What lies ahead Part 2

Posted on Sat Jun 7th, 2025 @ 11:47pm by Captain Taliserra Tigran & Ensign Amanda Turell & Lieutenant Commander Jack Slattery & Lieutenant Hadir Prenar & Lieutenant Anthony Edwards Ph. D & Lieutenant JG Ash Rowe & Lieutenant JG Summer Wyse & Civilian Dokken & Lieutenant Magnus Volsung & Lieutenant JG Sol & Petty Officer 3rd Class Nakata Akira & Ensign Joran & Ensign Brendon Watanabe
Edited on on Sat Jun 7th, 2025 @ 11:50pm

6,846 words; about a 34 minute read

Mission: A marathon not a sprint
Location: Various
Timeline: Md08 1545hrs

Previously in part 1


Quickly tapping at the controls of her phaser rifle Smith adjusted the settings for Amanda's instructions.

Drake glanced at her with concern at letting the senior amongst them go in first. He had no intention of letting her become a human shield. But she was in charge so he wouldn't question it. And he also really didn't want a bollocking for being concerned about her welfare. If the situation weren't so desperate, she'd probably laugh her arse off for a good hour or so about it.

La'Ro on the other hand had no such concerns. He was content to fall behind the far more experienced sharpshooter. He clutched his rifle ready though, his features set with grim determination. He might be a pacifist at heart, but he'd see his duty through.

Amanda took a deep breath. "And shoot to kill, let's go." She hit the panel to open the door.

NEW:

As the door opened Amanda ran through keeping low as to stand tall would put her in Smith's line of fire, she only managed a few steps before she almost ran straight into a Nausicaan who barely had time to raise his disruptor before a wide beam of orange phaser fire struck him just below the head. Firing from the hip Amanda hit another Nausicaan in the gut doubling him over in pain as the bolt of energy made mincemeat of his insides, she fired again ending his pain forever as she continued moving.

Drake swallowed his adrenaline down and forced himself to hold back until the right moment. He pushed forward, rifle already raised and ready to fire. A dart of movement caught his eye from below. It took all his effort not to fire first and think later, confirming the boarder before picking him off. A glint of metal put the hairs up on the back of his neck and he ducked back just in time to avoid a blast that sizzled past his right ear. Using the safety rail to steady his rifle in the crouched position, he levered the barrel downwards, taking down the bastard that had tried to put a hole in his head. He clocked two targets further back but struggled to get a clear shot. Swearing under his breath, he hauled himself up high onto the safety railing to find his mark, one body hitting the floor with a sickening thud followed by the other.

Still moving fast Amanda tore through the upper level of the small room, another mercenary fell to her hip fired phaser rifle before a disruptor shot split the air just in front of her face and impacted against the bulkhead sending sparks flying and causing her to flinch briefly. "Smith, to me!" She shouted above the din of the firefight.

Switching her rifle off of wide beam, Smith ran behind Drake and La'ro to catch up with Amanda ducking and weaving as disruptor fire aimed at them missed her by very small margins.

Drake was forced back from his watchpost on the railing by the relentless return fire. He jumped back down, lowering to a crouch until the angle of the searing beams started to shift, suggesting movement below. He motioned to La'ro, directing him to lay down covering fire for Turell and Smith. He dashed past him, keeping low, filling the gap behind the others before delivering his own blasts down at the invaders, sewing chaos.

Breathing hard as she moved Amanda rounded a series of shiny engineering things and was immediately confronted by three of the mercenaries who were clearly waiting for her to come around, in an instant she threw herself to the side just as disruptor bolts tore through the air where she had just been; her phaser rifle clattering away from her as she hit the ground with a thud. Only a few moments behind her Smith rounded the corner encountering the same men, her reactions weren't as quick and as she raised her rifle first two then three bolts of energy struck her, even as parts of her chest exploded a reflex pull of her rifles trigger caught one of the mercenaries in the leg severing it at the knee. Both her and the mercenary slumped to the floor, him screaming in pain and her gasping for air both bleeding profusely.

