The Avalon Incident

The following is a transcript of a cockpit voice recorder taken from the wreckage of a patrol vessel found near Starbase Avalon. While investigators are still far from concluding their investigations into the tragedy at the former station, they believe that this transcript may prove to be the key to unlocking the whole riddle.

[Transcript of cockpit voice recording of 07:27 20th June 2082 to 01:58 22nd June 2082 from NASA Patrol Vessel P-352E operating from Starbase Avalon. Transcription created by Dynosoft(TM) VoiceReader(TM) version 2.2.7]

[Selected excerpts only]

[07:27]

[Male voice - identified as Flight Sergeant Tom Davidson (TD)] Good morning everyone this is your Captain speaking. We are about to embark on today's flight which will involve lots of small stars, a big rock and plenty of sleeping so if you could all please fasten your seat-belts tightly and we will be ready. There will be food and drink served on-board in little plastic packages, and if we can get the chief engineer drunk enough then she will be providing today's entertainment. Thanks you for flying with NASA airlines.

[Female voice - identified as Chief Engineer Olga Domelzowich (OD)] If you have drinks onboard then you'll be providing today's entertainment for boys over in security.

[TD] No beer, but my socks are fermenting, they should do.

[Male laughter]

[Male voice - identified as Flight Navigator Miguel Marin (MM)] Oh man, that's rough, even for you.

[TD] Thought you'd like that one. You ready?

[MM] Suppose so. Coordinates set and locked, it looks like a quiet day.

[TD] Olga, how's the baby doing back there?

[OD] The engine is doing just fine Captain, thank you for asking. How's your hangover?

[TD] God, don't remind me. I hate these early morning runs. Alright let me ring in. Control, this is patrol craft papa-3-5-2-echo, do you read me?

[Male voice - identified as Flight Controller Grahame McQuinn (GMQ)] Loud and clear. That you Todd?

[TD] Morning Mack, what are you doing there? You're normally only staggering home from the pub at this time.

[GMQ] Funny as always Todd. I’m on the graveyard shift now, it sucks. Where you headed?

[TD] Apteron, sector tango-7-3.

[GMQ] OK, I've got a Mongoose supply ship coming though tunnel 331 in five, you can have that one. You got your girlfriend there with you there Todd?

[MM] Morning Mack.

[GMQ] Morning Mig.

[MM] Hey Mack, I heard what happened to your sister. Oh man, I'm so sorry for you.

[TD] Ah geez. She had such a bright career ahead of her too, so tragic.

[GMQ] What are you on about?

[MM] She got married last weekend didn't she. What a waste.

[TD] I couldn't believe it, broke my heart it did.

[Male laughter]

[GMQ] You guys are a riot. She's very happily married to a good man thank you very much.

[TD] Yes but she had so much going for her and now look at her - the singles bars will never be the same again.

[GMQ] How would you know, Todd. The singles bars you go to don't have any women there.

[Male laughter]

[TD] It’s true. I need to stop going around to your place, I never find any chicks there.

[Male laughter]

[GMQ] Still stalking me Todd?

[TD] Actually I was after your mother but she's not the goer she once was.

[Male laughter]

[GMQ] Hey Todd, where's that Russian chick? She's being awful quiet.

[OD] The Lithuanian woman is doing just fine thanks, and I'm sure there's little of consequence I could add to this highly intellectual discussion.

[MM] Quick, someone pass me a dictionary. My head's going to explode.

[Male laughter]

[OD] You guys.

[GMQ] I see you haven't corrupted her yet, what's up? Doesn't normally take you so long.

[TD] She's a tough case. Something in the Lithu-whatever blood I think. She'll break soon enough.

[MM] Yeah, we've got the thumbscrews on order.

[GMQ] You would. What you doing out by Apteron, by the way. That place gives me the creeps.

[MM] Organic anomalies. Someone's sending us on a bug-hunt.

[GMQ] Little green men? Cool. If you meet my brother out there tell him I said hi.

[Male laughter]

[MM] Actually, we're kind of hoping to be abducted by a race of female aliens who'll use us as guinea pigs for their cross-breeding experiments.

[Male laughter]

[GMQ] Wow, sign me up. Bring some back for me will you?

[TD] Nah. It’s probably just some mutant killer lichen really. Some boffin's computer's on the blink and we're now being sent out to chase a dead rock. These things are usually false alarms. It's something to do, I suppose.

[GMQ] I should send you on then, the boss is giving me funny looks. 331's about to clear. You all set?

[TD] Ready when you are.

