Ensign D'tin Breys - Leaving the Nest
Bea S
(( Computer Core Upper Level - Deck 5 - USS Karnack ))
The system was almost stable, it always astounded Breys when an idea of hers actually worked. One would think making it into Starfleet would have garnered some confidence, but in her eyes she was driven forward entirely by luck.
Breys: Can you work out any of the fluctuations in power down there? The force field is barely stable. Maybe kick it again?
The joke was never going to land. It wasn't the right moment to be saying such things. Despite that, it was all Breys could muster after choking on her own fear.
Munro: Let's not do that. We need to align the remodulating frequency.
Bergmen: Trying my best, Ensign…
At this point Breys just felt bad. She’d have to work on her timing in the future.
Munro: I think I've got it. It's not perfect but we've stabilised the computer core.
All of the thoughts about her mistake washed from her head. The problem wasn’t solved, but they were getting there.
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.
The information was garbled with the screen oscillating, barely staying “on” reliably. Breys had to squint to make out any details.
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.
The first officer tapped her combadge and attempted to contact anyone outside of their room, but only the other four’s combadges chirped.
oO Darnit. I wish that just worked. Oo
MacKenzie: No, but it's a good start. Where should we move to next?
The scientist in Breys’s head screamed.
oO Right here!!!! Let’s get more data, find out what we’re fighting. Maybe even run a scan! Oo
This wasn’t a question for Ensigns though.
Bergmen: With the computer online, which system will we need, and which is the closest? Life support?
Life support seemed good, they needed that to get into space.
Munro: We may need to split up, Captain?
Somehow it seemed right to Breys, an opportunity to slip into the darkness. Though she couldn’t place why that sounded nice.
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…
The conscious part of Breys’s mind realized that the captain was right. She wasn’t sure why the thought had come to her, but the darkness seemed softer, more tender than it had been before.
Bergmen: Agree, captain. So far, there is no need to split. Altogether, we make the work needed done quicker.
oO Safety in numbers. Oo
She shivered.
The captain 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.
Captain MacKenzie resolutely indicated that the plan was set with a shake of the head. It seemed like this was the only path forward.
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.
Breys hoped it didn’t come to that.
Bergmen: Aye, ma’am.
Behind Breys, Munro stumbled. Breys turned to offer a hand, but before she could extend her arm a horrible feeling swept through her. A feeling of fear and hate. Hate for what one can become when twisted by wills that aren’t your own. She nearly fell over. She felt deeply sick.
Hands extended above her and she fell into the grip of the puppeteer. The most stomach twisting feeling of all though, was the helplessness.
Suddenly it all vanished. Whoever or whatever was feeling this drifted out of Breys’s mind like a delicate feather. She was left feeling profoundly alone and on the edge of tears.
Breys: Aye, Captain.
MacKenzie: Response
Bergmen took a deep breath before entering the Jefferies Tube. Breys lined up directly behind him to crawl into the service hatch. Before he could step all the way inside, Bergman spoke up.
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.
MacKenzie: Response
Breys quickly scurried along the path. Around her, echoes of the things shattered on the walls of the tubes. Leaving a terrifying silence delicately trapped under each reverberating screech.
(( Armoury - Deck 3 - USS Karnack))
They all clambered their way out of a hatch somewhere on Deck 3, slightly off from where they needed to be, but it was still good progress.
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/MacKenzie: Response
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/Bergmen: Response
Once again that overwhelming pain and sadness pulsed through every bit of Breys’s body. It flooded her mind with new images. Images of a people she only recognized from the strange greeting she received in the network. Images of beasts and of being hunted by your friends. She collapsed to the ground. Barely holding onto consciousness during the fall.
Munro/ MacKenzie/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.
Munro/ MacKenzie/Bergmen: Response
There was no world where Breys wanted to dwell on this topic. She couldn’t be why they slowed down.
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.
She began moving forward once again.
Munro/ MacKenzie/Bergmen: Response
TAG/TBC
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Ensign D’tin Breys
Science Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240301DB4