Amanda rolled over several times aiming for what cover she could find beside a console, backing up against it she drew her type II, disruptor fire flew over the top of it as she took a moment to regain her composure. She could still see Smith, her chest was a mess and the gasping she could hear was slowly lessening. "Man down." Amanda called out.

"On it!" La'ro shouted, an unusual steeliness in his voice. He had enough wherewithal to understand that Turell and Drake were better combatants than he was. So he made for Smith, reaching to pull her back into relative safety so they could focus on cutting a path through. He tried to stabilise Smith...but a look down at the gaping wounds soon made it obvious she was past that.

Providing cover as La'ro moved to check on Smith, a precise shot from Amanda's type II phaser dropped one of the remaining two that had her pinned down. The final one decided it was time to retreat and ran down the gantry way toward the lower level giving her a few moments to breath. "How is she?" She asked La'ro.

La'ro couldn't reply for what felt like an eternity, although it was only a moment in reality. He swallowed past the tightness in his throat, staring futilely down at the now motionless body. "Dead...Ensign."

"Fuck." Amanda said sharply, she didn't know Smith too well but any member of the Wolff's crew dying under her watch was a loss keenly felt. "Support Drake, I'll be fine."

La'ro licked his lower lip anxiously before letting out a long, shaking breath. "Understood!" he called, tearing his gaze away from his fallen comrade and grabbing his rifle. He kept low as he cut a path back to Drake, trying to listen out for the footfall below and ahead.

Drake spared a glance his way before refocusing fire, his jaw taught and lips pursed with concentration as he sent out short bursts of fire towards the ladder at hearing the tell-tale clattering of footsteps on them.

Taking a breath Amanda broke from cover behind the console to resume her sweep of the upper level, she didn't make it far before she ran into the same mercenary who had ran away from her being pushed back up the way he'd came by a hulking brute of a Nausicaan, a swift blast from her phaser put the smaller man down to the deck but the brute reacted much quicker than expected dashing forward he clubbed Amanda's arm causing her to drop the phaser, his other hand grabbing her arm. A punch to the gut did little to him and he swung his own fist at her face, Amanda ducked and struck him again, all the time trying to break his grip on her other hand but to no avail as he forced her back multiple steps as they fought. Pulling her sharply towards him he grabbed her around the waist and squeezed her tightly against his chest, unable to move her arms Amanda headbutted him but only succeeded in dazing herself for a moment, with little options left she kicked him square in the balls as hard as she could and eventually he dropped her.

Taking a deep breath now he wasn't trying to squeeze the life out of her Amanda quickly began to strike him with everything she could muster; punches, knee and elbow strikes, nothing phased the Nausicaan and with a roar he flung himself forward and grabbed her around the wait again pushing her backwards till her back slammed against the railing. Amanda continued to pound on his face and arms until she felt his powerful arm move to grip her leg and she realised in horror at what he was about to do as he pushed upward, lifting her off the ground and pitching her over the railing.

Amanda tried not to scream as she fell, arms flailing trying to grab hold of anything to slow or stop her fall but to no avail. She hit the deck of the lower engineering level with a heavy thud and a crunch almost audible over the whine of phasers and disruptors as both bones in her right forearm snapped into several pieces one of which protruded from her skin.

A phaser bolt finally took the Nausicaan down, but far too late to save Amanda. Drake swore loudly as he pushed himself up and out, sprinting for the stairwell, his heart thumping a million miles an hour. He kept low, but another volley of searing blasts flashed far too close over his head. They forced him to slow down and lift his rifle again, or he'd be vaporised before he could hope to get to her. He fired with renewed vigour to clear his path, but refused to stop pushing forward, determined to get to Amanda.



==== USS Wolff Bridge ====

Anthony got a flash across his station as it was linked with the Marathon still "Captain Tigran, Starboard shielding is down on the Marathon and the port shields are barely holding as well!"

"On screen." Taliserra called out

The viewscreen changed to show the Marathon, fire blossomed from the starboard side of the ship, a small trail of debris, it took Taliserra a few moments to realise something was wrong. "She's not maneuvering?" Talliserra asked aloud. "Check the ship for lifesigns."

