A Lost Mystery

(North Sea, 140 nautical miles from St. Andrews, 3rd P.O.V)

Steaming at a speed of 10 knots, the RMS Saurotania had sustained damage from a boiler room explosion and is slowly limping to the port of St.Andrews, Scotland. Things were going fine for the current circumstances, but many of the crew had a terrible sense of foreboding. Captain Bartlett had ordered Hudson to inform the stewards and stewardesses that if any passengers question on the events, they were to tell them that the ship may likely had lost a propeller blade. Many of the passengers took their word for it and went back to their business.“Just a bit longer, then we can deal with the flooding.” Hudson thought to himself as he headed back to the bridge. Bartlett took the helm of the ship as the wounded liner slowly limps to its destination and was determined to not let his ship go down without a fighting chance. After half an hour of steaming a wounded giant, Bartlett felt it necessary to release the watertight doors, except the ones that were keeping out the water from Boiler Room 4. “Mr. Hills release the watertight doors.” Bartlett ordered keeping his eye out on the sea ahead of him. Not willing to question the Captain, Hills went to the phone and called the Boiler Room. “Cole here.” Cole replied when he picked up the phone. “Mr Cole, open up the watertight doors.” Hills replied as he sighed in exasperation. “We’ll get right on it, Cole out.” The stoker replied as the call ended and Cole was in the Engine Room.

“Alright men, we’re going to open the doors, but do not open the doors to Boiler Room 4.” Cole shouted to the men that made it with him and began to turn a crank to slowly but steadily raise the watertight compartment to Boiler Room 1. “Alright boys back to work, but mind any coal dust in the furnace.” Cole ordered as the stokers went back to their stations and started to shovel smaller amounts of coal to keep the ship moving, but also to reduce the amount of coal dust buildup. With the boilers burning up brightly as the other two boiler rooms were opened to increase the steam pressure and all seemed to be back to normal.

(Stateroom, 3rd P.O.V)

It was around 2 in the morning when a quake of vibrations shook the ship about as Oasis, Minuette, Dark, and Randy were jolted awake from the odd and rude awakening from their peaceful slumber. “What the hell was that?” Oasis asked while rubbing her eyes. “It was an explosion, but why aren’t we sinking?” Randy asked as he took a tentative step out of the bed. “It sounded like we scrapped along something and I don’t recall any icebergs around.” Dark inputted. “I don’t think it came from outside, what if it came from the inside?” Minuette proposed. “It’s possible, I mean I read that the ship’s hull is double plated so most icebergs wouldn’t be an issue.” Dark said as he rubbed his chin in thought. “Maybe we should ask the stewards or something, maybe they can help?” Minuette asked as it was a good possibility. “I’ll go, you guys stay here.” Oasis said as she got out of bed and put her dress on and headed out of the room to find a steward.

Not too far from the room, Oasis found a steward wandering the halls when she approached him. “Excuse me, but do you know what might have caused a loud shudder?” The teen girl asked. “Oh we most likely had thrown a propeller blade, that must have been the shudder you felt.” The steward explained before asking. “May I bring you anything?” “No thanks.” Oasis replied with a smile. Oasis went back to the room shaking her head in disapproval. “So what happened?” Dark asked. “I found a steward and he said the shuddering was from the ship losing a propeller blade.” Oasis replied. “Why are they lying to us?” Minuette asked. “It’s just to keep everybody calm so nobody assumes the worst and decides to go overboard.” Randy said as he understood the situation. “It makes sense, but it still ponders to the mind of what might be worse than throwing a propeller blade.” Dark said as he thought for a moment. “Maybe a boiler, or engine failure due to extreme temperatures.” Oasis theorized. “They seem to vary, but we can’t check out the damage since we’re not allowed down there.” Minuette inputted as she was correct about the restricted public areas. “True, so all we can do is keep our suspicions to ourselves for now.” Dark replied. With the other three in an agreement, they decided to sleep off their worries for the night and get through the rest of the voyage.

