---Mayday---
The call is projected onto the Commonroom wall, showing a stressed and exhausted looking Human.
When we answer, his face lights up with hope for a brief moment, then sinks as he looks around the room.
“ThisisadistresscallfromNeonesiaAerospaceControl.AreyoutheCaptain,Ma’am?” he addresses Emiko, desperately.
“I’m not, she is.” she answers succinctly, directing him to me.
His attention flicks to me, then Qorak, then Tcakak, in rapid succession. He addresses me “Ma’am,what’sthetotalfloorspaceofyourcraft?!”
Doing my best to answer the question I think he asked, I respond “Total floorspace is [510,143sqm] but I’d say only around two thirds of that is free and useable… Could I ask you to speak a little slower and explain the emergency?”
Seeming surprised, (I would guess because, based on the image feed, he was expecting a much smaller ship) he takes a deep breath and begins “…Around 30 minutes ago an enormous, submarine earthquake occurred in a remote region, just north of the equator… there’s now a wall of water hurtling outward in all directions… we’ve already sent notices to evacuate to higher ground, to all islands that have higher ground to evacuate to, but there’s a collection of islands that sit entirely below the projected 6m wave… We’ve commandeered all local transport capsules, sent out a call for volunteers and directed them to begin evacuating, but there just aren’t enough! The number of capsules we can get there in time are barely enough to evacuate the smaller islands with a few dozen to hundred residents each… there’s one island, Moku Pua, all of which sits below 6m and which has a population of 23,000… we can’t evacuate it in time. There’s less than two hours before the tsunami makes landfall.”
I cut in “You don’t have local ships for exactly this kind of situation?”
The boy answers “We do but… they’re out of system, for training, right now. We’re not a populous planet… there aren’t even half a billion people on Neonesia… we don’t have the resources to keep a rescue fleet large enough to be rotated out for training… Will you help us?”
Without hesitation, I answer “Certainly! Clear us a path to that island, focus on evacuating the other islands with your existing fleet of smaller craft, send us a landing point and send word to all residents to meet us there… I assume you won’t fine us for breaking any speed limits?”
With a flurry of activity to the panel in front of him he answers “Of course not! Use your best judgement to determine a safe approach speed, bearing in mind that anyone not evacuated from that island inside of the next two hours will almost certainly die. Obviously, don’t arrive at such a speed that the ocean flashboils and everyone dies but, if you arrive at a speed that causes a boom loud enough to deafen everyone on the island, that’s preferable to not getting there in time, eardrums can be regenned, corpses can’t. I’ve cleared your approach and sent it to your computer, local time is 4.42pm. I’ve sent an emergency notification to the island’s inhabitants to congregate at your landing point.”
“Approach received. We’ll be there in a little over half an hour, without blowing out anyone’s eardrums.” contributes Twila.
I nod in acknowledgment before turning my attention back to the call “Where are we taking these people after their rescue?”
He shifts uncomfortably “…We… we don’t have anywhere prepared for that many refugees, right now… We’ll probably be able to have somewhere, on Kahaika Nani, ready within a few days… would you be able to hold them until then?… We can send ships to orbit with supplies and relief personnel… is that… alright?”
“Are you asking if I’m going to condemn tens of thousands of people to die, simply to spare my ship the inconvenience of being engaged in their care for a few [days]? Because the answer is ‘no’… I won’t be doing that. Start arranging your relief ships and emergency shelter.” I answer, curtly.
A look of relief crosses his face as he says “Thank you, Ma’am! I can’t thank you enough!!!”
I nod and answer “Thank me when those people are safe. Goodbye for now.”
He smiles and we end the call.
I turn to Victor “I’m temporarily relinquishing command to you, Victor.”
“But, Cap…!” he tries to interrupt.
“I know that didn’t work out so well last time but the situation is different this time.” I say, cutting him off “There are no hostiles who might deploy interference, we have a full sentience AI who can choose to disobey inappropriate commands, there’s no need for crew to be confined to their current location and, the truth is Victor, I just can’t think like you can… we need deathworlder clarity in command right now, so I’m relinquishing command to you and that is not up for discussion. Do we understand eachother?”
