LtJG Hiro Jones - Rave in the Transporter Room
notyourfrog
Savel: That is where we must proceed. If that is their location, it is possible that they intend to take over the transporter room to bring their own forces on board. We shall not be alone, however, as I have requested a security team to meet us at the turbolift near that location.
Filistrien: They should not be carrying weapons since they were transported in by Artemis’ staff prior to this, but we should remain cautious. They’ve had free roam of the vessel for days now, and ::glances towards Dr. Jones’ phaser:: as soldiers, it’s likely they have their own surprises in store for us.
Jones: ::only slightly sheepish:: Ok, first off, these are sanctioned. Second, there's a bio lock on that drawer. ::beat:: Either way, we shouldn't take chances with them. They've known nothing but war for decades. Be ready for anything. Let's go.
With that lackluster pep talk, Hiro indicated that Savel take point. Hiro and Filistrien followed close behind, flanking the Vulcan.
((Outside Turbolift - Deck 4, USS Artemis-A))
(((Timeskip: A short time later)))
After Savel had deployed the waiting security reinforcements, they set to strategizing.
Savel: I am unsure if they will be armed. There is a strong possibility weapons fire is what triggered the Red Alert. Since a general broadcast did not accompany it, and we did not feel an impact on the ship itself, it reacted to something internally.
Jones: That's logical. We can also assume it's one of our weapons, as projectile, bladed, and bludgeoning weapons wouldn't trigger the alert. That means energy weapons.
Savel: Whether they have secured weapons or not, we must treat them all as if they have hostile intent. That intent, and their experience, make them very dangerous. I know you will both be capable should our encounter turn violent, but I still recommend great caution for both of you.
Filistrien: Understood Sir.
Jones: We don't want to just shoot anybody we see though. Don't forget: they look like us. We need some kind of positive ID of our targets so we don't rack up a bunch of friendly fire. That wouldn't help anything.
Hiro moved with the rest of the crew as quietly and quickly down the corridor. When they'd dashed from one point to the next, taking careful cover each time, and eventually reached their destination, Hiro'd barely crouched into his position when one of the gold shirted crewmen called out amidst a sudden volley of weapons discharge.
Security Personnel #1: Contact!
In his mind, Hiro was aware of two things. The first was that they'd been right. The Desdemona crew not only was not as friendly as they'd seemed, but had now obtained phasers. The second Savel voiced for him:
Savel: Things have become much more complicated now.
Jones: My thoughts exactly. I think we can consider this positive ID.
Savel moved up toward the lead security crewman. Hiro shifted in his spot, considering the options - considering what he knew of this other crew.
Filistrien: Odds of a peaceful surrender are negligible-
Savel: Your assessment is correct, Petty Officer. Peace is always difficult to obtain after violence has begun.
Jones: If de-escalation isn't an option, we'll have to subdue them. We can't let them move freely through the ship with those weapons.
Filistrien: How would they have acquired them? Have we suffered fatalities that have been looted, or have they taken the armory?
Savel: Both are valid questions, Mr. Filistrien. However, our answers will not be found if we remain here.
Jones: And we're not getting any answers if they kill us. Ok, what if we -
The Captain's voice came through the comms, cutting off the thought and informing them of a new wrinkle in today's course of events.
MacKenzie: =/\= This is Captain MacKenzie. The alternate MacKenzie is somewhere on Deck 15. She is armed and considered dangerous, and should be apprehended at all costs. There are other members of the Desdemona crew on board – they should be located and detained immediately. =/\=
Jones: That's not good. ::to himself:: deck 15, deck 4 ... where else? That means a coordinated assault. Planning.
And then it dawned on him: this wasn't just a weapons grab. The Desdemona was taking the ship. They'd positioned themselves in strategically valuable points of the ship and moved in. That meant those shooting at them while perhaps not vital, were important to the plan. If they could be stopped, their position would be weakened however slightly. He looked up as Filistrien spoke.
Filistrien: Response?
As if in response to the MacKenzie's message, the comms chirped again. This voice, though familiar in timbre, had a harder edge to it than Hiro was used to. Sil, but not Sil.