Back down in the flooded compartment of Boiler Room 4, the sound of groaning metal echoes through the next door compartments and it worries some of the stokers working nearby. “I don’t like the sound of this.” A stoker says as he stops for a moment and listens to the on and off groaning metal and iron. “Cole we have a massive problem, I think the watertight doors on Boiler Room 4 are going to rupture!” A stoker shouted. “Everybody out! Shut the dampers!” Cole said as the stokers started closing up the furnaces and started running towards the Engine Room. “Cole what the hell?!” Rivets shouted as he saw the stokers running in. “Shut the doors!” Cole yelled  one of the stokers ran to a phone, but it was too late, the doors to Boiler Room 4 ruptured and began to flood the ship. Some men shouted and were swept off their feet as the cold sea water raced into the next compartment and with the furnaces shut, there was a prevention of another boiler explosion.

Cole rang the phone from the Engine room and desperately waited for someone to pick up when he did. “Mr. Hills.” Hills answered. “What is it Cole?” Hills asked. “Sir, we’re taking on too much water, the Boiler Rooms are compromised and there’s nothing we can do. I already had the other boilers closed up to prevent anymore explosions, but I’m afraid we’re not going to make it to St. Andrews.”  Cole said with a slightly choked up tone. Hills nearly dropped the phone in shock of the events, but he eventually found his voice again. “I’ll seal the doors once again, but you need to vent out the steam to prevent a dastardly explosion when in contact with seawater.” Hills ordered as he closed the doors once more. “Aye sir.” Cole replied as he hung up the phone. “Vent the steam!” Cole shouted as Rivets came stomping up to him. “Cole, what in the name of God are you doing?!” Rivets demanded. “We need to vent the steam from the boilers otherwise it’s a recipe for disaster.” Cole said as he turned the valve to release the steam from the boilers and vented out from the ship’s three funnels. “Great. Next I suppose you’re going to say that you secretly had a crush on my wife.” Rivets replied sarcastically. “Ugh! Rivets, this is not the time to be a smartass, if this doesn’t work, you’ll never see your wife again!” Cole replied angrily. “Ok, take it easy man, Jesus.” Rivets replied.

Within the ship, Boiler Room 4 not only floods into Boiler Room 3, but the pressure had also burst into Boiler Room 5 and rapidly filled as the ship was still in motion of 10 to 12 knots. Due to the other compartments not being as high as Boiler Room 4, the water spilled into the Cargo Hold in the bow causing the ship to lurch down. The action didn’t go unnoticed as Collins felt a slight slant and did not like the feeling. “Something’s not right. I need to go back to the bridge.” Collins said to himself as he began to make his way back to the bridge. “Hills, what’s going on?” Francis asked. “Sir, we’re taking on water, too much to manage, I’m afraid we’ll never make it to Scotland now.” Hills said with regret as Francis stepped away from the ship’s helm when he overheard Hill’s report. “All Stop and prep the lifeboats as quickly as possible, but don’t launch them until we slow down. Mr. Collins and I will determine how long we have.” Francis ordered as Hills went to the EOTs to set the dial on ‘Stop’. “It’s been an honor old girl.” Hills said as he set the dial of the EOT to ‘Stop’.

(Stateroom, 2:45 AM, 3rd P.O.V)

The teens awoke once again to the ship shuddering violently beneath them. “That doesn’t sound like we lost a propeller blade.” Minuette stated as she worriedly glanced around the room. “I did happen to hear some weird groaning.” Dark added as he sat up on his bed. “Maybe if we…” Randy started, but didn’t feel the just the floor beneath his feet, but water. “Well, now we’re sinking.” Oasis said blandly. “OK we should probably get some warm clothing and life vests on now, who knows how long we’ve got.” Randy said as he quickly left to grab the life jackets from the closet and they looked similar to the ones used on Titanic. “Right, now let’s grab that suitcase we may need it.” Dark said as he scrambled out of his bed and retrieved the suitcase from under his bed. “Hey guys the is it just me, or are we slightly tipping?” Minuette asked as she got out of the bed. “By the looks of this, I think it’s taking a bow or starboard list, but we need to hurry guys.” Dark answered as a flock of people outside the room began screaming and making a beeline to safety. “So it begins.” Randy says grimly.

