Commander Addison MacKenzie - Bring Us Around

[Addison MacKenzie]

(( Sickbay, USS Artemis ))

Upon prompting from their Edo scientist, Addison moved toward one of the consoles in Sickbay and, after hitting it a few times and finally hooking it up to her tricorder, managed it up and running and, to her chagrin, get a better handle on the scope of the situation. The sensor arrays were functioning, but they revealed that the Berlin was firing phasers at something, and there was a cluster of conscious officers surrounding the Intelligence Suite, Lieutenant Silveira among them.

MacKenzie: I assume that Lieutenant Silveira found Commander Dakora’s team. They appear to be gathered around the Intelligence Suite and we can only hope that they have our intruders pinned down in there…

 

Yalu: Every second they keep them contained is another second we have to get the ship back.

 

MacKenzie: We have to hurry. I can’t tell, but it looks like the Berlin is under attack – I can’t surmise why they’d be firing their phasers and risking igniting the plasma otherwise.

 

Sadar: ::mumbles to herself in a quiet droning:: Increased oxygen intake. Binds to biological tissue, increasing absorption rate. Heat? Force them to-

 

Yalu: Once the gas is vented, we can move freely about the upper decks, right?

Jovenan: Um, yes, sir. I can’t promise there aren’t any pockets lingering in some spots, but it should be mostly safe now. 

 

Addison closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The motivations of the Suliban didn’t matter at this point. They needed to deploy the antidote and get back to the bridge so they could get a handle on the situation. Dakora could handle the intruders.

 

…she hoped.

 

MacKenzie: Doctor, Lieutenant, can you formulate an antidote? If we can’t disperse it, we’ll have to settle for having vented the gas. We have to get back to the bridge and help the Berlin, and hope that Commander Dakora can take care of the intruders. We’ll have to worry about the rest of the crew later if we can’t help them now.

 

Sadar: Given some time, yes. Right this moment? No. I have a complete analysis of the Felicitine strand used in the gas, so it would likely take 30 minutes to an hour of experimentation, and then another hour at least, preferably two, of control-group testing to verify safety and species compatibility, before we’d have a viable antidote that’s safe for ship-wide distribution.

Addison knew the answer to the question before she asked it, but after receiving confirmation from their medical officer, so she nodded affirmatively when Sadar confirmed they were beyond immediate help.

MacKenzie: That settles that. ::pointing:: Are these personnel qualified to get started on the experiment?

 

Gila looked at the assembled medical personnel around the Sickbay.

Sadar: Yes sir, that would be possible.

 

Yalu: Does this mean we can take the turbolift?

Gila verified with the console one last time, just to be sure, but the readings remained unchanged.

 

Sadar: Yes sir. Decks 5-7 are gasfree, including the turbolift shafts.

Addison pointed to the door. Her team needed no other instructions.

(( Bridge, Deck 1, USS Artemis — A couple minutes later ))

The quartet made their way off the turbolift and onto the bridge – MacKenzie headed for the captain’s chair, Yalu for the helm, and Jovenan and Sadar to science consoles. No sooner that her butt hit the back of the chair, and the commanding officer was already trying to get the latest readings.

Yalu: I’m scraping together every bit of sensor power to figure out what Berlin is shooting at.

MacKenzie: Jovenan, Doctor, get him whatever information you’ve got.

Jovenan: Aye, sir! Sending that data to the helm!

Sadar: Response

Yalu: The concentration of gas in those isolation suites was off the charts. Heh, if only the Suliban were trapped in there. Even with their superior respiratory systems, they’d be out like a light.

MacKenzie: We could be so lucky… (beat) So, what’s the Berlin firing at?

Jovenan: Sir, the Berlin doesn’t seem to be firing anything. They even avoid hitting plasma pockets and other hazards. Other than avoiding dangerous spots, their firing seems… random.

Addison’s eyes narrowed. It was likely that their sensors were still suffering from the nebula’s interference, but if they were using their weapons, it was likely for some reason.

Sadar: Response

An alert came through to the helm - Yogan was on it.

Yalu: I think I’ve found something. We’re way too far away, and we’re in no condition for a firefight. But there’s a disturbance in the nebular cloud that looks an awful lot like a spacecraft.

The commanding officer’s eyebrows raised, surprised by the assertion, then narrowed as she was trying to see what Yalu was talking about.

MacKenzie: Someone get me confirmation.

Jovenan: Can confirm, sir! It’s likely a vessel with thrusters engaged.

Sadar: Response

MacKenzie: Can someone get me an ID on the alien ship? Is it Suliban?

Yalu/Sadar: Response

The vessel was changing course.

Jovenan: Sir, the vessel is approaching the Berlin! They might be attacking!

MacKenzie: Commander Yalu, bring us about. Best possible speed.

Yalu: Response

An alert rang out. Addison looked down to the console in her chair’s armrest. Her head snapped up to looked at the viewscreen.

MacKenzie: They’re firing on the Berlin!

Several particle beams sliced across the bright purple glow of the nebula, making direct contact with their former adversaries. She wondered how the Suliban were able to attack with such precision, though she surmised that the Suliban likely knew the nebula far better than they.

MacKenzie: They’re taking damage. Doctor Sadar, how’s that antidote coming?

Sadar: Response

She shook her head, not taking her eyes off the viewscreen.

MacKenzie: Tell your people to work faster. We’re out of time.

Sadar: Response

MacKenzie: Lieutenant, do you know how to fire phasers?

Jovenan: Response

She looked over at Jovenan, the faintest glimmer of mischief in her eyes as she nodded to the young woman.

MacKenzie: Today’s the day. ::taping the controls on her arm rest:: I’m giving you tactical control. Bring the weapons systems online and prepare to target the Suliban when we’re in range. Commander Yalu, I trust you remember a few combat maneuvers, yes?

Addison smiled slightly as she stared at the back of the Trill’s head, knowing that her sarcasm had likely landed exactly where she intended.

Jovenan/Yalu/Sadar: Response

 

 

Tag, and TBC!

  

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

Captains Council Magistrate

V239601AM0