Directly after "Erudition' Part I
=/\= USS Charon - Sensor Pod - Deck C =/\=
The tension created by the alert klaxons mixed with the knowledge that it was due to attack emanating from the Romulan Warbird in extreme proximity had the Ensign feel sick to his Stomach.
It seemed an eternity until the Alpha shift crewmen returned as well as those sent to the weapons locker while in fact it was only mere moments. The roused crew arrived first, as ordered Thomas looked at those entering the control station. "Cadet Tenal, Specialist Brody and Crewman McKenzie you're with me, arm yourselves when the crewmen from the weapon lockers arrive."
In ideal timing the three Crewmen came back with an assortment of Starfleet weaponry. Taking a Type 2 Phaser Thomas waited for the others to equip themselves before continuing. "We are to secure the Probe magazine, we will take the Jefferies up to deck B. There was an access hatch just next to the probe loader."
It was a short trip however in the time he could hear orders yelled as well as phaser and disruptor fire, some of the commotion close enough to clearly be within the pod. There were some other noises suggesting others were even within the tubes, he didn't dare want to find out who or where.
=/\= USS Charon - Sensor Pod - Deck B Probe Magazine
As he neared the Jefferies hatch his commbadge received a string of messages, people across the Pod and in fact the ship reporting their conditions to anyone who could respond before abruptly cutting out again. It left him on edge as he maneuvered to open the hatch, unknown to what could be on the other side.
Peering out Thomas could see the room was undisturbed, opening the hatch fully he beckoned the other three out. Closing and securing the hatch behind Crewman McKenzie who brought up the rear.
Apart from the Jefferies tube there were two entrances into the room, Thomas felt the Bulkhead that protruded to house the Magazines hatch and loading mechanism would serve best, several of the large trolleys and portable tables still remained and Thomas Ordered the other three to set up some barricades to act as extension to that bulkhead.
Only a moment into their work phaser and disruptor fire in addition to a lot of yelling erupted behind one of the doors, Thomas ordering his people behind what they had completed of their makeshift position.
The door opened, revealing a wounded Science Crewman at the opening, a green flash of light accompanying her as she twisted awkwardly into the room and fell. It took a grim moment for Thomas to acknowledge it had been due to a shot impacting her side. The burnt section of her uniform and underlying abdomen made it clear. The damage had been enough to at least send her unconsciousness however he feared far worse.
"Set phasers to stun." Thomas ordered. All four of them crouched behind their barricade pointing their phasers toward the open door, Thomas's attention was on the injured scientist in front of him. This distant sounds of fighting could be heard, however nothing close enough to be responsible for the injured crewman.
Unable to bear her laying there he ordered. "Cover me." As he jumped over his part of the barricade and covered the few meters hunched over to the injured scientist, grabbing the uniform around her shoulders he pulled her back toward the barricade as the second door opened up. Around its edges three Romulans could be seen, Thomas went wide eyed and dropped prone to the floor as disruptor fire shot over his head. His three comrades re-aimed their weapons and fired, their initial shots hit nothing but bulkheads, however the second volley hit one of their assailants, his stunned form slumping to the ground and into the doorway prompting the remaining two to take shelter and reassess. A shoddy barricade plus three people firing back was more than they had expected.
The three maintained their fire until Thomas got back behind the Barricade, dragging the injured crewman behind the shelter it offered. The moment they paused a disruptor pistol returned some sporadic fire shooting back towards the pistol none of the scientists noticed the other Romulan at the other door take a steady aim and fire, hitting Cadet Tenal in the Shoulder who fell back screaming into the wall behind them.
"McKenzie you cover the right door Brody take the other one." Thomas shouted turning back to Cadet Tenal he looked over the injury. He was no doctor of medicine but it didn't look fatal, just burnt and horribly painful. "Just stay low help will be on the way." He assured the Cadet. Thomas had to report the situation to the Lieutenant or anyone. "Clipper to anyone in the Pod, I'm at the probes and under attack by at least two intruders. I have two casualties and we are barricaded next to the..."
Before he finished a disruptor shot went over his head into the panel behind causing something enclosed to blow out sending the panel straight into his back driving his body forward. Fortunately his head protected damage to the rest of his body as it hit the bulkhead in front of him. Unfortunately it meant he currently had the clarity and perception of something between a brick and a watermelon.
Dazed and confused he could see two crewmen alternating between firing and ducking and could feel someone tugging at his shoulder as well as yelling. There was also a warm liquid sensation running down the front of his face, he wondered if it had anything to do with his inability to see out of his left eye.
"…Thomas!" Tenal's voice finally registered as words as he looked over, wiping his forehead and being greeted with a horrible stinging sensation and a fair amount of blood, he wiped lower and discovered the blood was the reason his vision off. "Ensign!" Tenal shouted again Thomas looked to him and nodded he was listening. "The lieutenant tried to raise you."
Before he could comment his commbadge opened up "Alzan To Ensign Clipper we are in the Jefferies Tubes the Hatch to the Magazine is locked." Thomas replied. "We won't be able to open it. Head to the closest Tube exit into the corridor, I have an idea."
…now all I need is that idea. Thomas thought to himself.
[To Be continued…]
Ensign Thomas Clipper
Assistant Science Officer
USS Charon
