LtJG Gila Sadar - A Moment of Relief, A Moment of being DONE
Gila Sadar
((Crew Decks - Nova Gamma Borealis))
With the hologram reprogrammed to show the false ship appearing at the aft of the pirate vessel, all there was to was wait. Being the originator of their new approach, Gila felt more nervous than usual - which was a concerning development, particularly considering the empathic nature of their XO’s temperament - but she did her best not to voice it.
Even if every fiber of her being clawed at her to go into a panicked rant about how she most certainly didn’t find the plan viable in the least. There was no time for that.
Dakora: Get ready to open the hail on my signal.
Gila nodded, standing ready. Peculiarly, slotting into the ‘bridge station’ - if one could indeed call the measly communications console that - served to give her an anchor. While she knew she didn’t always act it, there was some comfort in the few things she knew how to do, and manning a console while waiting for orders was very much in her Wheelhouse.
Dakora: Great work, all of you. Now it’s my turn.
Savel: Good luck, Commander.
Sadar: Hail incoming. Patching it through.
Pirate Vessel: =/\= Federation vessel - USS Independence, right? Thank you for reappearing, and you’ll note that we’ve powered down our weapons systems, as promised! ::pause, light chatter in the background:: Are you ready to negotiate? =/\=
The Lieutenant Commander Dakora was ready at a moment’s notice, giving her the signal to open comms again. He radiated confidence and composure, and Gila hoped that her own reservations about the situation didn’t adversely affect him. Focusing on her work, she tried to push her anxious thoughts down. She could do no more. It was the Lieutenant Commander’s move, and he was infinitely more capable than her.
This would work.
Dakora: =/\= Pirate Vessel, this is Commander Dakora of the USS Independence. There will be no negotiations. You may beam your people off the Nova Gamma Borealis and vacate this system immediately, or you will be fired upon. You have one minute to comply. =/\=
Gila closed their comms once more, knowing innately that they didn’t have one minute.
Savel: It should appear, to them, that they would have no choice but to comply with our demands.
Evidently, they weren’t quite there yet, as the pirates seemed relaxed enough to question the Lieutenant Commander’s orders.
Pirate Vessel: =/\= You just want us to beam up our people and leave…? That’s it? =/\=
Lieutenant Commander Dakora signalled her, and she readily opened comms once more.
Dakora: =/\= Vacate this system immediately, or you will be fired upon. ::Summoning a hardness to his voice that would’ve made MacKenzie proud, he continued.:: You now have 45 seconds to comply.=/\=
She closed the comms again.
Savel: And counting…
Sadar: End of hologram loop approaching, Commander.
Pirate Vessel: =/\= ::puzzled:: Why do you care so much about this system? ::pause, muffled yelling about the speaker being an idiot and playing with fire:: I mean, yes, we’ll vacate it. We’ll leave! ::beat:: But what’s so special about it? =/\=
Dakora: =/\= 30 Seconds. ::He turned to Savel.:: Ensign Savel, prepare a full spread of torpedoes. =/\=
A brief pause passed between the crew as the three junior officers first processed the ludicrous request, then realized what the Lt. Commander was doing and proceeded to follow suit. Gila didn’t close the comms this time, allowing the Vulcan Ensign time to act his part.
Savel: Aye, Commander. I am arming our full functioning torpedoes.
Vulcans and lying...
Sadar: 15 seconds to loop conclusion!
For a moment, Gila felt very acutely that they had failed. The pirates had sensed something was off, her plan had been too silly and straightforward, soon the ruse would be up and the defenseless freighter would be at the mercy of a slighted pirate crew. But then, the distance between the holographic ship and the pirates started to increase, slowly and then more rapidly.
The relief in the comms room was overwhelming, even for a non-empathic species.
Gnai: Sir ::beat:: it looks like they’re going!
The pirate vessel jumped to warp and they were finally safe. Gila felt her knees buckle slightly, but she maintained her station, using the communications console to remain on her feet. And for once, in a moment of clarity, Gila saw her own relief and disbelief mirrored in her fellow officers.
And for that brief moment, there was a kinship there, a feeling of understanding that she hadn’t been the only one pushed to concern at their situation. It was likely the closest she’d felt to her fellow officers since coming on board.
Dakora: Mister Blueberry, please take us home. ::He laughed mirthlessly.:: I’d hate to have to knock another star off of my review of your tour service…
The Bolian seemed ready to argue the point, but the officers were of no mind to listen, a point accentuated by Gila’s immediate return to professionalism, as she turned towards the Lieutenant Commander.
Sadar: Commander, please have a seat for a moment, as I check your arm. ::to the Bolian:: Please tell me your tour at least live up to the safety requirements of on-board first aid kits.
Mr. Blueberry: Wh-Wh-Why, I never! I will have you know-
End Scene for Gila Sadar
LtJG Gila Sadar
Medical Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240006GS1