Olivera: =/\= Crew of the Artemis, this is Captain Victor Olivera. We regret that we were forced to take action but we have taken all the key positions on the ship. I have secured the bridge and my fellow crew members have by now secured Engineering, Security, Sickbay and other key positions on the ship. To prevent further loss of life I beg every Starfleet officer to listen to reason and stand down. We have most of the senior staff already captured and will put them to death if there isn’t a full surrender in five minutes. =/\=
Hiro had to smile. This was a game he knew. Not-Sil had said they had "taken all the key positions on the ship." That much wasn't true, as the continued phaser fire attested. They were still working on it, but wanted to sound further along in their efforts. This was check, but not checkmate. Not yet anyway, and while there's life, there's hope. Once again, Savel put into words precisely what Hiro was thinking.
Savel: I do not believe they have managed to secure multiple sensitive areas of the ship simultaneously. We must remain focused and follow the order given by Captain MacKenzie.
Jones: Agreed. We can start with this group. There may be a way to use our likenesses against them once we've secured this section. I'm open to counter strike tactics proposals, gentlemen.
Filistrien: Response
Savel waved over the group of gold shirts. It seemed the invading force was most interested in keeping the Artemis' crew at arm's-length, and less so in an all-out attack.
Savel: I believe those shots are coming from inside the transporter room. They wish to act as a deterrent to any advance on their position. It likely means they are trying to allow themselves ample time to access the transporter systems. Therefore, they will not be ready for an assault. When I give the order, we must all swiftly enter the transporter room and disable the Desdemona crew we find inside.
Jones: I agree, but that's guaranteed casualties if we go face-first into live fire.
Filistrien: Response
Savel: I do not intend for us to storm the room without a solid plan. Before we move, I will instruct the ship's computer to flood the transporter room with light and sound in an attempt to disorient those inside. Should that be successful, we will be able to access the room and subdue them before they can adjust to the new environment. ::looking to Jones and Filistrien specifically:: We will not move forward with this plan if there are logical objections.
Jones: ::considering:: No, I think that would give us a better shot at success. Once we're inside, we secure the room, but don't send an update. I want them thinking everything's continuing according to their plan.
Filistrien: Response
Jones: Ok. We good then? ::beat:: Then let's make it happen.
Savel set to work on his flash-bang, and soon the team was ready to go. They moved as close to the wall as they could, and waited for the command.
When Savel's light show triggered, it was like someone had filled a balloon with photons, then stuck it with a pin. The arhythmic BANG-B-B-BANG-BANG-POPPITY-BOOM and fractal strobing pattern was pure chaos. In short, Hiro was very impressed.
They didn't have time to marvel though. Rushing into the room even as the *BANGS* tripped their way down to clicks and pops, they found a group of off-footed Desdemona there. Hiro threw an elbow into the first face he caught in his periphery. The telltale crunch of a broken nose was followed by the clatter of a dropped phaser. The gold shirt hot on Hiro's heels kicked the weapon away, freeing Hiro to move deeper into the room.
A bolt of red energy singed the hair on the side of his head as he bobbed to the side just in time to avoid a left hook from someone who looked entirely too familiar for Hiro's comfort. He would have loved to box himself. That would have been great fun, were it not for the gravity of the situation, so he shot not-Hiro in the thigh with his phaser, sending the man to the deck. He then brought a boot down onto the wrist, forcing the attached hand to release the phaser, which he then retrieved. The man lay still.
Hiro looked around the room. There was no clean shot to take now. Either the invaders were already subdued or they were locked in too close hand-to-hand combat to safely take the shot.
Jones: Report!
Savel/Filistrien: Response
A sudden whoosh of breath left Hiro suddenly. It felt like getting punched in the kidney, but not exactly. He looked down and saw what looked an awful lot like a Klingon dagger sticking out of his abdomen. That was strange. He hadn't seen any Klingons in this room. The blade tip vanished, having been yanked back out, which let a whole galaxy of pain flood in to fill the space. He turned and saw not-Hiro propped up on one arm with the bloody d'k tahg clutched in the other. Without hesitation, Hiro shot the man point blank in the chest. The weapon in his hand hadn't been his own though, and this one was very clearly not set to stun.
Hiro clutched his abdomen as his knees gave out. He knew there was a medkit in every transporter room. He could stabilize the wound if he could just get to it.
Jones: I'm hit!
Savel/Filistrien: Response
TAG/TBC
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