<USS Avalon> Survivors: Second night -- late shift; Third day -- sunrise

"Survivors: Second night -- late shift;  Third day -- sunrise"
NPC post by
Ensigns Marilyn French, Assistant  Nurse,
Stephen Oxenburg, Assistant  Security,
Carolyn Starling, Assistant Science
&
Frederick Townsend, Assistant  Engineer
USS Resurgence
 
    
The twin Suns had set in the South and sentry  duty had begun. It was late, 
very late, and four Ensigns -- a group who'd  self-labeled themselves "The Four 
Musketeers" because they'd known one another  since Academy days and had 
always stuck together, "all for one and one for all,"  Assistant Nurse Marilyn 
French, Assistant Security Officer Stephen  Oxenburg, Assistant Science Officer 
Carolyn Starling and Assistant  Engineering Officer Frederick Townsend -- were 
burning the post-midnight  oil.
 
    Silence prevailed save for the pacing of their feet  and the soft snoring 
of their comrades -- so few which remained! -- and the one  common thought 
that was going through each person's head, even though they did  not need 
telepathy to know it, was that the shift was becoming so agonizing they  were 
afraid 
of some form of madness, cabin fever, claustrophobia or whatnot,  seizing 
upon one or more of them. It was their worst fear.
 
    "I must not fear," muttered French. 
 
    "Hm? What'd you say?" said Townsend, unaware of  what she was saying.
 
    "A book I read a long time ago, Fred," replied the  Nurse. "Dune. 
Wonderful book set so many thousands of years ahead of us  ... let's see now, 
the 
Litany against Fear ... 'I must not fear. Fear  is the mind-killer. Fear is the 
little-death that brings total obliteration. I  will face my fear ... And when 
it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see  its path. When the fear is 
gone there will be nothing. Only I will  remain.'"
 
    "Might as well name this hell-hole 'Arrakis,'"  chuckled Starling. They 
all laughed for a moment, quietly.
 
    "Wonderful words, Mar," said Oxenburg. We could use  'em at a time like 
this. After what's happened --"
 
    "I know, I know," replied French, swallowing hard.  "I just hope those 
lights last all night -- and that they don't attract any  bugs, beasts or 
whatever."
 
    They resumed their silent pacing, meditating on the  words but keeping 
sharp eyes and ears out for anything that might be out of the  ordinary. And 
the 
shift lengthened into hours -- during which time even the best  spelling 
sentries might take off one another can still tax ordinary people's  strength, 
as 
a couple of them found themselves barely able to keep their eyes  open, until 
...
 
    ... just at the rising of the twin Suns, there came  a low growl towards 
the end of the cave and screams from two of their  comrades.
 
    "Everybody up! Evacuate the cave!" yelled Starling,  Townsend and 
Oxenburg while French headed in the direction of the screams. As a  Nurse she 
was 
committed to being there, helping the sick and injured.  "Move it! Move it! 
Move 
it!"
 
    After a few moments, Starling called back,  "Marilyn!? ... Mar? ... 
What's happened?"
 
    A long silence ensued. ...
 
    Ensigns
 
    Stephen Oxenburg, Assistant Security
    Carolyn Starling, Assistant Science
    Frederick Townsend, Assistant Engineer
 
    &
 
    Ensign Marilyn French, Assistant Nurse (since  deceased)
 
    Crew members, USS Resurgence
 
    Authored by
 
    Lieutenant First Class Isaac Mahler,  M.D.
    Chief Medical Officer, USS Avalon-C  NCC-27926-C
    Admiral Keith D. C. Ketchum, Commanding  Officer
    Celestial Prime Sim Group
    Admiral Keith Ketchum,  Commander-in-Chief

 
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