Lieutenant JG Meris: From Fire to Ice
Meris/Brian
((Simulated Bridge of the Thor in the Simulated Badlands, Holosuite 1, Deck 5, USS Thor))
Meris watched the plan take shape in real time as desperation forced creativity. Their frantic effort to survive the pursuing torpedoes had evolved into something far more deliberate. Pilot, scientist, and commander had each taken a piece of the chaos and turned it into a coordinated solution. As the shuttle carrying the dangerous cargo moved into position, Meris realized they were no longer simply reacting to the problem but actively reshaping the battlefield. For the first time since the torpedoes appeared, the situation felt almost... controlled.
Promontory: Severing link... now!
Kreshkova: ::under her breath:: Come on... take zhe bait.
On the tactical display the icon representing the shuttle Mjolnir separated cleanly from the Thor as the tractor beam released it. The small craft continued forward along its projected vector while Meris curved the Thor away toward the nearest plasma ribbon. The pilot watched the converging trajectories with intense focus as the torpedoes adjusted course, their guidance systems recalculating to overcome the changing battlefield geometry.
oO Three torpedoes. One shuttle. One plasma ribbon. An explosive equation. Oo
Meris: I am keeping the shuttle between us and the final three torpedoes.
Promontory: It looks like you were right. The torpedoes are going for it!
Kreshkova: Yes!!
Meris allowed themself a brief glance toward the center of the bridge just in time to see Kreshkova pump a victorious fist into the air. The moment lasted perhaps two seconds before the commander appeared to remember she was supposed to be a composed Starfleet officer and returned to the captain’s chair with a sudden and deliberate professionalism.
Seconds later the torpedoes struck the shuttle.
The explosion bloomed across the viewscreen in a violent storm of light and expanding plasma. Sensors screamed in protest as the detonation overloaded multiple instruments and washed the bridge in flashes of orange and white.
Meris: ::concerned:: I am calculating a level six concussive wave from that blast. Inertial dampeners max out at level five.
The Lieutenant JG turned the Thor to greet the approaching wave to sweep along it’s long-axis.
Promontory: Brace; we’ve got incoming!
Kreshkova: Lieutenant, if you can use vhat is coming to cover a get-avay do.
Meris reached instinctively toward the ship wide communications control to warn the crew again, but the opportunity vanished before they could speak. The viewscreen erupted into blinding white as the shockwave slammed into the Thor, sending the ship lurching violently while alarms shrieked across the helm console.
Then everything disappeared.
((Simulated Andorian Ice Plains, Holosuite 1, Deck 5, USS Thor))
The helm console vanished beneath Meris' hands and the chair beneath them dissolved into nothing. One moment they were piloting a starship through a plasma storm and the next they were falling backward into something cold and powdery. The pilot landed awkwardly in a drift of white snow and lay there for a moment staring upward as icy wind roared overhead.
They slowly sat up.
The bridge was gone. In its place stretched a frozen landscape of wind carved snow and towering blue ice cliffs. Razor fine shards of ice rode the gale and struck their face like stinging needles while the Andorian summer wind cut across the plain with brutal efficiency. The holodeck had thoughtfully replaced their uniform with heavy survival gear including a fur lined parka, insulated trousers, thick gloves, heavy boots, and a pack slung across their shoulders.
Meris stood carefully and brushed snow from their clothing before staring down at the ground with intense curiosity.
Meris: W-what is this? ::picking themself up:: Is this snow? Where are we?
oO Frozen atmospheric precipitation. Highly inefficient compared to the controlled climate systems of my homeworld. Oo
Kreshkova: Vas zhis... supposed to happen?
Meris squinted into the wind while attempting to reconcile the abrupt environmental shift with the parameters of the simulation.
Promontory: Response
Kreshkova: Zhat didn’t vork.
The cold was already seeping through the insulated layers of their clothing and Meris rubbed their gloved hands together while the wind howled across the frozen plain. They intentionally turned themselves away from the others so they would not be facing into the frozen gale. Their nose already felt like it was beginning to run.
oO Temperature regulation appears to be absent. This simulation is unusually committed to realism. Oo
Meris: What should we do now?
The pilot was rapidly discovering that their extensive training in advanced starship maneuvering had not included much instruction in surviving frozen wastelands. Like many other Cadets they’d done their survival training in the Australian Outback. Now it seemed that might have been a mistake since it seemed highly unlikely that they encounter a kangaroo or eat quandong fruit to stay alive.
Promontory: Response
Sasch raised her voice over the howling wind.
Kreshkova: Okay... Vell, let’s not stand here exposed. Before ve try to figure out vhat happened, let’s see if ve can find a cave or cleft vhere ve can get out of zhe vind and hear each ozher better.
Meris nodded and lifted their provided pack higher onto their shoulders before following the direction Kreshkova indicated. The wind struck them immediately, forcing the pilot to lean forward as they trudged through the frozen terrain.
Meris: Do either of you have any experience in this type of terrain?
Promontory: Response
Kreshkova: I zhink I see somezhing up zhere a vays.
Meris followed her gesture and spotted a dark opening in the ice cliff ahead that appeared to be a cave. As they moved toward it a distant howl echoed across the frozen plain, low and mournful against the screaming wind. It caused Meris’ steps to falter and they looked at the others with mild panic in their eyes.
Meris: That sound... that is an animal, is it not? It is true that animals in environments such as this sometimes eat people?
Promontory: Response.
The three officers approached the cave cautiously. Meris paused at the entrance and peered into the dim interior but refrained from venturing too far inside.
oO Statistically speaking caves are frequently inhabited by creatures that object strongly to visitors. Oo
Meris: Perhaps we should take stock of what is in our packs before we venture more deeply...
Promontory/Kreshova: Response.
Meris opened their pack and began removing the contents carefully. Inside were standard Starfleet survival supplies including thermal blankets, ration bars, water purification tablets, a type 1 phaser, a tricorder, signal flares, a palm beacon and a collapsible emergency shelter. The pack was disturbingly similar to the one they’d been given during their survival training.
oO It seems Starfleet believes one size fits all when it comes to survival. Oo
Meris: These appear to be standard Starfleet survival provisions. Do either of you have anything different?
Promontory/Kreshova: Response.
Meris watched the others as they went through their kit. As they watched, their thoughts turned to childhood on J’naii where only the twin poles contained snow.
Meris: On my homeworld there is a story about a creature that inhabits the polar ice regions. It is called a Kreshaal. The creature is said to blend perfectly into the snow and detect body heat from several kilometers away. According to the story, if a traveler stops moving for more than ten minutes the Kreshaal will approach and swallow them whole. ::a pause and furtive glance out the cave mouth:: You don’t suppose there’s anything like that here, do you?
Promontory/Kreshova: Response.
((Tags/TBC))
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Lieutenant JG Meris
Helmsperson
USS Thor
A240207M14