[GMQ] OK, taking you out.

[Loud whooshing noises followed by white noise]

*** LONG PAUSE ***

[07:52]

[GMQ] OK, Todd, I've disengaged the beams. You're in place. You all set?

[TD] Anything to report Mig?

[MM] Negative, should be a smooth ride all the way.

[TD] Chief, how's the baby?

[OD] Everything's just fine here. Ready to engage.

[TD] Control, all systems green. Engaging engines.

[Loud whirring noises fading to throbbing noise]

[TD] Control, all systems are go, standing ready.

[GMQ] Alright Todd, you're free to go. Good luck. Control out.

[TD] OK everybody, hang tight. We're out of here. Mig?

[MM] Engaging.

[White noise]

[8:42]

[MM] Damn it I'll never get used to that.

[TD] Sure you will, just give it a few more years. How we doing?

[MM] Just fine, we're at stable cruising speed. The course is locked and the path's clear all the way. ETA 16 hours.

[TD] Chief?

[OD] No problems here, Captain.

[TD] OK, Mig you take the first watch. Get me in five hours. Chief, you're place or mine?

[OD] Dream on.

*** SECTION REMOVED ***

[0:26 21 June 2086]

[TD (in background)] Pass those over, will you.

[MM] Sure.

[Scratching noises]

[TD] OK. Time is twenty-seven minutes past midnight. 21 June 2086. NASA Patrol Vessel papa 3-5-2 echo on recon mission to the asteroid Apteron. We have been in transit forrrr... just under sixteen hours and are about to disengage warp engines. Everyone online?

[MM] Flight Navigator Miguel Marin reporting in. No problems to report. Coordinates locked and ready.

[OD] Chief Engineer Olga Domelzowich reporting in. All systems green.

[TD] OK, one big happy family. Everyone made a wish?

[OD] I wish you would take these things more seriously.

[MM] I wish the Chief Engineer was Swedish.

[TD] Excellent. Strap yourselves in everybody. Decelerating in ten, nine, eight, seven, six...

[MM] I hate this bit.

[TD] ...ur, three, two, one, and go.

[White noise]

[1:10]

[TD] Right, everyone still in one piece?

[OD] All fine here.

[TD] You OK Mig?

[MM] Still a bit dizzy, I'll be fine.

[TD] OK. I'm taking her into orbit around the rock. Chief, start running the scans from the Northern tip downwards. Mig, go get yourself a coffee. I'll keep an eye on things from up here.

[MM] Sure. Don't break anything while I'm gone.

[1:15]

[MM] Todd, can I get you anything while I'm here?

[TD] I'm fine, thanks.

[MM] How about you, Chief?

[OG] I wouldn't say no to an espresso.

[MM] Sure, I'll bring one around. How abo...

[TD] Hold on, Mig. Clear the channel. Chief, I'm reading something on the north-eastern side, four kilometres due south of Ridge A14. You see it?

[OG] Umm, yeah. I got it. Looks like a large organic mass. Can you take us around the ridge?

[TD] Already doing so.

[MM] Hey cool! Little green men? I'm coming up there.

[TD] Big green men by the looks of it. Probably nothing to worry about though. Have your coffee.

[MM] Alright, you're the boss.

*** SECTION REMOVED ***

[1:31]

[TD] OK, Chief. We're coming over the ridge now. We should be able to get a clear view of it.

[OG] No.

[TD] What? Oh shit.

[MM] What? What's going on?

[TD] Here, take a look at that.

[MM] Jesus, what is that?

[TD] You tell me, I'm only the mission leader. Hang on, I need to record this.

[OG] Todd, you need to see this.

[TD] One sec. Let me make the log first.

[OD] OK. I'll patch it up to you in the meantime.

[TD] Alright. Time is now 1:33, 21 June 2086. NASA Patrol Vessel papa 3-5-2 echo on recon mission to the asteroid Apteron and currently in orbit over target. We have just...

[Loud metallic boom]

[White noise]

[Female scream - identified as Chief Engineer Olga Domelzowich]

[1:41]

[Emergency klaxon in background]

[TD (shouting)] What the hell was that. Mig?

[MM (shouting)] Hull breach. Engineering.

[TD] Oh God. Chief? Do you read me? Come in? Chief? Damn it.

[MM] Todd, she's flatlined.

[TD] What?

[MM] Look. Nothing on the screen. Heart rate, blood pressure, brain activity - they've just... vanished.

[TD] Shit. How about the hull breach? Get me into Engineering. It could be just the sensors.

