All Hands To Battle Stations!
Episode Name: All Hands To Battle Stations!
Written By: Eidolon
Cast: Akeen, Dane, Donavon, Eidolon, Goodwin, Harris, Kran'dok, Lopez, Park, Randal and Takamura.
Produced By: Starfleet
Directed By: Eidolon
Aired On: Sun Jul 24 00:27:57 2005
Stardate: 55137.2
Time: Sat Jul 23 17:17:50 2005
Stardate: 55136.4
A summons from Commander Ghorev, the commanding officer of the Imperial Station 419-Upsilon, has aseembled a small group of people from another universe -- the Federation universe -- in a small box overlooking what could easily evoke images of a gladitorial arena from ancient Rome. This is the first time that any members of the group have been permitted in close proximity with the Andorian, but even now, it's obvious he came prepared, as his personal guards are present: an Andorian which none of the people in the room have seen before, and the doppelganger of Tera Turtledove, both of whom stand stoically toward the back of the room.
Noticibly absent are Robert Harris and Hiroshi Takamura, having rejected Ghorev's offer of comfort if they had sworn fealty to the Empire. Ana Lopez and Megan Donavon-Harris are present, having been tasked with bartending for the day, as they also rejected Ghorev's offer. Everyone else is the honored guest of the Commander, invited to watch a "spectacle" in honor of their new friendship.
"Relax," Ghorev tells the guests of honor. "Enjoy. This is my gift to you."
Park does a double-take when he sees Turtledove's look-alike. Again.
. o O Park thinks, "How many different versions of the same person can there be?"
Kran'dok surveys the arena with a satisfied grin. He turns to his host and nods. "Thank you. Your hospitality of late has been remarkable." He strays near the window, watching the events on the floor.
Randal seems just about shocked when he sees Turtledove standing guard in the VIP area. It takes him a full three seconds before he gets his wits back, turning to flash a smile at Ghorev. "Yes. Thank you," he says, still a bit absent.
Dane is besides the Romulan as usual, but says nothing an uneasy feeling is reflected in the frown lines on her forehead and she looks towards the others.
. o O Dane thinks, "I don't like this at all, I should have stayed with the others."
. o O Randal thinks, "That's not her. That isn't Tera. Focus."
Lopez darkly tosses drinks, straining them into containers with a listless sort of flair. Anxiety paints her about the eyes, wobbles her fingers.
Donavon has been called upon to another box, weaving a safe passage around the audience. Nose wrinkled in disgust at the passing glimpse of the Lexington's former crew remains hidden behind her veil. Another shout draws her attentions back. She tips a pitcher over to pour the next glass of Andorian wine while warily noting where Lopez lingers.
Ghorev takes a seat in a chair that is reminiscent of a throne. "The Empire is not without its grace. We live in trying times, but our history has been filled with them." A wicked sort of grin plays at his lips, and he adds, "I believe we thrive in them." He waits a moment, then gestures to Turtledove. "Mister Turtledove, I trust everything is in order?"
Turtledove steps forward and nods sharply, her face a mask of impassivity. "Everything is prepared, Commander," she replies in a voice that's devoid of warmth. "Your orders were carried out to the letter."
"Good," the Andorian replies, settling back into the comfort of his throne. "I'd hate for things to be untidy."
. o O Akeen Ghorev is very satisfied.
. o O Akeen Ghorev thinks, "The test begins."
Kran'dok puts an arm around the Trill beside him in a very overt gesture of affection. "I am beginning to see that after our little history less. I look forwards to finding out just what quality it is that ensures the Empire always comes out on top. Your system seems to be very good." He looks over at Ghorev as he speaks with a hint of excitement in his voice.
Park glances at Turtledove again, studying her for a moment before he looks back at ghorev. "Commander, I'd like to get to work.", he comments quietly after Kran'dok speaks.
Dane stares besides Kran'dok's side glancing back at the Commander, before muttering. "I'll never get use to this version of him. I was barely use to the real him. " She says, glancing around and wincing when she sees whom is serving them. She tugs on Kran'dok's sleeve and points the two women out. "Look, this is going to be awkward. "
. o O Kran'dok thinks, "I need to learn something before it is too late. If all else fails, it would be an enjoyable conversation. I am glad she is here beside me. I will make sure she gets what she needs and that is not a life here."
Randal chuckles, albeit there is some nervousness about it. He steps over to the bar and flashes her a smile. "Need any help with that? Happens to be my area of expertise." His smile disappears for a moment and he gives an earnest sort of look. For just a moment. Then the mask of joviality returns.
. o O Kran'dok feels happy. There is a careful anticipation in him though.
Donavon's work is never done. Liquor at a grandiose event is in high demand causing her to rush from box to box and back to the bar for refills. Another customer calls for her attention. She responds, "On my way." And during her half-turn to replenish the pitcher, her tray dangerously swings at heads by the bar. "Lopez," she calls, not paying attention that Randal may get hurt, "need more wine."
Lopez has managed under guise of clumsiness to dunk her jittery fingers into every single glass. Right up until Randal approaches the bar. She gives a slice of fruit a vicious squeeze, perhaps hoping for a stinging spray? "Its not mine," she says, and leans back to avoid the tray-bearer. She unloads a bottle for Donavon. The warm one.
The right corner of Turtledove's mouth quirks upward into a shadow of a half-grin, and she steps back to her post and taps her communicator. "Begin the transports when ready."
Down on the arena floor, several forms coalesce out of transporter beams -- twenty in all, and a mix of several races -- Klingons, Humans, Vulcans, Tellarites, and a solitary Gorn, all dressed in prisoner jumpsuits. The bright lights of the arena are apparently more than wherever they came from, as most cover their eyes with their arms.
"In good time, Doctor," Ghorev replies to Park after an absent sort of nod to Kran'dok. "First, the spectacle -- and justice." He tabs a control on the arm of his chair and speaks softly.
On the arena floor, however, his voice booms from a loudspeaker system. "Citizens, officers, honored guests -- I bring before you today prisoners of the Empire! Those who would betray us to our enemies! Those who would weaken us! Those who would see us destroyed!" There's a pause as he lets that sink in. "The sentence for such a thing is written out very clearly in Imperial law, and Imperial law will be observed. Prisoners, your sentence is death!"
From around the arena, several doors pop open and release several Andorian guards, moving covered cages on hoversleds.
GAME: Harris contests his Fitness/Vitality vs Routine and Marginally Succeeds.
GAME: Takamura contests his Fitness/Vitality vs Routine and Succeeds.
GAME: Donavon contests her Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.
GAME: Kran'dok contests his Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.
GAME: Dane contests her Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.
GAME: Lopez contests her Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Succeeds.
GAME: Park contests his Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.
. o O Takamura thinks, "Damn these lights are bright. Wait. Ghorev's voice. We're condemned to death? Why am I not surprised? At least I'll go down fighting."
Takamura arrives in the flash of a transporter beam. While the lights are bright, the Japanese man doesn't seem bothered by them. He looks about the arena and smirks, shaking his head. He stands tall, proud and defiant. It would seem that someone has accepted his fate.
Harris squints in the lights of the arena after he rematerializes, lifting his head to look around the perimeter of the area -- and at the guards, and their sleds -- as his eyes adjust. "I am -never- going on vacation again."
Park just sighs and leans back in his chair, apparently oblivious to the fact that Tak and Harris are in the arena. Or he just doesn't care.
Randal ducks his head just slightly, still getting clipped though by the wine tray. A moment later, he's wiping citris juice out of his left eye. Not losing his grin, Randal says very quietly, "You know, I'm sensing some hostility, here."
"No comprende," snaps Donavon as her head ducks gratefully towards Lopez. "Chica, muchas gracias." Cork popped, warm wine is poured into the pitcher. "Have an extra salt shaker or two? Crowd douses their drinks in salt."
