Lieutenant Commander Toryn Raga - No rest for the heavy conscience

[aerosknight]

(( Main Shuttlebay, USS Juneau, Mynok Spring Concerns ))

It made sense for the Captain to hold a gathering in the shuttlebay as it was the only place large enough and completed enough to house the entirety of their small crew comfortably, without them all being crammed together like field ration packs. Everyone was there, but the mood in the room was somber and disconnected for some. Himself included. The large Seiuri owl, Sylara perched on his shoulder nuzzled at his neck and received a tepid scratching of her chest plumage as she tried to console her lifelong companion. Toryn stood off to the side of the others, silent and as he usually did raging in his own emotions and remorse. 

Six Thousand. 

The number repeated in his mind over and over. 

The compliment of the Ascent Vine. Those they had gone to rescue, and ended up losing. It ate at him, that someone else saved the Vulcans. Because he suspected it was the Syndicate that had done it and because he didn't know how many of the six thousand had been saved and how many had been on the transport when it was obliterated. It had taken every ounce of restraint from him to keep from destroying the tactical console when they were safe at warp. Though he made up for it later by venturing to an, as of yet incomplete section of the ship that he fumed and may have nearly destroyed a small piece of bulkhead by pummeling while venting his rage. 

All because he blamed himself, like he was certain several did. But he was the one firing the weapons, meager as they were. The Orion cruiser was a warship and harder to take down. And even knowing that he felt personally responsible for the loss of the Vulcans. Had he been able to defeat the Unconquerable sooner then perhaps this would have had a happier outcome. 

Now they were in orbit of a gas giant. Which was clearly visible through the blue sheen of the force field that protected them all from the vacuum of space. At some point an Admiral came aboard because he spotted her approaching the Captain. With his hearing he couldn't help but overhear them. 

Oddas: Admiral, welcome aboard, I didn't realize you would be on board, as you can see we are just about to prepare for a bit of R and R.

Reynolds: Response

Oddas: You could say that Sir, it has been a long mission, a bit more eventful than we had planned.

Reynolds: Response

Oddas: What was that Sir?

Reynolds: Response

The room was filling up, he exchange glances with his fellow Atlanteans, no doubt Jo and Maddi were feeling the sting of this last encounter as much as he was. Their run ins with the Consortium tended to leave a similar bad taste in their mouths and he felt like he was still back in the Expanse. He spotted the ship's doctor brooding nearby and since he'd been on the Vine and tending to their crew, he suspected he was the most infuriated of them all being a physician. Toryn approached Adea and gave him a nod, despite the man clearly wanting to be invisible. 

Raga: Doc. You look how I feel. ::He would have smiled but it would just feel hollow:: What happened can't be undone, but I promise you, if there's a way we'll get them back. 

Adea: response 

The man's anger was understandable and didn't faze Toryn, though he raised a brow at the comment. 

Raga: The Vulcans. I don't know how many of them survived, but I have faith in Starfleet Intelligence to find them. 

Adea: response 

Raga: ::He shook his head:: No, they're not. At least not all of them. I lost my transporter lock because someone else had already beamed them off the Vine. And I spotted a second Syndicate ship, briefly before we went to warp. 

Adea: response 

==============================

Lieutenant Commander Toryn Raga 

Chief Tactical Officer

USS Juneau - NX99801

A239410TR0