Senior Staff Meeting

"Enginnering Report."

Chief Michaels spoke up. "Sir, ever since the surge in the flux engines last week, it's difficult to explain. After the initial surge, they've held at one-quarter the speed of light. We can't speed them up or slow them down. We can't even begin to make an estimate if or when they'll be back online."

"Helm report."

Plisby cleared his throat, and said, "Captain, there's litte Helm can do aside from steering us around rocks and asteroids. We're attempting to veer her in towards Earth, but," he sighs, "we're not gonna get her very close at all."

"Navigation."

Sarkin shook his head. "Sir, we estimate our distance from Earth now as 300,000 AUs from Earth."

The Captain looked a bit pale as he asked, "Pluto is only 39 AU from the Sun, isn't it?"

"39.6 from the Sun, sir," Raspar chimed in. "Even if Helm could bring us full about, we'd reach Earth in about 70 days." He looks at the Captain sternly. "After equipping the colony, we have rations for about four weeks."

The Captain opened his eyes wide. "Tell the crew to go on 1/2 rations. And let's have some ideas on how we can change this situation."

Michaels said, "I recommend we totally disengage the engines. We can slow our flight and then, if we get the engines going, perhaps we can spit ourselves back to the inner Solar system."

Plisby interjected, "Sir, we're lucky that we didn't spit into an asteroid on our way out here. I'm afraid we might do worse on our return. We must keep speeds at safe levels."

Sarkin spoke up. "Helm should steer us toward pockets of curved space. We can predict that pretty well, even out here. It might shorten our trip home, by how much I have no idea."

Raspar intoned, "Officers, we must face the fact that we will likely starve to death before reaching safety. I suggest we use our doom as an opportunity to help mankind. We should coninue on our course, map and discover, not fight like rats in a sinking ship."

The Captain stands and says, "I have decided we shall..."

1. ... shut off the engines.
2. ... curve gradually back and aim for whatever space can give us an advantage..
3. ... continue on our course as ther Science Officer suggests.

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