. o O Lopez thinks, "Oh baby, you have not yet BEGUN to hostile."
Ana doesn't answer Randal, looking past him instead. She goes as rigid as a board, eyes lodged in the doomed crowd out on the floor of the arena. This flinch allows the glass held in her fingers to slip through, breaking in the ice tray with a tinkle. "Meg," she says sharply, and at audible volume to the bar patron. "-Rob and Hiroshi are out there!"
Dane eyes widen then before she covers them when the light comes on, she turns away and looking towards the commander. "That's barbaric. " She says her voice low as she speaks. "You call this a gift, I will not..." she trails off and gasps as she hears Ana speak. "Oh no, you can't let them go they didn't do anything!"
Kran'dok catches his breath for a moment of hesitation as the combatants arrive. He gives Mir's shoulder's a firm squeeze. Kran'dok whispers to Dane, "Take it easy Mir. Just watch for now. They made their choice and will have to deal with it. Be careful please." His gaze turns back out to the arena as he searches for answers.
. o O Kran'dok thinks, "Settle down Mir. All will be well if we do not upset Ghorev. We will get out of here, but it will be difficult if he does not trust us. I will not allow either of us to suffer such a disgraceful fate."
Ghorev smiles as the guards move in, and tabs his intercom feed off. "This does promise to be very entertaining. Of course, I do have you to thank, Mister Thorne," he calls over his shoulder. "Had your duplicate not engaged in some questionable smuggling before his incarceration, this might be a rather dull firing squad display, and I do tire of that. As for their innocence, I have recieved evidence indicating their duplicity in a plot with some Nausicaan prisoners; apparently, they were going to steal a starship. This, of course, cannot be allowed." It's hard to say if he's lying or not, but there are no Nausicaans in the arena.
Down on the arena floor, the guards stop their sleds and open the doors of the cages before they turn and start running for the exits -- as fast as their feet can carry them, in fact. This leaves the twenty prisoners with five cages and hoversleds, and as soon as the guards are gone, there's a dull roaring sound from the interior of each of the cages.
. o O Takamura thinks, "Ah. The old 'Feed Them to the Lions' bit. This should be festive."
Takamura observes his surroundings carefully. As the guards start to open the cages, he assumes a defensive posture. "Rob, I don't know what's in thoses cages, but I'm sure that they aren't friendly."
"That's a foregone conclusion, I think," Harris replies as he eyes the sleds before sliding into a defensive stance. "I don't know about you, but I don't think I want to be lunch for some kind of... thing."
The prisoners, in general, start to panic at this point, running toward the walls and banging themselves upon where the doors were -- begging for release.
At the mention of two members of the crew on the arena floor, Park's head snaps up and he shoots to his feet, searching. "That's intersting, Commander, given that there are no Nausicaans out there.", he comments icily.
Randal's gaze darts to the window as Lopez identifies their comrades out in the arena. "What?" He jumps up and goes over for a better look. "While it disturbs me that my, uh, other self flouted Imperial law so flagrantly, I am a bit concerned that there's been some sort of mistake. Those... uh, friends of ours, can't possibly be involved."
GAME: Donavon contests her Presence/Willpower vs Difficult and Fails.
Donavon rolls her eyes in disappointment before leaning over the counter to snap up a salt shaker. "Lass, if you aren't going to hel--" Donavon sets the object upon her tray and a deadly glint rises in her eyes. "Help," is said at a near hoarse whisper. "Mierda. Mierda. Mierda!" she curses over and over under her breath though heard by those close. Sights snap towards Ghorev and her hand opens in an expected gesture. "New bottle, Lopez. -now-." The last said murderously.
Lopez grabs the neck of one of the bar's empty bottles with shaking fingers, so that her thumb-side is pointed down. She lowers it to her side behind the bar. She slides a nice sturdy one to Meg, eyes directing themselves toward the doppelgangar Turtledove.
Dane shakes her head and looks back her hands go to the window, her face seems to make on a horriored look. "Oh gosh we can't just stand here. " She says, looking around urging the other's to help. She spins around to see Donavon, hope in her eyes.
Kran'dok stands near the window still watching the floor of the arena. If he has picked up on just who is out there, he makes no indication. He keeps a firm hold on the Trill's shoulders as they stand near the window. "We will do exactly what we have to," he says in a flat and level voice. "Take it easy and let things happen." The Romulan fixes a firm gaze on the woman.
. o O Kran'dok thinks, "Do not blow your cover right now. They made their choice, do not condemn yourself for their foolishness. If we can help them we will."
. o O Kran'dok feels upset and nervous.
"They were killed in their escape attempt," Ghorev replies diffidently. "But, this, ladies and gentlemen, is where we see the truth behind your pledges. They were found guilty under Imperial law; they will be punished according to Imperial law. If you cannot accept that, then perhaps you belong in the arena with them?" He gestures again, and Turtledove's hand inches toward her phaser.
Meanwhile, in the arena, the first of the creatures appears. It resembles a cross between a frog and a wolf, really, and apparently is a bit slimy, given that it leaves a trail of sticky goop inside the cage with it. It moves slowly, as if it just woke up, then roars again -- more strongly this time.
GAME: Harris contests his Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Succeeds.
GAME: Takamura contests his Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Succeeds.
GAME: Kran'dok contests his Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Succeeds.
GAME: Donavon contests her Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.
GAME: Park contests his Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.
GAME: Dane contests her Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Succeeds.
GAME: Lopez contests her Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.
GAME: Randal contests his Intellect/Perception vs Moderate and Fails.
GAME: Takamura contests his Life Sciences vs Challenging and Fails.
"Denebian Slime Devils." Takamura calls out as the creatures emerge from the cages. Glancing over his shoulder briefly, he suggests to Harris. "Let's try to get to the hoversleds. Maybe we can use them to run the things over. I'm not sure I want to get into hand to hand with them." Even as he makes the suggestion, he angles himself so that he can make a run for one of the sleds when the opportunity presents itself.
Harris wrinkles his nose as the Slime Devil emerges. "I think I would have preferred anything else," he remarks to Takamura as he lines himself up to head for a sled. "Ready when you are."
The pandemonium in the arena increases exponentially with the arrival of the pink, slimy creature, with pleas for mercy now being shouted toward Ghorev's box above.
Park turns around slowly. "I was simply making a comment, Commander.", Park replies, tone evening out. "My concern is that valuable slaves are being wasted in an unnecessary test of loyalty. Had I known that free dialogue was prohibited in the Empire, I'd have held my tongue." He glances past Ghorev to Turtledove. "But, if that is something that one is executed for, then I will accept that punishment. According to the law."
GAME: Lopez spends a courage point.
GAME: Lopez contests her Fitness/vitality & Athletics (claiming Advantage) vs Tera's Coordination/reaction & Dodge and Succeeds.
GAME: Tera contests his Fitness/Vitality vs Challenging and Fails.
"Now, wait a minute," Randal says, moving along the windows as he speaks. Specifically so that Ghorev and his guards are more or less between him and the harem girls. "Can't we discuss this? I mean, those guys are our friends, right? They have valuable skills and knowledge. Trust me. Give me a chance to convince them to join." He moves his hands in nervous, potentially distracting gestures as he speaks.
GAME: Donavon spends a courage point.
GAME: Donavon contests her Coordination/dexterity & Primitive Weaponry (claiming Advantage) vs Dovoro's Coordination/reaction & Dodge and Succeeds.
GAME: Dovoro contests his Fitness/Vitality vs Challenging and Fails.
Donavon wastes no time. "Gracias." Murderous rage creeps towards mischievous pride; she smiles broadly and grabs the bottle's neck. "Uno. Dos. Tres." On three, the bottle soars through the air, aimed at one of Ghorev's guards.
