What Now?

Posted on Sun Sep 6th, 2020 @ 12:16am by Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Lieutenant Commander Shylow Vitari

Mission: Welcome Aboard!
Location: Captain's Ready Room
Timeline: After, The Reason Why

As soon as the Orions were out of the room. Savar turned to Rhenora. "Captain, thank you for participation in this charade. I believe I can free your hands as the Orions are unaware of the double locking mechanism on our cuffs. With only the single lock engaged. I believe I can free you."

Rhenora turned so Savar could release her hands, knowing they were on borrowed time until someone came and checked on them. The bridge was a no go and would be secured by the Orions, which only left the small emergency access port behind her desk as a means of egress. They couldn't risk trying to contact anyone, not yet.

It took Savar but a few seconds to release the lock on Rhenora's cuffs. As the cuffs fell away, freeing her hands, he turned his back to her. "If you please Captain."

Rhenora rubbed her wrists where the manacles had been - massaging the bruised skin there. She headed for the access hatch - grabbing a tricorder off her desk as she did so. They could stick to the JTubes - sneak their way around the ship avoiding detecting whilst freeing/aiding as many of the crew as they possibly could.
"Alright - let's go"

Savar flexed his hands a few times then nodded to Rhenora. "After you Captain." As they headed for the access hatch and away from the Orions.

The Captain knew time would be of a premium, she ditched her comm-badge as well as Savar's on her ready room desk in case the Orions had worked out how to use the internal sensors. Comms could be routed through her tricorder but at this point in time they needed to be as far under the radar as possible.

"I suggest we try and get to Engineering, we can retake the ship from there" she suggested.

"Agreed." Savar replied. "I suggest we head there quickly. Once we learn The Orions locations we can try to flood those decks with gas."

"But what of our own people?" Rhenora asked quietly, not wanting to risk harm to their own.

"They unfortunately will be put to sleep along with the Orions. However we will have regained control of the ship." Savar pointed out. "The Orions cannot have that many of their people on the ship. This was meant to be quick."

"Smash n grab comes to mind. I may have done a few of those in the past to free friends from the Cardassians" Kaylen admitted sagely. "Get in, get what you need, get out before you get caught"

"Yes. This was supposed to be quick. But with each minute that passes the Orions chances of capture increase. Sooner or later they will realize that." Savar commented dryly.

"And with that realisation comes the risk of them resorting to desperate measures."Rhenora replied with concern. They descended through the decks, encountering the odd crewmember who were thinking the same way they were.

"That is a definite possibility Captain and which in any event we must stop the Orions before they do indeed do something rash." Savar answered in a matter of fact tone.

"That's the plan anyway" The Bajoran huffed as her arms and legs began to burn from the exertion of climbing down countless ladders. She definitely wasn't as young as she used to be.

After a short time they began to near Engineering. Rhenora knew there was an access tube behind a workstation in the top level, where they would be able to observe hopefully without being seen.

Savar followed Rhenora. He knew the task of climbing as many ladders as they had was affecting the Captain. He could see the stress on her face and in her breathing. He reached a hand out to stop her. "Captain you must rest for a moment. Just a moment ." He stressed.

Rhenora started to protest but shut her mouth before the words came out. She knew her physical condition was a little on the 'desk job' side of the equation, something that would have to be looked at when this little mess was over. After a few moments the breathing steadied and the ache in her legs backed off a few notches.

"Don't you Vulcans ever get tired? "She quipped. "How old are you anyway?"

"Our endurance is much greater than that of humans Captain. We do on occasion get tired but it is rare. I am in Vulcan years 39 years old, If I was to use the Earth practice in regards to ageing I would be 26." He answered his expression never changing.

Rhenora looked at him with wide eyes. Not only was he Vulcan, but he was a young Vulcan. No wonder the ladders didn't phase him. She was old enough to be his mother!

"One day Savar...you'll feel as I do" She scoffed as she levered herself into movement again "Off we go...don't let this granny slow you down"

"You are undoubtedly right Captain. However I am confident that day is many years of away." He looked at her. "If the age in your personnel file is correct you are 53 years old. That does not qualify you as a granny. You are still quite young. Captain Sulu still commanded a ship at 107 years of age."

"Captain Sulu wasn't crawling around in the JTubes the first day of his new command. I feel 107 right now" Rhenora grumped, the access port was ahead - just a little further. She could hear voices on the other side but couldn't discern their origin.

"That is true Captain. I believe on Captain Sulu's first day he was involved in hand to hand combat with an enraged Klingon." Savar replied evenly. Then grew quiet as they approached the access port where voices could be heard.

The voices were indescribable even as they crew closer, Rhenora pulling her tricorder out to see if she could scan their life signs in order to determine the species.

Savar remained silent as Rhenora used the tricorder to scan the life signs. The readings would play a big part in their next move.

There was a number of Starfleet personnel, and two Orions. The odds would be in their favour for an ambush however pulling it off with little strategic intel would be difficult. She showed the readings to Savar for his opinion.

