[A-V] Dr. Skyfire: This is Why I Loathe the Phaser.

[Chythar Skyfire]

​(( Auditorium, USS Veritas ))

 

:: Chythar enjoyed a chance to get out of sickbay for a change. Despite the fact they had things more or less handled, with all the patients in good hands, he needed a break. At least, long enough of a chance to stretch his legs doing somewhere outside of work. It was a pleasant change of scenery, regardless of how short-lived it’d be. At least partially, he was still working. ::

 

Skyfire: :: Approaching Rominotrov, and in Russian.  :: How are you, Mr. Rovnitrov?

 

Rovnitrov: ::in Russian :: Dr. Skyfire. I wasn’t aware that you spoke Russian. I’m doing as well as can be expected. While I am still fatigued from my ordeal, Governor Blackhurst needs me. I can’t fail in my duty to her.

 

Skyfire: :: In Russian :: I seldom get a chance to practice the tongue. :: He paused thoughtfully and considered his argument.. :: I understand the obligation to duty all too well. I suspect she would rather see you rested than burned out.

 

Rovnitrov: ::grins wryly:: ::in Russian:: I’m sure. But the fact remains...my work also provides me a distraction. ::sighs:: I had hoped once the situation had calmed to be reunited with my wife and daughter. But I fear they were taken from me in the first earthquake. If they had survived, I feel I would have heard from them by now.

 

Skyfire: :: in Russian. :: I’m sorry. 

 

Rovnitrov: ::nods:: ::in Russian:: As am I. I believe I will hold out hope until their bodies are recovered. I have seen Fate work many miracles in my time. ::pauses:: If I might ask, how are you? I can’t imagine that dealing with the mass casualties has been in the least bit enjoyable for you.

 

:: It was true. Dealing with casualties, even losing people before he could reach them, was hard on him. All in all, he was holding up well, in his opinion. Even though it was mentally taxing and required a good deal more effort to release the negativity associated with the sensations of loss, it was part of his job. ::

 

Skyfire: :: In Russian: :: All considered, I’m well. Thanks. The mass casualties are part of the job.

 

Rovnitrov: ::sighs:: ::in Russian:: This whole situation has been an under catastrophe. Despite what has happened, I’m not certain how our teams--already spread so thin--would have coped without aid given the many needing immediate medical attention. 

 

:: Chythar nodded slightly. The catastrophes that had previously plagued Antor II which had reduced the small section of the planet he saw to rubble, were not a good comparison point, given that he had no idea how high the numbers were. This was just one problem among many. :: 

 

Rovnitrov: ::in Russian:: I hope that your crew is able to bring to justice the man responsible for this mass homicide. Until that happens, no one in this region is safe.

 

:: Chythar nodded in agreement. As Nukir’s attention shifted, CD shifted his gaze to single out Rune. In the briefest of moments, his gaze flickered to her with an almost cautious sense, silently conveying the need to be careful without words. He had the sneaking suspicion something was up, but didn’t know what it was. ::

 

Rovnitrov: ::shrugs:: Well enough. I’ll be glad when the worst of this is over and the one responsible is standing trial for his crimes.

 

Blackhurst: One way or another, Jilor will see justice. That’s one thing I intend to make clear tonight.

 

Rovnitrov: ::grins wryly:: Yes. Justice is a novel thing in this region. Though the Coalition tries to maintain order, it is a difficult task with pirates running about.

 

Blackhurst: Can they even be called pirates any more? Terrorists seems more accurate. But even that’s not right. :: beat :: Jilor doesn’t seem to hate us simply for being, like you might expect. From what I understand he believes that his is a just war. That’s what makes him dangerous. He’s an extremist, yes, but he also has a vision and a cause. Sometimes, that’s all it takes to attract followers.

 

Jolara: We are treating it as such, Governor. 

:: Chythar nodded mutely in agreement with the point, remembering the following held by that one fellow on DSX with a vision of a Cardassian-free quadrant. ::

Blackhurst: I’ve been thinking a lot about what we’re up against over the last few days. As I imagine we all have.

 

Skyfire: Indeed.

