Lieutenant JG Niev Galanis - Leave a Light On
Niev Galanis
(( Derelict Vaadwaur Ship – Underspace Corridor ))
Galanis: There - ahead. Are you seeing this on your scanners as well? Active power conduits. It seems this ship may not be as dead in the water as we thought.
Hopper: Can you isolate the source? Identify the type of power signature? Lifesigns?
Shortrith: Vaguely. There is one lifesign, and the power signature is seemingly life support.
Galanis: We should be careful about that. Energy is energy.
Hopper: It’s coming from that way – the medical bay. Looks like our hunch about that being our best bet for finding survivors was right. Now let’s see who ‘left the light on’ and whether they’re still around…
Hopper: I’ll enter the room first. Shortrith, you’ll follow. Niev, give us a few seconds to assess the status of the room and then join us. In case we spring some sort of trap, I’m counting on your door-busting strength to get us out of there.
Shortrith: Yes, Commander.
Swallowing, Niev gave a short nod of their head, trying hard to suppress the look of worry that threatened to cross their features. The idea of being left alone to manage the situation was even worse than having been asked to take over piloting duties.
Hopper: Niev, what’s this field made of? Can we pass through it, or…? And where’s it coming from?
Galanis: It seems to be a standard containment field, likely for security or-
Before the androgyne could finish their thought, they also spotted what Robin was exclaiming about. Niev's eyes went wide as they spotted the lone figure - the first Vaadwaur Niev had ever seen in person.
Hopper: Holy crap – there’s our survivor. Renaie, any chance they’re treatable? Can they at least be stabilized?
Shortrith: I'd like to think so. I need to go help them.
As Niev turned to peer over at Renaie, they watched the medical officer speed straight toward the forcefield and… walk directly into it. Blinking several times, Niev quickly stepped forward to check on them.
Galanis: Are you all right, doctor? You should be more cautious. A barrier tuned to give one species a minor shock might be much more dangerous for another.
Hopper: Response
Shortrith: The sooner we open this, the sooner I can help this person. Any chance either of you could pull some miracle and open this?
Galanis: Are we sure a miracle is what we want right now? Isn’t there a possibility this forcefield is here for a good reason?
Hopper: Response
Whatever the answer to Niev’s question was, it seemed they weren’t going to get a chance for it to be answered. Before they could even start checking if there was circuitry to overload here as well, they noticed the rapidly dipping readings coming from their tricorder. An ominous hum vibrated through the decking as the forcefield flickered and then faded, the room beyond cast partially into darkness as well.
Shortrith: Thanks to whoever did that.
Looking up from their tricorder, again, Niev found their head shaking forlornly.
Galanis: Don’t be too thankful. It’s the ship itself. Systems are still in the process of failing. I think it’s safe to assume this attack was quite recent… and that we’ve arrived just on time, for better or worse.
Hopper: Response
Galanis: Whatever we’re going to do, there’s no reliable way to predict if or when this vessel will deteriorate further. Lieutenant Shortrith, is the survivor… awakenable?
There was surely some sort of medical term that would have served better, but Niev was struggling to find it. They weren’t sure how this injured Vaadwaur would react to a bunch of strangers from the Federation surrounding them first thing on waking up, but Niev wasn’t sure they had much else of a choice at this point. That was assuming they even could wake the crew member up. Bringing their tricorder up, Niev continued to monitor the fluctuating power levels.
Hopper/Shortrith: Response
Galanis: I’m picking up residual traces of some very familiar fields, Commander. This Vaadwaur may have been brought out of stasis only recently. Lieutenant Shortrith would have to take a closer look to confirm if he was injured in the attack or not.
Hopper/Shortrith: Response
Lips pressing thin, Niev looked over the figure in the bed closely. Though their breathing was ragged, it was hard to tell exactly how good or bad of shape the Vaadwaur was in. To the scientist’s eyes, which had only seen them in briefing dossiers, it was hard to even tell how old they were. Again the lights dimmed, and an array of lights blinked to life around the bed that could only be some kind of warnings.
Galanis: Sir, I’m aware this may sound drastic, but I don’t think it’s safe to keep them here. If we need the information from this crew member, or passenger, or whoever they are; then should we be considering transporting them back to the Daintree?
Hopper/Shortrith: Response
TAG/TBC…