GAME: Takamura has the merit of Athletic Ability at 2.
GAME: Takamura contests his Athletics+A vs Challenging and Dramatically Succeeds.
Lopez takes a deep breath, all her muscles tightening as Donavon counts down. All things considered she looks pretty serene for someone in slave gear about to watch friends get mauled by slimey... whatever-they-ares. Ana brings her arm back on the count, and slings it forward with allll the force she can put behind it, aiming the heavy bottle for the head of "evil" Tera Turtledove. "Ngh!"
. o O Lopez thinks, "Have a drink."
. o O Lopez thinks, "Better yet, have the bottle."
Dane shakes her head and slips out of the Romulan's grip. "Who are you. " She whispers, her eyes slipping from him to the two woman, the creatures when she got a glimce of them were..."Are they Denebian Slime Devils?" She asks, turning around to the commander, She ducks down quickly when two bottles comes her way and the commanders.
GAME: Harris spends a courage point.
GAME: Harris contests his Athletics/Running+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
"Some one who is making sure we all go home," Kran'dok replies quietly as his lip curles up in a sneer and he stands up to his full height, becoming rather challening looking. He growls angrily, "Silence Mir! You are not well." The Romulan turns his attention back to the commander as he tries to place his body between the Trill and Andorian. "She does not know what she is saying sir. She is ill and needs treatment. Please understand the situation," he says in an rapid authoritative and angry voice that almost demands attention.
GAME: Randal spends a courage point.
GAME: Randal contests his Fast Talk+A vs Challenging and Fails.
GAME: Kran'dok contests his Fast Talk vs Challenging and Fails.
Ghorev's guards never see what's coming, really. Turtledove takes her bottle right across the bridge of her nose and falls backward with a gurgle of pain and an explosion of blood from her obviously broken nose, while her friend takes his bottle in the side of the head, which slams his head into the bulkhead, and sends him off into the land of dreams.
Ghorev, in the meantime, just smirks and slowly unfolds himself from his chair. "You have forgotten, Mister Brutae, that I am an Andorian, and that I hear exceedingly well," he remarks to the Romulan. "You can stop your attempts at deception; I believe it is now patently obvious that -no one- here truly trusts the opposing side." As if to make his point, he gestures at the fallen guards -- seemingly unconcerned. "All of you have failed the test and sealed your fates."
. o O Kran'dok thinks, "Great. I really was at least partially honest about wanting to join the Empire. These fleeters will owe me quite a bit if I loose my chance for a family."
If anyone had any doubt that Takamura was a professional athlete, those doubts are dispelled. He nods once to Harris before shouting, "NOW!" Then he is off like a shot, sprinting as fast as he can towards one of the hoversleds and its controls.
Harris tears off in the opposite direction, leaping onto a sled without any aplomb.
The slime devils start to attack at this point, leaping at and tearing apart anything that moves -- and that creates a bloody mess in the arena. Both Takamura and Harris move too quickly to be captured before they move on to other prey, however.
GAME: Takamura spends a courage point.
GAME: Takamura contests his Vehicle Operations+A vs Moderate and Fails.
Park doesn't hesitate when the bottles fly and he charges Ghorev in a bull rush. If he can't knock the man down, hopefully he can keep him occupied for a moment or two.
. o O Park thinks, "This is /really/ going to hurt."
GAME: Park spends a courage point.
GAME: Park contests his Coordination/reaction & Unarmed Combat vs Akeen's Coordination/reaction & Unarmed Combat/starfleet martial arts and Marginally Succeeds.
GAME: Akeen contests his Fitness/vitality vs Park's Fitness/strength and Marginally Succeeds.
Randal ducks low and bolts toward 'evil' Turtledove, making a grab for her phaser. "Mind if I borrow this?" He quips with a smirk.
Donavon sprints towards the fallen guard, Dovoro, while tucking her tray beneath an arm. She skids to her knees to snatch his phaser from its holster. "Lopez, get Tera's."
. o O Donavon thinks, "How's that for a 'kiss'? Thanks for the phaser...oh and the time with my husband."
"La verdad? Is that right?" Lopez says, as she comes over the bar with a nimble slide on her hip. The little slave garment is jussssst right for sliding across the counter. She watches Randal get Turtledove's phaser. "Can't he's got it." She doesn't stop to think about what their captor means. "Now hear this: Surrender and disarm yourself, before we cut them both off! Call off the beasts!"
Dane takes her cue from Park and scrambles on the floor for a piece of broken botttle, her finger catch the edge of a sharp piece which cuts her fingers when she curls them around it. Leaping for the commander she dives for his neck hoping to get a main archary and cause the man to bleed to death.
GAME: Dane spends a courage point.
Kran'dok growls angrily at Ghorev and mutters under his breath. "I was willing to work with you." The Romulan takes advantage of Park's distraction and leaps forwards and lashes out with a rapid strike aimed for a painful cluster of nerves on the Andorian's neck.
GAME: Kran'dok contests his Coordination/reaction & Unarmed Combat/Kormerek (claiming Advantage) vs Akeen's Coordination/reaction & Dodge (given Disadvantage) and Marginally Succeeds.
GAME: Akeen contests his Fitness/vitality (claiming Disadvantage) vs Kran'dok's Fitness/strength and Marginally Fails.
GAME: Dane contests her Coordination/dexterity & Primitive Weaponry (claiming Advantage) vs Akeen's Coordination/reaction & Dodge (given Disadvantage) and Marginally Succeeds.
GAME: Akeen contests his Fitness/vitality vs Dane's Fitness/strength and Fails.
GAME: Harris contests his Vehicle Operations vs Challenging and Fails.
Park leaps through Ghorev and causes him to shimmer, Kran'dok's blow causes him to waver, and Dane's attempt to stab him with glass causes the projection to wink out completely. Apparently the mistrust ran deeper than it would seem; Ghorev was nothing but a hologram the entire time. The guards, on the other hand, were quite real, and the group's now in possession of two phasers.
Down below, Takamura's attempt to run down one of the pink beasts succeeds in scaring it off from a victim, while Harris' sled doesn't move.
. o O Lopez thinks, "Coward!"
Park winds up going through the hologram, once it winks out, hitting the chair which topples over backwords, the man landing unceremoniously on top of it.
Takamura reaches the controls unmolested and begins to fire up the engine. Glancing about him, he looks for the nearest slime devil and steers toward it and its victim. However, in his attempt to avoid hitting the victim, Takamura also manages to miss his target as well. As the beast runs away, the Operations Officer tries to run it down.
GAME: Donavon spends a courage point.
GAME: Donavon contests her Energy Weapon/Phaser+A vs Routine and Succeeds.
. o O Kran'dok thinks, "A long stream of Romulan curses. Curse you all. This was not the proper time to act hastily. We needed a plan and the right oprotunity. You are all hopeless! Now we will *all* suffer for your foolishness."
"I don't -speak- Andorian, you pile of bolts," Harris curses as he works the controls on the sled. "Up! Up, damnit!" As if to communicate the fact that he's quite displeased with the sled, he gives it a kick.
GAME: Harris spends a courage point.
GAME: Harris contests his Vehicle Operations+A vs Challenging and Fails.
Randal as holo-Ghorev flickers out of existance, he mutters, "Wonderful." Wasting no time, he attempts to find the nearest control console. "Guys! We've probably got incoming hostiles!" As he speaks, Randal attempts to commandeer the security systems for the room, in order to seal it off from reinforcements.
GAME: Takamura contests his Vehicle Operations+A vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.
