Cmdr. Alora DeVeau - "Between A Rock And A Hard Place"
Amanda Nordstrom
((The Sapphire Star Reception Hall, Decks 8-12, The Syren’s Song))
Alora wasn’t really dressed for an argument, but she would have one if she had to. Currently, she was ready to argue against anyone who tried to stop them from doing what they needed to do to find their people. Since those who had been arguing moments before had effectively accomplished that, she was ready to smack some people upside the head, tell them to stop fighting, and then go on her way. It had worked with her brothers in the past, and could be an effective tool. Generally she tried other methods, but sometimes, she just didn’t have the time. Glancing around, she nodded to Tito. Although he was currently a science officer, he had also served as a security, tactical, and intelligence officer (one might argue he couldn’t make up his mind), and thus it made sense for him to take point on approaching.
DeVeau: Careful.
But before they could do or say anything else, a shot rang out and hit the upper threshold of the doorway, leaving a clear mark of phaser fire, burning and melting metal acrid in her nose and sharp upon her tongue. Vharo’s hand slammed against the control of the door just before she hurried away from it.
Vharo flinched at the impact, her hand reaching to slam down against the door control instinctually as she scrambled off to the slide in an effort not to catch anyone up.
Vharo: Gods, why can't anything on this boat be nice. ::she took a beat, hand ghosting her empty holster.:: I suggest we go a different way unless someone wants to try and have a conversation.
DeVeau: That door isn’t going to hold them for long, whoever it is.
One finger pointed to the door. Although she didn’t hear any other shots, that didn’t mean whoever had done it wasn’t still there.
DeVeau: And we have no firearms to defend us.
Alora was perfectly capable of self defence even without weapons, but that meant she had to get close enough to utilise that. With a phaser pointed at her, that wasn’t really practical.
Herrick/Tito: Response.
Moving quickly, Vharo went over the railing that prevented them from falling down the stairs of the hallway, then made an observation.
Vharo: Looks like we are standing in a big circle, we can go around the otherside. Though unless one of you has developed phaser immunity in our time apart, I'm not sure trying to cut off our shooter is the correct decision.
Shaking her head, Alora moved to the panel Vharo had used and quickly tapped it. While they weren’t officially on a Starfleet ship, they were on a Federation ship, and that meant she had some knowledge about the system. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to stop them. So, she quickly pried open the panel and then pulled out a couple of nodes, rendering the door useless.
DeVeau: That will keep them from coming this way.
She jerked her head toward the other side.
DeVeau: But not that way. If we could get a hold of weapons, that would be ideal.
Herrick/Tito: Response.
Vharo shook her head, indicating that finding weapons wasn’t going to be easy. Well, that was certainly not ideal. Behind the closed door, they could hear two more shots, and the metal hissed under the abuse of the weapons fire.
Vharo: Genuine threat, panicked diplomat or crewmember. Who is not relevant right now, those rounds are live so either we continue to try and talk them off the ledge or we double back to the security station and find something to stun them with.
Herrick/Tito/DeVeau: Response.
They heard someone approaching the door, but it didn’t open thanks to Alora pulling out the nodes. That was good. What wasn’t good, however, was the sound of someone’s voice, a strangled sob, as if someone was trying not to cry. Alora’s eyes flicked to the door, then back to the others.
DeVeau: And that changes everything.
Herrick/Tito/Vharo: Response.
They could certainly return the nodes to the door and open it, but that wasn’t going to do anything but subject themselves to whomever held the weapon, and likely get killed in the process. Lowering her voice, Alora wanted to make sure no one heard her from the other side, and only those with her could understand what she was saying.
DeVeau: If we aren’t careful, we’re going to get killed ourselves. Levels always have more than one access point. We can go around and get to them from other directions.
Herrick/Tito/Vharo: Response.
The group were stuck in a stairwell of the Syren’s Song, they couldn’t get in touch with any other ship, and suddenly, weapons fire indicated there were some hostiles aboard. While they didn’t know who they were - either panicking civilians or people who had gone crazy because of everything that happened - the fact was, someone was in danger. That sob had indicated whoever had the weapons also had a hostage, and they needed to do something to help. Preferably, Alora would go to the security area and get some weapons, but that meant leaving the hostage at the mercy of the hostage taker (or takers) for longer, and she didn’t want to take that chance. However, even without weapons, they weren’t helpless. They were Starfleet officers. They could do something. So, Alora suggested the only other option she thought they had.
DeVeau: Vharo, you and I will double around and come in front of them - distract them. Tito, Herrick, you two, try to sneak up from behind and take control of the situation.
Herrick/Tito/Vharo: Response.
-- Commander Alora DeVeau Chief Science Officer USS Thor & Matriarch of the 15th House Betazed M239008AD0