Savar looked at the data, only two Orions and a far greater number of Starfleet personnel. "The Orions are together. That is in our favor." He whispered to her. "We could use their weapons and get more for the rest of the crew."

"Sounds like a plan" Rhenora agreed, edging closer to the hatch so they could bust it open and move with the most efficient speed to take down the Orions.

He reached a hand out. "Captain at your age, I should go first." He said utterly deadpan. "Especially with my greater strength." He continued. "After all, we don't want you to get hurt."

As much as the words stung her pride a little, logically it made sense. She was a little older and a little slower than she used to be, compared to Savar who was well and truly in the prime of his Vulcan youth. "Damned you Vulcan's and your logic."She grumped.

"I meant no insult Captain nor was I attempting to wound your pride. Rather just the opposite. You are an experienced captain and it is illogical for you to suffer an injury in this manner."

"I'm old and I refuse to believe it." Kaylen retorted as she scooted backward to allow Savar the closest position to the hatch.

"Whenever you're ready, oh bearer of great youth and strength" The sarcasm was not lost in her tone.

Savar moved into position but before springing on the Orions, he turned back to look at Rhenora. " Ah. sarcasm. Really Captain, there is no reason to be insulting." He replied as he kicked out the access port and sprang upon the two unwitting Orions. It was over before it started. Using the Vulcan nerve pinch, the Orions laid sprawled on the deck and Savar had their weapons in his hands.

He looked up at the access port. "Captain? You can come down."

Rhenora's eyes were wide at the brutal efficiency in which Savar had incapacitated the Orions. The neck pinch was instant and effective. The Liberty crew that had been held captive were silent on instruction and quickly secured their captors.

"Remind me never to have a sparring session with you" She commented as she emerged from the access tube.

"As you wish Captain." He replied as he handed her one of the weapons. Keeping the other for himself. "What is our next move Captain?"

"Take back our ship, simple" Kaylen said with a quiet authority, she kept her voice low in case any other Orions were in the vicinity. The controls they would need were on the lower level of Engineering - they would definitely be seen if they tried to reach them.

"Yes, of course Captain. How do you propose we do that?" Savar asked calmly as he looked about the upper level of Engineering. He saw no Orions but had no idea how many if any were on the lower level.

I'm working on that" Rhenora admitted, peeking over the railing to see if she could see any Orions on the lower level. The scary thing was she couldn't see anyone at all, Starfleet or otherwise. They were either being held out of sight, or they just weren't there.

" I can't see anyone, I suggest we have a look and train to gain access to the bridge functions from the emergency console" She pointed to the relevant terminal on the lower level, so far in the clear.

"Stealth is required here. We must not tip our hand in case any Orions are nearby."  Savar  stated.

"Agreed, we have two weapons, our wits and the element of surprise." The Captain nodded. There was an access ladder to their left hand side that descended towards the lower deck. It would mean they would be vulnerable as they descended but other options were limited.

"Captain a moment." Savar spoke up. "Would it not serve our purposes better to create a diversion? If there are Orions on the lower level, they would come to investigate disturbance."

Rhenora pondered the question, admitting to herself that they really were flying blind here. They had no idea if the Orions had control of the Liberty, or even how many of them were on board.

" What do you suggest as a diversion?"

"Would a fight not suffice?" Savar questioned. "It would force the Orions to investigate. When they stop one fight another starts up. It should keep them quite busy."

" Depends on how good your acting skills are" The Captain smirked, looking towards their small group of cohorts. They could set up in several locations in the upper gantry and use the distance to their advantage.

"Me? I intend to go with you Captain." Savar answered. "Two are better than one in this case. Not to mention we have more than enough volunteers to carry out our diversion."

" Logical as always" Rhenora retorted as she headed towards one of the ladders nearby, pointing to two crewmembers to start a 'noisy scuffle' on the far side of the gantry as they descended. If no-one was around, great. If someone was around it would draw attention away from Savar and the Captain.

"I do try Captain. I found most things come out far better using logic than the human trait of 'just winging it.' " Savar said as he moved to one of the ladders to begin his descent to the lower level of Engineering.

" There is plenty to be said for 'winging it', instincts are rarely wrong" The Bajoran replied before flattening herself against the wall as voices drifted nearby.

"I shall take your word for it Captain." Savar replied dryly. Then grew quiet and like Rhenora pressed himself up against the wall as nearby voices were heard.

There was a brief moment of silence within the softness of the conversation, an interruption in the flow of words before the beginnings of something louder, the barest motion of startlement carried in the first syllable of query before a two more soft clicks preceded a pair of near synchronous thuds and silence.

The moment stretched out a little longer until a nearby door cracked open a fraction, held just a slither from sealed for a few seconds before sliding completely open and an EV encased figure stepped through on silent footsteps, glancing across at the two frozen figures before the visor slid back to reveal a human face, “Captain,” Vitari murmured with a lazy salute, “Lt. Commander Vitari reporting in, were you aware that your ship currently appears occupied by rather unfriendly personages of non Starfleet origin?”


TBC....