After quickly getting dressed and getting their lifebelts on, the gang found the water rise up to their knees and time was beginning to run out. After leaving their room for the last time, they tried to wade through the seawater as quick as possible to the lift when the lifts entrance was blocked by the operator. “C-C’mon w-we’re a-almost t-there.” Dark stuttered from the freezing cold water. The operator was talking to a few people and spoke to them as he blocked the elevator. “I’m sorry, but the lift is closed, you’re going to have to find another way.” the operator said as the crowd of people turned to find a new route. “Damn, now where do go?” Randy asked as he tried to stave off the cold water’s effects. “We’ll have to go up the stairwell, come on.” Dark said as he lead his friends to the Grand Stairwell as the lift activated to head up to the top deck.

Out on the boat deck, the crew tried to quickly uncover many of the boats and kept the passengers inside the ship. Communication was difficult due to the steam venting out from the funnels. As some boats were swung out ready to be lowered, the starboard list was taking a toll on the port side boats as they couldn’t be launched effectively. The bow davits couldn’t be used as it was dangerous and not much time would be given to launch the boats. “That’s it men, keep it going, I’ll ask the Captain to board the boats.” Hills said as he went to the Bridge. “Good work Mr. Hills, I’ll join you in a moment, just give me a chance to say goodbye.” Francis said as he caressed the ship’s helm like a father hugging his child. “Goodbye my good friend, it’s been a trip.” Francis said with a slight smile. “Come on sir, let’s go.” Hills said with a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

In the Wireless Operator Room, Hudson entered to the two men and handed them a piece of paper to send out to all ships in a 200 nautical mile radius. “CQD 57.8N 2.00W?” John Revan asked. Hudson only nodded in response and left the room. “What’s happening?” Quick Tap asked his partner. “I dunno, but it must be important.” John replied as he began using the telegraph to send out the distress call. Quick Tap started hearing the muffled sounds of screaming outside the room. “Oi, John, I think we’re sinking.” Quick Tap said. “Really? What makes you… Oh, now I get why Hudson came in here.” John replied as he slumped down in his chair. A message was shortly received as Quick Tap began to write the message and it was a response from the ship’s sister, RMS Warrior, but was too far to be of any assistance. As John kept sending out the distress call in hopes that a ship was close by to help, another response came through from the S.S Javel. Quick Tap wrote down the message and hurried to the Captain on the Boat Deck to hand him the message. “Captain, the Javel has heard our call!” Quick shouted over the crowd screaming in terror. “And what’s her estimated time of arrival?” Bartlett asked. “Two hours sir.” Quick replied. Bartlett was stunned for a moment since the ship will have less than about 45 minutes to live. “Thank you Mr. Quick, you are relieved of duty, please save yourselves.” Bartlett ordered as he and Tap saluted one last time before Tap went back to the Wireless Operator room.

After nearly ten minutes of trying to control the building panic, the first boat was launched with only 37 people of the 50 each boat can provide, but with the engines ordered to stop to at least slow the ship down, the propellers were still rotating and breaching the surface. “Next boat is for women and children. The one after is for more adults, please calmly enter the boat one at a time.” An officer said as he started to get a headcount for the boat. Many women carefully board the boat and mind the gap between the sinking ship and their savior or it’s a 30 foot drop into the North Sea. But as the boat was filled to it’s maximum capacity, the two officers on the davits began to lower the boat gently to the water. But when the panic escalated, some passengers tried to jump into the boats, but causing them to tip them out or snap a line and cause them to dangle on one davit line. The people in the boat fell out into the freezing waters below. One however filled with men were in complete danger as the moonlight shone to the bronze propellers still rotating and breaching the surface. The giant blades sliced up the boat and the people inside.

