Wanderer über dem Nebelmeer

[Traudel Habermeyer]

acc->sing dat>>|se...

...K((-S#r7t/e...

...awaiting input...

...recording

Identification: [FEHLER]

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UNBEKANNTE FUNKTION

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A glitched recording starts, artifacts in both visual and audio data rendering the beginning nearly useless. It takes time before clearing up. Stops entirely and restarts to a clearer version of itself. The bridge visible once more, air hazy. Everything tinted red due to emergency lights. Blinking and beeping from various directions. "... -adensbericht!" Traudel's response delayed due to a coughing fit. Speech slower than usual. She appears sweaty. "... ... ... reactor survived, something still draining it slowly and i got some unexplained readings here. We run on auxiliary power. Hull took damage portside, integrity not compromised. Shield emitters overloaded. Likely blown. Sensors still out and refuse to accept returning power to them. Chronometer as useless as before. For everything else i will have to take a walk... my head hurts." "That... was a gas pocket and a half. Is anyone else... feeling warm?" "So does mine, focus. We are not... being fired at yet, so they are either... ... trying to get back on their feet or perished. We must work on the former, lest the latter happens to us." "I do, Schneider. And i do not like it. With your permission i will check... check on the reactor first, sir." "Granted, ab mit Ihnen. We need power back."

Laboured breathing, sluggish footsteps and familiar corridors the only content shown for roughly half an hour. Traudel seems to lean or rest against walls often. Sometimes walking back the direction she came from only to turn around halfway. Her voice weak, somewhat whispering. "Old... girl. I will... will be there soon. Mama just needs t-... to breathe, ja? B-... breathe? ... ... ... breathe. Breathe!" Coincidentally exactly that picks up as the words are uttered in a frantic attempt to get back on her feet, stumbling and falling her way through the corridor. Prying open a nearby emergency kit shaky hands rip through its contents and pull out an oxygen mask. Several deep breaths later she gets up again, collecting two more masks on the way back to the bridge.

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LKANNTEFNL#---uuiIIIImitted

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[Traudel Habermeyer]

accessing database...

...KKS-Sprotte...

...awaiting input...

...recording

Identification: Habermeyer, Traudel

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Submitting Log Entry

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Arriving back at the bridge the recording device is tossed on a nearby surface. Traudel hurries to both men, both slumped over their respective stations barely reacting. Equipping Kertz and Schneider with an oxygen mask each, then helping them sit back down properly. Waiting for signs of betterment. "Come on you two, we cannot lose more. I cannot lose more!" Moments pass as she simply stares, nervously playing with her fingers. "... faule... Sau, hah..." Schneider comes to first, weakly scoffing. "Were you not told... to go to the reactor?" "Pfah, love you too. But ja. Ja i was. What good is that when we have no air anymore?" "CO2 scrubbers out of order?" "Good morning, Herr Kaleun. I hope it is just that. Had to turn around, we all must have laid here for Kaiser knows how long. I will go again now that we can breathe." "Good catch, Habermeyer. Schneider, take another moment then go and fetch all the masks we have." He nods, leaning back a bit more while taking deep breaths. Traudel collects herself briefly, walks over to her device and leaves the bridge with it.

Nearing her destination she slows down, speech muffled by the mask. "Warmer than it should be. What upset you old girl? Speak to me bitte." Watchful eyes scan the surroundings, some wall panels are removed and the wiring checked. Her search continues deeper into the Sprotte's bowels, coming across a row of cables emitting sparks. "... knew that was not enough. I am sorry love, but we had to work with what we had at the time. Let me see about making it better... hrm, no good. I cannot touch that right now. This just is not right, you are on auxiliary power, yet i ran this one right from the reactor. You should not... ... wait. The constant power drain!" Snapping her fingers a few times Traudel starts tracing the sparking cable back.

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Log Entry Submitted

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[Traudel Habermeyer]

accessing database...

...KKS-Sprotte...

...awaiting input...

...recording

Identification: Habermeyer, Traudel

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Submitting Log Entry

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Motivated by a clear lead Traudel navigates through the Oder's interior. "Left pulse cannon. Kept acting up. That must be it! Come on, come on, come on. We are on the clock!" Picking it up even more and dashing around a corner she barely manages to stop herself before running into another mess of sparking cables and a partially fused together security door. With a surprised gasp she fights for balance and composes herself. "... what... ? No no no nooo...! Argh, Dreck... " A few fruitless efforts of attempting to open the door via nearby access panel later she sighs, turning around and heading back to the reactor itself. Stopped by yet another obstacle before being able to enter - main entrance door refusing to operate at all. Traudel is sweating at this point, heavier breathing affecting her speech. "... hard to get now, are we? Fine, emergency hatch it i-...akh-... ouch!" She pulls her hand back from the maintenance hatch's handle, shaking it out. Dropping her recording device on accident. "That was way too hot." Picking it up again a worried glance down the corridor follows as she makes her way back to the bridge yet another time. Stopping briefly at different sections of exposed wires, holding her hand close but not touching them.

