Commander Wil Ukinix - Run Right Back (Part 1)

[Wil Ukinix]

((Bridge, USS Independence-B))

 

Saavei: Our shields are now at almost ninety-percent, sir. Pulse phaser cannons are available at full power. It is likely the Vaadwaur have suffered damage from the Outpost defensive systems.

 

Wil blew through his lips like a horse. He could sense some nerves and fear from Saavei, which was understandable. But he had to use all of his adaptive training from his teenage mentor T’rav to block that out, and focus on the solution at hand.

 

He looked at the small tactical display on his console. More Vaadwaur vessels had joined the fight, apparently from another rift right near Amity.

 

And, according to his armrest console, Amity really was taking damage from photonic torpedoes.

 

Ukinix: Then we need to find a reason to attract the Vaadwaur away from Amity. If we can’t seal the corridors, we’ll make them unusable for the ones that lead to the solar nebula. Helm, set a course for one of the exits and engage, maximum warp.

 

Dupont: Aye, Commander.

 

Ukinix: First Secretary, prepare a communique to everyone in the region and broadcast it on an open channel. Underspace poses a threat to all species in the nebula, so we’re going to shut it down. Make it sound like we’ve found a way, and it’s imminent. There could be fallout. ::slight smirk:: Especially from Keehani.

 

Aitas: I understand the intent sir, but if you were legitimately doing so I would have to file objections, given the risks. ::Despite her previous experience, she did ultimately answer to the Diplomatic Corps.:: And these Vaadwaur have some familiarity with the Federation. So I will note that you’re overriding such objections in the message. 

 

That made Wil grimace a little. It may put the name “Ukinix, W” on the list of people wanted by the Vaadwaur (never mind how furious Keehani was likely to be).

 

Ukinix: Commander Taelon, we’re not actually going to do that. But we do need to find a way to map the corridors that lead to Amity. And we need to spoof something to make the Vaadwaur think that we’re going to destroy the nebula’s underspace corridors.

 

Wil could sense that Taelon’s anxieties were running high. Oddly, Wil felt calm about the decisions he was making. Maybe his brain had decided to defer anxiety until later.

 

Taelon: A spoof…that’s, um, easier.

 

He smirked a little as he looked at the map. Oh yes, anxiety definitely deferred.

 

Ukinix: Let’s see how they react when they think they have to travel that distance back to their home without Quesadillas and benamite refining processes. ::To Saavei:: Ensign, Photonic Explosions sounds like a good name for a band, as well as a good way to collapse tunnels that lead to Amity. Let’s modify our torpedoes so that we can cause limited chain reactions.

 

Quesadillas was Wil’s moniker for Quantum Slipstream Drives.

 

And then suddenly he craved a burrito. He subconsciously put a hand on his stomach.

 

Saavei: Yes sir. Modifying the antimatter mixture now.

 

He nodded, while sensing some concern from Saavei. About what, he couldn’t ever be sure. But he had a guess. Maybe it was because they were about to go back into *freaking underspace and do something technically and diplomatically insane*-- ah, *there* was the anxiety. Not so deferred after all.

 

Ukinix: Buckle up, team. We’re going back into underspace.

 

Given that there were already impressions on the console from her fingers, Aitas could hold onto it rather well.

And given that she’d had to bend portions of the console back into shape, she couldn’t feel too concerned about the damage.

Saavei: Commander, I believe now is a good time to remind you of our fragile magnetic interlocks...

 

Wil grimaced for a little as the little yet powerful Indy that could (and had many times) headed towards a rift that had been intended for Vaadwaur transit.

 

The lights on the bridge flickered on and off as the Indy shook, causing something to snap. Wil looked in the direction of the noise, and saw that Aitas’ console had broken into bits, yet somehow was still readable. oO That’s resilience for you. Oo

 

He looked back to the viewscreen, watching the corridor edges flow past them as they had got right back to where they’d started from, in a manner of speaking.

Aitas: Analyzing— ::the screen collapsed inward, shattered pieces falling down onto the components within. She took a step back; blood flowed down over her perfectly sensible shoes.:: I believe it may be most efficient to reroute power from what remains of my console.

 

The sound of Aitas’ console made Wil look towards Aitas. Liquid was running down from her legs to her bloody shoes. Literally bloody shoes.

Taelon: Are you alright?!

 

Saavei: Aitas, you need a medic.

 

Ukinix: Bloody oath!

 

He immediately got up to head towards Aitas, aware of the shaking floor underneath him.

 

But the first secretary shook her head to indicate she was okay. He instead held onto the armrest of his chair, looking at her leg in some shock.

Aitas: Medical is stable; I can access the beacon data through Fureri.

