REPOST: Lieutenant Udas - "Splashdown" (Tags: Herrera, Avery, Jaxx, Eerie, T'Mihn)
Josh Faust
((OCC: Updated with Pavlova's replies. We posted 2 minutes apart. Pesky Russians))
((Ventral Section, USS Vigilant))
::Udas ran a hand through his white hair and let out a quiet sigh, the Captain's static-laden image plastered across the viewscreen before him. He couldn't help but smile to himself. There was something about the Spaniard that was reassuring, steady even. Udas admired the man, even if he had only served with him for six months::
Herrera: =/\= Gentlemen, how's everything holding together? =/\=
Jaxx: =/\= Response =/\=
Eerie: =/\=Still in one piece. Sir. =/\=
Udas: =/\= We're holding out here, sir. How about yourself? =/\=
::The Andorian smirked to himself and looked down at console before him. It flickered briefly as another power surge rocked the damaged ship::
Herrera: =/\= We're about to start evacuating Romulans from the station. They just engaged their self destruct over there and I assume they've been boarded. I want to reconnect the dorsal and ventral sections. Udas, are you up to it? =/\=
Udas: =/\= Of course, sir. =/\=
::The Andorian noticed the Captain's look of approval::
Eerie : =/\= I guess things are pretty bad over there. : =/\=
Jaxx: =/\= Response =/\=
Herrera: =/\= We need to start the docking process right now. We're matching your course and speed. As soon as you're done, head up to the main bridge. =/\=
Eerie =/\=Yes, captain. =/\=
Jaxx: =/\= Response =/\=
::The science officer turned pilot thumbed through the piloting controls, going over the course speed and heading readings. He looked it over one last time before speaking. While he trusted the computers to do a majority of the heavy lifting, the entire process would need to be done perfectly. After a moment the Andorian had inputted everything he believed he needed::
Udas: =/\= Courses set, sir. Docking process can begin on your mark. =/\=
::Out of nowhere, there was a massive explosion as Romulan station disappeared from his viewscreen. Instinctively, the Andorian had to shield his eyes and turn his head slightly. There was a moment of odd serenity as the space around the station and the warring ships came to a halt. Udas wiped away sweat from his brow and looked back to the Admiral and Eerie::
Udas: It's...gone.
Eerie: Agreed, completely. Hope they had time to evacuate.
::Looking up at Udas.::
Jaxx: Response
Eerie: Looks like an internal explosion from the debris field from what I can tell.
Udas: ::looking at his console, quizzically:: I am reading no power surges or traces of weapons fire. I, I don't know what to say.
Eerie: There isn’t much to say…Now it looks like a self-destruction sequence from the power levels on the station. Normally in an overload you see an uncontrolled reaction. Power levels were being held pretty stable. If you are going to destroy your own station, you don’t want to lose power just before hand.
:: The Romulans had triggered the self destruct and now it appeared as though it had worked, which caught Udas off guard. It was an admission of guilt by the Romulans, that they didn't want anyone else to know what was on that station; they would rather take it the grave. The Andorian's thoughts turned to Narenna. She may have been lying to them, but he had cared for the woman briefly. Her safety, and the safety of those onboard, became the most important mission now.::
::The Ventral section of the ship slowly slid into place with the main section and the Vigilant was slowly reunited. The Computer systems began the integration process and Udas leaned back in his seat for a moment. He had just steered an Admiral and a number of his friends through combat against Andorians - his people - and witnessed a number of them die fiery deaths. This day would live on with the young Science Officer. He rose from his seat and ran a blue hand down his face, the adrenaline finally wearing off::
Eerie: Come on LT. Let’s not keep the Captain waiting.
Udas: ::nodding at the Chief:: Aye, sir. What a day.
Eerie: Sometimes we just do our duty, that is the best we can do.
::Eerie flashed a rare and very brief smile. A Brikar smiling was one of those things that you didn't see every day. Udas returned the smile and shook his head::
Udas: I'm following you, Chief.
((Main Bridge, Deck One, USS Vigilant-A))
::The group of Starfleet Officers left the turbolift and stepped onto the bridge. A number of other staff were gathered around, but for the most part the action was over. The Vigilant-A had just went through its first space combat mission and come out, for the most part, in one piece. Udas looked around, mentally checking off crew members as he went. The Captain interrupted his thoughts::
Herrera: Good to see you gentlemen. Is everyone alright?
Eerie: Fine sir. Looks like you have a good shooter at tactical.
::Udas's eyes drifted over to Pavlova. She was his friend, mostly, but right now, he was torn. While she had undoubtedly saved his life, again, and the lives of numerous Starfleet crew members, she had also snuffed out the lives of countless Andorians, in the name of duty. Udas didn't know how he felt. He looked down sullenly and shifted his weight from one foot to the next, unsure of how to tackle the feelings coursing through him::
Udas: ::not addressing Eerie's comment, but instead looking at the Captain:: Good to see you as well, sir.
