Grim Duty

 Episode Name:  Grim Duty

   Written By:  Eidolon

         Cast:  Donavon, Eidolon, Harris, Krylow, Lopez, Norvan and Pierce.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Eidolon

     Aired On:  Thu Mar 31 22:23:53 2005

     Stardate:  54863.4

Time: Thu Mar 31 19:21:19 2005

Stardate: 54863.1

The Amazon gently drifts out of the shuttlebay of the station, guided on thruster power to a point just beyond the atmospheric forcefield. The mission today is one of a grim nature, and, by definition, must be commanded by a senior officer for one simple reason.

Today, the ones unlucky enough to have been sucked out a hull breach will be coming home.

Harris looks mildly uncomfortable as he sits at the commander's position. "Alright, we'll start with the large station debris field. Helm, set course one-two-nine mark three-one, engage at fifteen hundred kph."

Already in suit, Krylow hasn't bothered to attach the helmet yet. Instead he's made his way up to the flight deck to watch and wait, standing quietly near the door while watching out the forward viewports.

Donavon stoically runs through the system pre-flight check, remembering the flyboy lessons. Coordinates are tapped into the computer, acknowledged by a chirrup. "Course set. Engaging at fifteen hundred kph." Eyes dart from console to viewscreen, making any necessary minor adjustments as the U.S.S. Amazon courses through space.

Norvan stands to Krylow's side, also clad in her Extra-Vehicular Activity suit. The helmet is tucked under one arm, and her eyes are fixed on the viewports as well. After a moment, she turns slightly to face her partner for the upcoming spacewalk. Norvan whispers to Krylow, "It's been a long time since I've worn one of these... not since the training I had at the Academy."

<CONTEST> Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Pierce has arrived.

Lopez occupies her place at the tactical station, continuing to carry on in her pivotal role wherein she holds down the floor while doing work. Ana nods to the suited officers who join them on the flight deck, solemnly punching away at the console. "All prior known-and-marked positions of bodies to be recovered, transferred to command," she announces. "On our current heading, I'm reading five communicator signals... Sailamh, Joseph and Margot Lanie, Attrevius Foster, and Robert Hurley's."

The shuttle moves away from the station, coming upon a dark debris field filled with the detrius of life.

A chair from security. A desk from someone's quarters. A couch. Hull fragments. A yellow teddy bear. All these things drift past the viewports.

. o O Krylow fights down feelings of frustration and anger, especially at the mention of Robery Hurley.

Harris nods once. "Helm, slow to a crawl," he orders quietly. "Mister Lopez, prepare transporter locks."

. o O Krylow thinks, "Christine, I'm so sorry."

. o O Harris thinks, "Sorry we didn't have more time, at least in this incarnation, Junior. Rest easy."

Krylow crosses his arms over his chest, frowning slightly as he listens. He responds to Norvan without looking to her. Krylow whispers to Norvan, "You'll do fine. Take it slow, watch yourself around debris and I'll keep an eye on you. The training will come back to you."

. o O Harris is saddened by the loss of his son, but he has more duties to perform. There will be time to cry later.

Donavon shuts her eyes when the names ring in her ears. A single finger tap draws the shuttle to a creeping crawl. Her shoulders rise with a breath before a firmly closed off officer stares at the viewscreen upon the exhale. "Closing in, sir."

Pierce keeps his helmet underneath his arm, otherwise sort of fidgety in his EVA suit, not accustomed to the outfit. As the medical officer, well, this whole body thing is partially his responsibility.

Norvan nods a couple of times, in reply to Krylow's words. Norvan whispers to Krylow, "I'm not too worried about it... I'm pretty sure I'll get used to it again, easily enough. But if you'd keep half an eye on me while we're out there, I'd appreciate it."

<CONTEST> Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems (Transporter) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

<CONTEST> Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems (Transporter) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems (Transporter) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

<CONTEST> Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems (Transporter) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems (Transporter) skill vs a difficulty of Impossible and Fails!