His jaw dropped for a moment. T’was only a flesh wound, apparently. He sat back down, mouth still agape, before composing himself. oO She’s a tough one. Oo Especially when she turned up the cuff on her pants and held it up against the wound. oO Tough *and* adaptive. No wonder Keehani likes her. Oo

 

Still, the bleeding looked bad enough that the first thing on Wil’s list after successfully defending Amity was getting Aitas the medical attention she needed.

Saavei: Warp drive is down. Stabilizing and attempting to re-initiate.

 

He took a second to look away from Aitas’ leg, feeling responsible for it, before turning to Saavei.

 

Ukinix: Thanks Ensign, we’re going to need that warp drive.

Aitas: Underspace is roiling again. The disturbance will reach our position in approximately three minutes. 

 

Wil changed the viewscreen to the aft view, and magnified. Sure enough a rolling of the corridor walls could be seen in the distance. Then he switched back to the forward view.

 

Same phenomenon. Mother nature had apparently decided it was underspace sandwich time.

 

He detected some concern again from someone on the bridge. Saavei was as tough as nails and ice cold in a situation. Saavei was a Vulcan. So it must have been Taelon. Yeah, definitely Taelon-- no, it was *him*! he was mixing his own emotions for others, which showed how stressful the situation was.

 

Taelon: Captain - Commander - I don’t think the ship has too much excitement left in her.

Wil simply raised his eyebrows once. There was plenty of excitement in the old girl, the Indy had got him through worse.

Saavei: Commander, the ship is damaged across all decks. Emergency force fields are drawing more power to maintain hull integrity and atmosphere, from our prior breaches. Several of them have worsened. New micro-breaches on decks three and four, sections alpha through gamma. Recommend evacuating them.

Ukinix: Reroute any power from unessential systems to force fields and shields.

 

Aitas: Fureri can assist with a sweep again, if needed, though it would leave me without a console. My injuries are not life-threatening.

 

He looked again towards Aitas’ leg. Maybe not life threatening, but still serious.

 

Keehani was going to kill him. So were Orrey, Wong, probably Shortrith even though he’d only met her a few hours ago, Aurelio, Jakarn...

 

Taelon: Um, for the ruse…Underspace can be breached via resonance pulses. If we use the deflector with timed quantum and photonic torpedoes, I think we can create the illusion of a particularly strong breach - the kind that might create those strange sub-corridors?

 

Saavei: Yes sir. It should accomplish our goal though the main deflector is also reading damage from the last transition. I cannot guarantee this tactic will not burn it out.

Ukinix: Risks?

Taelon: M-mostly, it’d be one hell of a flash, a mix of antimatter burst and a photonic shockwave. We…don’t want to be near it when it goes off, if we can avoid it, but we’d need to set it off as we return to normal space.

Saavei: Warp power is back online. Coolant valves are under critical stress. If we sustain further enemy fire, we risk a core breach.

 

He nodded again, and let out a very small sigh of relief...

 

Aitas: Underspace is growing more and more volatile as well, even without our intervention.

 

Then sucked it *right back in*.

 

Ukinix: Don’t have much choice. ::Glancing to Taelon, then Saavei:: Do it.

Saavei: Strongly recommend we return to normal space as gently as possible.

 

Aitas: The beacon data should assist with that, but we’re running short on ideal options there as well.

 

Ukinix: My philosophy is, we get the hell out, then warp the hell out of here. Gentle may have to be a nice to have.

 

Taelon: Response

 

Saavei's console chimed.

 

Saavei: Torpedo mixtures are ready and complete. Both forward launchers are loaded. Spread is available on command. Six torpedoes, standing by.

 

Taelon: Response

 

Ukinix: ::Without hesitating:: Let her rip.

 

He stared at the viewscreen. The rolling sandwich had moved at pace towards them, faster than Wil had envisaged. Warning tones sounded from all over the bridge. The Indy though, despite being battered and bruised, was holding like the little workhorse it was.

 

What a legendary ship. No wonder the peeps over at DS9 loved taking the USS Defiant in and out of that wormhole.

 

Saavei: Uploading our previous deflector settings to helm. Implementing them before returning to normal space should, theoretically, enable us to do so without causing our warp core to detonate.

 

Aitas: I’m not seeing any new disturbances in underspace.

Wil turned to look at Aitas who had her head tilted, her leg and shoes bloodied (as previously well established) and seemed to be concentrating. She must have linked with robo-wolfy-doggo to get that information.

 

He’d never be able to unsee Aitas looking like that.

 

He glanced back to the viewscreen.

Taelon: Response

 

Ukinix: Let’s get out of here as soon as. Helm?

 

Dupont: Aye sir.

Aitas: But speaking of warp core detonations, it appears that the Daintree has ejected theirs.