Wiping sweat from her brow Traudel places her recorder on a nearby console, slumping down in a seat. "Access to the reactor proves difficult and i suspect we have at least one inaccessible and potentially lost compartment near the portside hardmount for heavier equipment." Kertz's face shows worry upon realizing. "... the pulse cannon." "Ja, exactly. Parts of the wiring harness are hot as well." "Knew it, the ion storm! Don't even give me that look, Habermeyer. Options?" "Not a lot. We gamble and cut wires here something could go horribly south if we make one mistake. Or..." "... or one of us goes for a walk and has a look at the exterior to try fix it from there." Nervous glances are exchanged, Schneider swallows. Traudel fidgets with her hands as Kertz runs one through his hair. "What else is there? If we know how it looks we at least have options. I am willing to do it - did say i have to go for a walk for the rest anyway, did i not?"

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Log Entry Submitted

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[Traudel Habermeyer]

accessing database...

...KKS-Sprotte...

...awaiting input...

...recording

Identification: Habermeyer, Traudel

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Submitting Log Entry

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Nervously tapping her leg Traudel sits in front of the airlock, Schneider barely out of frame working on a heavy duty spacesuit. "Ever thought we would need that thing?" "Not really. Then again, glad we had to pack it." "I still believe this is more to make us feel better than anything else. Come on, Habermeyer. This versus Oder shipyards? It's like slapping a bandaid on an open wound with the bone still sticking out..." "Way to encourage me, Schneider. Besten Dank auch..." "I am just saying..." "You said enough, is it good to go?" "Seems all in order." "Seems?" "Is in working order. I went over everything twice to make sure. But we are still on the clock here, Habermeyer. Besides, while you were busy looking at whatever you were looking at, i did that. Could have given me a hand..." "... i am calming myself." "Calming yourself?" "That is what i said, ja." "Right. Mind sharing?" "You would not get it, Schneider." "Try me." "... here." She reaches over to pick up the recording device and hands it to him. Schneider's face a mixture of mild surprise, confusion and then amusement.

Data

"Was zum... you drew that yourself while we lacked oxygen?" "Woah! Slow down there, that are fighting words. I have you know these are all from the most renowned artist in the entirety of Sirius and maybe even beyond!" "And who would that be?" "Revenant of course, silly. She drew them years ago for me, they are no doubt priceless pieces of art today!" "... ... ahum, ja. Clearly." "See, the first ones are of the Akhetaten and Commodore Uhmen, we met her in Hudson. Great woman, wonder how she is doing these days. The last is a visual mockery of the Unioners." "Suppose for once you were right, Habermeyer. I did not get it. What about you take that with you as a good luck charm?" "Hold onto it for me, perhaps they grow on you. It is an acquired taste and you could do with some culture, Schneider." "Oh get into your suit and out of here!" Both snicker before Traudel is helped inside the suit and steps into the airlock.

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Log Entry Submitted

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[Traudel Habermeyer]

accessing database...

...KKS-Sprotte...

...awaiting input...

...recording

Identification: Habermeyer, Traudel

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Submitting Log Entry

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Schneider meanwhile makes his way back, not paying much attention to what Traudel's device captures or not. Some more sparking cables, tools of different variety and a whole lot of corridor. Back on the bridge Kertz looks over his shoulder, eyes the recording device and quirks a brow. "She has not taken that with her?" "Nein. If i had to guess scared to lose it." "Likely, kept her grounded more often than not. Get a comms channel established, we need to hear how bad it is." "Jawohl, Herr Kaleun." After but a few moments static crackling can be heard - then it clears up. While waiting Schneider reaches over towards the camera, readjusting its position for a somewhat better frame.

"Habermeyer here. On my way. First assessment: Hull is severely scorched on this side. Parts of it definitely warped. The Vierlings i can see are... they are fused together with their hardpoints. Barrels, if i can even call them that anymore, entirely useless. Wait, it gets worse over here... that... it is the pulse cannon. That thing still holds a charge!" Both men look at each other upon hearing it. "Repeat that. Pulse cannon still holds a charge?" "Affirmative, sir. Crackling bright and violently over there. Almost like it is priming to fire." "That must be our power drain. Can you get any closer visual on it? How does the cannon itself look?" "Unlikely but i will try, sir." "Exercise caution, Habermeyer." "Understood."

Minutes pass without any word, both Kertz and Schneider sigh and rub their faces. The former gets up, crosses his arms and stares out into the nebula. Schneider turns a dial, frowning. "Habermeyer, come in. Do you read?" Static returns at first. "... -ay back. Pul-... ... is ... ... -ring." The recording begins to distort more, nearby viewport turning brighter and brighter. "Something is happening out there..., Habermeyer. Report!" No response from Traudel, footage starting to shake. "Herr Kaleun, do you feel that?" "I do. We have to get her ou-..." With a blinding flash of light, strong rumbling and a sudden deterioration of quality everything turns black after mere seconds.

Silence.

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Log Entry Submitted

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