"Saints," spits Donavon, anger mingled by fear rising. A knot works its way to her throat. Startled eyes notice Rob's current predicament. "Everyone away from the glass!" Rage heightens the ferocity of her shouted order. She sets the phaser on high before unleashing fire at the glass. "Dane. Get that man's boots." Her chin gestures to Dovoro the passed out.
. o O Donavon thinks, "Can't save Rob in heels."
GAME: Randal spends a courage point.
GAME: Randal contests his Security/Security Systems+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
. o O Takamura thinks, "Damn those things are quick. But, at least I didn't that guy. Maybe I can get it this time."
GAME: Lopez contests her Search vs Moderate and Fails.
Lopez puts a hand down for the heaped Park, a silent version of 'Up, damnit.' She entrusts Mirantha and Kran'dok with helping eachother up. "Until company arrives, put that phaser to good use, Mr. Thorne, and help them, or give it to someone who will." Ana's eyes riffle over Turtledove and Dovoro with the care of a customs officer, and she leans to one side heavily, saying, "She's got a knife," of Turtledove. This she takes.
Dane goes through the hologram also and seems to eep, she lands on top of the top with another surprised cry. "Sorry Aaron. " She says, cheeks reddening. "Not the time or the place. " She says dropping the piece of glass on to the floor and scrambles for the boots, she looks confused for a second before she realises that her feet would get rip to shreds on the glass that's about to be all over the floor. "Thanks. " She mutters,
Kran'dok grits his teeth angrily as the Trill some how manages to launch ahead of him. That anger can not possibly compare to what he feels as his attack passes harmlessly through the air. He remains standing where he was, completely on balance. "Thank you everyone. Well it has been fun," he says as his eyes turn towards the Trill and Doctor crashing in. The Romulan looks around quickly for a security console, sees that it is manned and goes towards the nearest door.
With a crackle, the security forcefield comes up over the door after Randal's handiwork. Down in the arena, the slime devils start to narrow down the number of people left around running and screaming for mercy as they're slaughtered by the merciless creatures. Takamura manages to clip one again, and Harris' sled doesn't respond to his exhortations to go upward.
. o O Harris is furious.
And, of course, the window blows out as Donavon blasts it.
GAME: Harris contests his Vehicle Operations+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
GAME: Donavon contests her Energy Weapon/Phaser+A vs Challenging and Fails.
Takamura bounces off one of the creatures and glances upward when the window gets blown out. After chasing another creature briefly, he tries to gain altitude and get to the window himself. "Race you to the top, Rob!" He shouts over the din.
GAME: Takamura contests his Vehicle Operations+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
"UP!" Harris yells, his fingers punching buttons before he replies to Takamura. "You're on!"
Apparently, Harris found the right combination of swearing and button pushing, because his sled launches upward in tandem with Takamura's -- and they leave the murderous slaughter of the arena safely below them.
Park accepts Lopez's hand up and gets to his feet. "Thorne, see if you can use that thing to open up all the slave dorms.", he begins. "Lopez, Dane, get the knives, too. We need what weapons we can get our hands on. Donavon, if they haven't already seen us, get Tak and Rob's attention and get them up here. We're going to need a ride."
"I'm on it." Randal grins, tapping on the controls. "Be ready for Saturday," he mutters quietly as he attempts to take control of the drydock security systems.
GAME: Lopez contests her Personal Equipment/Communicator vs Routine and Fails.
Donavon boldly strides forward, a foot sweeping the shards off the window's rim. Eyes squint in making a bead on the creatures at her husband's tail. "ROB!" However, Dane's comment about the boots tugs her attentions away from a split second. She fires, missing by not calculating the creatures' speed. This serves to intensify her venomous tone, lashing out at Dane. "Not for you! Bloody hell!" She chews the corner part of her cheek to drown out the remainder of her curses and glowers darkly at Dane. Heels hardly are suitable wear yet they're harem requirements and are a sore spot with Donavon for she spits to the ground. "Randal! Get your bloody...ar..cough up that phaser. We need to give 'em cover!" She preps for another shot.
GAME: Randal contests his Security/Security Systems+A vs Routine and Succeeds.
Lopez holds the knife in her closed hand, point down, and takes from the downed individuals both of the communicators. She pops only of the foreign devices, fiddling with it. And recoils, from the one with a curse of pain. "Its a bloody personal implement of torture! Who ARE these sick freaks??"
Dane quickly places on the boots and looks around. "Aye sir. " she says grabbing for a knife. "Just like a surgical one. " She mutters, her heart bumping she's too busy to worry about what's happening, or why. She's glares at Donavon, tired of getting crap from everyone. "Then say what you mean. " She snaps back taking off the boot and and throwing them at the woman's feet.
Kran'dok looks around as he stands guarding the door. Not having anything else to do, he rushes over to the unconcious guards and begins to search their bodies intently. He must be very focused to not be tending to the Trill's wound.
GAME: Kran'dok spends a courage point.
GAME: Kran'dok contests his Search+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.
"Alert. Security Condition 1. Prisoner uprising in progress," states a calm voice across the intercom system. "Drydocks 7, 10, 14, 18, 21, 23, and 25..." there's a pause as Randal works his magic, and then, "...all drydocks, initiate quarantine protocols." Alert klaxons begin howling, along with red flashing lights. "Repeat, prisoner uprising in progress."
Takamura and Harris reach the window on their sleds at that point, hovering near.
GAME: Park contests his Computer/Research vs Moderate and Fails.
Park moves over to another console, tapping at it. "I'm trying to find out where we are.", he says. "Ana, get that second phaser to the window and start laying down fire." He keeps tapping away at the keys, hoping to find what they need quickly.
Takamura steers his sled over to the window where Donavon is, but doesn't block her shots. "Meg! Good to see you. Where are the others?" He must be too busy keeping the sled steady to look inside the box.
GAME: Donavon contests her Energy Weapon/Phaser+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
Donavon doesn't lose sight of the creatures but her guard lowers when up pops Takamura and Harris. Swaggering a hip out, she plants a hand there, grin lopsided. "What took you so long?" is asked directly. "Don't you realize it's my turn to come to the rescue?" Head shaking, she pops off another round to down below before crouching to switch footwear. "They're inside. Oh and sir?" question to Park obviously, "we could stop and ask for directions." Shoulders shrug. "Capture a slave or guard."
Lopez approaches Randal, with her communi-shockers and knife, and calls over her shoulder to Park, "I would love to do that, Commander, but I haven't got one! Mr. Thorne, for the last time, would you -please- had over that phaser?"
Dane sighs softly and shakes her head. "It's not her fault. " She mutters looking around and wondering what to do. "I'm a doctor, not a soldier. " She says, though when the boys come up through the window she smiles. "Good to see you made it. " She says softly then curses when she feels blood dripping down her legs from her hand. "Any seen a medical kit, might as well start with injurise. "
"Alright! Fine!" Randal pushes the phaser toward Lopez. "I need to keep working here, so somebody else take care of the shooting anyway." He quickly returns his both hands to working on his security hacks once he is able to. "Quarantine, shmaurantine. Let's see how well this hydra fights when you start cutting off heads." He queues up the orders to flood Ops, Security and Engineering with anesthetizing gas.
GAME: Randal contests his Security/Security Systems+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.
Kran'dok comes away from the two guards with a pair of PADDs and a slight frown on his face. He looks up to see the Trill and frowns at the flowing blood. "Tend to your own wound quickly Mir. That will bleed and we can not have it slow you down. Help me search the room for PADDs, data and medkits. Maybe we can find what the Doctor needs too." He turns around and begina a search of the room.
GAME: Kran'dok contests his Search+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
Harris makes his sled hover. "We were a little bit busy trying not to get eaten to take into consideration whose turn it is to be rescuing whom," he replies flatly, not looking down at the bloody mess below. "Seeing as how we're going to be swarmed by troops as soon as they figure out they didn't make all of us dead, I'd like to recommend we get the hell out of here yesterday."
