Io venni in loco d'ogne luce muto,
che mugghia come fa mar per tempesta,
se da contrari venti è combattuto.
che mugghia come fa mar per tempesta,
se da contrari venti è combattuto.
I came into a place void of all light,
which bellows like the sea in tempest,
when it is combated by warring winds.
which bellows like the sea in tempest,
when it is combated by warring winds.
(Dante Alighieri - The Inferno)
[Shuttle Bellatora Fortis, Yy'a nebula]
"I am fully aware of what I am doing, Ensign." Sakarra stated levelly. Of course she was also fully aware of the risks involved, but she found that explaining those in detail tended to irritate non-Vulcans rather badly.
"This should suffice to maintain breathable air. Please re-route another 5% towards the sensor array on my mark."
A few more seconds of redistributing isolinear chips and tying a loose tricorder into the wiring later, she tilted her head in satisfaction. An engineer might run screaming from this, but it would have to do.
"This should suffice to maintain breathable air. Please re-route another 5% towards the sensor array on my mark."
A few more seconds of redistributing isolinear chips and tying a loose tricorder into the wiring later, she tilted her head in satisfaction. An engineer might run screaming from this, but it would have to do.
When the marine held his gravity belt towards her, the young Vulcan briefly gave him a thoughtful look and then nodded, maneuvering herself into a position that put her waist at the same level as his shoulders.
"A most logical suggestion. May I also request your assistance in accessing our propulsion systems and phasers?" She pointed towards another access panel right next to the one sporting a Raptor clutching the twin worlds of ch'Rihan and ch'Havran, behind which the micro-singularity was still pulsing steadily. As it was, both panels had suffered somewhat during the shuttle's ordeals and although Sakarra was confident she could have pried either loose without too much trouble, the crowded hold might lead to minor bumps and bruises in the process.
"A most logical suggestion. May I also request your assistance in accessing our propulsion systems and phasers?" She pointed towards another access panel right next to the one sporting a Raptor clutching the twin worlds of ch'Rihan and ch'Havran, behind which the micro-singularity was still pulsing steadily. As it was, both panels had suffered somewhat during the shuttle's ordeals and although Sakarra was confident she could have pried either loose without too much trouble, the crowded hold might lead to minor bumps and bruises in the process.
"I know Lieutenant," he was afraid to see what she had done. So he kept his eyes on the viewscreen and the panel. "Awaiting your mark Lieutenant," he said as he initiated the power subroutines waiting to initialize the transfer at low dosages first.
Dylan held onto the child as The Lieutenant worked and Cyrin tried to keep the shuttle steady. The child started to come around. "Shhhh, Don't worry, it's alright. You are safe." He said to the child who started to flail and panic.
"Well doc, your patient is awake again; get anything interesting from your sample?" He said in a sarcastic voice.
"Well doc, your patient is awake again; get anything interesting from your sample?" He said in a sarcastic voice.
Brent let the gravity belt drift around Sakarra before he reached around and grabbed the loose end from the lack of gravity. He fastened the belt back together, before noticing that it was quite loose. Figures he'd have a bigger waist in the suit than the Lieutenant would. He tightened the belt down snug before he began to adjust the controls and slowly apply gravity to the diminutive Vulcan. As she slowly sank to the floor he finished adjusting the controls to normal gravity for Earth and nodded at Sakarra. "There. Don't turn the dial too fast one way or another," he said.
Lieutenant Warren looked over at the console that Sakarra wanted removed and shrugged. "Yeah I can remove the panel. Just don't ask me to do anything technical unless you want to fast track that warp core breach," he said. Brent moved his Marines out of the way from the panel and pulled on the corners for a few moments until finally they came off with a pop, and the core was open to view.
Holding perfectly still, Sakarra waited until the marine had secured the belt around her waist. The sensation was quite unusual, but it was a clear improvement over zero G. And as before, she was mildly surprised by how lightly this rather imposing human was handling her, although she certainly wasn't going to object.
