The cruiser’s bridge was now almost completely dark, with only a few deep red lights shining in the corners. There was just enough to outline everyone’s edges, but not much more. Every screen all around was completely blacked out and filled with the same error message, from the various wall screens to the technician terminals.
Even the captain’s chair’s screens were filled with the error.
—
Authority Removed
—
“What in the nine hells is going on?” the captain cried out. “Can anyone explain what’s happening here?”
“No idea, sir,” replied one of his techs.
“Well made a goddamned guess!”
“I, uh, am assuming that whoever boarded has taken control of the cruiser, sir.”
The captain slammed a fist on his chair out of frustration and anger.
“That’s impossible!” he cried out. But at the same time, the reality of it set in. The proof of it was all around him.