Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie - Pinned Down

[Addison MacKenzie]

((Computer Core Upper Level - Deck 5 - USS Karnack))

The captain's team was cooking - they'd managed to get a generator operational and had established forcefields around the core and surrounding areas. While they weren't sure if they would be structurally stable or how effective they might be against the dark things, it was a good first step. Nearby, Ava began to carefully modulate along with the frequencies, seeming to catch a rhythm as she worked.

Munro: I think I've got it. It's not perfect but we've stabilised the computer core. 

MacKenzie: Good news. What are you able to tell us about the status of the ship?

Bergmen: Conduits and energy distribution systems hold quite well, given the situation. (beat) System-wise. Physical inspection may still be needed.

Breys: I’m seeing a similar forcefield to ours up in engineering,::she leans in closer:: just not tuned properly.

Munro: We've got some partial systems back online. Main Engineering, Partial Sickbay - the Quarantine Suite, that makes sense. Antimatter storage bay, and the shuttle craft room on deck 2 :: sighs :: That's not going to be enough to get us off this planet. 

MacKenzie: No, but it's a good start. Where should we move to next? 

She waited while the others on the team considered the question. She had her opinions, but there were likely arguments the other officers could pose that would influence the decision. 

Bergmen: With the computer online, which system will we need, and which is the closest? Life support?
Munro: We may need to split up, Captain? 

MacKenzie: ::nodding:: It might come to that, but I don't like it. There's no telling whether or not the forcefields will remain stable, and I'd rather maintain safety in numbers...

She wasn't aware that the operations officer had re-emerged, but she wasn't sure about the status of their strategic operations officer. It didn't matter much right now, she supposed, as long as she wasn't down there kicking another generator.

Bergmen: Agree, captain. So far, there is no need to split. Altogether, we make the work needed done quicker.

The commanding officers turned to the others.

MacKenzie: We have a team in engineering. I think the next possible stop makes sense that we try to get power to the bridge. Any chance of us doing that from here, or are we better off trying to do that via the quarantine suite in Sickbay?

Munro: If engineering can get the shield emitters to work, with the refined modulations we would have a better chance to adapt any remodulations from the bridge :: to Bergmen and Breys :: We’re gonna need quick fingers to keep up with the maelstrom. 

Bergmen: Do we need to take over the bridge? Cannot steer the ship from Engineering? The less we stress the ship's systems, the better - for life support, force fields, the list goes on...

Breys: Lt. Bergman is right, a lot of systems are only accessible from the bridge, we could do half the work here, but we’d have to go up either way.

She shook her head. It was never as easy as she hoped it would be.

MacKenzie: Alright, then. Grab whatever gear you need and let's get ready to move on. ...maybe we can find a weapons locker along the way.

MacKenzie grabbed one of the engineering kits in one of her hands and made her way toward one of the jeffries tubes. She didn't notice the struggles of those behind her.

Bergmen: Aye, ma’am.

Breys: Aye, Captain.

MacKenzie: ::pointing to an access hatch:: We should be able to take this tube up two decks and it'll put us near the armory. Bergmen, you take point. She waited for the Gideon ops officer to gather his backback and other equipment before moving toward the hatch, exchanging glances with MacKenzie and Munro as he went.

Bergmen: I will take a couple of steps up on the point, you know, unsecured territory.

MacKenzie gestured for him to crawl into the tube. The officers filed in behind him, but it wasn't long before they reached a juncture that there was a question.

Bergmen: No, we should take the next one; it’s just two bulkheads to the right. That one ends up right by the Armory on deck four.

Munro: Okay, lets get a move on. 

Breys: I’m surprised you can remember the layout of the Jefferies Tubes, but I'm grateful for it. One of the blessed benefits of being on a Saber-class ship was the compact design. Had they needed to make a trip like this on the Artemis, the journey would have taken hours. While the group made the short trip through the tubes, they could hear shrieks and scratching from various points throughout the ship, but their current location didn't seem to be compromised.

(( Armory - Deck 3 - USS Karnack))

The team all climbed out of the tube at some point on deck 3. Once everyone was out, MacKenzie looked up and down the corridor, trying to get a read on their exact location. Her first officer interrupted her concentration with some imperative news.

Munro: Captain, I think there’s a lot of them on this deck. I don’t know how but they know what we’re doing. Not fully, they don’t think like us. It’s instinctive :: emotional :: They’re full of so much anger and sadness. It’s :: pause :: overwhelming. 

Breys: I felt something for a moment as well, like the crushing weight of being forced together. Bergmen: Response MacKenzie: What do you make of it? Can you continue?
Munro: I’m good to continue. I can sense the others, I don’t know if it’s telepathy its more like watching a distorted image. I only get a half understanding of them. 
Breys: I can’t feel that, I could only feel that sadness.
MacKenzie: We should hurry. Something's obviously happening here...

Bergmen: Response MacKenzie turned to make her way down the deck, only to hear Breys collapse behind her. She wasn't sure what was happening to them or why, but she didn't have time to figure it out either. MacKenzie: Ensign, you'd better get to your feet. I'm in no mood to carry anyone. She shot a disgruntled look at both Munro and Bergmen that screamed one of you better do something. Munro/Bergmen: Response With haste Breys pushed anyone helping her away, and scuttled to her feet. Breys: I’m… I’m fine, I just felt something too for a second. I think I felt one of the Callisian’s memories. MacKenzie: Get it together and focus your mind. If we don't get out of here before they tear the ship to pieces, we won't have an opportunity to find out what's wrong with you. Munro/Bergmen: Response Breys: I know I’m not the medical expert in the room, but it seems like we have more pressing matters than me getting a little dizzy. Breys seemed to be up and moving, thankfully. Just in time, too - the sound of claws vigorously scraping across deck plating. MacKenzie: We have go. Now. This way! Munro/Bergmen: Response The redheaded CO of the Artemis took off on the path behind them in the opposite direction from where the sound was coming from, though the sound was encroaching on them like a literal demon bearing down on its prey. MacKenzie scanned the door numbers as she went, comparing them with the mental schematic of the ship rolling around in her brain. Finally, they came to the armory. MacKenzie entered first and, while the others were ducking into the room, she keyed several commands into the panel next to the door so that it would be secured behind them when it closed. Bergmen was the last one in, and, finally, the door sealed behind him. Addison allowed herself a moment to exhale, only to jump back from the door in surprise as the sounds of heavy claws could be heard scraping on the metal. MacKenzie moved to one of the weapons lockers and immediately started keying in her command codes. MacKenzie: We don't have much time.
Munro/Bergmen/Breys: Response

Addison removed a phaser rifle and checked the settings. She was relieved, if only slightly, to see the rifle's display light up. Satisfied, she flung the rifle over her shoulder and also removed a phaser from the locker, holstering it at her side.

Now, they just needed to hope they worked if push came to shove.

MacKenzie: I don't suppose there's any way to distract them? Lure them away?

Munro/Bergmen/Breys: Response

MacKenzie: What about to get a message to one of the other teams? See if they can help?

Munro/Bergmen/Breys: Response

Tag, and TBC!

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Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie, M.D., Ph.D., FASFS
Commanding Officer
USS Artemis-A

Executive Council Member

V239601AM0