Lopez acknowledges the order. There is a pause, while she attempts with limited success to carry it out. She frowns, not looking at the field of flotsam. "I have the Lanie's locked in, Sir... Attrevius Foster is... fused to hull plating and will require EVA recovery... Sailamh and Robert Hurley are caught in a tangled nest of power conduits. I can't... quite punch through. Permission to run scans for infection?"

Harris nods once before turning to Krylow. "Permission granted, Mister Lopez. Suit up, you three -- and be careful out there." he orders softly.

<CONTEST> Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

"Aye, sir," says Krylow, nodding to Harris. "We're up," he says with a nod to Norvan and Pierce before turning and clearing the flight deck moving into the main shuttle module. He grabs his helmet from the rack, talking to Norvan and Pierce as he does. "Suit up and we'll check each other before leaving the shuttle."

<PROVE> Krylow has the merit of Zero-g Training at 2.

Donavon swivels about to make eye contact with the commanding officer. "Sir, permission to combine efforts with Ensign Lopez to set transporter locks on Sailamh and Robert Hurley? Heading into that nest of power conduits in EVA suits might be more dangerous," is asked and suggested.

Pierce nods his head and reaches to pull on his helmet. "Right," he says, as he thunks it on and then secures it airtight. "Man, it's been a while since I've worn one of these," he murmurs to himself.

"Aye, sir," Norvan nods firmly to Krylow, swallowing any more concerns before she can voice them. She turns and follows the others to the back, taking her helmet out from under her arm and holding it with both hands.

Lopez reports as the crew prepares to go and return the dead from the void, still keeping her eyes down for the time-being, angled to the console. "No viral packets detected," she reports. To Donavon's suggestions, she says, "Concur, sir... and there is always an option of attempting to tractor the mass into cargo, or directly into the shuttlebay."

Harris nods once. "Go for it, Mister Donavon. Mister Lopez, we want to keep an eye out for any fast-moving particles. The last thing we need is a decompressed EVA suit."

<CONTEST> Donavon contests her Shipboard Systems (Transporter) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Krylow checks first Pierce and then Norvan, making sure they're both ready to go. When he's satisfied he gives them each a thumbs up. "You guys are ready. Doctor Pierce, please seal the door to the flight deck so we can decompress this compartment," before picking up a pair of plasma torches, handing one to Norvan.

GAME: Lopez spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Lopez (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

. o O Donavon thinks, "It shouldn't have been this way, Kiddo. You were supposed to grow old with your wife....to be with Chrissy and Rob."

Donavon firmly nods but not before tapping a finger near her left eye to get Krylow's attention. She thumbs-up and turns away. Now is the moment to get cracking. Knuckles pop. Fingers, then, work the controls. Strangely, there's no humming to time her actions. The Lieutenant silent concentration masks inner emotions. Her console blinks. "Both locks are set, sir. Shall I begin to lock in on larger debris or tugboat a section using a tractor beam?"

Pierce nods his head once, and then turns so that he faces the door to the flight deck. He pushes it closed, using his gloved hands to turn the hatch door to seal it. He checks it once more for tightness, then flashes a thumbs up to Krylow. "It's secure," he tells the engineer.

After securing her helmet in place, and nodding at Krylow's declaration, Norvan accepts the plasma torch from him. She quickly looks over the device to make sure she's familiar with it, then looks back up, and gives him another nod. "Ready when you are."

"Aye, Sir," the junior Missions Officer asserts from Tactical. She flips on comms at her station, to make sure that both command and the outbound EVA team hears her next update. "Presently a few bits of debris that could pose a minor hazard out there... Nothing of sufficient size or speed to tear holes through the EVAs and whatever happens to be in them. Good for now... Going to keep tabs on the more worrisome bits."

"Start beaming the bodies aboard," Harris orders softly. "Let's get a spotlight on Mister Foster, as well."

"We're ready for your order, Lieutenant Harris," says Krylow over the comlink, waiting near the door while the shuttle moves into position.

Donavon acknowledges, "Aye, sir." One, two, three, four, the bodies beam into the shuttle. All in a row and ready for medical to handle.