He hesitates then nods “We understand eachother, Cap.”
His attention snaps to Emiko “I’m taking command of the ODR’s subcontractors as well, any objections.”
“None, Acting Commander.” she answers, showing the discipline of a former soldier, in contrast to her usual playful demeanour.
“Perfect…” he turns to Twila “…What can you tell us about this island, Twila?”
Bringing up a holographic map, she explains “The island of Moku Pua is approximately 11.2sqkm with the major settlement, of the same name, being located mostly along a single main road on the south side of the island, with the interior being forested. According to Galactopedia, it has a population of 23,341 though that number may have changed, since the most recent census, and might be different due to visitors, from elsewhere, or from the island to elsewhere, so we can’t use that for a precise headcount. The main language is Harmonised Polynesian but with significant populations of Hawaiian and Māori speakers. Our landing zone is here, at the sport’s field by the beach, in the middle of the settlement.”
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“Great, thank you Twila, please begin printing emergency supplies, bedding etc., from all nanoforges aboard… Krish…”
“Err… yes, Victor?” says the slender Terran, seeming to be surprised to be addressed.
“I want you in the kitchen. We’re going to need to feed these people and we can’t afford to wait for relief shipments. Prioritise calories over taste, we’re going to have a lot of people to feed! Can you do that?”
“Erm… of course!” responds Krish, clearly still taken aback that his was the first duty to be assigned.
Turning back to Twila, he asks “Twila, can you project my voice over the PA?”
She nods “Just say when…”
He stands, takes a deep breath and says “OK, go…”
Twila nods and summons a holographic microphone, which she holds up toward him, to indicate that his voice is currently being broadcast naturally, over the speakers, and also via every translator on the ship.
Victor speaks with unusual clarity “To all aboard, this is Chief Security Specialist Victor Taylor, currently in acting command of the Bright Plume. We have been engaged for the emergency evacuation of the island of Moku Pua on Neonesia, where we will be landing in around half an hour. In around 2 hours, it will be inundated by a tsunami. You may have noticed your personal nanoforges printing materials you have not requested. These are supplies, printed at my request, for the approximately 23,000 people we are about to bring aboard. Please collect them and either leave them outside your Dorm doors or, if you are able, bring them to Deck 0 and leave them in the highlighted depository areas. Would Drs Hatathli and Phan please report to the rear Loading Bay. Would Drs Gato and Shing, along with any other crew members with medical or first aide training, please report to the Infirmary and take instruction, as necessary, from Dr Gato. Would all cooks, and those with culinary training or experience, please report to the Canteen and take instruction, from Commissary Krish Dhawan, in preparing meals. Would UTCIS Officers Leon Byrne and Ziva Pereira, Shīfu Shí Dǎo Yuán and Tracker Tymancha Nulgynet please securely stow all armaments and report to the rear Loading Bay. Would Analyst Olga Petrikov, Sociologist Jae Stone and Statistician Enas please meet with Engineer Jennie MacLeod and Dr Felicity Mink, on the Starboard Deck 4 Balcony, begin collecting supplies, left outside all Starboardside Dorms, and bring them to Deck 0. Technologies Officer Baorbo please meet with Corrections Officer Hasiakh, Drs Zunberi and Miyazaki on Port Deck 4 Balcony to do the same on Portside. If you believe you may have any useful skills that could be deployed in this situation which have not already been covered by the previous assignments, please confer with the ship’s Computer who will appraise me, as appropriate. Over and out.”
Twila dispels the imaginary microphone and Victor says “I assume there ain’t a problem with you projectin’ yourself through multiple holos, is there?” back to his typical mode of speech.
“No problem…” answers Twila “…You’ll just need to give me permission and I can keep you abreast of all relevant happenings aboard, via your holopad. Splitting focus is very unlikely to present a challenge to me.”
“Perfect.” answers Victor “If your name wasn’t mentioned, just now, please make sure your weapons are secure, you’re dressed properly and meet in the rear Loading Bay ASAP. Twila…”
“Yes, Acting Commander?”
