Panic

Posted on Sun Nov 3rd, 2024 @ 11:58pm by Lieutenant Talsi Carey & Field Marshal Moxley Sorrel (Stoffels) & Lieutenant Commander Rutherford (RJ) Milton & Lieutenant Etan tar-Lexros & Lieutenant Sky Jansen-Carey & Lieutenant JG Diana Morrison-Johnson & Ensign Gregory Turner

Mission: Those who are left behind
Location: Bridge/Cargobay
Timeline: before away team

IC

Moxley was sitting in the central chair on the bridge keeping an eye on all the recovery missions going on. Even their mighty transporters were at maximum capacity now so shuttles were going out to look for more survivors and trying to get some prisoners. He would definitely like to get a go at the bastards. Despite his reputation he loathed casualties and as a senior marine he had always been careful not to put his people in danger without a very good reason. His casualty figures had always been low and that was something he prided himself on.

'Doctor how is sickbay holding up, how much capacity do we still have." He barked.

"Triage is not Standing room only but I do hope other ships getting some?" Milton tried to joke. "WE are hopping but only sixty percent full I would guess."

"Thank you, doctor." Sorrel said seriously, taking the information in.

"Tactical any other ships close enough to help out?"

"Just the ones we came with."

"Counselling be ready to receive traumatized patients and make sure there is support for our away teams, seeing death and destruction on this scale can do something with you especially the greener troops."

Diana couldn't believe the voice she actually heard on the comm. The Captain definitely to make better decisions on who allowed to run the ship in his absence. Afterall there was a chain of command in place to avoid putting a random individual in charge. "Counseling is currently in place and waiting for the wounded."

"Thank you lieutenant."

Moxley worried about the amount of strangers streaming into the ship right now. Enemies and severely traumatized allies. To him it felt like a powderkeg and it would not take much for things to go very wrong.


The Starship Operations team had been working around the clock on the salvage operation, and Etan had quickly realized that the Bridge assignments were a respite from the hard work. Every member of the Operations department had been given a shift on the Bridge at either of their two stations, including himself. He leaned back in the seat, monitoring the situation inside and outside the ship. Considering the situation and the ship's chain of command, he probably should have been in the center seat, but was more than willing to defer to the Marine for the moment as his body relaxed. He was used to hard work, but this was getting a bit on the ridiculous side. The processing and reclamation of equipment and material, even with all the technology to aid them, was a major undertaking.

"Marshal. Ops confirms reports from Medical and Counseling departments, we have backup spaces and equipment ready. Holodecks can be pulled for priority use as well. We also have a planned space for a second backup Brig as called for, isolated from all critical systems. Engineering and Operations teams are coordinated with the support-craft teams for salvage and rescue operations, we have automated sickbay transport for intensive or critical cases."

Etan only referred to the man by rank, not as 'sir', as the Marshal was not technically in the ship's chain of command. If something happened, Etan was probably the one on the hook in the eyes of Starfleet. As the Captain had handed off the conn to the Marshal, though, he was just as happy to go along. He did send a text-only message to Morrison-Johnson, just confirming the report through Ops, meant as a reassurance that one of the ship's senior staff was aware of messages passing through the Bridge.

"Thank you, lieutenant, good job." The marshal nodded approvingly.

Tal was new to the whole thing, but seeing as the whole chain of command wasn't being followed, she looked to who would technically be starfleets ears in this. Her tail whipped in annoyance... although it was only a tell tale sign those close to her knew... some compared it to a house cat getting increasingly angry. If something were to happen... with the Marshall being outside the chain... it could make things very difficult.

Just then the sirens began to blare on the bridge showing some sort of alert.

Moxley was on his feet instantly, he feared something like this with too many people coming onto the ship at once.

"Secure the ship! Lock sectors down. Tactical report! Security report."

=*= Help! Someone is shooting at me, oh god, please help =*= was all that came over the speakers on the bridge and was cut off abruptly.

"Locate that." Sorrel snapped.

Tal tapped a few buttons, "cargo bay 3, triage control."

"Sh..." Moxley began to say but he did not like to swear in public. "Most of our security people are already heavily engaged here or on the rescue missions. Anybody available we can send to handle this?"

An unknown voice suddenly came over the comm. "This is Ensign Turner, I was just cleared from the medical staff and can get down there to help."