With a heavy sigh, Pierce reaches into his Bag of Tricks and takes out his tricorder. It's a sad mockery of a check, but he confirms, that, indeed, all five bodies are dead. He consults his chronometer. "I'm going to pronounce death at 20:23," he says over the bodies.

Norvan turns to give Pierce a rather unamused look, before turning back to Krylow, and following him to the door.

"Open the airlock," Harris orders softly. "You're cleared, Mister Krylow."

. o O Norvan thinks, "Is that some kind of a joke, Doctor?"

The airlock puffs open after Harris' order, a light on the top of the runabout highlighting the grim task before the EVA team: a human male, partially fused with a ten-meter section of hull. It's not a pretty sight -- the whole right side of the figure is melted into the hull, and, even though he's been out here for almost two weeks, what's left of his face displays surprise.

It's as if he didn't expect the end to come.

Krylow waits as the door slides open, looking out as it does. "Alright, that looks to be about ninety to one hundred and ten meters away. Take it easy with the thruster packs and watch for debris," he says before moving out first and starting slowly towards the the hull section, thrusters carrying him through space.

Donavon maintains a look-out for the EVA-Team though more concentrates on keeping the Amazon close by.

Pierce steps out of the hatch, taking a deep breath as he does, even though, well, he's in the middle of an EVA suit. "All right," he says, moving out and after, gently adjusting his thrusters like he sort of remembers how to do this

"As if zero-gravity isn't giving my stomach a hard enough time," Norvan murmurs to herself, after her eyes fall on the man fused to metal. Then she follows Krylow and Pierce out into space, activating her thrusters. She raises her voice and asks, softly, "Are we going to bring in the whole thing, or...?" The Trill leaves the question unfinished, preferring not to state the alternative of cutting the corpse away from the hull.

Lopez has chosen just then to look up and forward, unluckily. The glimpse of the hull and its cargo, it makes her hands to knot on the console. But she starts then at something else. "Sir, we've a large object on sensors, inbound," she reports, "-at 50 meters per second, massing 92 kilos."

GAME: Pierce spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Pierce (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Environment Suit) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!

<CONTEST> Krylow (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Environment Suit) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!

<CONTEST> Norvan contests her Personal Equipment (Environment Suit) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Krylow (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Environmental Suit) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Pierce (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Environmental Suit) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

Slowly making their way across the void, there are no incidents of note -- just an arrival at the hull fragment and the deceased.

Harris glances at Lopez, raising an eyebrow. "That's pretty sizeable. What is it?" This is directed at the runabout crew in general.

<CONTEST> Norvan contests her Material Engineering skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

<CONTEST> Krylow contests his Material Engineering skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

Krylow settles onto the hull and letting the magnets in his boots take hold while he powers off the thrusters. Once there he take a look around the body and says, "We're just to try and cut around him Lieutenant Norvan." With that he crouches and begins the work with his plasma torch.

<PROVE> Donavon has the merit of Bold at 1.

<CONTEST> Donavon (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Lopez (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

Donavon has already begun a narrowed sensor sweep. "Sir," is stating primly, "it's a Lieutenant Junior Grade Ivan Suslov. Shall we proceed with a transporter lock?"

"What do you need me to do?" asks Pierce, quietly from where is hovers, or, well, floats in space near Krylow and Norvan. It isn't snarky (amazingly) but rather curious.

<CONTEST> Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems (Transporters) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

Norvan remains silent, only giving Krylow a nod, before she too begins work on the metal, trying to cut around the deceased.

Lopez says, "He was listed MIA after being sucked out of the Aegis' airlock," Ana says, punching away in agitation and more than a little concern. "I can't get a transporter lock on the body," she reports, already stacking the command line to try it again."

Maybe it's fate, or bad luck, but Norvan and Krylow's torches hit the same microfracture at the same moment. When the pressure is released, it starts to crack further in a line that runs underneath the body.

Two seconds after that, a corpse in a Starfleet uniform arrives to exacerbate the issue. Ivan Suslov's body slams into the hull plate, forcing the fracture to rupture completely. This splits Attrevius Foster's body in two, and changes the rotation of the hull plate -- which, while Krylow and Norvan are attached by their boots, Pierce is not. Jagged edge of metal incoming.