[MM] Force fields in place. I'm restoring cabin pressure now. It should be safe in there in about two minutes. Captain, you know those sensors are infallible.

[TD] OK. You have the con.

[MM] Let me go, you're the Captain here.

[TD] You're the better pilot here. If anything at all happens, seal off all decks and get the hell out of here. Has the distress signal been sent out?

[MM] Already gone.

[TD] TD.

[OG] Captain, can you hear me?

[TD] Chief? What?

[OG] It is OK, Captain.

[Unidentified male voice - designation Male001] I'm fine.

[TD (in background)] Mig. What's going on?

[MM (in background)] Don't know. Her vitals are still blank. Maybe you're right about the equipment.

TD (in background)] OK, I'm going over there. How's the ship?

[MM (in background)] We should be OK. Whatever hit us pushed us out of orbit but away from the rock. I'll get it stabilised soon enough.

[TD (in background)] OK.

[TD] Chief, I'm coming back there. Are you hurt at all?

[OG] It is OK. I am.

[Male001] Fine. Do not.

[OG] Worry about me.

[MM (in background)] What was that?

[TD] Chief. Is there someone there with you?

[OG] No. There is no.

[Male001] One here. It is all.

[OG] Fine.

[Brief pause]

[TD (in background)] Change of plans. Come with me. Bring a gun.

[Metallic clicking noises]

[TD] Chief. I'm coming towards your position. Open the door for me.

[OG] Do not.

[Male001] Concern youself with.

[OG] Me. I am.

[Male001] Fine.

[TD] That's OK. I want to have a look at you anyway. Open the door, Chief.

[Male001] That will not be necessary.

[Metallic banging noises]

[TD] OK Chief, don't move. Keep perfectly still or I will use this. Mig, search the room.

[OG] This is not.

[Male001] Needed. I am.

[OG] Perfectly fine. Do not.

[Male001] Concern yourself with.

[OG] Me.

[TD] Sure you are. Now start walking towards your quarters, slowly. We need to have a look at you.

[OG] There is...

[TD (shouting)] I said move.

[TD] Mig, see anything?

[MM] Nobody else here, but whatever hit us it looked like they just punched their way through the hull. No explosion, no shell, nothing. Just a nice, neat hole.

[TD] OK, get her gun. Seal the room on your way out.

*** SECTION REMOVED ***

[2:18]

[TD] Tell me I'm dreaming.

[MM] I would if I could, but...

[TD] You've changed the access codes, right?

[MM] Yup, she's not getting out of there.

[TD] Fine. She's not our problem anymore. Let's just get the hell out of here and let the medics figure it out.

[MM] Fine by me. I got the coordinates set. You're sure the engines are OK?

[TD] They're still in one piece. That's all I care about. I'm not planning on hanging around to do a full diagnostic. Are you?

[MM] Nope.

[TD] Then take us out of here.

[MM] Sure, strap in.

[White noise]

*** SECTION REMOVED ***

[3:07]

[MM] I need a coffee.

[TD] Make me one while you're there. A strong one.

[MM] Sure.

[Brief pause]

[TD] Do you want to take first watch?

[MM] No. I'm not planning on sleeping while... that... is onboard. Are you?

[TD] No. No I'm not.

[Brief pause]

[MM] You should probably file your report.

[TD] Yeah, I know.

[Brief pause]

[TD] 3:14, 21 June 2086. NASA Patrol Vessel papa 3-5-2 echo on mission to Apteron. The mission has just been aborted and we’re now on the way back to Starbase Avalon. We were hit by a large, unidentified object while investigating an organic anomaly on the asteroid’s surface and have had one casualty as a result, Chief Engineer Olga Domelzowich, but her symptoms are beyond our capability to diagnose. She currently has no vital signs of any kind - no pulse, no heartbeat, no brain functions, no body heat - but she appears alive, well and capable of normal speech and motor functions. She’s even claiming that there’s nothing currently wrong with her and strongly protests our medical examinations. She’s been confined to her quarters until we can…

[Loud metallic bang]

[TD] What was that?

[MM] It’s Olga, she’s trying to break out.

[TD] Damn it, it’s…

[Loud metallic bang]

[TD] …steel hull. She’s going nowhere.

[MM] Not for lack of trying. She’s hitting that thing hard.

[Loud metallic bang]

[Emergency klaxon in background]

[MM] Hull breach imminent. What the hell?

[TD] Seal the door behind me. Whatever’s in there I’m going to kill it.

[MM] I’m not leaving you alone.