 

Ukinix: ::Turning to Aitas:: What?!

His jaw dropped a little.  Robin, Lael, and Niev okay?

Taelon/Saavei: Response

Aitas: They are sending out something on comms; it’s rather incoherent at this distance. Attempting to clean it up.

Ukinix: Seriously, get us out of here. We’ve got more rifts to close up yet.

 

Dupont: Going as fast as the ship will let us, Commander.

 

He grabbed onto the armrests again as the ship shook from side to side, as the lights flickered again. As they exited the rift, it sealed off, before putting on a dazzling light show of pure, bright white.

 

The ship shook again as the edge of a shock wave just kissed up against the bow of the ship.

 

Taelon/Saavei: Response

 

Dupont: Engaging warp!

 

They were back in normal space, stars streaked across the view screen.  He looked to the others, except for Aitas they seemed okay. He hoped.

 

He turned to Aitas again to get an update from her (and to double check on her), but she was already on the case.

Aitas: It seems they’re threatening the Vaadwaur with a warp core detonation.

Taelon/Saavei: Response

 

Ukinix: Patch comms through.

 

Dupont: Aye, Commander.

 

There was a short tone from the computer before he heard voices over the speakers.

 

Hopper: =/\= If what we’re reading is correct, our lead ship is preparing to close the underspace rifts in this region of space. It won’t be long before they get them all closed – and at that point, retreat ceases to be an option. So, do you want to chance a close encounter with that warp core, or leave well enough alone and get while the door's are still open? =/\=

Ukinix: Oof.

 

Aitas/Taelon/Saavei: Response

 

 

Vathrik: =/\= You are outmatched and unwelcome. Flee while my stewards still offer you the courtesy of retreat. =/\=

Ysal: =/\= You ask me to forgive a grave insult, Prime Claimant. =/\=

Hopper: =/\= If what we’re reading is correct, our lead ship is preparing to close the underspace rifts in this region of space. It won’t be long before they get them all closed – and at that point, retreat ceases to be an option. So, do you want to chance a close encounter with that warp core, or leave well enough alone and get while the door's are still open? =/\=

There was no way they could do that. The rifts were not so easily closed….were they? Perhaps they did have that capability.

Vathrik: =/\= The doors close, skrall. Choose quickly. This core does not care about your pride.  =/\=

 

Ukinix: Who is *that*?

Taelon/Saavei/Aitas: Response

Ysal: =/\= Very well, Starfleet. We withdraw. Do not seek to enter our territory again. =/\= ::A pause.:: =/\= We will send an escort to retrieve our Prime Claimant. If he has been harmed in any way, there will be consequences.  =/\=

Ukinix: Good, bugger off-- ::turning to Aitas:: “Prime Claimant”?

 

Aitas: Response

 

Wil silently mouthed “ah” for a moment, before turning to the other two officers.

 

Ukinix: Report? And are you both okay?

 

Taelon/Saavei: Response

 

Ukinix: Aitas, I’m going to get you medical attention ::tapping on console:: then we’ll drop you off at the Medical Centre once we get back to Amity. That’s an order, and I don’t care that you’re FDC.

 

Aitas: Response

 

He pressed on the console with dramatic effect, which made a holographic figure shimmer into existence, and speak in his baritone voice.

 

EMH MKVII: Please state the nature of the medical--

 

His head twisted in Aitas’ direction, then he immediately looked down.

 

EMH MKVII: ...shoes.

 

The hologram immediately moved over and waved a tricorder over Aitas’ leg.

 

Taelon/Saavei: Response

 

EMH MKVII: ::To Aitas:: Well I can see the problem. ::Reading display on tricorder:: You’re bleeding.

 

The EMH pulled out a device from his kit, as Wil discreetly facepalmed.

 

Aitas: Response

 

Taelon/Saavei: Response

 

Dupont: The Vaadwaur are heading towards the remaining rifts. ::Turning over her shoulder:: They’re leaving.

 

Wil switched displays to tactical. Sure enough, Vaadwaur blips were moving away from Starfleet vessels and Amity, towards pulsating displays showing the remaining rifts.

 

Ukinix: Whaddya think. Have we seen the last of them?

 

Aitas/Taelon/Saavei: Response

 

The display then showed an explosion near the Daintree. He pointed at the screen.

 

Ukinix: Is that warp core detonation?

 

Aitas/Taelon/Saavei: Response

 

Wil’s chest sank. He hoped they were okay.

 

Ukinix: ... oh no.

 

 

 

End Scene/TBC...

 

(OOC: Feel free to do a little prologue for your character if you wish!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Commander Wil Ukinix (OOC Captain)
Starfleet attache and Commanding Officer
Amity Outpost
V239511WU0