Rocks and Shoals MISSION START

Posted on Sun Feb 8th, 2026 @ 5:44pm by Gema Melero & Robert Skye & Nathan Crawford & Victoria Bell

998 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: The Light House
Location: Europa
Timeline: 17 December 2013 21:00

Gema Melero looked out across the ocean as thy crept along the coast of England up to the familiar home port of Thistledrift. It would be nice to almost home after the chaos of Majorca and Cadiz on their exploring. It was so sad to see what her homeland had become and made her more thankful to have been on a cruise ship when this pandemic had started. She sighed as she pulled her binoculars from her eyes and shook her head.

“No visual confirmation from the lighthouse yet sir.” She sighed glancing back as Commander Crawford and the Captain. She was the second watch keeper lookout who had, had no visual or radio communication.

Nathan looked out across the weather deck. He hated being at sea this time of year. Storms were generally the biggest threat the Europa had to contend with. The ship had completed a six week patrol and many of the officers and crew wanted nothing more than to get back to Thistledrift, put in to port and enjoy a much anticipated shore leave. He included himself as one of those individuals. They had been in contact with the lighthouse team less than two days prior and every thing was supposed to be ready. "Try and raise the lighthouse team on the ship to shore radio again. We're going to need the spotlight to make port what with the fog rolling in."

Gema frowned as she grabbed up the headset and repeated the phrase that was now ingrained in her mind. “This is the NATO vessel Europa calling United Kingdom nautical light keeper 25.” She said into the microphone several times on different frequencies before she turned back to the senior officers. Captain Skye frowned.

“We left six people there correct commander?” He asked wanting confirmation as the ship rocked again against the ocean making him grab the chair to keep himself from moving around.

Nathan nodded as he checked the lighthouse duty roster. "One junior officer, an electrician's mate, machinist's mate, radioman and a master-at-arms for security and protection. They were adequately armed. One rifle, one shotgun and pistols all around."

“Enough arrows to make it look like the Battle of Hastings again.” Gema said under her breath as she offered the captain a small. Robert offered a shake of his head as he got the joke.

“Then more than enough to secure it especially this time of year.” Robert frowned as he took the roster and looked over the names. He knew each and everyone of them as good sailors so this lack of communication was concerning.

The radio speaker crackled with static and a female voice came over the airwaves. "NATO vessel Europa, this is Vicky Bell. Lighthouse two five has been overrun by the dead. I am all alone in the radio room. There's 30 or 40 of the dead. Need immediate evacuation. How copy, over?"

Gema stopped spinning on her chair and sat up right as she disconnected her headset as the voice of Vicky Bell filled the bridge.

“Who the hell is Vicky Bell?” Robert demanded quietly.

“Europa to Vicky Bell? Please declare what you are doing in a NATO base over?” Gema said shrugging but she would like to know herself when she knew the people left behind were all male.

"I have been trying to evade a horde of the dead for a week. The garrison here heard my call for help and gave assistance. The dead breached the entrance and overwhelmed the garrison. The dead are all over the ground level. I was able to make it to the tower and climb to the top."

Gema glanced back at the Captain and Executive Officer. “What is the status of the light?” Gema demanded quietly as Robert frowned. It was very unlike the men there to assist in something like this.

"I don’t know. Where are the controls to activate the light? Damn, the lights just flickered. I think the genny is about to give out."

“It should be there in the main control room of the lighthouse.” Gema replied worried that one she could not help the woman and two it sounded like the had lost their men there. She knew several of them and it hit home that even there they were not safe.

Minutes passed in silence. Then the beacon light erupted to life.

"Got it." Nathan turned to the Navigator. "Get the bearing." He then spoke loudly to the bridge. "Navigator has the conn."

The Navigator was already doing his job. "We need two more bearings. Helm, proceed on course 007, speed one third."

Gema frowned as the silence sounded across the airways before the signal finally went dead. “The signal is dead Captain.” She called.

“No further transmissions without my authority.” Robert told her as he joined Nathan and the Navigator.

Gema nodded. “No transmissions without authority, aye, sir.”

The ship was less then a minute away from where it needed to be for the second bearing when the lighthouse beacon went dark. Nathan grimaced. "Damn, we needed those azimuth shots to plot the best course through the shoals and into the Thistledrift Harbour."

Robert shook his head as he started to think through the options. They either had to accept things were lost for winter and head to another port or fine another approach to this situation. “Signals…Contact Thristldrift. I want to speak to Lennox.” The Captain finally declared.

“They won’t be available until the morning Captain.” Gema reminded quietly. Without them, they conserved power and used solar power but with winter it was limited. “They will not be online until 12:00.” She confirmed looking at the piece of paper tapped to her console.

"I know Signals." The man said a little softer. He knew that everything was out of his control right now. But it did not mean that he liked it. He wanted to get everyone back into port and find out what happened to his crewmembers at the Lighthouse.

 

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