The ship's power systems shut off one by one... the lights going out, as consoles switched to standby, the computer taking over the work of monitoring the sensors, the cryo-pods and of the ship.
The great life support system cycled to a halt, air-conditioners falling silent as the ancient ship slipped into a deep, dark slumber.
A steady beeping from the command console awoke systems from their slumber. Tracking and targeting data began to light up across the bridge as holographic displays sprung up plotting courses and interception arcs.
Deep in the bowels of the ship, in the cargobay, the automatic systems flickered on, the lights blinking down the length of the ship as the cryobay was flooded with light. The main computer doing its preset task, as row by row, the temperature was raised to defrost the bodies.
Electrical charges were run through the freshly defrosted liquids, as it sort to restore life to that which had been lifeless. And one by one the pods slid open, spilling their contents on the deck.
Hacking and choking people, spewing up liquid from their lungs as they crashed to the deckplates, each one finally aware that they were alive.
They say most of your brain shuts down in cryo-sleep, all but the primitive side...But the truth for Han, there was nothing, just blackness for a long time as he waited for the time to come.
Suddenly his vision started to return, coughing up fluid from his lungs he looked around, weak due to being asleep for such a long time, he was laying on the floor of the Cargo Bay, all the other pods had opened aswell. Still he felt no panic, he was expecting this, as he finished coughing up fluids he slowly rose to his feet and started to stretch his arms, legs and back, getting the bloodflow back into them.
Han looked around, getting his bearings and analyzing the situation at hand.
"Doctor..." he coughs out, looking around for Xiaobei. "Doctor, where are you?" he asked politely.
XiaoBei hacked up a lung, watching the mixture of mucus and cry-fluid spiral away down a drain where it would be recycled by the ships systems, ready to be used again... if they needed it.
He ran a hand through sticky hair, hearing someone calling for him, but he didn't have much time... he slipped and skidded across the slippery deck towards the main console, grabbing a towel to dry his hands as he did so, punching in codes to gather some information on what was happening.
"Right time, closing on the correct position," he called looking up triumphantly. "We made it, twenty-four hours before we come into Cruise Disruptor range of the sleeper ships..."
He felt someone at his side, and glanced at Lt. Han.
"Good lad, see if you can't help the men to the showers and to fresh uniforms. We need the bridge crew to the bridge at once... and I need a cup of tea!"
A hard cough came from his chest and liquid came up as he choked. spitting it out. He looked around slowly as he noticed a man close to him asking for the Doctor. Shaiming chose to stay silent as he regained himself, shaking his head and slowly standing up with shaky legs.
After a few moments, he managed to stand up straight, taking a note of the man near him and began to stretch and roll his stiff shoulders. He cracked his neck to the side, grunting a bit. That was especially stiff, along with his back in general.
He looked around again, noticing other recruits and trainees doing the same. He didn't seem to mind though, as he slowly sat down on a nearby bench. He ran a hand through his hair lightly. He had a splitting headache running through his head. No doubt a side-effect of such a long cryo-sleep, but he didn't even know how long he'd been out.
Joesph suddenly felt alive again. He fell to the slippery floor, coughing up a slimy liquid from the depths of his lungs. He leaned on his side, quickly getting up as he tried to wipe the liquid that was covering everyone. He looked around, noticing more and more people starting to stand up. Figuring it was in his best interest, he did the same, stretching his arms and legs in the proccess.
Having received his orders from the Doctor he gives a slight nod, his strength having almost fully returned ash e looks at his now quite damp uniform.
"Yes sir...Although I wonder about the point of making us put on uniforms if they will only get soaked by the Cryo Tubes..." he muttered to himself, walking around the room and helping those who were having difficulties standing to their feet slowly.
As he looked to Joseph and Shaiming he barked out orders.
"Gentlemen, help your comrades to their feet and report to the showers on C Deck, you will find fresh changes of clothing in the locker rooms after you shower..." he barked out, taking charge of the situation so they can be combat ready at a moment's notice.
Shaiming would bring his hand up to his forehead in a salute. It was a dazed salute, however, as he still wasn't fully up and ready to go. However, he stood up and began helping his Comrades up, and in case they didn't know where the showers were, he'd direct them. He had the usual stoic expression upon his face.
He was going to be one of the last to the showers, but nevertheless, he would do as ordered.
Coughing up liquid, Enrico was one of the first into the shower, peeling off the uniform and tossing it into the hamper, he too wondered at the point of first donning the uniform only to discard it covered in gunk...
"Authenticity," someone said, catching the look. "We're not supposed to be here, and we need people to think we are actually Coalitioners, Sol Coalitioners, that means everything should be just as it should be... dirty cryo-gunked uniforms, insignias, even the right ration packs in the mess. Nothing must seem suspect..."
Alvarez stepped into the communal shower, wondering at that, as he let the warm water wash away the goo. They were supposed to be Sol Coalitioners...
Once he was cleaned, he was back into a tee-shirt with a gray coalition fleece on, the Sol Coalition logo on the shoulder, the letters AF on the other shoulder. He didn't think much of it, recovering the ball cap from where he had ditched it, slipping it onto his head as he returned to the bridge.
There were a few already present. The Vice-Admiral standing before her command chair, resting on the railing of her command dais, looking over repeater displays. Tactical officers bringing antiquated weapon systems online.
He slipped into his chair and checked their course and heading. Making minute adjustments to their trim.
"Doctor XiaBei's right, we're going to be in Cruise Disruptor range soon..." He thought over that, why would they need cruise disruptors? The weapons hadn't been invented yet, technically. But a glance at the tactical display told him all he needed to know. They had two, slung into the missile tubes. Once fired, they would detonate, and that would be it, all evidence of the weapons would be gone, and the Sleeper ship would be slammed to Zero inertia, a sitting duck for the Resurgency.
"Engines are coming on line, reactor at full power. We're set this end, Admiral."
Ling shook his head as he showered. He had a splitting headache and no matter what he did, he couldn't seem to get rid of it.
Donning a new uniform, Ling made his way back to the living quarters. Soon he and the recruits in his section would be active combantants. How did the coalition soliders of old think, he wondered.
"Right muppets, action stations! Prove to me your ready!"