As the little gang finally reached the boat deck, chaos brewed as the bow was brought under and the ship’s starboard list continued to about 20 degrees. Some of the boats had been launched, but others had large amounts of people waiting to board including Diadem, Slate, and Eugene. “Hey guys, how’s it going, other than trying to escape death that is.” Minuette asked sheepishly. “Things were going fine until the dining room started tilting.” Eugene said. “Me and my wife were just settling down for the evenin’ ‘til we heard the groanin’.” Slate said as he held his wife close to him. “I had to collect as many jewels as I could carry, and of course my business, jeweler’s licences, and all the money I made from the safe the moment I felt the ship shaking.” Diadem said as he held his briefcase which was handcuffed to his wrist by a spare necklace chain. “Clever as it is, I feel as if we should hurry, the water is rising quite fast and we need to escape.” Oasis pointed out as everyone nodded in agreement. “I’ll catch up with you guys in a moment, I need to grab something first.” Dark said as he ran back toward the flooding areas. “Where are you going?” Slate shouted as he was concerned for his friend. “To the one place where you can find any information on this tin can.” Dark shouted back as he approached the Bridge area that was slowly submerging into the North Sea.

Upon entering, he had a time limit of a few minutes to find what he needs and get out before the water gets too high. “Now where is the log?” Dark asked himself as he rummaged through the drawers and shelves. Eventually Dark found what he came for when a drawer fell out of the desk and broke open to reveal the ship’s travel log. “Got it, now to get the hell out of here,” Dark said as he ran out of the bridge. That was until Captain Francis stumbled upon the teen. “And just where do you think you’re going with that?” Francis asked. “I was going to give it to you, you left it behind in the bridge and I know the British Inquiry would be interested in last known position of the ship.” Dark said hoping it would convince the Captain. “Nice work boy, that’s what I was coming to do, but it seems you saved me the effort. Now let’s get you and whomever you were travelling with to a boat.” Francis said as the two men ran away from the Bridge area just as the glass was about to shatter from the water pressure.

As the bridge was submerged, The ship was beginning to gradually list heavier to starboard and when many had little choice, people jumped off the sinking liner, some swam when the water reached them. Sitting behind the bridge over 60 feet tall, the forward funnels weight took it’s toll as lines snapped holding it down and toppled over the starboard area, crushing those within its wake or washing over some in a nearby lifeboat. As Dark ran over to the stern area of the ship where he witnesses his family on a boat holding on by a davit line. A boat was able to row over to the family which thankfully had Rocky Mountain on board who quickly took baby Jonathan Glass. Before the two parents could get out, the line snapped due to the pull of water from the propellers and the other lifeboat had to back away and watch the couple drift to their death. Dark could only watch as the couple held on one another as the propeller sliced up the boat.

On lifeboat 14 almost a mile from the sinking Saurotania, Oasis, Randy, Slate, Diadem, and Minuette watched the liner slowly slip to her grave as the water reached the second funnel and the lights still illuminated the night. Minuette was weeping at the sight. “He’ll be okay Minny, he will make it.” Oasis said trying to reassure her friend. Slate quietly prayed to the sweet lord to those still aboard the doomed liner.

Inside the Engine room, some engineers stayed behind to keep the electricity on the ship alive as much as possible by keeping the breakers in. As one engineer tried to put a breaker in, the electricity sparked and lead to him being electrocuted and causes the lights to flicker twice and go out forever and the four propellers finally stopped after the lights died Dark reached the railing of the starboard side and climbed due to the list being hard to walk on the deck until he reached the flagpole on the very end of the stern, crowded with hundreds of other passengers fighting for their survival. One man jumped from the railing, but misjudged it by clipping the rudder and pinwheeling into the sea.

