fanfic_name = Gotterdammerung

chapter = III

author = Cicero Phelps

Rating = O18

Type = Alternative Universe

fanfic = Chapter III

Rick was glancing over the status screens when he heard a mechanical whoosh behind him. He spun around, and the captive techies stood, as well.
"Admiral on the bridge," Rick announced.
"As you were, please," Gloval replied, returning their salutes.
"As of this time and date, I hereby relinquish command of the SDF-1 back to you, Admiral," Rick stated formally.
"I hereby reclaim command, Captain," Admiral Gloval replied.
The bridge crew moved to assume their standard positions, and Rick moved towards the door, as if to leave the bridge. "Captain Hunter, I did not say you were dismissed."
"Apologies, sir."
"If you would be so kind as to step into my ready room, I would appreciate a full report on your activities of the past three months."
Rick followed his commanding officer into the Admiral's waiting room, and mentally reviewed all of his actions.
Meantime, on the bridge, Lisa assumed the conning station in the Admiral's absence. "Claudia, how many crew members were left aboard to run the ship before Rick retook the bridge?"
"Just the three operators on the bridge, Lisa. Maistroff seems to have shipped the crew out hither and yon."
"Scan the ships' logs, I want to find out where our crew went to, and round them all up again."
Kim bent over her scanner, while Sammie reviewed the communications logs, and Claudia kept a watchful eye on her radar, scanning for another attack. "Lisa, Max is reporting a power failure in the VT fighter squadrons."
"Bridge, this is the fighter bay; we're picking up an electromagnetic disturbance. This disturbance is interfering with the VT instruments, including their transformation drives."
"Fighter bay, this is the bridge. Are you certain that the fighters won't transform?"
"Absolutely, bridge. Is something wrong in Engineering?"
"Kim, run an analysis on the energy barrier."
"Wilco, Lisa," the short brunette replied.
"In the meantime, Max, you and most of your pilots have earned a rest. Have Alpha flight take a guard position in the air and the rest of you can go to sleep," Lisa ordered.
"Thanks, bridge, but I'd rather stay with my men."
"That's an order, Captain Sterling. You have now been up for 48 hours with no rest and fought in three consecutive battles. Go to sleep."
"Yes, bridge. Wraith Leader out," Max sighed, resigned to losing that argument.
Admiral Gloval and Rick re-entered the bridge. "What's going on, Lisa," the Admiral asked.
"Admiral, we've got two problems on our hands. We're trying to locate the crew for the ship, since it had been deserted, and Captain Sterling just informed us about an electromagnetic disturbance that's preventing the VT's from switching modes."
Rick did a double-take. "What the hell?"
"We've started an investigation. It should be complete in four hours. Our scan of the city to locate the missing crewmembers should take three hours. So we're in a waiting game for the moment. What are your orders, Admiral?"
"Since we cannot do anything for the moment, we wait. We'll take shifts. Kim, you, Claudia, and I will take the first shift. The rest of you go below to your quarters and get some rest."