"I shall remember to exercise caution with the dials."
Moving carefully after the human, she waited until he had opened the panel and then loosened the bent metal of the adjacent one.
Greeting her was a mess of charred isolinear chips and jumbled wiring. Oh dear.
She ran another spare tricorder over the power junctions feeding off the core and furrowed her brows in the equivalent of a Vulcan frown. Square-pegging indeed. If they were ever going to get moving again, it would be in a shuttle that was held together mostly by positive thinking.
Well, logic dictated that you worked with what you had.
Another panel came loose after only a tiny bit of wrestling that nearly sent the young woman flying against a floating security officer, and she found the optical cable she had been looking for. Not as if they would need internal security sensors at the moment anyways. If a shuttle stuffed to the brim with marines didn't suffice, they were beyond hope in either case.
"I shall remember to exercise caution with the dials."
Moving carefully after the human, she waited until he had opened the panel and then loosened the bent metal of the adjacent one.
Greeting her was a mess of charred isolinear chips and jumbled wiring. Oh dear.
She ran another spare tricorder over the power junctions feeding off the core and furrowed her brows in the equivalent of a Vulcan frown. Square-pegging indeed. If they were ever going to get moving again, it would be in a shuttle that was held together mostly by positive thinking.
Well, logic dictated that you worked with what you had.
Another panel came loose after only a tiny bit of wrestling that nearly sent the young woman flying against a floating security officer, and she found the optical cable she had been looking for. Not as if they would need internal security sensors at the moment anyways. If a shuttle stuffed to the brim with marines didn't suffice, they were beyond hope in either case.
After a bit more creative wiring with sensitive ears trained towards the slightest change in the singularity's pitch, the young Vulcan found that they were indeed still alive. More than that, powers was flowing in sufficient quantities towards critical systems.
Astonishing.
"Now, Ensign. Slowly, if you please."
Sakarra indicated to the marine to please replace the panel covering the core and then carefully replaced the bent cover over the power junction.
Halfway back towards the pilot seat, she noticed that their unplanned passenger was wide awake, regarding the crowd surrounding him with utter astonishment.
"Commander." she nodded towards the security chief "I trust our passenger has not suffered any major injuries?"
Astonishing.
"Now, Ensign. Slowly, if you please."
Sakarra indicated to the marine to please replace the panel covering the core and then carefully replaced the bent cover over the power junction.
Halfway back towards the pilot seat, she noticed that their unplanned passenger was wide awake, regarding the crowd surrounding him with utter astonishment.
"Commander." she nodded towards the security chief "I trust our passenger has not suffered any major injuries?"
"The child will be fine." He said as he shot a cold glare at the good doctor. "That is assuming our doctor plays nice and doesn't have any other rocks hidden in his pocket." he said loud enough to be heard from the cockpit.
Cyrin initiated the transfer slowly at first with no incident, shortly thereafter he had sensors, and pulled them up. It took a few moments for the sensor subroutines to initialize but when they did, Cyrin couldn't believe what he was seeing. He triple checked the scans and in fact they were correct, "Umm… Lieutenant." He started, "Uh oh, get up here," he said pure shock and fright in his voice as his sensors indicated five bogeys on an intercept course.
Any other than a Vulcan might have let loose an impressive series of colorful metaphors at this point, and in fact even Sakarra was sorely tempted to do just that when she recognized the 'bogeys' for what they were.
"Falcons." she murmured, her face a completely impassive mask. What she would not give for but one D'Vahl right now, but wishing for the unattainable was not only illogical, it was a complete waste of time. Just as her burning desire to stop running from this nameless enemy and unleash some fury of her own upon those cowards who would prey on the defenseless. Five fighters against a shuttle that was by any definition no more than a leaking lifeboat?
"Have we located Charon yet, Ensign?" she asked as calmly as if she were sharing a cup of tea with Cyrin in his office, pointing her chin towards the sensor readouts as she slid back into her seat. He was clearly nervous, not that she could blame him. Even in pristine condition, the Fortis would have been no match for the sleek, maneuverable crafts that came streaming towards them.