"The whole ship's company is still alive, many I am sure may be battered or bruised, and judging by the expanded number of lifesigns Marathon has been boarded. The extra lifesigns are on Deck four, which I expect means they are headed for Transwarp Engineering." Anthony replied to the request for lifesigns.

Jack frowned, his eyes going to the Captain for a moment, his jaw tightening.

Taliserra frowned too, even with the extra security team she'd assigned there the Marathon wasn't likely to hold up well against a well led boarding assault. "Helm, get us within transporter range of the Marathon quickly." She then turned to her Xo. "Commander, take a security team to reinforce the Marathon, as many people as you need to secure the ship."

Jack looked at her, giving her a firm nod. "Yes, Captain," he said and tapped his combadge even as he headed to the turbolift.. "Volsung, O'Sullivan, Zize, Joran, Patrelli, report to transporter bay one. Arm up, we're going to the Marathon."

Summer watched as Magnus left the bridge, she hoped her friend would come back unharmed. She hoped everyone would.

"Good luck." Taliserra said as her Xo left the bridge. "Ash, transporter range?"

"Almost there, Captain!" Ash called back, the usually easy going woman rigid with tension as she fought to keep the ship both out of the line of fire but closer to the Marathon.

Taliserra pondered for a few moments, the pirate vessel would be able to get several very damaging shots against the bare hull of the ship when the shields were dropped for transport. "Ready a full spread of torpedoes, maximum yield, I want a cone of explosions just in front of the enemy vessel on my signal."

There was a fleeting moment where Hadir wondered why the Lieutenant Commander had not asked him to join the away team as the department chief. However, the Captain's orders brought Hadir away from those thoughts. "Yes Captain." He replied and input the orders in the system. Within moments he looked up from his console. "All torpedo launchers are loaded and standing by. maximum yield warheads confirmed. On your command Captain."

Taliserra turned to her Engineering chief. "Baka, prepare to lower shields for transport, I want them down for as little as possible"

The chief engineer acknowledged the order with a nod of her head. She tied her controls into the shield generators and the transport controls. She updated the programming for both systems to link their operations temporarily. With the various generators all still active, instead of dropping shields completely, she would make a hole in the Venn diagram of phalanx shields for the security officers to transport through.

"Now, Captain," Ash finally called from the helm, a hand grabbing the side of her console on instinct as the ship was rocked, her body jerking with it. "We're in transporter range!"

"Keep us in range, everyone else standby." Taliserra said and tapped the com panel in her chair. "Bridge to transporter room are you ready?"


==== USS Wolff transporter room one ====


Sullivan entered the transporter room carrying some extra supplies. He didn't know if he was going seeing he wasn't back in action yet officially.

Volsung walked in, having grabbed what he needed on the way. He looked serious, his eyes going to Brendan. "You got here quick," he said and moved to lean against the wall, checking the phaser out of habit. Checking the setting, going over it in his mind. With Turell and Drake already over on the Marathon there was genuine concern for them in his mind. But he was a professional. Seasoned, even.

"They were playing my song, LT." His head made a small jerk towards the flashing red lights from the red alert. "Not sure I was going to be asked to the dance, but decided to make myself useful and assumed somebody was going over to the Marathon so grabbed some grenades, rifles, medkits, thoron generators etc."

"Sounds like you brought half the ship," Volsung said, a weak smile tugging at the corner of his lips. His eyes were serious, already going through possibilities the way that a seasoned Security officer did. And he had a bit of a brooding personality anyway.

Joran practically ran into the transporter room; a type II at his waist and a phaser rifle in hand, the nervous excitement was clearly visible on his face. He hoped Amanda was still alive over there.

A few steps behind Joran came Patrelli, her phaser rifle sling over one shoulder and a small satchel over the other. "I grabbed some stun grenades." She announced.

Breathing slightly heavier, having come from further down the ship Petty Officer Zize came through the doors just as they had been starting to close behind Joran and Patrelli.