Loud groaning of the hull echoed through the night followed by a loud explosion as the hull split between the funnels and the stern settled back level for a little bit. Being still attached due to the reinforced steel plating, the bow section dragged the stern with it and raising the stern up once more. “God, please let me live.” Dark prayed as the stern bobbed for a bit and began its descent into the sea. People screamed as the stern submerged into the sea, some losing their grip and falling. One person even hit the docking bridge before entering the icy ocean. The Saurotania’s stern finally disappeared into the North Sea at 3:30 AM, almost an hour and a half since the first boiler explosion and Dark had been one of the few to be back washed as the stern slipped into the darkness and making a one way journey to the seafloor. With Dark on the surface, hundreds of other passengers screamed for help and begged for the boats to return. The S.S Javel wouldn’t arrive until another hour and of the 34 boats on board, only 21 were launched, but 2 were destroyed and one was overturned.

1st Officer Zachary Hills took charge of boat 14 and rallied the other boats in one area. After the Saurotania sank, he looked over the cold and scared survivors. “Right we are going back! I want everyone from 14 to move to 3 and from 5 to 17. Make some room for others now and quickly.” Hills ordered as the survivors began to move as instructed. In the wreck site, there were lots of the people in the sea and some debris from the ship or what people threw overboard. After being back watered from the ship, Dark saw many people flailing around and pleading for help, but he needed to get out of the freezing water otherwise hypothermia would set in. He found a large piece of what appeared to be a door and climbed on it. “H-help, p-p-please, somebody, a-anybody!” Dark shouted hoping someone would have the common sense to come and save him. But after five minutes, his luck seemed futile as the screams grew quieter.

Hypothermia took it's prize on many in the freezing water and little hope to some still alive that rescue will ever come. Dark lied adrift on his piece of debris with his face growing pale from the cold and small pieces of ice were present on bits of his hair. When all seemed lost, Boat 14 slowly approached the survivor, they managed to find the freezing teen and haul him into the boat. “Don’t you ever do anything like that again, you crazy bastard!” Minuette sobbed as she hugged Dark tightly to warm up the drenched teen. “N-no p-p-promises.” Dark stuttered as he returned the hug. “Lad, you are the most reckless man I ever knew God bless you laddie.” Slate said as he placed a blanket around Dark. “T-thanks.” Dark replied with a shivering smile. But of the 2,125 in the water, only 8 were rescued by Boat 14 including Rivets, Quick Tap, Captain Bartlett, and Cole.

After waiting for an hour, the SS Javel retrieved the survivors and continued towards St. Andrews to pay the Saurotania her respects. Among the dead were Collins Murdoch, who went down with the ship, John Revan, who sent messages til the end, many stokers and engineers who tried to keep the power alive, and over the 2,690 the survivor count was 573 and 2,117 died.

After a few hours on the morning of June,13,1917 the SS Javel arrived in the port the Saurotania was supposed to be docked in as survivors got off the gangway sad and scared from their ordeals or lost family and friends, including little Jonathan Glass. Black Honor and his wife were now unable to comfort their boy, but they entrusted their son to their friend Rocky Mountain and his family. At some distance away, the teens were conversing about their project. “Well we know where she’s entombed, and you changed the ending slightly stealing our thunder, but nonetheless we managed to change history in her memory.” Randy said with a sly smile. “Yeah, at least I know my grandfather ended up with some good people, and it also explains my amazing alcohol tolerance.” Dark replied. “Yes and now that we know what this makes the project a lot easier and we can finally go back to our time.” Oasis remarked with a sigh of relief that it’s finally over. The inside of the suitcase began to flicker with a mysterious light, the same one that sent them there. “It’s time to go home.” Minuette said as the glow brightened and consumed the teens.

When the light dissipated they found themselves in Dark’s house wearing the clothes they had on the moment they disappeared from St. Andrews. “Well time to get some rest, then get started on our reports tomorrow.” Randy said as he drifted off to sleep on the floor with his companions. “You know I have spare rooms right?” Dark asked as he trudged to his bedroom that was thankfully close by. “Yeah we do, but do you mind if I join you?” Minuette said with a sleepy smile. “Not at all.” Dark replied as he and Minuette steadied each other as they went into Dark’s room. “Wanna sleep together tonight?” Oasis asked. “Sure babe.” Randy said as he pecked his girlfriend on her cheek. “Good, now let’s get to bed.” Oasis replied as she led Randy to their guest room.