Two Falling Stars

Posted on Sun Feb 14th, 2021 @ 2:30am by Captain Aurther Winters

Mission: Not Where I Belong
Location: U.S.S. Chuck Norris & Hiobos V, in the Iulara Star System
Timeline: Current

OFF: Well we got to get down to that planet somehow!

(U.S.S. Chuck Norris - Bridge)

Commander G'ginloss was on the edge of his seat. Both metaphorically but also physically as he tried to keep himself composed in the Command chair. The bridge as well as the ship felt a little more empty, which had to do with the fact that almost a quarter of the crew was sitting in two shuttles, waiting for the right moment to leave the ship. Normally Ensign Keegan would be manning the helm, but of course with the Chief Engineer on the bridge, Keegan was now keeping the most vital part of the ship running as smoothly as one could. Lt. Riley had moved herself over to Tactical in the interim and Lt. Brooke was at this point the best helmsman on the ship.
There was a sense of tension that could be felt on everyone's shoulders. On the main view screen the medium sized planet was now growing larger into view. Normally a ship would begin to slow down to 1/4 impulse as the tried to attain an orbit. In this case though, full impulse was ordered by Captain Winters. This was the both the best case for trying to subvert any passive sensors, while also giving the best angle to hit the atmosphere and get out while hopefully not appearing as any sort of ship.

"ETA to the drop zone?" The Commander asked.

"54 Seconds, based on the scans we received from Ensign Djon we should in the right area, with a margin of error of around 7%." Riley replied back
"7%? That seems like quite a margin." The Klingon looked over with a little concern.

"The best we can do, a little bit more of a margin then I know we would like, but enough for them to adjust on their way down."

"Understood, please link up the computer with the docking bay, and give the shuttles the standby orders."

"Aye sir."

(U.S.S. Chuck Norris - Shuttle Bay)

Winters knew that the Chuck Norris was now hitting the upper atmosphere of the planet. Even with the inertial dampeners, he could feel the vibrations of the ship. A rather large bump caused the teams heads to bounce slightly. The readout on the computer screen in front of him flashed a standby message before a countdown appeared. 20 seconds until the release of the shuttles. To do their best, as they did before, both shuttles would be launched from the ship without power, and essentially free fall and glide down to the surface, only powering up with a relative height of safety to subvert any sensors or early warning systems that maybe in place.
10 Seconds.
The lights in the shuttle turned off and were replaced with a low dim red. Aurther leaned back in his seat and tightened his restraint straps until they were almost uncomfortably tight. He would rather they be tight, then loose. A lesson he had learned long ago in a similar situation.
5 Seconds.
The doors to the shuttle bay opened under them, and the fire and flames of a ship ramming itself through the atmosphere could be see brightening up the interior of the shuttle.
3...2...1.
Winters thought he might want to say something, but nothing came to mind, just better to roll with it.
With a gentle thump, for a brief second everyone felt weightless. It was just what happened in these few seconds between leaving the ship and entering the atmosphere. It was a peaceful moment, just as the shuttle left the ship, nosed down and started head towards the ground. It almost felt like you were flying, and it was quite the site to see when you were in the cockpit. Reality was a harsh mistress though, and as quickly as it came, it left, and the consoles lite up and started to display altitude, GPS position, speed, hull pressure. The shuttles rocked as they passed through the rougher of the air.

"Keep your eyes on that altitude" Winters ordered out, his hands continually making small adjustments to the helm as the shuttles rapidly made their way to the intended landing zones.

"Aye sir, 76,000 feet"

"Adjusting heading, 022 mark 003"

=/\= Shuttle Beta, adjusting heading 039 mark 351 =/\=

"Copy that, what the jet stream, we are beginning to drift"

=/\= Compensating =/\=

"Alright, split up, and proceed on mission, see you at the rendezvous point"

=/\= Roger that Captain, good luck =/\=

The two shuttles split away as the delicate ballet of landing unseen began. Within a few more seconds both shuttles made their landings, unscathed and unseen.

OFF

Captain Aurther Winters
Commanding Officer
U.S.S. Chuck Norris