"I heard last time we encountered these guys none of them were taken alive," Joran told them. "Some killed themselves with poison.

"Stun them before they get the chance," Slattery said, catching it as he walked in. Like them he was armed, unlike them...he wore red. "Phaser, grenades...whatever is needed. We drive them back, secure Engineering and the bridge."

Volsung looked at him before he gave a small nod of acceptance. But as the Assistant Chief of Security, he wanted to make sure his people understood. And now that they had the XO leading, there was that adding stressor. "We have to assume they have dug in. They won't let go easily," he looked at the Security officers. He wished they had a medical professional with them. "We fight this smart. You have all been trained for this."

Brendan shook his head and took a deep breath. "Transporter Chief, is it possible to beam over a canister of anesthizine gas and a few smoke grenades." Before the chief could answer he looked at Volsung and Slattery. " I assume we are outnumbered, no idea who's friendly or hostile, better to clear our beam in points. I got the gear in my bag to nullify the smoke and anesthizine. Also I would suggest bringing in that Vulcan Doctor, former Marine and we might need a medic, Commander. " He grabbed his phaser rifle and checked its settings and moved to transporter controls to check the layout of the marathon.

"Also different beam in points with a five minute gap between two man teams. That way we can work faster towards the bridge and engineering, also adds the element of chaos." This was 25 years of almost daily experience for Sullivan, slip in under cover and head for the designated targets." Two man teams increases our chances. I'll take the XO and suggest you let me run point, no insult intended, but this was my bread and butter,sirs. With the XO on my team we can adjust the mission parameters on the fly where needed." He was already checking several beam in points. "Also brought thoron generators which is a medical tool, but it also can hide you temporarily from internal sensors and most tricorders."

"No," Slattery's voice was firm as he looked at him, a certain flatness in it. "We can't risk having the Wolff's shields down more than we have to. In an ideal world we would have both the time and be in a situation where we have the luxury to keep dropping the shields." The words were said in the same tone of voice, leaving no doubt of where he stood. They may have a mission, but he was not risking any more lives than he had to. Every time the ship lowered its shields, the risk grew.

But Jack did genuinely take the moment to consider O'Sullivan's words. "We beam in all at once. I don't disagree with splitting into two teams, one for the bridge and one for Engineering. But you, Lieutenant, will not be the team leader. I will lead the team to the bridge and Lieutenant Volsung will take the other team to Engineering. I do agree with taking someone with medical knowledge though and Doctor Sol is a good choice."

Jack tapped his combadge, the decision made. "Slattery to Sol, please take a medical kit and report to transporter room one. You're going on the away team."

There was a moment's pause before the half-Vulcan doctor replied to the affirmative. "Understood, 'Commander." Sol caught hold of a medkit on his way to the door, slinging the strap across his body as he literally ran for the transporter room. His mind moved just as fast, running through away team protocols...and any and all possible eventualities. Even so, he was breathing evenly as he arrived, nodding to the others that were already gathered.

"Thank you for joining us, Lieutenant Sol," Slattery said as he looked at the Vulcan. "I believe we don't have any time to waste, there's a narrow window for this. We are breaking into two teams. Volsung, Joran, Zize and Sol you will head to Engineering. Myself, O'Sullivan and Patrelli will take the bridge."

"Suggest using bolt settings on the rifles, beam setting gives away your position. No head shots. We want them stunned but alive. Federation phasers are over-designed compared with Klingon disruptors or Cardassian phasers, but a head shot even on stun setting can kill. " O'Sullivan said in matter-of-factly tone. His Irish accent had changed from it's normal tone of voice to a more emotionless Irish accent. The eyes showed no emotions, just the hard look of a man who had done this dozens of times before. "No one dies." he muttered softly to himself a few times like a private little prayer. Looking at the transported padd and checking his rifle for the third or fourth time, this was not nerves just a habit.

"Alright," Slattery nodded as he looked at O'Sullivan. It was a decent reminder for those who hadn't held a phaser in a while.

