Fortuitous Meeting

Posted on Wed Sep 9th, 2020 @ 9:00pm by Lieutenant Commander Tyroh Vantic & Ensign Zinzeria Cavanaugh

Mission: Welcome Aboard!
Location: Jeffries Tube
Timeline: Around the time of events in "The Plan" post

ON:

[USS Liberty]
[Jeffries Tubes]

Tyroh had been moving along at a fairly decent clip within the Jeffries tubes, intent on making his way to the shuttlebay. From there, he'd be able to grab a couple of weapons, access one of the shuttlecraft, and, hopefully, get a message on a secure link back to Starbase 234. After that, he needed to figure out where the command crew was as well as gather as much intel as he could on the Orions.

The security chief heard a rustling sound coming from an access corridor to his left so he stopped suddenly. Because of the corner, he couldn't see who it was and, with no real idea of how many pirates had boarded the Liberty, Tyroh wasn't about to take any chances. The burly Angosian flattened himself against the side of the tube, stilling his breathing and waiting for whoever it was to pass close to him.

He crouched there, ready to pounce, but quickly noticed the person coming into the intersection was wearing a Starfleet uniform, though he couldn't see their face. Tyroh released the tension in his shoulders and spoke softly, so as not to startled the crewmember too badly.

"Hey, who are you," Tyroh asked.

Zinzeria squeaked like a frightened tribble, jerking upright so that their head smacked the top of the Jeffries tube. They hadn't expected to run into anyone in here, and fumbled for something, anything, on their person that might be used as a weapon. Shaking hand outstretched, clasping their datapad, they finally processed that the figure had spoken, in standard, and was not, in fact, attacking them.

With a sigh, they let the pad droop back towards the floor. "Ensign Zinzeria Cavanaugh, Linguistic Specialist..." The colour and pips in the officer's uniform finally penetrated their adrenaline-soaked brain. "Sir."

They gathered what little wits they had left around them, first impressions were generally not going well for their stint on the Liberty. "There are two Orion invaders on Deck 11, but a pair of ensigns and I sealed all the rooms and command-locked them. I was trying to get to the bridge but..." they sighed. "I appear to have made a wrong turn somewhere."

"Okay, well-done Ensign," Tyroh stated, his back sliding down the side of the corridor as he took a seat on the floor. "Tyroh Vantic, Chief of Security." He introduced himself to the linguistic specialist, keeping his voice level, and trying to keep them at ease.

Surprisingly, his words of praise eased the linguist's tension quite a bit. They offered the Security Chief a dazzling smile. "Oh wow... Okay. Senior Officer in the tubes!" They pulled off a mildly mocking salute with a twinkle in their dark eyes, and then sobered up quickly as the Angosian went on.

"I wouldn't recommend going to the bridge just yet," the Angosian said, looking the Ensign in their eyes, the barest of smirks on his lips. "That's likely one of the main places the pirates would have taken. Were you heading up to help?"

"Yes Sir. I thought I could be some assistance, being as I'm, well..." They gestured vaguely at their face. "Sometimes all it takes is someone who speaks your language and looks like you to straighten a fellow out. That, or maybe I could convince them I was on their side and somehow get access to the prisoners that way..." Their shoulders slumped. "To be perfectly honest, I hadn't really thought it all the way through..."

Tyroh nodded his head, brows furrowing together, taking in what the Ensign was saying. Getting an Orion to speak with other Orions in an attempt to get some kind of common ground established would have been ideal but the security officer had concerns.

"It's a noble plan, Ensign Cavanaugh," Tyroh began, his deep voice soft, pondering. "However, pirates who are bold enough to board a Starfleet ship of the Liberty's pedigree are likely not a group that's open to civil dialog."

Zinzeria chewed their lip. It was true, pirates were notoriously shoot first ask questions later, and their own people had a tendency to be the most half-cocked of the bunch. It was as if the whole of Orion culture had something to prove, and that didn't make for easy negotiations. The ensign squared their shoulders and nodded once, listening as the Angosian laid out an alternative plan.

Vantic eyed Cavanaugh carefully, trying to make a quick assessment of them. They seemed nervous, a little unsure, but they definitely showed determination with the thought of helping out earlier. Perhaps they could be of assistance.

"The Captain's last orders were to slow the boarders down a little until help arrives," Tyroh went from sitting to a crouch. "Why don't you come with me to the main shuttlebay. You can help me be...disruptive."

Another bright grin crossed Zinzeria's face, and they struggled not to rub their hands together in glee. "Oh Chief, you may not know this about me yet, but being disruptive is one of my greatest strengths." They let out a little giggle and then tried desperately to marshal themself into something resembling serious. Nerves were not helping with that.

"I guarantee you, Sir, I won't be useless when it comes to fighting. I might not be as tough as an Orion male, but have you ever been to a Ferengi bar? I've knocked a few hulking brutes on their backsides over the years, and I don't mind doing it again in the name of the Liberty."

Tyroh found that he couldn't contain the small smile that creased his dark features. Cavanaugh reminded him quite a bit of his friend Sorah Kennec back on Angosia. Both of them had an infectious attitude that one simply couldn't deny.

"Okay," he said, choosing a direction for the two of them to travel in. "Then how about we put a couple of pirates on their backsides?"

Oh they were gonna get along just fine, Zinzeria could feel it. They'd worried that someone like a Securities Officer would be concerned by the revelation that trouble tended to follow the small Orion, but nothing resembling disapproval came off the Angosian. Grinning brightly the linguist shuffled along behind the senior officer, already planning a grand adventure in their head.

OFF: tbc...

Ensign Zinzeria Cavanaugh
Language Specialist
USS Liberty

&

Lieutenant Commander Tyroh Vantic
Chief of Security
USS Liberty