Etan glanced over at Talsi. She'd been one of his supports on the Resolution, and he respected her input. Her effort toward exaggerated clarity in her body language wasn't lost on him either. She was making sure he recognized what she was feeling. She was frustrated at the Captain's decision. No doubt, the Captain would be getting an earful when they were alone.

Suddenly, there wasn't time to think on that. There was a call from outside Cargo Bay 3, and the ship reported phaser fire. He felt the panic rising in his chest, and took a few deliberate breaths to steady himself. He was getting better, sure, but moments like this were the times he broke down worst. He tapped a few buttons, calling up internal cameras, putting them on the main viewer. He turned to the Science station. "Intruder Alert, Deck 38, all sections. Science, a, uh, life-form scan, please. Anybody who's injured, we'd... we'd better get them to Sickbay."

He looked up at the Marshal, swallowing hard. Talsi and others had seen him like this, but no one who was new to the ship would realize just how hard Etan was fighting to keep it together. "I'm, uh, rerouting all non-priority turbolifts from Deck 38 and clearing the Flight Deck of all non-essential personnel. I request Marine deployment to Deck 38, Marshal." That wasn't a question - Etan was taking a leadership role for one of the few times in his life. He was obviously scared stiff, but he was managing the panic as best he could. He opened a channel to Sickbay. His voice was shaky, but his training took hold as he reported to his superior. "Doctor Rutherford, this is Lieutenant tar-Lexros. We, uh... we've got a really big problem. Deck 38, Intruder alert. Casualties will be beamed to Sickbay as Science finds them with internal sensors. I've got the turbolifts locked down, and I've alerted Engineering to monitor Jeffries tubes, as well as clearing the Flight Deck of non-essential personnel. I've requested Marine deployment because Security is stretched too thin; do you wish to belay, sir? Did I miss anything, sir?"

To see and hear the normally quiet and nervous Etan giving orders and requests during a crisis was probably a shock to anyone who'd seen him nearly fall apart in times past. But this was life and death, and the desire to save the lives of his shipmates had given Etan the strength to push through. There would be time to collapse into tears and shaking in Sickbay later. For now, he was a competent Ops officer, and trying as best he could to be a confident one as well.

"Use the Security that we have as needed." Rutherford came onto the bridge. "I was hoping for a quiet watch for some rest." He chuckled as he made his way around to the Command Chairs. "Guess no one realizes this is my watch?" Looking at the Command Chair he stood in front of it. "I have the bridge. The Triage is also getting some extra help and two of them are my Field Techs." Milton grinned. "They have Front Line Combat Triage under their belts. Throw some trained combatants to support and Cargo Bay Three will get some support."

Moxley came to his feet fighting the stiffness in his body. "Just keeping the chair warm till you had everything sorted in sickbay, doctor." He said with a nod. You have a good crew here." He said with approval.

With the normal chain of command restored, Etan could take a moment to think. "Aye, sir. Security teams to Deck 38, please respond to active Intruder Alert in Cargo Bay 3." He looked at Talsi, his nerves still very present. "Talsi - uh, Lieutenant Carey, please confirm Security redeployment."

Talsi tapped a few buttons. "Security has responded and confirmed redeployment." Turning to the lt, she gave a reassuring nod, Her tail, slowly returned back to its home wrapped around her waist

[Cargo Bay 3]

Shift Lead Vincent had seen too much combat in his Medical Career; that is why he signed up for a Capitol ship and exploration. That seemed out of the portal at the moment. He saw the personnel from Security first with short rifles and Phaser type II, extending a hand Vincent waited to be tossed a phaser. Catching it nimbly he took the right side of the entry.

"What happened to just being explorers?" He asked no one in particular.



Ensign Talut was fully emerged in a psychosis thinking that he was on an enemy ship and his duty was to escape. He had quickly overpowered one of the nurses and as the enemy was surprised by his action had managed to overcome another enemy with a weapon. Talut took the gun grabbed a woman and held her hostage by pushing the gun against her head, his hand on the trigger.

"Let me go! Release me now or I will kill her!"

Sky had sensed a drastic upheaval in emotions, leaving the twins where they’d be safe she followed it to where the drama was unfolding. “Ensign...” she spoke as she entered the room, wishing she knew his name. “You’re not being held prisoner, you’re onboard a Federation starship, look around...” She motioned to the area around him. “You’re in no danger here, we’re just trying to help. You don’t want to hurt her, she’s done nothing to you.”