"Falcons." she murmured, her face a completely impassive mask. What she would not give for but one D'Vahl right now, but wishing for the unattainable was not only illogical, it was a complete waste of time. Just as her burning desire to stop running from this nameless enemy and unleash some fury of her own upon those cowards who would prey on the defenseless. Five fighters against a shuttle that was by any definition no more than a leaking lifeboat?
"Have we located Charon yet, Ensign?" she asked as calmly as if she were sharing a cup of tea with Cyrin in his office, pointing her chin towards the sensor readouts as she slid back into her seat. He was clearly nervous, not that she could blame him. Even in pristine condition, the Fortis would have been no match for the sleek, maneuverable crafts that came streaming towards them.
That left only the 'desperate gamble' option again. Splendid.
Now, to find one of those plasma eddies that produced such unexpected thermobaric effects should not be all that difficult, right?
Slowly and carefully, Sakarra nudged the impulse engines forward again, and the Fortis obliged. Groaning and shuddering, the shuttle limped deeper into the nebula, while the hunters were closing in on her and a little Vulcan with storm clouds in her black eyes went searching for a surprise to present to their pursuers.
"Good work on the sensors, Cyrin." she murmured in a voice so low even the young Betazoid would have to strain to hear her. Unfortunately, this was the only thing she could think of to reassure him at the moment. "We might possibly survive this" would have been the truth, but somehow she doubted it would have improved anyone's mood.
"Please keep scanning for plasma eddies and continue trying to raise Charon."
Now, to find one of those plasma eddies that produced such unexpected thermobaric effects should not be all that difficult, right?
Slowly and carefully, Sakarra nudged the impulse engines forward again, and the Fortis obliged. Groaning and shuddering, the shuttle limped deeper into the nebula, while the hunters were closing in on her and a little Vulcan with storm clouds in her black eyes went searching for a surprise to present to their pursuers.
"Good work on the sensors, Cyrin." she murmured in a voice so low even the young Betazoid would have to strain to hear her. Unfortunately, this was the only thing she could think of to reassure him at the moment. "We might possibly survive this" would have been the truth, but somehow she doubted it would have improved anyone's mood.
"Please keep scanning for plasma eddies and continue trying to raise Charon."
If Cyrin heard the Lieutenant he didn't say anything, he was to busy trying to keep the shuttle operational. "Running continuous sensor sweeps as best can be done Lieutenant. Still no luck with the Charon. Attempting to amplify," he commented as he pushed a few more buttons causing some minor sparking but no blowouts.
"If I had not knocked him unconscious he would be deceased." Aehlen shot the Commander a withered look of subdued annoyance "and I would appreciate it if you brought my sample to the lab." His eyes narrowed for a short moment and then closed as he fell to sleep.
Twenty-eight point three seconds until weapons range.
Thirty-one point six seconds until they were in position above the nearest plasma eddy.
"Ri'nash-gad." she murmured, her slender fingers flying over the console at astonishing speed "Ri'spo`nash."
The Fortis banked sharply to port, narrowly avoiding the first volley. With no shields to speak of, even being grazed by disruptors might prove fatal.
However, Sakarra was oddly pleased to find they were taking random potshots rather than proceed with simple logic. Even with their sensors being disrupted by the nebula, they should be aware that they could take their time surrounding the poor limping shuttle and then move in to point-blank range.
Then again, it was the foolishness of whoever commanded the D'Deridex that had kept them alive this far, so one could hardly expect those fighter pilots to act more logical. How ironic indeed, that if their positions were reversed, this encounter would have been over long ago.
Thirty-one point six seconds until they were in position above the nearest plasma eddy.
"Ri'nash-gad." she murmured, her slender fingers flying over the console at astonishing speed "Ri'spo`nash."
