Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE
DESPERATION

2012 HOURS
NOVEMBER 5^TH 2232
APPROX 1.3 BILLION KM FROM EARTH

CAPTAIN’S LOG
DAY ONE

It has been little over an hour since the recent incident. At approximately 1830 HOURS, we arrived at Objective LIMA-4, and proceeded with STAGE-3 planetary orbit around Titan. Instantly following this event, engine three began to overheat and automatically shutdown. According to Ilya Pirunov, the ship had received a substantial dose of radiation from sheer solar activity, causing our systems to overload and cooling systems to malfunction. In response to this, I instructed the engineering department to handle the problem and to call me when they were finished.

Due to being limited at 75% of our engine power, we followed protocol by delaying until all engines were operational, and attempted to establish connection with Earth at approximately 1842 HOURS. However, XO Luke Hunter could not manage to do this. We first suspected our transmitters to be malfunctioning, but Dr. Edward Scott, otherwise known as Normandy, claimed that they were working fine. I ordered Hunter to repeat attempts on establishing contact with Earth, and until now all tries have failed.

However, at about 1852 HOURS, Flight Lieutenant Jim Ramirez activated all alarms as an asteroid, approximately 110 meters in diameter, was detected on a collision course for the ESV Nightingale. I immediately ordered all power channeled to engines. Ramirez took the initiative of igniting all boosters, which if it was not for him, this LOG would not be in recording.

However, as we came to 100% power, incidentally reviving engine-three, we did not accelerate quick enough to fully evade. The asteroid crashed into the ESV Nightingale’s furthermost aft. This, in turn, compromised our two main engines, which are now beyond repair.

Unfortunately, this day did not pass without casualties.

Although blast shields snapped in to protect the second-half of the engine room, Ilya Pirunov was sadly in the first-half, and was lost in space immediately. Inside the Medical Bay, an unfastened scalpel, apparently, slid from a high table surface and inadvertently sliced across Dr. Dale Maritz’s neck.

Both losses have caused a massive impact on our crew. Dr. Maritz was a talented researcher, who has been with the ESV Nightingale since its commission. And Ilya Pirunov was, despite his erratic enthusiasm, a valuable asset to the team. Both will be honored with a state funeral upon return to Earth.

On that point, the damage caused resulted in a chain reaction of events that compromised our life support system. As of now, we only have approximately 2,400 hours of oxygen left, about 50% of what we initially carried upon arrival of LIMA-4, and 20% less of the minimum amount we need to land on Titan.

I have officially cancelled the mission, for the safety of the people onboard the ESV Nightingale, which is my first and foremost responsibility.

We are now on the fastest route back to Earth, and will take us approximately sixty days to arrive. I only hope that the accident did not cause too much trauma that might cause issues en route; our medical officers are currently treating every crew member to prevent such.

But I cannot help but feel that sooner or later...

...something will go wrong.

END OF ENTRY