Pavlova: My one skill that isn't out of date.
Herrera: Response
::Udas's mind drifted away from the security chat and banter. He went back to thinking about the Andorians who had died today, bravely, and the Romulans who had lost their lives protecting a secret, a secret that had brought the Vigilant, and apparently the Andorian ships, to this focal point. Once again, he thought of Narenna.::
T'Mihn: Welcome back.
::T'Mihn, the plucky Vulcan, pulled him from his inner dialogue. Udas would have never guessed he would be pleased to ever see a Vulcan. He smiled at the woman and bowed his head respectfully.::
Udas: You too, Lieutenant. I'll expect a duty report of what happened while I was gone, ::he smiled:: but enjoy yourself for the time being.
T'Mihn: I tried to keep the fort intact.
::Udas put his hands on his hips and looked around the bridge. The main portion of the Vigilant had definitely went through the crucible of combat, but he trusted the Science Officer had performed with merit and bravery. The Andorian, his antennae pointing forward eyed the woman up::
Udas: ::jokingly:: Is that so?
::As if on cue, a nearby EPS conduit suddenly shot a spray of sparks at T'Mihn. Calmly, and T'Mihn rarely did things calmly, she patted out the sparks and turned to the Andorian::
T'Mihn: That's the tenth time she's bitten me. I don't think Vigilant liked me fiddling with her sensor array.
::Humor from a Vulcan was an odd thing to understand, but T'Mihn was no ordinary Vulcan. The Andorian smiled to himself and walked over to where she was sitting, patting her reassuringly on the shoulder and looking down::
Udas: You did swimmingly, Lieutenant. Well done.
::Their conversation was interrupted again by Pavlova and Eerie discussing what lay ahead. Udas turned and listened, this time intrigued::
Eerie: Guess she will be aiming for department chief next, sir::
Pavlova: ::jokingly:: Well the Klingons promote by single combat. Immunity to phasers is a problem, and I’d rather not wrestle with you, but from a distance? Maybe.
Avery/Herrera:Response
Pavlova: Oh and sorry Chief, I used all of your torpedoes.
::Despite using all the torpedoes, it appeared that the Vigilant had managed to get a number of Romulans off the station before it exploded. Udas prayed to Uzaveh that Narenna was among them. He bit his lower lip and regretted leaving her on such sour words - accusing her of being a bad scientist and a military pawn. He took a step forward and folded his arms across his chest. He also wondered if any injured Andorians had been beamed aboard. He noticed T'Mihn rise from her seat:
T'Mihn: Captain, if I am not needed here, I need to see if sickbay is going to need any blood.
::T'Mihn, being a Vulcan, shared many of the same blood patterns as her cousin Romulans. She would very much be needed in Sickbay.::
Herrera: Response
Pavlova: And I’ll be heading down to check on our Romulan guests. ::to Eerie:: : Chief, the empty torpedo launchers are all yours.
Eerie : Response
::Turning to T'Mihn::
Udas: I'll take over the science console, Lieutenant. I think you have your orders.
::He smiled at her, genuinely. This Vulcan was not like any Vulcan he had met before. She was not Sabor. She was not someone he felt he needed to be weary of. He liked T'Mihn, which was an odd feeling, to like a Vulcan as a...person::
T'Mihn: Response
Udas: ::smiling:: As long as she doesn't shoot any sparks at me, we will be ok. Good work back there, Lieutenant. I mean it.
T'Mihn: Response
Udas: Alright, alright. Enough of that sappiness. Get to sickbay and help them out down there. That's an order.
T'Mihn: Response
::The Russian marksman and the Vulcan scientist made their exit and headed for the turbolift. Udas watched them go; proud of T'Mihn and uncertain of his feelings towards Pavlova. He hoped they pass. The Andorian thaan slid his exhausted frame into the recently vacated science console and thumbed it to life. T'Mihn wasn't kidding; the Vigilant had taken a beating. Static and pixilated images dotted his console. He began reading through the summary action of the battle from the perspective of the main section of the Vigilant. It clearly had been a pitched battle for all involved::
Avery: Response
::Udas looked up from his console, unsure of who this newcomer was. He pondered the officer for a moment as the Captain spoke::
Eerie: Response
Herrera: Response
::The Andorian still hadn't seen a number of officers yet, taJoot and Tagren, most importantly. His mind raced, hoping nothing had befallen his friends. He looked to the Captain, knowing it was what he need to do and that order must prevail over anything else, and did his best to push his thoughts, which were spinning around in his head, aside.::
Udas: Well sir, what are your orders?
TAG/TBC
Lieutenant Udas
Chief Science Officer
USS Vigilant-A