The Fortis banked sharply to port, narrowly avoiding the first volley. With no shields to speak of, even being grazed by disruptors might prove fatal.
However, Sakarra was oddly pleased to find they were taking random potshots rather than proceed with simple logic. Even with their sensors being disrupted by the nebula, they should be aware that they could take their time surrounding the poor limping shuttle and then move in to point-blank range.
Then again, it was the foolishness of whoever commanded the D'Deridex that had kept them alive this far, so one could hardly expect those fighter pilots to act more logical. How ironic indeed, that if their positions were reversed, this encounter would have been over long ago.
Just a little closer…
3784.7 meters. This should do. A good thing the fighters were visible merely as blips on the shuttle's console, or her passengers might be even more unsettled than they already were.
"Ensign, we should see some unusual illumination effects shortly. And of course we will most likely also experience a rapid dislocation. Please do not be alarmed and continue monitoring our structural integrity."
If this did not work, he would not have time to be alarmed in either case, so no need to point out that this was very likely another of the ideas that Sirta would have referred to as both 'hare-brained' and 'TlhaQ'.
3784.7 meters. This should do. A good thing the fighters were visible merely as blips on the shuttle's console, or her passengers might be even more unsettled than they already were.
"Ensign, we should see some unusual illumination effects shortly. And of course we will most likely also experience a rapid dislocation. Please do not be alarmed and continue monitoring our structural integrity."
If this did not work, he would not have time to be alarmed in either case, so no need to point out that this was very likely another of the ideas that Sirta would have referred to as both 'hare-brained' and 'TlhaQ'.
Sakarra throttled back and sent the Fortis swerving, her underbelly squarely facing the unstable layer of gases, so that to a eager pursuer it just might look as if the shuttle finally had taken it's last labored breath.
Now if said pursuers were eager and unwise enough… before the young Vulcan could finish the thought, the plasma went up in a brilliant explosion, sending the Fortis hurtling and screaming, while the little pilot once again found herself riding a shockwave to either safety or a bitter end.
Now if said pursuers were eager and unwise enough… before the young Vulcan could finish the thought, the plasma went up in a brilliant explosion, sending the Fortis hurtling and screaming, while the little pilot once again found herself riding a shockwave to either safety or a bitter end.
The last thing she saw before the blast of her exploding console sent her into unconsciousness was Charon's damaged warp nacelle tumbling past the shuttle window, framed by a brilliant display of green and gold. Well, at least it seemed still attached to the rest of the ship.
Cyrin caught a glimpse of the nacelle, right before the Lieutenants console exploded, remnants of it catching him on his face, causing burns and lacerations. He fought to stay awake just in case, but quickly sent a distress call to the Charon in hopes that someone would be smart enough to beam them out of there. His left arm numb, a part of the console protruded out of it like an odd war memorial, he looked at it and the last words out of his mouth were "Not again," before he too passed out.
Dylan noticing the two piloting the shuttle were out cold, passed the child to someone else and stepped into the remains of the cockpit. He quickly assessed the controls and thought back to his few lessons with Sakarra. "Here goes nothing." he said. "Shuttle Fortis to Charon, Prepare for emergency landing plan 'B' " he said quoting a line he had heard the immortal James Kirk say a hundred times before on the Holodeck.
He managed to stabilize the ship, more out of sheer dumb luck than skill. the shuttle righted just in time to skip over the aft section of the ship and go careening along the hanger deck into the arresting net; coming to a stop inches from the bulkhead. "Looking around for a moment to make sure he was alive and not a dream, he turned to the aft section. "Any landing you can walk away from right?" he said looking down at Sakarra and Cyrin. "well most of us anyway."
[End Log]
Commander Dylan Marcus
Chief Security Officer
&
Lieutenant Sakarra Tyrax
Chief Helm Officer
&
Ensign Cyrin Dicari
Chief Operations Officer
&
Arrain Aehlen tr'Kethry
Surgeon
&
1st Lieutenant Brent Warren
Marine Commander
USS Charon
