Snippet #1351595

Uncharted jump gate g0062a, 12:14 am TST, January 24th, 2287...

There was a heated argument going on in the bridge of the MSV Ulysses.


"Patton, didn't we discuss this yesterday, and the day before that? We're going through the gate, that's and order, and that's final." said Flynn.

For the past two days, Patton had taken every opportunity to argue against going through the g0062a jump gate. He was so persistent, that Flynn ultimately threatened to give the order for him to be confined to his quarters for the duration of the voyage, which initially seemed to have ended the argument.

"I don't like this." was all Patton had to say.

Satisfied, Flynn turned back to the holographic display in the center of the Ulysses' bridge. The bridge was a long room, not unlike the command center on Liberty's Song, with polished metal walls and rows of computer terminals. At the head of the bridge, the ship's navigator, Mary Decker, a short woman with bleached blond hair and brown eyes, was busy monitoring the ship's final course corrections en-route to the jump gate. Most of the operational staff were seated at the various terminals in the bridge. Contrary to twenty first century science fiction depictions of a ship's bridge, that of the Ulysses was tucked away in the heart of the ship, and, much like the rest of the warship, had no windows of any kind.

A few minutes later, the Ulysses was at a near stand still compared to the enormous jump gate before them.

"Interceptor 01 ready for launch. On your mark, Sir" said the Navigator.

Flynn took a deep breath, and gave the order. On the view-screen at the head of the bridge, a small vessels rocketed away from the Ulysses into the jump gate. Several seconds passed.

"We have the signal. No gravitational anomalies...Temperature at an ordinary 3 kelvin...Alright, looks like the gate is clear" reported one of the bridge staff.

Decker looked up at Flynn, who nodded. "All crew, prepare for interstellar transit." she said over the ship's PA system. The ships engines engaged, and the Ulysses lurched forward towards the jump gate. A subtle blue light formed in the heart of the ring, and the ship surged through, emerging dozens of light years away in the system adjacent to Lysk territory...