<CONTEST> Pierce (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Environmental Suit) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

"Watch that fra...," starts Krylow before Suslov slams into the hull near them and the fracture rips open. "Move it Pierce!," calls, stuck to the hull piece moving away from the doctor.

<PROVE> Donavon has the merit of Bold at 1.

<CONTEST> Donavon (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Tractor Beam) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

Eidolon turns to Lopez. "Try it again, Ana," he calls, although he looks concerned as things go badly outside. "Locks on the away team. Quickly."

Harris turns to Lopez. "Try it again, Ana," he calls, although he looks concerned as things go badly outside. "Locks on the away team. Quickly."

GAME: Lopez spends a courage point.

Donavon hears Krylow's alarmed tone through the comlinks. Immediately, she sets sights on their location to discover the cause. Three clicks and a tap later"Tractor Beam Engaged and Locked," she announces. The fragmented hull piece aimed to slice Pierce into two ceases all movement, trapped within a blue light. She calls to the EVA-Team. "Krylow, where do you prefer this hunk of metal?"

<CONTEST> Lopez (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Transporters) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

In space, it's hard to really describe what Pierce does as 'dive' out of the way. Instead, he sort of taps his jetpack and lets inertia do the rest, dodging out of the way of the incoming metal debris. "That was close," he says.

Norvan is jarred slightly as Suslov's corpse impacts the hull, and then watches in horror as Attrevius's body splits open before her eyes. Her stomach begins doing flip-flops, and she quickly turns away from the sight, just in time to watch Pierce avoiding the incoming metal. And then it's transported away. Her breath catches, before she finally murmurs under her breath. "What a mess."

No one needs to tell the self-kicking but currently VERY animated with her business Lopez exactly how close that was. "I've got a lock on all three of them," she reports.

Harris tabs his comlink open. "Everyone alright out there?" he calls to Krylow.

"We're five by five Lieutenant," replies Krylow after a moment, helmet sviweling to check both team members. "Take a big breath guys. Lieutenant Norvan, you keep working on this piece. Donavon, just keep that part there. We can work on it as is," he says moving to the other piece. "Doctor, use your boots and join me. No sense floating around out here," he says before moving to start cutting again."

. o O Krylow thinks, "Come on Meg, keep your eyes open. You know we need you watching out for us."

Donavon maintains the tractor beam by inputting commands to hold the hull piece in place. "You got your wish, Krylow."

Pierce moves himself over to join Krylow, so that he is not floating out into the area where the Evil Hull Plates roam and snap and cut. "You got it," says Pierce, attaching himself.

. o O Krylow is frustrated about the suddenness of the recent problem, and takes it out on the poor hull with his plasma torch.

Lopez doesn't move her hand, not one little bit. She's waiting on command's order to stand down, eyes searching the sensor data for the next impending disaster. On your toes, Ensign.

<CONTEST> Eidolon contests Norvan's Material Engineering skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

GAME: Krylow spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Krylow (claiming advantage) contests his Material Engineering skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

The work continues slowly, but little by little, the metal surrenders the body of the fallen. There's a few flubs -- Norvan's torch sinks into Foster's leg briefly before she backs it out, but eventually -- there are two body halves there, free of the hull plating.

Harris releases a sigh. "Ana, get a lock on the new body and beam it aboard. Doctor Pierce, do you have any idea what caused Mister Foster to be... stuck... as he is?"

<CONTEST> Pierce (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Medical Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

As the bodies are cut lose Krylow nods to Norvan. "Head back to the shuttle Lieutenant. Doctor Pierce and I will finish up out here and join you momentarily," he says before turning to watch Pierce work.

Out comes the tricorder, Pierce taking especial care to make sure it does not float away. "He was too close to the security station, I'd say, sir," reports the doctor over the commlink. "When the phaser overloaded --" He just lets that hang.

<CONTEST> Lopez (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Transporter) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Norvan nods in silence and jetpacks back to the runabout.