"Anethsezine released," the computer chimes helpfully to Randal as the devils finish off the last of the prisoners and set about devouring them.
GAME: Park contests his Computer/Research vs Moderate and Succeeds.
. o O Lopez thinks, "Nighty-nighty."
"We're on Deck 13 where the Arboretum should be.", Park reports from where he is hunched over the console. "I'm going to try to initiate a transport to the Lexington. Stand by." He fiddles with the buttons some more.
GAME: Park spends a courage point.
GAME: Park contests his Shipboard Systems+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.
Takamura grins at Donavon. "Well, we tried to wait for you, but you just weren't fast enough." Looking into the room he inquires of Park, "Does that mean we're not going to need these sleds?"
GAME: Donavon contests her Energy Weapon/Phaser+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
"Hey!" snaps Donavon at Harris, aiming a heated glare at his eyes fading into relief. Her voice softens. "Get over here." Hand extended to her husband, she waits and pops another shot at the devils below. "Can't let them feast without consequences. No slaves for you." Two down.
GAME: Lopez contests her Energy Weapon/Phaser vs Challenging and Fails.
Lopez smiles a little, and takes the phaser away. She leaves one of the pins for Randal, like a memento. A trade. She goes to the broken out window, squints, and joins Donavon in the shooting gallery. Its not quite like tribbles in a grain-bin, apparently, because she experiences little success on the first shot, given the strong gag-reflex she experiences looking at the mess on the floor, and the fastness of the gross little bastards. "-gek! Ugh, how's that transport coming, sir??" she says behind her, greenly, and puts up a hand for Tak.
Dane almost feels sick with relief as she hears Park's words, the Romulan's are ignored for now as she looks around for a medical kit. Surely there's one somewhere. "Anyone hurt?" She asks again, looking at the two ex-arena fighters.
Randal smirks. "Love what they've done to the place," is his first response to Park, and then a hastily added, "Wait! Not done having fun yet!" He furiously taps in a final parting sequence as he attempts to schedule a priority override full shutdown of the station's external targetting systems. For diagnostic reasons, of course.
GAME: Kran'dok spends a courage point.
GAME: Kran'dok contests his Personal Equipment vs Challenging and Fails.
GAME: Randal spends a courage point.
Kran'dok searches the room and only finds a med kit. "Mir, take this quickly," he says handing the Trill Doctor the kit. The Romulan then pulls out one of the PADDs he had found and begins typing feverishly.
GAME: Randal contests his Shipboard Systems/Tactical+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
Harris takes the hand before making the leap through the window. "The sooner we're out of here the better," he murmurs. "I've seen my fill of death and destruction for today, I think, and it's not over yet." He's pale, but then, he did just see eighteen other people torn apart by monsters. "I'm fine, though, thank you."
Park's transporter commands are input to the console, and the scene dissolves from the interior of Ghorev's box...
...to the interior of the Lexington's bridge. Apparently, the shipyard crews have been working on her, because she's in pristine condition -- just like when they first saw her. There is a problem, however; she's powered down and on external support from the drydock she's connected to.
Park takes a moment to make sure that they actually got to where he was trying to send them. "Good.", he comments to no one in particular. "OK, let's set some records. We need to get the warp drive online and we need to find the rest of the passengers and get them back on board. Thorne, see what you can do with the engines. Lopez, get into the computer and see if you can find the rest of the passengers and crew. Donavon, you and Harris are up front. Dane, Kran'dok, see if they actually put anything in the weapons lockers." For his part, Park moves over toward the sensors.
. o O Kran'dok thinks, "Not yet! We still need information. Weapons locker? I do not even know where one is nor could I open one if I did."
GAME: Lopez contests her Computer vs Routine and Fails.
Takamura takes Lopez's hand to get inside the box. However, he doesn't make it inside instead ending up on the Lexinton's bridge. Looking about, he raises a brow at Park. "Commander, the ship's automated systems were being operated by a runabout. Should I make sure that it is still connected to the Lexington?"
GAME: Donavon spends a courage point.
GAME: Donavon contests her Vehicle Operations/Shuttlecraft+A vs Routine and Succeeds.
Donavon threads fingers with Harris. "Next anniversary, Risa." The murderous fear dwindles as the immediate 'devil' danger to Harris' life lowers; she smiles and materializes on the Lexington. Orders dispensed, she releases Harris' hand. "Sir," pivot towards Park, "the Lexington was automated by--" Takamura announces that point of fact. For the moment she belays Park's order by heading immediately to Sciences. "On it, sirs." She flies through a series of commands and phews. "Luck's on our side. Shuttle's online and active."
. o O Donavon thinks, "Saints don't jinx me now"
"Same song, second verse," sing-songs Lopez dryly as she hauls across the repaired deck for an open and waiting terminal. Having no pants currently to tuck the weapon into, she says to Takamura, "Sir?" and slides the device across the deck toward him. The knife she leaves on the ground, with the nipple-clamp of a communicator-- damned if she's putting it on. Ana sits up and lets her hands fly, in search of the others. "Nothing on that yet," she reports.
Dane takes the medical kit and when noone speaks up she perches on a console, balanceing the kit on one knee Mir grabs for a regenorator, forgoing the painkiller and just ripping out the makeshift bandage. "That hurt. " She mutters taking a deep breath and closing her eyes as she runs attempts to run the scanner. When she hears Park's order she stands up feeling a little dizzy but managers to get moving.
Randal glances around at the freshly refurbished bridge. "Holy cow," Randal exclaims. "The Empire must be absolutely desperate for ships to fight their Dominion War." Pause, then sheepish grin to Harris. "Uh... no offense. Heh." He strides toward the Engineering console. "I can power her up, but I'm not sure how we're going to release the docking tethers. I doubt they installed a fast-release for us." He gets with the powering up of the warp drive.
Kran'dok frowns as he ends up on the bridge of the Lexington. He watches as Mir sees to her wounds and breaths a slight sigh of relief. The Romulan looks around with a bit of confusion for a few moments before looking down at the PADDs he found.
. o O Lopez thinks, "I wonder what the chances are we can just pull off...."
GAME: Kran'dok contests his Personal Equipment+A vs Challenging and Fails.
GAME: Randal contests his Propulsion Engineering/Warp vs Moderate and Succeeds.
Harris grunts as he slides behind the helm and presses the button to activate the tactical viewer. As it extends, he glances over his controls. "Give me impulse power and I'll get us undocked." How he intends to do that is something that he doesn't mention.
. o O Harris thinks, "Either they'll lose some hull, or we will. Either way, we're going."
GAME: Park contests his Shipboard Systems vs Challenging and Fails.
GAME: Lopez contests her Computer vs Routine and Succeeds.
Park leans over the sensors, setting about a task of his own.
Park leans over the sensors, setting about a task of his own. "Tak, see if you can get the impulse engines online, please.", he orders from his position. "Don't take us too far out, Rob."
With Donavon making sure the runabout is in place, Takamura sets off toward the engineering station to see if he is able to bring the impulse engines online while Randal works on the warp drive.
GAME: Takamura contests his Shipboard Systems vs Moderate and Succeeds.
Donavon angrily tears off the veils, tossed to the deck. "Freedom." Glee echoes in her mutter though she's not aware what happens to her attire by her next actions. Shoving away from Sciences, hopping over the console, silks flutter in the rush when she hurries to drop down before Nav/Tac. She puffs a breath to blow aside a curly tendril from her eyes. "Checking weapons systems and nav con."
. o O Donavon thinks, "Happy Feet. Precious boots."
"All surviving passengers and crew are isolated in the lower decks of the Lexington. They were forced to do the repairs that we would like to be out of berth and enjoying on the getaway," reports Ana.
