[USS Charon, Deck 8]
Aayla had cleared enough debris to finally reveal a small Romulan girl, no more than eight and no less than six. "Come on let's get you out of here." Aayla said as she picked the coughing child from the debirs. She looked at the girl's dirty and sad face. "It's okay, Captain t'Rheu is going to get us out of here." Aayla said in the most comforting tone she could muster up in the current situation. The little girl nodded in an innocent way as she moved her arm across her face to remove her tears. "Now what were you doing in here?" Aayla asked.
"I just wanted to see what astrometrics looked like; I missed the field trip so I thought if I went through the jeffries tube I could see what you guys do here." The child explained.
Aayla nodded. "Well when we get out of this I promise that you'll get the full tour of Astrometrics and how about I come into your classroom and teach you all about Stellar Cartography, how's that?" Aayla asked.
The Romulan girl nodded.
Aayla and the Romulan girl hobbled back towards the door and as they sat down the Romulan girl curled up against Aayla.
[Warning, Explosive Decompression On Deck 8, Air Reserves Down To 15%, Evacuate Astrometrics to Corridors.] The computer said in it's too overly calm and docile voice.
"Captain we're running out of time!" Aayla yelled.
"Silence cadet!" Shiarrael yelled through the debris. Her agitation was at its peak "panicking will not aid you- remain silent and calm, we will get to you." 'Whether or not that is before you die of oxygen deprivation is up for debate' she thought warily as she watched the commander work from the corner of her eyes. A commotion down the corridor caught her attention "begin evacuating the deck" she said and gestured for the men around her to go. "I will return shortly" she said to Calhoun and made her way down the corridor with them.
She returned five minutes later, still agitated, but less so then before. Her eyes returned to Calhoun's work "I was always under the impression that Starfleet vessels were built to last but after only a few hits from disruptor beams the ship is more than ready to join her namesake. I'm certain she would do my people proud." Shiarrael smiled wryly- it was difficult to determine whether or not she was genuinely complaining or trying to be humorous in a dire situation. Either way she quickly added "how much longer Commander?"
Quentin was busy cutting through the door and bulkhead trying to create a gap big enough for the person trapped on the other side to get through and get off this deck before the air went out completely. "They are built to last – but this is a science vessel and doesn't respond well to major combat situations. We'll have to come up with some upgrade options when we get out of this" he said grinning with a few ideas in mind. Yes the ship was broken and very nearly destroyed… but he couldn't help but relish the chance to give the old gal an overhaul. Main Engineering would be his first makeover. "ETA five minutes. How long until the air runs out?" he asked the Captain.
'He is a madman' Shiarrael thought as a grin spread across Quentin's face- 'but then again what remarkable people are not crazed?' She smiled wryly and glanced at her chrono "eight minutes…" though the air was already beginning to thin. Her own breaths were becoming heavy and labored- she felt unnaturally exhausted.
"Well that's enough spare time to take a stroll" he said as he finished with the laser cutter. "When it doubt… punch it" he said as he kicked the panel of door that he had just cut through. He noticed the captain being effected by the lack of air "Ma'am I advise you take a few breaths from the oxygen mask" he said moving the EVA suit helmet light to the oxygen masks.
"I didn't know you were a student of Klingon philosophy." Shiarrael commented dryly as she grabbed one of oxygen masks placing it over her mouth. After a few slow deep breaths she could feel the exhaustion begin to wane and her mind start to clear "when you finish here it is imperative that you get the ship operational. We are in dire straits if they catch us like this commander- Do I need to tell you what my people will do to us?"
Dim light streamed through the open door panel and Aayla and the Romulan girl slowly stood up. "Captain, Commander, you'll be in the Vree high Command for this I assure you." Aayla laughed. "But I think I might require medical attention Aayla said as she looked at the dried green liquid. "I also know where we can find help." Aayla stated.
"Its lesson one of the Starfleet Engineering academy" Quentin chuckled as he gave the piece of door one final kick to reveal a hole big enough for the trapped parties to get through. "You've got less than three minutes to get off this deck otherwise you probably never will" he said gravely as he helped the cadet through the hole and then was surprised to see a small Romulan girl crawl through after her. "I'll keep this ship in one piece Captain; I've never lost a ship yet and I don't plan on starting now… and hey; compared to sending a planet through time this is a walk in the park" he said with that same eccentric grin as he bid the three farewell, packed up his tech kit and headed back to the disaster-zone called engineering.
Shiarrael looked at the child, was tempted to scorn, but instead forced a soft smile and picked the girl up. She instantly winced at the stinging sensation which radiated through her palm like a thousand needles "we need to leave the deck immediately." She said and pressed the oxygen mask against the girl's mouth. Moving quickly down the corridor she stepped into the turbo lift and waited for the doors to close behind the following cadet. "Sickbay." As soon as the doors shut the lift moved and a thin hiss of air could be heard as the pressure in the lift equalized to that of the rest of the ship. When the shuttle stopped and the doors reopened Shiarrael looked at the cadet "tell me later Cadet." She exited with the child in her arms bound for sickbay.
[End]
Captain Shiarrael Rehu
Commanding Officer
USS Charon
Lt. Commander Quentin Calhoun
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Charon
Cadet Aalya Bre'accoria
Stellar Cartographer
USS Charon
