Ensign T’Fearne - Express Boarding Pass [Part 1]
teayl.thorn
((Shuttlecraft Sojourn , En-route to rendezvous with Shuttlecraft Anna Pavlova, Somewhere between Proxima and Alpha Sigma Systems))
((T-minus 50 Hours, 30 minutes to Impact))
T’Fearne glanced back, her eyes narrowing speculatively at the small cargo section of the Sojourn that held the green Saurian engineer and the large mysterious device.
T’Fearne: I don’t think it’s active right now, it’s just strapped onto the cargo area, not hooked up to any power supply.
At the science console, Alyndra's fingers danced across the surface, synthesising a chemical dispersal agent designed to neutralise hostiles aboard the locomotive. T’Fearne agreed that it would be best to deploy in a localised fashion, one where they had most of the targets identified in one location. Dealing with nearly nine-thousand unconscious passengers onboard was too risky.
The Major’s voice crackled to life across the comm.
Singh: =/\= Even if we were to derail the train as you suggest the wave will continue on to the colonies. If we are to use this...emergency brake...I suggest employing it in concert with whatever the science team aboard the Ronin have come up with to disperse the wave. Take all of Emzai's advantages away from her at once. That will be the most advantageous moment for your team to strike. =/\=
O’Connor: Makes sense, but could also make her more dangerous. If she’s already lost then all she’ll have is a trainful of lives to bargain with to make an escape or …
On the viewscreen, Commander Raga gave a slow, deliberate tilt of the head that T’Fearne interpreted as disagreement.
Raga: =/\= That’s a reasonable concern, but as the Major stated earlier, Emzai is a survivor. And she would know that Federation prisons are comfortable. She’s the sort to plot and plan and wait. Prison would only give her the time to do so. Death would be the end of that possibility. =/\=
T’Fearne unstrapped from the co-pilot's seat, just as the Sojourn hit a fresh pocket of turbulence. The unshielded shuttle jolted slightly, causing her to stumble as Alyndra reached out instinctively, catching her arm. She paused for a moment at her friend's console, her gaze caught on the displays, the impact countdown in the corner of the console pulsed ominously as it synced to match the locomotive’s increasing velocity.
They now had barely fifty hours until impact—and they were heading straight into danger.
She pushed away from Alyndra's console and moved toward their mission supplies, methodically checking re-breathers, weapons, and decontaminating their gear. Her combat tricorder had burned through its battery during the razor-rain incident after she’d had to use its emergency forcefield—she swapped it out for a standard model.
Syrex: What are the chances that there were some stowaways?
On the viewscreen, Major Singh shook her head, dark hair refleting the shuttle’s dim light.
Singh: =/\= The possibility cannot be discounted but we cannot effectively plan for unknowns of that degree. I believe that the teams phasers will more than make up for anyone not affected by your concoction. =/\=
O’Connor: Here’s hoping.
Raga: =/\= Agreed. We all go armed and we’ll do what we do, together. =/\=
Alyndra groaned under her breath—quiet, but not quiet enough. T’Fearne shifted to look over her shoulder, noting the Trill’s scowl as she double-checked a hand phaser's power cell.
T’Fearne: Something wrong?
Syrex: This cocktail is a mess as-is. Yes, it’ll work. Yes, it’ll provide exactly as I’ve promised. But it’s still a gamble. The drug-drug interactions alone would.. should take longer than we have. But I still remain firm on not using stun grenades if civilians are involved. If only I had their genomes..
Singh: =/\= We go to battle with the tools we have, Lieutenant, not the tools we wished we had. Training, tactics and luck will take care of the remainder. Put your faith in those things...and in your team...if you are uncertain about your chemistry. =/\=
Alyndra’s mood seemed improved by the advice, at least a smile crept onto her lips.
O’Connor: It’ll work, doc. You got this.
Raga: =/\= I trust in your judgement and experience. If it only partially works we’ll adapt and deal with it when it comes. =/\=
Patting the hardworking Doctor's shoulder, T’Fearne carefully stepped back to the gear she was preparing amidst the turbulence.
T’Fearne: :: calling back to the Trill :: Just curious... what could you do with their genomes?
Syrex: Well, with a genome, I could tailor the gas to specifically knock them out, nobody else would be affected at all. Restriction enzymes combined with recombinant plasmid viruses are one hell of a thing, I tell you… You didn’t happen to get any of her DNA on your previous encounters, per chance? Even 1% could make all the difference.
Alyndra froze. Then dove back to the console, tapping with renewed fury.