[TD (shouting)] Take the con. Seal the door. Kill anything that tries to break in.

[Loud metallic bang]

[TD (shouting)] That’s an order, airman.

[MM] Yes Sir.

[Metallic clicking noises]

[MM] Captain, you don’t want to take that. It’ll blow a hole right through the hull.

[TD] That’s why you’re sealing the door. I’m not letting some li…

[Loud metallic bang]

[TD] … green men take my ship, or whatever that thing is.

[Metallic clicking noises]

[MM] Stay on the comm link. I’ll do what I can from here.

[TD] Fine.

[MM] Listen, Captain. Maybe we should…

[TD] Seal the door. You have your orders.

[Metallic click]

[TD] Mig. How’s the door holding…

[Loud metallic bang]

[MM] Internal hull breach. Olga’s quarters. I’ve got no life signs of any kind from there. You got visual yet?

[TD] Negative. Approaching the corridor now. Aww shit. [Indeterminate shout]

[Gunfire – plasma rifle]

[Loud explosion]

[Male scream - identified as Flight Sergeant Tom Davidson]

[MM] Captain? Todd? What happened? What’s going on? Oh God.

[OD] The Captain is fine. There.

[Male001] Is nothing wrong.

[OD] Here.

[MM] Olga? Where’s the captain? What have you done to him?

[OD] The Captain is fine.

[Male001] Do not concern yourself.

[OD] With his welfare.

[MM] Don’t bullshit me, whatever the hell you are.

[OD] I am Chief Engineer.

[Male001] Olga Domelzowich assigned to NASA.

[OD] Patrol Vessel P…

[MM (shouting)] The hell you are. Stay away from me.

[Metallic scratching noises]

[OD] Do not be concerned. I.

[Male001] Mean you no harm. Open.

[OD] The door.

[Metallic clicking noises]

[MM (shouting)] Just try it bitch. I’ll rip you apart.

[Loud metallic bang]

[MM] Oh God.

[Loud metallic bang]

[MM (shouting)] Get away from me. I’m wa…

[Loud metallic bang]

[MM (shouting)] …ng you. [Indeterminate shout]

[Gunfire – semi-automatic weapon]

[Loud metallic bang]

[Male scream - identified as Flight Navigator Miguel Marin]

[Pause]

[3:33]

[Klaxon disabled]

[Long pause]

*** SECTION REMOVED ***

[01:41 22 June 2086]

[TD] Control, this is.

[Male001] Patrol craft papa-3-5-2.

[TD] Echo, do you.

[Male001] Read me?

[GMQ] Loud and clear. Todd, is that you. What the hell happened? We got two distress signals from you earlier. What’s going on?

[TD] There is nothing wrong.

[Male001] Here. We are all.

[TD] Fine.

[GMQ] Sure, apart from the frog in your throat and the two bloody great holes in your ship. What are you playing at?

[TD] We are not playing. Everything.

[Male001] Is OK here. We request.

[TD] Transit to a landing.

[Male001] Bay. Please comply.

[GMQ] Not happening Todd. Hold your current position. [(In background)] Get the Major up here. Now.

[TD] Your concern is.

[Male001] Unwarr…

[GMQ] Cut the crap, Todd. Or whoever the hell this is. Hold your position. I have authorisation to blow you to Kingdom Come if you move. Control out.

[Pause]

[01:47]

[Male voice – identified as Security Chief Major Aaron Mubakke (AM)] Patrol craft papa 3-5-2 echo. This is Major Aaron Mubakke. Identify yourself.

[TD] This is Flight Sergeant Tom.

[Male001] Davidson, captain of patrol craft papa 3.

[TD] 5-2 echo. I request…

[AM] I didn’t ask for your request, Sergeant.

[Pause]

[01:53]

[AM] Alright Sergeant, listen up. I’m placing your ship under strict quarantine. An escort is en route. You are to follow it to the Hades quarantine facility at standard cruising speed. Any attempt to escape, any attempt to deviate from your course and they will blow you out of the stars. Do I make myself clear?

[Male001] That won’t be necessary.

[AM] What?

[GMQ (in background)] Uhh, Sir? Something’s leaving the ship.

[AM] Goddamn.

[GMQ (shouting)] Incoming.

[Emergency klaxon in background]

[Human screams – various sources]

[Indeterminate shouting - various sources]

[AM (shouting in background)] Brace. Open fire. Now.

[Loud metallic boom]

[Male screams - identified as Security Chief Major Aaron Mubakke and Flight Controller Grahame McQuinn]

[White noise]

[End of recording]