. o O Donavon thinks, "Now let's see what they've loaded this baby with."
Dane slowly moves around the bridge feeling like she's looking for a needle in a hey stack. Her hand has finally stopped bleeding and she's getting some use out of it even if it hurts like hell.
"We've got ten minutes until the warp drive is warmed up and ready to go," Randal announces. "I can't speed the process up any more from a dead start. Not without detonating our antimatter integrator, at any rate," he adds, wryly. "Is there anything we can do to help the other prisoners? The native ones, I mean?" He nods to Takamura as he the other man joins him at Engineering, while Randal continues to monitor the status on the warp engines.
GAME: Harris spends a courage point.
Kran'dok grunts with frustration as he continues working rapidly on the PADD. His attention is completely absorbed by that action at the moment. In truth it is the only thing he can do right now.
GAME: Kran'dok contests his Personal Equipment+A vs Challenging and Fails.
GAME: Harris contests his Shipboard Systems/Flight Control+A vs Difficult and Succeeds.
As soon as there's any life from the impulse engines, Harris ramps up the throttle. "I'd like to recommend that you all hang on," he calls. "This is probably going to get bumpy."
. o O Kran'dok thinks, "Curse this! I need to get some information. Even if it is just that cure for Doctor Park. This entire week of slavery can not be for nothing."
Dane wonders over to the Romulan finally and peers over his shoulder. "What are you doing?" she asks in a levled done, peering at the PADD.
The Lexington's bussard collectors start to come to life with their internal glow as the warp drive comes to life, followed a few moments later by a blue glow from her impulse engines which rapidly brightens to become the glow of full thrust. Slowly, the Constitution-class starship starts to move forward, her docking tethers slowly extending until they go tight with strain. A few seconds after that, under the steady hands of Harris, all the mooring points tear away from the drydock's infrastructure, and the ship leaps forward like a racehorse exiting the gate.
GAME: Park contests his Shipboard Systems vs Routine and Succeeds.
Park pushes away from the sensors once the ship bucks and heads to the center chair. "Please release the prisoners and have the Tholian Ambassador report to the bridge. I have a feeling we'll need him here.", he orders. "Tak, please conduct a sensor sweep to check for possible pursuit. Mister Donavon, lock onto coordinates 272 mark 0, 277 mark 2 and 283 mark 4 and fire phasers." A pause. "Get us out here Rob. Set course for the ion storm. Hopefully it's still there."
Takamura finishes getting the impulse engines running, then kneels down to scoop up the phaser Lopez slid his way. As he rises to his feet, he grasps the railing near the engineering station as the ship bucks out of the dock. Once things have settled down, Tak heads over to the science station to monitor the sensors as instructed. "Aye, sir."
GAME: Donavon spends a courage point.
GAME: Donavon contests her Shipboard Systems/Tactical+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.
GAME: Donavon contests her Shipboard Systems/Tactical+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.
GAME: Donavon contests her Shipboard Systems/Tactical+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.
GAME: Takamura spends a courage point.
GAME: Takamura contests his Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.
Donavon bounces about, strapping herself down to the console with clutched hands on its sides. "Ol' girl's got a wild kick," she murmurs, reminiscent of her days breaking stallions. "Some ride, Rob. Da could use a hand like yours." The jesting reconnects her before duty calls. Teeth set, gritted. "Aye, sir." Coordinates marked effortlessly. "Firing." Phasers on full, phaser fire's unleashed. "Direct hits." She adds, "Sir, we'll be in the same boat if they send out scout ships. There are no torpedos onboard."
Lopez says "Aye, sir," and begins to notify the parties below decks with news of their tentative liberation. And then she groans, announcing, "Thomas Paine is undocking from the station, likely in pursuit. If we have ANYTHING to hinder they with, now is the time. Otherwise its a race with the devil, again."
Randal grips the edge of the console. "Well that's one way to sever the docking line," he murmurs. "Damn. I kind of wish I slaved the tactical controls to fire on Imperial targets instead of taking their tactical subsystems offline. They could be firing on the Thomas Paine right now."
Kran'dok allows his legs to smoothly absorb the impact of the ship's motion. He looks up at the Trill and hands her one of the PADDs. "Quickly, find that cure for Park. The cure for APH." He turns back to his own PADD giving it another valiant effort as the ship rockets away.
GAME: Kran'dok contests his Personal Equipment+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
"We're leaving just as fast as she'll go. I don't want to blow out our plasma conduits again." Harris replies over his shoulder to Park, but keeping his gaze locked on the board in front of him. "Now passing point-two-c. Point-two-five-c. Point-three-c. Point-three-five-c. Shields at full power. Point-four-c. C'mon, baby, c'mon."
Turning away from the station and drydocks, and trailing docking tethers, the Lexington accelerates toward open space. A few phaser beams of frustration lance out from the station, but Randal's work on the targeting scanners mean that nothing even comes close to hitting.
Meanwhile, the Thomas Paine clears the bulk of the station and accelerates in persuit, and a light on the communications board starts to blink, indicating an incoming hail.
GAME: Dane spends a courage point.
GAME: Dane contests her Personal Equipment+A vs Challenging and Fails.
"Donavon, lock weapons on target and prepare to fire.", Park barks out from the center chair. "Rob, prepare evasive action. Lopez, we need a place to use for some cover. Tak, long range scans. See if that ion storm is still out there." His voice is fairly calm, but anyone glancing at him would see whitened knuckles from his death grip on the arms of the chair.
Takamura looks up from the scanner briefly to give his report. "The Thomas Paine has cleared the station and is behind us. There are also five runabouts ahead of us on sentry duty on an intercept course." He then puts his head back under the sensor hood to begin the long range scans. "I'm on it, sir."
GAME: Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems vs Routine and Succeeds.
GAME: Takamura contests his Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Moderate and Marginally Succeeds.
Donavon's close proximity to Harris stirs ideas. Lips brush his cheek swiftly. "Thank you!" Now, she announces, "Sir, shot in the dark. But possible. We could hack the Paine. That or we stick to this game of cat and mouse." To emphasize the latter, weapons start targeting locks as she readies for another dogfight. "Randal, Harris, and I've done it in simulations. Myself with Lieutenant Norvan with on a mission."
GAME: Donavon contests her Shipboard Systems/Tactical+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.
Lopez eyes the blinking light while carrying out her desperate search for some cover. "We've got and asteroid field in the system at bearing 005 mark 90. And Sir, did you want to receive the hail on screen?"
GAME: Takamura spends a courage point.
GAME: Takamura contests his Space Sciences+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
Dane takes the Padd of the Romulan and sighs softly as she tries to do what he was. "Let me have a go. " She says, tapping away quickly, she sighs and shakes her head when she also comes up with nothing. Though she does carry on fighing with the thing.
Randal's brow creases. "It's worth a try, Meg... but we'd probably have to break the lock on their computer system. I can play with the buttons and make ship systems do nasty, nasty things... but tampering with computers? Never been very good at that." He quiets down ahead of the comm channel being opened.
Kran'dok grins a little as he seems to find a juicy bit of information. He switches over to a link with the Thomas Paine and begins to search their libraries. After some searching, he looks up to Donavon. "I can search the Paine's librairies for tactical or security information. I am connected to them right now."
GAME: Kran'dok contests his Personal Equipment+A vs Challenging and Marginally Fails.
GAME: Harris contests his Shipboard Systems/Flight Control+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.
"Initiating evasive manuevers, pattern alpha," Harris reports as he fixes his gaze in the little viewer sticking up from his console. "But, I'll try to get us into that asteroid field while I'm at it. Expect bumps, however."
