VC2 Chapter 19-Present Day

Sector 2300

Planet 2305

November 13, 2052

“Sir, our warp engines have overheated, we're being forced out of warp.” McClelland reported as he looked on his computer.

The Nighthawk violently exited warp space into an asteroid field. The ship slammed into an asteroid creating a spectacular display of fireworks sending debris and ship parts all over the space.

“Hull breach. Aft side, engines are shutting down.” an officer frantically typed on his computer.

“See that planet? We're going to land there with the remaining power.” Charlie pointed at the nearby luscious green planet.

Charlie steered the battered frigate clear of the asteroid field making sure he did not slow down or else they would not make the planet with such low speeds in the asteroid field.

“Charlie, we've lost all engines.” an officer reported to the Admiral as sparks flew from his console.

“Send a distress signal out to Northern Base.” Charlie commanded.

“Aye sir. Patching transmission to NB.” the communications officer acknowledged.

“We're being pulled by the planet.” the officer reported as he changed his command station when an electrical fire broke out.

“I can see that. Get to the escape pods.” Charlie watched as the surface of the ship began to turn into a scorching red as it fell into its atmosphere.

                                                                        * * *

McClelland stared at the lifeless body of Charlie and zoned out into the crash debris in front of him. At the corner of his eye, he saw a section of the ship that was intact with three large capsules. One of the capsule glass case had been shattered, another was deformed by the crash, but one was fully intact.

“Get Charlie into that cryo pod now!” McClelland yelled as he dashed towards the capsule.

“But he's gone sir.” an officer grabbed an emergency fire pax and chopped off the tree impaling Charlie.

“Not fully. The brain is still alive for a few minutes. The cryo pod will put his brain into deep space hibernation just enough time for rescue. Do it now.” McClelland opened the capsule and keyed in some figures.

Two officers grabbed ahold of Charlie's arms and carried him to the capsule. McClelland inserted some needles into Charlie's arm and watched as the hibernation solution go into the body.

“Seal it up.” McClelland dashed to a nearby console for cryo sequence activation.

One officer buckled Charlie into the his place while the other monitored the flow of the hibernation solution. McClelland pushed a button on his console and watched as the glass door hiss shut.

“Is it going to work?” the officer watched as the capsule began to quickly freeze inside.

“We should be able to slow down the cell degeneration process. It's never been done before, but I sure hope to God that it works.” McClelland exhaled deeply and sat on the floor in exhaustion.

 “This is NB Rear Admiral Tarbuck, does anyone copy? Repeat, this is Rear Admiral Tarbuck, does anyone copy over?” a nearby computer fuzzed with static.