Lieutenant Tito: Crawling enveloping tactical manoeuvre.

[btv....@sapo.pt]

((Stairway, Deck 6, The Syren’s Song))

There was a giant Six etched in the stairwell and Tito tried to remember what little he knew of the Syren layout. But suddenly Commander Herrick backed up a few steps.

Some shouting was heard downstairs and Tito stepped forward.

Herrick: Can you make out what they’re saying?

Tito shook his head and kneeled down.

Tito: Not me

DeVeau: There’s too much of an echo, it’s masking the actual words. 

Tito stepped slowly by the stairwell and raised his hand.

Tito: There’s some sort of argument… Maybe we can see what’s going on?

DeVeau: We need to find a way to re-establish communications with the other ships, or find out where they are, and where our people are.  

Vharo: I'm inclined to agree with Commander DeVeau. We have larger picture needs that require our attention.

Herrick: After we confirm they’re in no immediate danger.

Commander Herrick glanced at him so Tito shrugged and stood up, slowly stepping down the stairs. His imposing figure and voice echoed when he spoke.

Tito: Hey… What's going on here?

Silence was the reply to his question and the only other voices were those in his team.

Just a little further down was a closed door. 

DeVeau: Hello?  

Vharo reached out and tapped on the door. 

Vharo: Hello. Just want to make sure everything is okay, sounded like it was getting heated is all.

No reply. 

Tito: We are Starfleet officers. 

Again just silence. 

Herrick: We did hear someone, right?

DeVeau: There were definitely people arguing. 

Vharo stepped back from the door, looking up the stairs. 

Vharo: There is something off about this presentation, don't know if going looking is going to be the better option.

Herrick: Override?

Tito shook his head and leaned into the door panel. 

Tito: Maybe… Let’s see..

Alora nodded at him.

DeVeau: Careful. 

Tito tapped the door controls and opened the door but suddenly the silence broke, with a phaser fire that hit the threshold.

Vahro reacted quickly, shutting the door again. 

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. 

Alora pointed to the door.  

DeVeau: And we have no firearms to defend us. 

Tito: There must be another way in.

Vahro looked over a railing and then rejoined the group.

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, opened it and pulled out a couple of nodes.

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.  

Tito: I think we might need to improvise. 

There were other phaser volleys, now against the closed door. 

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: Whoever they are, they seem to be holding their own. We need to continue on.

Tito: Yeah but holding on against who?

There were movement sounds, and a sort of sob. The clear sound that someone was in trouble or danger. 

Alora’s eyes flicked to the door, then back to the others.  

DeVeau: And that changes everything.  

Herrick: Agreed, we’re not leaving someone to get executed.

Vharo: Response

Tito silently nodded as Alora lowered her voice. 

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: Splitting up… not ideal. ::chewing on it:: But, I don’t see another option.

Commander Herrick glanced at him and Vharo. 

Tito: I concur. Maybe using the element of surprise and go in from two directions. 

Vharo: Response.

Alora appeared to be considering the options and started devising a plan. 

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. 

Commander Herrick gave it a nod of approval.

Herrick: All else fails, you can bust out those pipes again.

Tito nodded. There wasn't more he could add.

Vharo: Response.

Herrick: Let’s just saw that a talent night on the Thor will be added to the social calendar sooner than later. ::looking to Tito:: Right, with me.

Tito gave Alora and Vharo a nod and a smile as he joined Commander Herrick going up the stairs. 

Tito: Maybe we are lucky and find something we can improvise as a weapon. 

Herrick: Slim pickings, that’s for sure.

There wasn't anything useful, so Tito resorted to second choices. He looked for a maintenance panel, and luckily found one that was easily opened. 

From it he managed, carefully get a couple of hard tubes, one for each. With a smile he offered the bigger one to Commander Herrick. 

Tito: It’s better than nothing…

Herrick: (taking the object) Perfect… now where might we find a… ah!

Commander Herrick pointed at what looked like an engineering access. 

Tito smiled, leaned down and opened it.

He looked inside and frowned. It was similar in size to their familiar Jefferies tubes. 

He gestured to Commander Herrick.

Tito: After you Sir.

Herrick: (climbing into the tube) It might be a good idea to get ourselves a touch of distance wherever we come out rather than literally dropping in on them.

Tito looked around, trying to mentally map their location. He quickly followed Herrick into the cramped space.

Tito: Let’s see where these tubes lead. 

Herrick: Response

They started crawling and Tito kept attentive to any crossings. They would need to turn left, before going back down. 

Tito: Left and down would leave us inside. Maybe we keep going after turning so we get deeper in the room? 

Herrick: Response

Tito nodded and they quietly kept crawling. 

It was a challenge, as both him and Herrick were above average height, and physically fit.

They ended up near the access hatch and Tito whispered. 

Tito: We need to be fast once we open the hatch.

Herrick: Response

TAGs/TBC

Lt. Vitor R.S.Tito 

Science Officer

USS Thor, NCC-85852

O238907VS0