Lopez bent over at her console, gets the transporter locks. On all of it. And beams it all back to the runabout.

The bodies dematerialize, leaving Krylow and Pierce alone out there.

Harris releases a breath. "Alright, come on back, you two. Good work."

"Aye sir," replies Krylow to the order. "Doctor, after you," he says and waits for Pierce to get moving before he follows behind.

Pierce nods his head and pushes off of where he was, guiding himself back into the airlock. "Thanks, Ensign," he says, as he takes the lead in navigating back to the Amazon.

Harris turns back to the front. "Alright, helm, set course two-five-seven mark three-one. We're going to be grabbing that starboard nacelle from the Aegis and pulling it away. Fifteen hundred KPH when the away team's aboard."

Krylow follows Pierce all the way back to the shuttle and once they're inside he seals the door behind him. "We're aboard sir, and the doors are sealed."

Donavon pops in the coordinates. Once she verifies all members are onboard, the tractor beam disengages and the U.S.S. Amazon is brought on a new course.

Pierce takes his tricorder out once more and surveys each of the new bodies cursorily. "We'll call it at twenty-one forty-four," he tells absolutely no one. He pauses for a moment, watching Suslov's body. "You don't know it but --" He cuts himself off, shaking his head.

. o O Pierce thinks, "It may not be really you that did this, but you have a beautiful baby girl."

Norvan gives Krylow a grim look as the two men come back aboard the shuttlecraft. "I'm afraid I'm not at my best with a plasma torch, Ensign. My apologies."

Ana breathes easier when the entire mission team is aboard, which is, in fact, pretty normal for her. She continues to stand by for the next phase.

. o O Lopez thinks, "We are the Dead. Short days ago / We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, / Loved and were loved, and now we lie, / In Flanders fields."

The runabout banks and comes upon the single largest piece of debris in the field left behind by the Dark Aegis -- one almost complete warp nacelle. "Alek," Harris calls. "Work with Ana on a structural analysis, find me a tow point, and we'll get this thing out of our spacelanes." To Donavon, he adds, "Hold us steady, Meg."

Krylow shakes his to Norvan, patting her EVA covered shoulder. "Don't worry about it. You did just fine out there," he softly to her, before pulling off his helmet and moving forward into the shuttle to sit at the engineering station. "Give me a moment, sir."

Donavon taps. "Coming in steady, sir." A tight expression stares blankly at the warp nacelle. A stare before she blinks and continues with her duties.

<CONTEST> Lopez (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Pierce takes off his helmet as well and then makes his way towards the bodies that have been laid out in the auxiliary portion of the runabout. He then moves to take body bags to cover the corpses.

Norvan removes her own helmet and follows Krylow into the forward section of the shuttle, remaining quiet as she does so.

Lopez runs her barrage of sensor pings, and says, "Beautiful. Forwarding the data from the sensor volley over to you, Alek."

GAME: Krylow spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Krylow (claiming advantage) contests his Material Engineering (Structural) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Krylow waits for the incoming information from Lopez before being his work. A moment later he says, "There is a good tow point about one third of the way from the aft of the nacelle. Forwarding the exact coordinates to missions ops and conn for the tractor beam."

<CONTEST> Donavon contests her Shipboard Systems (Tractor Beam) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Donavon's console chirrups, coordinates forwarded. "Have 'em and engaging tractor beam." A beam of blue light shoots from the Amazon at the exact point Krylow mentioned.

Pierce is simply quiet in the back, carrying out his grim task of bagging and tagging the bodies, the sound of a zipper occasionally heard as he moves about back there.

Norvan stays silent for the time being, her eyes flickering between the viewports, to observe the process, and Harris, in case he gives her any new orders.

Harris releases a soft sigh. "Take us out of the spacelanes, Mister Donavon, one-half impulse power."

And so it continues, on into the night -- bodies retrieved, debris moved, until finally, their job is taken over by a relief runabout from the Maimonides, and the process begins anew for yet another team of Starfleet officers, completing the most undesirable task of all.

Cataloging bodies.