Singh: =/\= Commander, I hate to interrupt but we're closing the distance to the train rapidly. Once you are aboard you should be able to raise Chief Tucker and his team but it's likely communication with the shuttle will give away our presence. I will maintain radio silence until you advise that the threat has been neutralized or...problems arise. =/\=
Raga: =/\= Copy. We’ll flick the lights on and off if we have to, but we’ll let you know. =/\=
O’Connor: Understood. We’re as ready as we’re gonna be.
T’Fearne: Personal protective gear is prepped and ready for boarding.
Raga: =/\= Alright, everyone get ready. =/\=
O’Connor: =/\= Almost there…matching the train’s speed. :: he nodded at T’Fearne:: Get ready to override the airlock. When we board the XO should be entering on the opposite side one car ahead of us. We’ll converge on that car then split up from there. =/\=
The security officer briefly met the lieutenant's gaze and nodded her readiness.
Raga: =/\= I will head straight for you as soon as I’m aboard. Since the Sojourn is under remote piloting, the Major will remain on the Pavlova. So, I expect all of you on board the train. We’ll get you the time you need, Alyndra so charge your eye as soon as you can. Have that engineer wait on board the Sojourn for now. I’d rather have Tuck take a look at the brake before even attempting to deploy it anywhere. =/\=
The lack of shields on the Sojourn was going to be an issue when it came to breaching the soliton wave to dock with the train. But that wasn’t her problem to worry about. If they didn’t get ripped to pieces in the turbulent energies of the wave, then her job was to secure their ingress.
Alyndra synthesised several canisters of her gas concoction and swapped her mechanical eye out for her old eyepatch.
O’Connor skilfully piloted the Sojourn on approach, angling toward the rippling waves of soliton energy—a molten ribbon of orange, parting into a glowing blue heart as they entered the wave’s core. The sleek length of the Soliton Express shimmered within the wave, like a gleaming chrome serpent riding at the heart of a comet. As they pushed through the wave, the turbulence was surprisingly reduced. Despite the tremendous danger they were being thrust into, the Vulcazoid couldn’t help but marvel at the unique form of interstellar travel.
T’Fearne: That’s… incredible!
((Shuttlecraft Sojourn, Docked with the Soliton Express))
The Sojourn glided in, warp drive vibrating with strain to match the speed of the train. The scene through the forward viewport rotated as they twisted on final approach, aligning the top of the Volga-class with an airlock of a carriage’s lateral hull.
A deep, resonant clang echoed through the shuttle as the docking clamps engaged, sealing the fates of Sojourn and The Soliton Express together.
O’Connor: We’re attached. :: he tilted his head:: Go time.
T’Fearne swiftly leapt up the ladder to the dorsal hatch, fingers already dancing across her tricorder. A brute-force override packet surged into the airlock interface, trusting it would work on most Federation mid-tier systems. She didn’t expect a passenger transport, however novel, to put up much resistance. The airlock flashed green—access granted.
She dropped back down and handed Alyndra and Ian sidearms pre-set to stun and fully charged, swapping them for one of Alyndra’s slim canisters of sedative gas, adding to her less lethal gear.
At the foot of the ladder, T’Fearne paused to take slow, deep breaths as they prepared for a forced boarding. It was her responsibility to clear the immediate space and keep everyone safe. Despite the danger and the dire stakes should they fail, a hot thrill of excitement hummed through her nerves.
Raga: =/\= Boarding now, keep the engines warm Major. =/\=
Syrex: We’re right behind you, Commander. Well… Relatively
T’Fearne scaled the ladder again, phaser at the ready this time, while Ian covered her as best he could. Her tricorder showed no immediate life signs beyond the threshold. She cracked the seal and popped up for a quick look. The artificial gravity within grabbed her head first—yanking her sideways. She ducked back instinctively, adjusting to the direction of the gravity shift.
The second time, she was more ready. One hand anchored to the hatch’s edge—lined up with the train's interior “ceiling”—and she let herself pivot out. Gravity claimed her boots first, then her legs, then the rest of her body followed, falling sideways onto what was now the “floor” of the Soliton Express. She shook off the vertigo and did a fast sweep of the airlock with her phaser ready, then signalled the others.
T’Fearne: Clear! Come up. Watch the gravity shift—it flips starboard once you cross the threshold.
Ian climbed through, then Alyndra, both adjusting to the sideways pull with varying degrees of finesse. T’Fearne took point, leading them quickly into the narrow, silent corridor toward the next carriage, sidearm steady, all senses razor-sharp.
Somewhere ahead, Raga would be moving toward them. And beyond him—the missing engineers, the other passengers and Emzai the target... and whatever plans she had in motion.
[No Tags, just catching up / TBC in part 2]
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Security Officer
USS Ronin - NCC-34523
R240107T14