, mist creeping up from the grated deck plating. Several of the machines stood around the room, dormant, black visors empty, seemingly powered down once again. They had apparently been at work, some of them tending to the pods, others stood idle at blank computer stations. Drake shuddered to imagine what the things had been doing in here.

"Corp..." Hindi all but whispered, "our people... they're in those things..."

Drake stood stock still as he looked at the pods, the life signatures of the Lieutenant's fireteam blinking in his helmet eyepiece.

"What?" Calzino's voice shook, his pistol waving erratically, "why would they do that? Why would they put them in there?"

Drake raised a hand to silence the Private, before slowly handing his rifle to the man and creeping toward the nearest pod. His hand wavered over the unmarked controls, unsure whether to attempt opening it or not.

"Drake..." Hindi said quietly, "you really wanna do that? We don't know what might happen..."

Drake hesitated, considering his options before released a sigh. "Gotta do something..." the man's hand hovered above the control panel undecidedly, before he made a decision and placed his finger on one of the few buttons.

It seemed he had chosen correctly. The pod hissed, a crack appearing around the middle of the casing... before the upper section peeled up, opening like a lid to reveal its contents.

"Oh my god..." Hindi gasped, mouth gaping as her eyes scanned over the individual inside, "Drake... is that-"

"I think so..." Drake grunted, his own gaze locked on blue carapace glinting in the dim glow of green light, "the Lieutenant."