“You can project your voice outside the ship, correct.”
She nods “I can.”
“When we arrive at the island, I want you to announce ‘This is the ship the Bright Plume, here to perform an emergency evacuation due to a tsunami that will shortly inundate this island. Please leave all nonessential possessions behind, congregate at the Sport’s Field and board. If you are aware of any persons, on this island, who have not been able to make it to this evacuation point, please make yourselves known to onboard crew in the rear Loading Bay as you board. Have a picture of them ready to show, if possible. If you are injured please, likewise, make yourselves known. Otherwise, follow direction into the ship and do not obstruct passage to others attempting to board.’ in Harmonised Polynesian, then Hawaiian, then Māori, then English, then Galactic Basic then repeat that, twice. Accompany it, each time, with a translatable broadcast for anyone wearin’ a translator. Compromise of volume to project to as much of the island as possible while not deafening anyone standing too close. Can you do that?”
“Yes, Acting Commander.”
“Great! Qorak…”
Qorak starts “Yes, Vic…Acting Commander?”
“Please take your daughter back to your quarters and stay there, your wife is coming to the rear Loading Bay, alright?”
Looking, somehow, both relieved and worried, he answers “Certainly…”
“Alright. Is anyone unclear about what they’re doing?”
No one makes to speak.
“Then break!”
---later---
I stand atop a secured tower of crates, watching as the Terrans go about clearing the paths, from the loading ramp to the Starboard and Port doors, of any loose cargo and securely fastening anything that needs to be moved and doublechecking the fastenings of the rest.
“Cap? You got visual on anything that might present a tripping hazard?” queries Victor.
I scan the gangways.
“There’s a crate over there but I think it will be too heavy to lift without machin-”
“Thran, could you get that?!” he shouts to the stocky woman.
She nods and wordlessly picks up the crate, I would guess to be, in excess of 300kg in mass.
My beak falls open as she, with only mild apparent effort, hefts it into the air and stows it on top of some other cargo before fastening it down.
I turn to Victor who has his eyebrow cocked.
“Did you forget that this is less than half gravity for us?… That she’s the strongest woman in the galaxy?… Both?” he asks.
“Both, I suppose…” I answer “You’re right… I shouldn’t really have any expectations anymore, when dealing with your species… you always exceed them!”
He gives a mirthless smile before turning to Twila “ETA?”
“Landing around 2 minutes, from now, inundation of the island will occur in approximately 86 minutes.”
“What’s the progress on the emergency supplies?”
“Approximately halfway done with the printing, a quarter of the way done with the depositing on Deck 0.”
He nods thanks and then raises his voice “Alright everyone, finish with what you’re doing and take position.”
A few moments pass as the Terrans hurry to finish the last of their tasks and stand at the positions assigned to them.
Victor has posted himself, along with Tuun and Tymancha, on the Starboardside making up the ‘Inland search party’, Thran, Pereira and Byrne also on the same side, making up the ‘Westside search party’, Xon, Dǎo Yuán and Brunhilda on Portside, as the ‘Eastside search party’, and me, Phan and Hatathli in the centre, as the ‘triage and direction’ team.
As we approach, I hear Twila blaring Victor’s message.
The ship spins in place and begins lowering, the artificial gravity protecting us from being thrown against the wall, the only indication is the sea being replaced by an island and us rapidly putting down on a sport’s field beside a crowded beach.
The boarding ramp lowers and an immense throng of terrified looking Terrans surges forward.
A man rushes up the ramp, his holo displaying a picture.
“Don’t run! You’ll cause a stampede and people will get hurt or worse!” shouts Victor, sternly.
The man ceases running but walks hurriedly, now in Victor’s direction.
“Please…” he says “…can you help me find my wife?”
Victor holds his holopad up, such that his camera is pointed at the picture.
“Can you see her, Twila?”
“Yes, about 120m back in the queue… looking worried… clutching your picture.” Answers Twila.
“Wait here for her.” says Victor, to the relieved man.
“Thank you! Thank you so much!” he answers.