 

::Rune’s combadge chirped. With an apologetic nod, she stepped away from the group before responding to it.::

 

:: Chythar winced as the deck lurched violently beneath him. He’d experienced that before, and it meant only one thing. Internal explosion. He managed to break his fall, and injure his wrists yet again in the same go. As he got to his feet, he checked both hands: sprained, not broken. All the learning to fall techniques with Lael had now paid for itself in spades. As a true servant of duty, he went over to the nearest locker to produce a medkit from it. ::

 

Skyfire: Anyone hurt? 

 

Rovnitrov: I’m all right. ::to Blackhurst:: Are you okay, ma’am?

 

Blackhurst: Yes. Yes, I’m fine. Is the ship under attack?

 

:: That was a good question. CD was sure at this point that they were under attack, though whether or not by some of Jilor’s accomplices beyond the hull or within the hull was difficult to determine.The last such internal explosion Chythar recalled was aboard the Gorkon as a distraction from the attack on the captain. An accomplice aboard ship was a scary thought, but the influx of passengers recently admitted for the governor’s speech made it a possibility. ::

 

Jolara: Yes. And comms are down.

 

Skyfire: oO Well, that’s not good… Oo

 

Any: Response

 

Rovnitrov: ::grimaces:: I get the feeling that the people who bombed the planet are responsible for this.

 

Skyfire: Ah’d nae put it past them.

 

 Blackhurst: It’s possible. :: Looking to the Starfleet officers. :: Is it safe for us to be here?

 

Jolara: For the time being. We’ve taken extra precautions to ensure the area is secure.

 

:: As much as Chythar wanted to believe starships were safe, neutral ground, he knew from experience that this wasn’t always the case. There were usually complications. He’d been there, experienced that, and didn’t enjoy it. He chose to say nothing, for he wasn’t sure he could manage the reassurance of “don’t worry” right now. ::

 

::Again, the deck beneath their feet gave another lurch. Then a third. CD’s gaze roamed quickly from person to person, making sure there weren’t any additional casualties. ::

 

Blackhurst: Was that… ​a ​Rom​ulan​ ship​?

 

:: Rune moved to darken the windows. Chythar kept close to the governor and her entourage for the moment, taking a breath to center himself. :: 

 

Rovnitrov: Possibly Cardassian as well. ::sombers:: You're in grave danger, Governor. No matter which way you look at this situation, if this ship is destroyed, so are you.

 

Blackhurst: I rather imagine that’s the point, Nukir. What do you suggest we do?

 

Rovnitrov: ::brow furrows:: Normally, I would say we depart for the surface and let these officers do their duty. However, if I'm not mistaken given the little I know about Starfleet ships, a beam down or a shuttle would require the ship to lower its shields. Both options leave the ship exposed. Also, I'm concerned that this is part of the intention. If we leave via shuttle, we would be open to a space attack. If we beam down, it's likely there could be someone waiting for us.

 

:: CD’s brow furrowed. Both options were valid points, given the circumstances. He hated the idea of a firefight: the last few hadn’t gone very well for him.  ::

 

Skyfire: Ah’m in agreement on both points.

 

Jolara: ::firmly:: No one is going anywhere.

​Any: Responses​

 

:: CD picked up the tension as they heard shouting and weapons fire from the corridor. Being a physician, Chythar hated violence. He’d taken up jiu-jitsu because he refused to carry a phaser. Yet somehow, he kept finding himself in situations where he probably should have one on him. If only to avoid the wrath of Lael. ::

 

Blackhurst: It would seem my fate is in your hands.

 

:: Why was the chief of staff grinning like an idiot? This was a puzzlement for all of about two seconds until Rovinitrov spoke again. ::

 

Rovnitrov: ::pauses:: Do you have extra weapons available?

 

Skyfire: Possibly. Why?

 

:: He didn’t mention he saw a few extra phasers in the locker when he retrieved the medkit. He didn’t actually remember to look and figure out if Rune was carrying, but he knew he probably should start...and would likely have that conversation with Lael. Again. ::

 

Rovnitrov: ::sighs:: If the intruders reach the auditorium, it's likely that there won't be much choice. While I'm by no means a marksman, I have some experience with hand weapons. A brief overview of the basics for your weapons and I'll be of more use than without one.