On the viewscreen, the five incoming runabouts suddenly roll out of the scene, along with a field of stars, planets, and space rocks. That view, though, is replaced by the eyepatch-wearing Ghorev. "Surrender or be destroyed," he orders. "This is your only warning."
. o O Takamura thinks, "Alright, I've got to see if I can find out how we got here and how to get home.... Ok.... There we go... Aha. That's how we can do it. Father and Grandfather would be proud of me."
Park looks up from the chair. "Um, no?", is his only reply, before he hits the button to disconnect the signal. "Tak, replace Donavon on her station. Meg, let's see what we can do about getting into the Paine. Kran'dok, keep working on your hack as well. Rob, do what you can to get us back to that ion storm" He pushes out of the chair and heads to a console.
. o O Lopez thinks, "Por qui no coma la mierda, y muera?"
GAME: Park spends a courage point.
GAME: Donavon spends a courage point.
GAME: Park contests his Computer+A vs Impossible and Succeeds.
GAME: Donavon contests her Computer/Data Alteration+A vs Impossible and Fails.
Takamura pulls his head back out of the hood and makes a few inquiries of the computer. After the connection is closed, he speaks up. "Sir, I've only found residual traces of the ion storm. However, I think I've figured out how we got here and how to get home. The storm weakened the subspace membrane, and the subspace field given off by the Lexington's warp drive was enough to drive us through the dimensional barrier. So, theoretically speaking, all that's required is a large burst of subspace energy from the main deflector dish." With the new orders being given, he takes over Donavon's station while she works on the computers.
. o O Harris thinks, "I'm not just sitting here whistling dixie, Aaron."
. o O Harris is irritated.
Donavon relinquishes her post in exchange for Sciences. "Alright, sir. Let's knock the eyepatch off Ghorev." Impishly grinning, she dives into the near impossible task and takes the opposite end of where Park begins. "Once in, I suggest powering down their engines." Silence thereafter; brows knit in frustration.
GAME: Dane contests her Personal Equipment+A vs Challenging and Marginally Fails.
. o O Takamura feels excitement at figuring out the solution, though he tries to contain it.
. o O Donavon thinks, "May you fall without rising. We're going to make it home. I know it."
Dane still can't seem to get any imformation off the PADD. "Damned thing doesn't like me. " She mutter thrusting it at the Romulan, and slipping into the science console and seeing what she can do on there. Scan, maybe to help Takamura.
Randal scowls. "I'll power down their engines," he remarks, although there is something ambiguously malicious in his tone. "Someone just patch me through to their engineering controls."
. o O Kran'dok thinks, "Lost my connection! I hope that was enough. Maybe I can get just a bit more."
. o O Randal's anger has reached a boiling point.
. o O Randal thinks, "Yeah. The power those engines down for good."
Kran'dok grumbles as he looses his connection to the Paine. He rushes over to the nearest open terminal. "Computer, translate to Romulan," he orders and goes back to work trying to disable some of the Paine's systems.
GAME: Harris contests his Shipboard Systems/Flight Control+A vs Challenging and Marginally Succeeds.
GAME: Kran'dok contests his Shipboard Systems vs Challenging and Succeeds.
GAME: Harris contests his Shipboard Systems vs Moderate and Succeeds.
GAME: Harris contests his Shipboard Systems vs Moderate and Marginally Succeeds.
GAME: Harris contests his Shipboard Systems vs Moderate and Succeeds.
GAME: Harris contests his Shipboard Systems vs Moderate and Succeeds.
GAME: Harris contests his Shipboard Systems vs Moderate and Marginally Fails.
Harris's lips twitch into a grim line. "There's only so long I can evade these guys," he snaps before he reaches for his own phaser controls. "Initiating attack pattern delta-one." The ship banks, and he squeezes off five phaser blasts in short order.
GAME: Park spends a courage point.
GAME: Park contests his Shipboard Systems+A vs Challenging and Fails.
The Paine suddenly spins out of control, its engines going dark, while four of the five sentry runabouts explode in series of fiery explosions due to Harris' phaser blasts.
Also, a lot of the red indicators on Randal's engineering board turn green. The warp drive is back online.
GAME: Donavon contests her Shipboard Systems/Tactical+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
. o O Kran'dok thinks, "Jackpot! Now that we have them at our mercy we can swing around and download their entire computer database. The wealth of information will be invaluable."
"I've got access to their systems from this console, but I can't get it to accept the commands.", Park admits from his position. "Rob, get us to the proper coordinates. Thorne, see what you can do about reconfiguring the deflector dish to fire subspace energy. Tak, fire on that last runabout."
. o O Park thinks, "Come on. I've already gotten in. Just take the damn command. You don't want to keep that Warp Core."
Takamura taps away on his console, targetting the last runabout. "Taking it out of your sky, sir."
GAME: Takamura contests his Shipboard Systems vs Moderate and Fails.
Donavon picks up where Park left off, following the trail. Satisfaction shapes her smirk. Console beeping, lights blinking signals success; she woots. "Their weapons are offline." But her work doesn't cease. A more concentrated order is sent through the link aimed at shutting down engines along an extra measure to lock out the warp core without her authorization.
GAME: Lopez contests her Space Sciences vs Routine and Succeeds.
...which remains to be seem on the orders success.
Lopez leans over her console, picking out the course to the ion storm tediously for routing to the navigation console and helm for specific reference.
Randal sighs tersely. "Reconfigure the deflector dish so we can rip a hole in the fabric of the universe with our warp drive? Yeah, sure, no problem," he says, sounding faintly annoyed. "I'm not trained for this," he mutters to himself. "Just give me something to blow up." Despite his complaining, Randal begins making the necessary alterations.
Kran'dok grins excitedly as he manages to shut down the Paine's engines. "Doctor, give me a moment to try and download their computer banks to our runabout. We can get the cure to APH and more useful information that we would not have imagined. Some one else please assist I am not good with Starfleet computers and this is a lot of data." The Romulan wastes no time in waiting for a response before getting to work.
GAME: Kran'dok contests his Computer vs Moderate and Succeeds.
GAME: Kran'dok contests his Shipboard Systems vs Challenging and Fails.
GAME: Randal has the merit of Innovative at 1.
GAME: Randal contests his Shipboard Systems+A vs Challenging and Fails.
"Getting us the hell out of here. Warp factor 8." Without waiting, Harris puts in the appropriate commands.
The Lexington jumps to warp speed, leaving the Paine and the last sentry runabout far, far behind in the blink of an eye.
GAME: Park contests his Shipboard Systems+A vs Challenging and Succeeds.
. o O Kran'dok thinks, "Well I got something at least."
Park stays at his console for a moment more, punching away at the buttons before turning back to his chair. "Excellent work, everyone.", he says calmly as he sits back down. "Please scan for any signs of pursuit. The deflector dish has been reconfigured, so once we arrive on station we should be able to get back."
GAME: Lopez contests her Shipboard Systems vs Moderate and Succeeds.
GAME: Takamura contests his Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.
Lopez glances over her shoulder to Mr. Thorne, and frowning softly. Her console flickers as she patches in, and makes some alterations on the broadest possible level and then narrows her work down. Finally, after a few minutes, she passes it ahead to Randal. "Power conduits are now prepped. Reinforced to handle the output."
Takamura mutters under his breath when he misses the last runabout. However, he breaths a little easier when they get to warp. After checking his sensors, he relates, "I've located the weakest place in the subspace membrane. Sending the coordinates to Helm."
GAME: Donavon contests her Shipboard Systems vs Routine and Succeeds.
Donavon's connection to the Paine snaps like a rubber band once severed by the distance. "We hit warp before I could shut down their core. There's a chance the Paine's on our trail, but current scans," She sits up straighter while suspicious eyes narrow upon Kran'dok. Silently, she defers to Park's judgment before continuing, "show no sign of pursuit."