Ensign Turner who was standing not that far from Talut eased his way in closer as the counselor had his attention.

"No! You are all trying to trick me. I don't believe you!" Taluk screamed as the woman in his grip was shivering in fear.

“It’s no trick” Sky was trying to reassure the poor woman as much as she was her captor. “You’re terrifying her can’t you see that? I don’t think you really want to hurt her. Let her go. If you need a hostage then take me instead, I’ll go willingly to prove to you that I’m not lying.”

"No! You are one of them you filthy Romulan. You are trying to trick me!" Talut was panicking more and more, seeing enemies everywhere.

“You’re right I am part Romulan, but I’m not here to trick you” Sky stood still not wanting to risk approaching any further, right now she couldn’t see the situation ending well. “You can see you’re not aboard a Romulan ship, look around see for yourself.” She motioned around them. “You need to calm down and trust someone, trust me Ensign...please.”

Getting close enough, Gregory managed to get a hold of the man's arm twisting it up. The woman broke free screaming as she ran away. The security officer wrestled with the man as they both struggled to get control of the weapon. Turner brought his knee into the mans ribs, then twisted his wrist, causing the phaser to fall onto the ground. Next, he flipped him over, bringing him down on his back.

Vincent dashed into the Cargo Bay and swept the room.

"We good to have some help enter?" He asked.

Sky nodded as she breathed a sigh of relief, she moved to offer some comfort to the poor young woman who’d been made hostage. “I suggest you get him out of here, he’ll need a medical and psychological assessment.”

Still on top of the man, Gregory spoke in a calm tone. "Its going to be alright. These folks are here to help us."

Talut had completely broken down now not offering resistance anymore but just laying there and crying his heart out.

Still maintaining control, Turner loosened his grip on the man. Looking over to the counselor, the Ensign waited on some sense of instruction on how to proceed.

Sky took a moment to catch her breath before looking towards Turner. “It’s alright now Ensign, I don’t think there’s any danger anymore.” She approached Talut offering a gentle touch on top of his hand. “It’s alright, we’ll help you there’s nothing to fear.”

Gregory nodded as he released his grip.

Talut was indeed no longer a danger, now he was free he held on to Sky and continued to sob.

“It’s okay, it’ll all be okay” Sky offered solace as best as she could. The horrors of war were only just beginning and it wasn’t going to get any easier.

More people were sobbing now but there was no further sign of violence.

Ensign Turner looked over at the group of sobbing personnel. It was at the moment, that he realized that the majority of the crew he served with dead, the others seriously injured and recovering. With a wave of emotional coming over him, Gregory stepped to the side to prevent anyone from seeing him breaking down as he did his best to hold it all in. Now was not the time to breakdown. Even though he was just an Ensign, Gregory was still an officer. And there was a standard that needed to be set.



[Bridge]

Etan looked at the cameras in Cargo Bay 3 as the two Security officers got control of the situation. He took a deep breath and nodded. "Sir, Cargo Bay 3 secured." His eyes closed for a moment and he looked around the Bridge. "Any conflicting reports on status of Deck 38?" He was hoping they'd gotten the problem under control, but terrified that they hadn't as he looked around then at the Doctor.

Tal looked over sensors, verified with security, and others in the area. "Conflict has been resolved. Next time lets make sure there's enough security."

Lieutenant tar-Lexros leaned forward and let out a shaky breath, nodding at Tal's request. "No kidding." He tapped the internal comms button on his console before trying to let go of the tightness in his chest, the accelerated heart beat, and the other symptoms of his anxiety. "Stand down alert, Deck 38. Flight Deck, resume normal operations. Turbolifts to normal function. Jeffries Tubes to standard monitoring only."

He turned back to Tal, his expression more tired than the short issue should have caused. "Any Ops personnel with with an above average rating in combat or phaser training, they're your support to keep Security where it's most needed." He gripped the console and closed his eyes, trying not to break down. Finally, he turned to Rutherford, gesturing to the Ensign at the Ops station in the back of the Bridge. "Doctor Milton, permission to leave the Bridge for a few minutes? Ensign Jarvis can relieve me here, and Ops 2 isn't currently running anything that can't be monitored from here."

From a small corner on the bridge Moxley was still following the performances of the bridge crew with interest.

Tal turned. "I am, with tactical being just monitoring sensors... its probably more useful if I give them a hand." She agreed. Turning to the Commander. "Request permission to assist security Doctor."