Ensign Jovenan – The Brittle Barrier of Life and Death

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Jovenan

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Jan 18, 2023, 10:44:37 AM1/18/23

to USS Excalibur-A – StarBase 118 Star Trek PBEM RPG

((Deck 10, Astrometrics Lab, USS Excalibur-A))

The transmission data in PADD and combadges modified, it was time for goodbyes, hopefully not the final ones.

Jovenan: Kawarda. If it seems the life support might fail, I want you to evacuate, without separate order. Stay safe.

Kawarda: You as well, Ensign.

The Vulcan Ensign turned back to the display, to complete his important job. That was a clear indication of his dedication to his work and determination to end this calamity, at least in Jovenan’s eyes. The same level of nonverbal determination caught on her, as she turned back towards the door and left the astrometrics. As she was already through the door, she heard Kawarda calling her from behind.

Kawarda: Ensign Jovenan.

She paused, turning.

Kawarda: You are doing a good job. I am confident we will ... get through this.

Jovenan opened her mouth, but the door slid back to its place. The compliment was unexpected. It was delivered with the characteristic Vulcan dry calmness, but it was meaningful to her. Complimenting others was extremely common among her people, but during the time she had spent with other species and cultures, she had found out that they tended to give their compliments far less often, but when they did, it was for a good reason. This was extremely true for Vulcans. She felt a new boost of confidence running through her.

Then she turned to the corridor.

((Deck 10, Corridor, USS Excalibur-A))

The corridor was empty. There was nobody but one Ensign Jovenan. She was alone, and she felt like it, too.

The confidence she had gained in the astrometrics lab was dissipating. There had been an explosion and the virus – as she thought – was destroying their systems rapidly. The only other crewmember she had met during all this time was Ensign Kawarda, and she had left him behind. She had no idea where everyone else was, or if they were even alive. For all she knew, she and Kawarda may be the only ones on the ship. Or worse, there might be someone else here with them.

She stared walking towards the Flight Control room, at the very tip of the deck 10. Thanks to her culture’s emphasis on good health and running from place to place, she was a good long-distance runner. Yet, she opted to walk slowly and cautiously. At every corner, she expected to come across with a Borg drone or mind possessed crewmember or fiery pit of warp core breach…

Kawarda: =/\= Kawarda to Ensign Jovenan =/\=

Jovenan: Eep!

She quickly placed her hand on her mouth. She waited for a few seconds. The corridor was still empty, there was no indication anyone had heard her scream. No de-evolving officers or noncorporeal invaders.

Jovenan: =/\= Jovenan here, is something wrong? =/\=

Kawarda: =/\= There is no present emergency. I thought it prudent to test the communications modifications, and to inform you I have located the Daisy, inasmuch as the vessel can be located. I do not believe they have continued their flight, but are ... waiting for us in the region in or around the Azure Nebula. =/\=

Huh. He had found the Daisy. The runaway officers weren’t even attempting to get away. But why? Was it them who had damaged the ship? Did they have their own problems? Jovenan quickly concluded it was not of use to think that right now. That was important information to the Captain, but they still didn’t have a way to communicate with her. Kawarda could start climbing the Jeffrey’s tubes to the bridge, but she wasn’t ready yet. If Kawarda went outside the modified combadge range, she’d lose her only contact to, well, anyone. She was also a slow climber, so reaching the bridge would take her a lot longer. If the transmissions contained something vital, it was better to have Kawarda deliver them together with the location data he had discovered, by hand, if necessary.

Jovenan: =/\= Good, thanks! I’m soon in the shuttlebay, could you standby for a minute? I’ll contact you soon.

Kawarda: =/\= Understood, Ensign. Kawarda out. =/\=

As the commlink went out, she began to sprint towards the Flight Control. There was no time to waste. She needed to decode the transmissions fast so they could deliver the information to the Captain as soon as possible. She was still afraid, but this was an important matter and all the pirate boarding parties or spacial anomalies or whatever may lie on her path would get her regardless of how fast she was going.

((Shuttlebay 2, USS Excalibur-A))

She reached Flight Control/Observation area on deck 10. The door let her in without hesitation, and she stepped in. She was expecting to meet flight control chiefs or their assistants, as there usually were one or two of those in here, but now the small room was empty. Puzzled, she carried on. There she found another door, which she knew to lead to the stairs to the large shuttlebay.

From on top of the stairs, she could see the reason for flight controllers’ desertion of their post. Looking over the shuttlebay, she could see the vast doors that kept the cold vacuum of space out and warm, breathable air on the inside, partially open. That wouldn’t normally be a problem, as there was a force field on the doorframe, allowing the shuttles to go in and out, but keeping the deadly emptiness outside. But now that so reliable force field was flickering. The virus must have reached its control system and was attempting to shut it down. She could see people, shuttle technicians, flight controllers and security personnel trying to close the doors manually. Some of them wore EVA suits. There were others who were evacuating the bay. If the force field was to fail, the entire area would decompress and everyone still on floor would be sucked into space. Jovenan included.

Jovenan: =/\= Jovenan to Kawarda =/\=

Kawarda: =/\= Response =/\=

Jovenan: =/\= I’m in the shuttlebay. I’ll try to find a shuttle. The bay might decompress any minute, so I’ll be quick. I’ll let you hear what the transmissions say as soon I get them. =/\=

Her words were determined, but her voice didn’t conceal her panicky state.

Kawarda: =/\= Response =/\=

Jovenan: =/\= Maybe. I don’t know. I’m going in, standby. =/\=

She run down the stairs and to the shuttlebay floor. Looking around, she chose the most logical option of a shuttlecraft, which considering the rather limited time she had, was the closest. She began to run towards it when she felt something grab her arm. Frightened by the sudden yank, she turned to look back. Holding her arm was a crewmember, maybe a security official, maybe a technician, doesn’t matter.

Jovenan: ::pleading frightened:: Let me go!

Crewmember: Response

Jovenan: I need to use a shuttle! I need to get this data decoded!

Crewmember: Response

((OOC: If anyone wants their security/tech/whatever PNPC involved to this scene, please do so! If nobody wants that, I can go with a generic NPC instead.))