 

:: It was a valid argument. Whether or not they had time for even the briefest of weapon overviews was not something that CD knew. He shot a questioning glance to his superior officer for her response. While the idea of arming visitors wasn’t high on his list, in this situation it could be that there wasn’t much choice. ::

 

Blackhurst: Response

 

Rovnitrov: ::nods:: I hope it doesn't come to that. It's not that I don't have faith in your officers. But it's my duty above all else to protect the Governor. If taking up a weapon adds to my ability to do that, I'm willing.

 

:: From his earlier conversations with the chief of staff on the surface, Chythar knew the man’s dedication to duty. His own mindset worked similarly to Nukir’s, where he’d continue to do his job even while injured. It had happened before, and chances were high that it would happen again. ::

 

Jolara: No. I can not give a weapon to non-Starfleet personnel. My people are trained for this kind of thing.

 

:: He didn’t have to agree with the situation, but those were her orders. Personally, he thought that an extra weapon would be of help, but that didn’t mean that his superiors would share in his view. There would likely be time for such discussions later. ::

 

Blackhurst / Rovnitrov: Response

 

:: Chythar buried his reluctance of weapons and violence for the moment as he set the medkit at his feet before the locker, then retrieved a handful of phasers. While he hated the idea of causing injury to sentient beings, this time, the choice seemed clear: do it or die. Stun would hopefully be sufficient. He fought back a grimace as he held the weapon and inspected it to ensure it was on stun. ::

 

:: The noises from outside the corridor grew closer and closer, and he knew in the back of his mind that his recertification would be coming up. A bit of live target practice would make a good prelude to some time on the firing range, when he would likely incur the wrath of Rosek for not carrying one. When she read about this in the AAR, she’d likely get on his case once again.  ::

 

Jolara: What you can do is help get your people over there. ::pointing to the far bulkhead away from the door.:: And help keep them calm.

 

Blackhurst / Rovnitrov: Response

 

Jolara: Perhaps have a little faith we know how to defend our own ship.

:: Chythar nodded and retrieved a pair of phasers from the locker for himself and Rune before setting the medkit down near his feet, the muscles in his hand tensing as he ran his fingers over its polished surface. ::

 

(( Flashback -- Starfleet Academy, 2387 ))

 

:: Year 2 of the academy, and a live fire training exercise. Chythar’s least favorite of the exercises they were asked to run. Energy weapons as opposed to rubber bullets. Either way meant people got hurt. What was to come, he could not begin to imagine. ::

 

:: The darkened bunker was filled with shadows, the only light being from the barrels of their heavy phaser rifles. The words “nobody is supposed to die” were not comforting. He’d seen what happened to shuttle pilots who were burnt to a crisp, and froze when he did. Each shadow, a figure clouded in the dim glow from the weapons’ light, was moving so quickly. He and his team mates hunkered down behind a concrete barrier, firing at the other shadowy figures they thought they could see before they lost them again. A flash grenade went off, accompanied moments later by a smoke grenade. Joan Rawlins stopped firing, but didn’t remember to duck in time. ::

 

Rawlins: What th--?! :: She cut off abruptly as she took a phaser hit to the chest, collapsing against Chythar. ::

 

:: It took CD a moment or two to react and break out the medkit, attempting to diagnose what happened on the spot. Once the smoke cleared, he saw she’d been hit by a phaser, straight to the heart. As he reached for the adrenaline to prevent this from happening, her life slipped away. Tim McGath glanced to his left, taking in the scene from behind the barricade. ::

 

McGath: What the hell? :: looking to Rawlins, then to Chythar :: What did you do? 

 

:: Skyfire blinked at Tim, unable to give a verbal response. He didn’t do anything -- there was nothing he could do. The shock of Rawlins dying in his arms had set in, and stole his tongue. He was catatonic as a result. ::

 

(( End Flashback ))

 

Skyfire: :: quietly :: Ah hate these things so much...

 

Jolara: Response

 

Skyfire: Long story ah dinnae think is appropriate for the moment.

 

Jolara: Response

 

===
Lieutenant Chythar Skyfire, MD
Medical Officer
USS Veritas NCC-95035

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