. o O Donavon thinks, "Step away from the devices Romulan scum before I train this phaser on you."
Randal decides, since the deflector dish isn't cooperating and the warp drive is at nominal, to just play with buttons and act busy. "You know," Randal says, "We should have taken the Paine out and saved a lot of poeple the trouble. Least of all us." He sounds a bit sullen.
Kran'dok grins to himself slightly just before the connection is severed. He pulls out the PADD again, makes some changes and transferes the information from the runabout, deleting the backup. "I lost connection as well," he grumbles disappointedly as he finishes the changes. "We did not get much from them at all. A few more minutes and we would have been set."
. o O Kran'dok feels a tiny bit of excitement, but a great deal of loss.
"I'll settle for getting home in one piece," Harris remarks over his shoulder. "Altering course for the specified coordinates."
Some time -- and another universe -- later:
USS Thomas Paine, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Goodwin, continues the -- thus far-- fruitless search for the Lexington, slowly cruising the space lanes.
"Ship's Log, Stardate 55137.1, Lieutenant Commander Joshua Goodwin recording."
The camera fades in on the 'good' Thomas Paine slowly cruising through space at impulse, before then coming in on the bridge, where Goodwin, looking a cross of bored and worried, sits in the commanding officer's chair. Around him, a bridge crew carries out its duties with a grim routine, the only sounds the bips and boops of the consoles.
"We have been on station since yesterday, enlisted in the search to find the U.S.S. Lexington, which has been listed as missing with all hands by Sector Command since Sunday. With still no trace of the Lexington, we are in no better shape than we were six days ago. While we have not yet given up on the search, conventional wisdom is that every hour that passes since the start of the search makes it more and more unlikely that the ship will ever be found. I am afraid that if the next twenty-four hours yields nothing, Sector Command will call off the search and I will be forced to make notifications that those aboard are presumed dead. Call it selfish, but I am hoping for a miracle tonight."
There's a soft chiming from the science station. "Commander," the blue shirt at the station reports, "I've got some kind of subspace anomaly forming at 241 mark 7, range one million kilometers."
Goodwin looks up, surprised. It certainly snapped him out of the 'rhythm' that he had settled into of listening to reports of 'nothing present' in the search grid. "Put it on screen," orders Goodwin. "Helm, lay in an intercept course, full impulse."
On the Thomas Paine's viewscreen, there's a rapidly expanding cloud of what would appear to be a small nebula, extruding into normal space. Suddenly, in a burst of light, it disgorges a Constitution-class starship, then vanishes.
The blue shirt is silent for a moment, then looks up from her sensors. "Sir, it's the Lexington. IFF and warp signature are a positive match."
"What the --" A pause from the Big Chair of the Paine. "You know what? I don't care. Keep us on an intercept course with the Lexington. Operations, start hailing the Lexington on all frequencies." He goes to get up onto his feet for the hail. "Do we have the nature of the anomaly, Ensign?" he asks Sciences. "Or anything clearer of where it leads to or came from?"
The ensign shakes her head. "I've got nothing, sir... it's just... gone."
On the Lexington, meanwhile, Park is appraised of an incoming hail, and Goodwin appears on screen.
. o O Goodwin thinks, "And just when you think you've heard it all..."
"Doctor Park," says Goodwin, doubly-surprised to see who is his counter-part on the Lexington. He lets out a puff of air. "You've had us all worried. You don't call, you don't write --" He breaks into a small smile, but it's tempered with an air of duty and a vague acknowledgment that the person in the Big Chair is not the captain of the vessel. "I'm sure you have quite a story for us, but do you require assistance getting to Dulcais Prime, or have wounded we can take on?"
GAME: Takamura contests his Shipboard Systems/Sensors+A vs Moderate and Succeeds.
. o O Lopez thinks, "Gracias, I was getting so sick of that eye-patch..."
Park stays seated in his chair, looking back into the viewscreen without reaction to the little joke. "Actually, Commander, I think we can use both a medical team and security team.", Park replies, voice steady. "We didn't have time to check on wounded and we have some items that will need to be held in a secured area until we return to the station. There is a weakened area of subspace here, as well, that will need to be monitored to ensure there are no further incursions. Beyond that, it's nice to be back."
. o O Park thinks, "Ducalis? Are you crazy? I'm going back to the station where it's safe."
Takamura monitors his readouts as they pass through the anomaly. When the Thomas Paine shows up on the sensors, he does a few checks. "Their quantum signature matches ours. We're really home, sir." He then glances between Harris and Donavon with a grin. "This is the last time I'm going on vacation with the two of you."
Suspicion becomes highly suspect at Kran'dok's announcement. Donavon stands from the console now that the threat of death ends. She faintly inclines her head towards the viewscreen at Goodwin. "Pardon me, sir. It's good to be back but we're likely to need a vacation from the vacation." Her tiny smile changes once her focus is on the Romulan. "Mister Brutae, your services are no longer needed. You will relinquish your devices immediately to Lieutenant Commander Park and step away from the consoles."
. o O Donavon thinks, "Your precious Star Empire isn't going to get its hands on that information."
Lopez comments, tugging down the hem of her attire to cover more of her legs, "Yeah, with vacations like that, I'll take work anyday. And a uniform. Fuuuuuuullllll uniform with lots of lovely layers."
Randal peers at Goodwin on the screen. "Huh. So they actually did send someone out to look for us," he comments, perhaps a little too flippantly. He then glances over at Donavon with a tired expression. "Meg, can you please let up off of Kran'dok? He did help save all our lives." He crosses his arms. "As did I. In spite of the fact that you tried to brain me with a drinks tray. Thank you."
Dane closes her eyes and sighs softly when it seems there finally home.
Kran'dok looks over at the Trill Doctor and grins happily. "We made it Mir. We are finally home." His mood sours as Donavon turns on him as soon as there are no more pressing enemies. "These are my PADDs and I worked hard to get them. They contain information for Doctor Park, but the rest is mine. This marks the last time I do anything for you Lieutenant JG Donavon. I will not be turned on again," he says very coldly to her as he makes his way towards Park. "You may hold on to these for the moment to avoid the conflict she seeks to start. These are my property and I will be getting them back."
. o O Goodwin is a lot less light-hearted then he sounds.
. o O Kran'dok feels relief and joy which are immediately cut off and replaced by deep anger.
Harris taps the control to lower his tactical viewer back into position, waiting until it's back in place to actually pat the console, as if it was a favored pet. "And they said that Constitutions were past their prime," he murmurs fondly to the ship. "You showed them, Lexi, yes you did. Now let's get you home, hm?" To Takamura, he adds, "She's right about the vacation, you know. I think I need another one." The rest of the ugliness he just ignores in favor of talking softly to the ship.
. o O Donavon thinks, "You *STOLE* it with *OUR* property while *WE* were saving you. Let's be CRSTYAL clear on that."
. o O Kran'dok thinks, "This is the last time that woman betrays me. I am not subject to your little rules and laws. I did you all a favor by making sure I got the information for Park first. This is the last insult!"
Goodwin nods. "Security and medical teams are on their way, Commander," promises the Paine's commanding officer. "I'll have the other ships in the area lay marker bouys in the area. For right now, lay in a course for Dulcais Prime. You'll put the Lexington in orbit there and then we're going to bring you folks home. There's going to be a lot to talk about, I'm sure, but for now, let's just say: Welcome back." A beat and a small smile. "Goodwin out." When the viewscreen winks out, the bridge becomes a bustle of commands and activity - beaming teams, letting the Search team know the good news, but this time it's with a far optimistic air. The Lexington is home.
Side by side, the grand old ship of Starfleet's past and the plucky little ship that now carries the banner for the Federation bank slowly, then warp for home.
