Ensign Imril - Heart Of The Beast
Chris Taylor
((Crashed Jem'Hadar Fighter - Outskirts of the Bantlox Colony, Laoi III ))
Silveira: We will improvise when we get there. Back in the day they didn’t have UT and managed to make it happen, right?
Morgan raised an eyebrow.
Morgan: You’re not that old, Sil. Even before CloQ zapped you.
Imril had heard of CloQ through ship scuttlebutt, and had questions aplenty about the omnipotent annoyance. But now wasn’t the time to ask them.
They illuminated a path for Lt. Silveira, swinging the light back every now and then to check on the third member of the party. As they moved deeper, they came across another pile of… something. It didn’t look like standard Jem’Hadar. Eventually, they reached an intersection, a complicated scenario considering the ship was on its side. Crossing the juncture would mean having to jump to the other side.
Silveira: Well, time to jump. Or will we go down and back up again?
Morgan performed several exaggerated squats and then began pulling his ankle back and up toward his butt to stretch his legs.
Morgan: Legs feel good today, Sil. Real good.
Silveira: Response
Imril approached the ‘hole’ and pointed the light that way. The upside corridor ended in a seamed wall, presumably a closed bulkhead, and another couple sets of Jem’Hadar clothes. Too many stories for any of them to want to fall.
Morgan shrugged.
Morgan: I’ll go first.
Imril cleared the corridor lip as Morgan took several steps back. With a running start, and Imril lighting his way, he jumped, and cleared the passage.
Morgan: Good news guys! Still smells like shit over here too!
Imril: Good. Something to aim for.
Imril stepped forward to be the next leaper. The engineer had shorter legs than the other two, but also a dancer’s physique. They made the leap with no more difficulty than Morgan.
Silveira: Response
When all three reunited on the other side, the Doctor picked up the pace. Imril couldn't blame them. They could only get away with walking about undeterred for so long.
Morgan: Alright, I think we should move it. Which way?
Imril: The corridor we had to jump was wider than any of the others we’ve seen. Presuming it’s a central wayfare, we should be more or less underneath the command center, near some sort of way up and down the decks.
Silveira: Response
A small bit of exploring showed them all that were no turbolifts, nor empty turbolift shafts across which to hike their way over to the bridge. Presumably because the crew weren’t allowed such luxuries.
Imril: Sirs! I’ve got a stairwell over here! More remains, too. Oh, and one of those weird looking polearms if anyone’s hunting for souvenirs. I might take a dagger myself, if we find a clean one. In case I need something sharp and conductive to jam into a control panel.
Imril discovered just such a blade -- one happily free of corrosion from dried goo -- as the group progressed along a series of sideways stairs and vertical platforms which they had to help each other climb over. There was no insulated handle, unfortunately, for the weapon. Only holes into which to slide one’s fingers. As through the weapon were half brass-knuckles and half katar.
There were obstacles in the trio’s path. No doors that needed to be forced open with the pipes. No sign of security field emitters or defense weapons mounted into the corridors, live or dead. Not so much as a painted sign that might have read ‘No Trespassing’ in Dominion Standard. In hindsight, Imril realized they shouldn't have been surprised by this. Not on a ship manned by such efficient and eager killers as the Jem’Hadar.
Morgan/Silveira: response
Imril: The Jem’Hadar were all the security the ship ever needed. Why let automated systems have all the fun of fighting off intruders?
Morgan/Silveira: response
At the end of the starwell, there was another jump to make in order to reach the foot of a small corridor. At the corridor’s end, the three of them were looking at the command center door. It opened without protest into the control center. The wall which was supposed to be the room’s floor was centered around a railed circle towards which all of the consoles were directed. The visible wall panels were shattered beyond any use, their shards joining the heaps of Jem’Hadar outfits and as many melee weapons cast about in the space directly below the door.
The cramped confines provided plenty of surfaces and hand-holds to climb about the place. But even though the fall to the lower part of the room would be a short one, the sharp debris collected there could prove deadly to land on. Standing on the outer side of the door, Imril swept the light over the mess gathered below.
Imril: I think I see some bones down there that might have been the Vorta. It’s a good bet that one of the eyepieces was on them when the crash happened. And there’s one of their energy rifles. If it still functions, it might do for a power source to plug into one of the control consoles. If any of them still function.
Morgan/Silveira: response
TAG/TBC
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Ensign Imril
Engineering Officer
USS Artemis-A
A240110I12