Commander Ash MacKenna - The End of the Line (Part 2)

[Marissa Jeffrey]

((Ops, Deck One, Central Module, Deep Space Thirty Three))

...or was it?

Ash might have said something to the woman in response to her laughs, but instead a frantic voice came over the speakers.

Osiris: =/\= Osiris to Raga and Ops! We need to seal the emergency bulkheads now! =/\=

That sounded bad. Very bad. The battle seemed to be waning, but there were still enemies within their walls.

Raga: =/\= Raga here, what’s wrong Palen? =/\=

Stergis: =/\= Response =/\=

Ash almost couldn't wait for the answer, but it came soon enough.

Osiris: =/\= I managed to slip down to deck three to hunt them from behind and found three of the crew hiding in the tubes. The Alliance has a quantum torpedo on Deck three, directly below your position. An engineer and medic ran off to try and do something about it. I’m cut off from them, but it’s set to overload. We only got a brief scan but it’s maximum yield. =/\=

The Intelligence chief's eyes got wide as she looked to the station commander for just a moment before turning to her half working console to try to do something about it.

Raga: =/\= Get out of there Palen, that’s an order. If that thing blows I don’t want anyone on that deck. Can you get to them?

Stergis (optional): =/\= Response =/\=

MacKenna:  =/\= I'm doing what I can to get the bulkheads closed and forcefields up, but there's so much damage... =/\=

Ash tapped frantically on the console, getting responses only from some of the systems and some of the places on the station in the area they'd indicated, but she knew it wasn't going to be enough.

Osiris: =/\= I’ll try. =/\=

Kiran/Korras/T’Fearne: Response

Raga: =/\= Chief, get back here with Korras. If that thing blows I don’t want either of you near the external bulkheads. Everyone, fall back behind the nearest emergency bulkheads before they drop. =/\=

And then it came; the sickly sound of a bomb from far away reverberated through the bulkheads and deckplates around them, shaking the station almost as if another shockwave had moved through. The fact that this one came from inside was that much more terrifying. Silence followed and it wasn't at all a good silence. What alarms worked were sounding off, creating a sick sounding symphony that filled in the space where phaser fire used to be. Ash blinked.

Raga: =/\= Raga…to all teams. Report. Who’s still with us? =/\=  

Stergis (optional): =/\= Response =/\=

MacKenna: =/\= Still here. =/\=

The chatter on the line told her that others were still alive out there and that there was still a chance. Besides, they were still breathing here in ops, so the entire station couldn't be decompressed or anything...

Kiran/Korras/T’Fearne/Valo: Response

Raga: =/\= Good…does anyone have eyes on the enemy? =/\=

Kiran/Korras/T’Fearne/Valo: Response

What came next was both panic inducing and relieving.

Phi Lead: =/\= Yes, they’re pushing again!....wait…Marines!! The Excal sent Marines! I swear I’m going to kiss someone after this. =/\=

A smile returned to her weary face. They still had to get the Alliance off of their station, but with the cavalry here, it seemed like they were on the right track. She just hoped that there were no more quantum torpedo surprises set below.

Raga: =/\= Good, they need to do something to earn drinks later. Hold positions around the Embassy and Ops. The Marines can mop up what’s left. ::He coughed and added with a slightly less raspy tone:: Well done. =/\=

Kiran/Korras/T’Fearne/Valo: Response

Stergis(optional): =/\= Response =/\=

MacKenna: =/\= And thank you all.  =/\=

<<End Act 3 for Ash>>

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Commander Ash MacKenna

Chief Intelligence Officer

USS Khitomer

R238605KN0