Taliserra's voice came over the comm system "Bridge to transporter room, are you ready?"

Slattery nodded as he went onto the transporter padd, looking at the others. He waited until everyone had stepped on before replying. "We're ready, Captain."


==== USS Wolff Bridge ====

Summer was sitting feeling like a spare wheel, watching everyone else doing their job. She paused before looking towards Taliserra. "Captain, permission to beam over to the Marathon's Sickbay? I've no doubt they could use all the help they could get over there right now."

Taliserra glanced away from the tactical display to look at her chief counsellor "No Lieutenant, not until the ship is secure."

Summer nodded, she knew that response was coming after all she was only the ship's Counsellor, and pregnant as well. "Understood Captain."

"Standby." Taliserra watched the tactical display waiting for the right moment. "Fire torpedoes."

Hadir acknowledged the order without saying a word. He simply fired attack pattern omega ten, and pressed the red fire button. Ten torpedoes lanced out from the Wolff on various firing vectors. They all hit their targets, eight along the ventral of the enemy, and one each on the starboard and port sides. "Direct hits all targets. Enemy shields have failed, their warp drive is offline." He reported.

"Open shields," Talisera smiled as Hadir gave the damage report on the ship. "Begin transport."


==== USS Marathon ====

The world materialised in front of Slattery and the red alert was still going on the USS Marathon. They had materialised in an empty room, although it would depend on whether the bridge was still standing as to how long it would be before they were discovered.

He looked at the away team, giving a small nod. "Alright, let's move," he said, quietly, his phaser ready. Two teams. One for the bridge and one for Engineering.

Sol blinked to get the sparkle out of his eyes, taking a settling breath as he lifted his phaser, despite being there as a medic. A quick glance around confirmed they were safe for the moment at least. He glanced at Volsung, ready to follow him, and hoping he knew the way because he'd barely had the chance to grab a medkit on his way out, let alone look at where they were going.

O'Sullivan held up his rifle. Grabbing his tricoder and flipping it open to check for any people and get an idea what they were heading in to. He gave Slattery a look to give him a few seconds.

Slattery looked around, giving a small nod. "Communication might be monitored, so only contact when you've secured your location," he said quietly. "Let's go."

Volsung looked over at Sol and the others, his phaser ready. At least they knew their way to Engineering...it would help a lot. And no turbolifts either, they could be stopped. So nearest crawlspace to Engineering.

***
[Away Team heading to Engineering]

Volsung opened the panel to the crawlspace, carefully putting it to the side. With the red alert klaxon still blaring, they could get away with making a little sound. His eyes went to Joran, Zize and Sol, his team. "Joran, you take the rear position. According to the ship's specs, we should hit a ladder that will take us to the same deck as Engineering," he said and shifted, the rifle going over his shoulder. Inside was minimal light, just the strips meant to guide poor maintenance personnel through, plus the reddish tinge from the spaced out red alert lights. Inside, the sound also seemed louder, to bounce. It had the scent of the inner workings of a ship, with that hint of recycled air. So not as nice as walking, but it would be safer.

He went inside first, his phaser in his hand as he started crawling. It wasn't tall enough to stand so hands and knees worked better.

Coming quickly behind Volsung, Zize clambered into the crawlspace, her phaser rifle slung tightly around her back.

Sol also kept his phaser to hand, old habits dying hard as he crawled inside. His features were set in a grim, tense expression, not particularly fond of tight spaces...but it was a logical approach.

Joran stood phaser rifle leveled as the others climbed into the jefferies tube, apart from the klaxon the ship was strangely quiet, where were the mercenaries, where were the Marathon crew? When Sol was inside he slung his phaser rifle and climbed in after them.

Volsung led them all down, stopping them when they were on the right deck for the transwarp engineering. The panel was easy to open, clearly well used. What made him slow down was the sound of phaser fire. He looked at the others and readied the phaser. "I'll pull the panel, we can use it as a shield until we get into real cover. Three...two...one," he pushed it out and held it up in front of them as the others opened fire.

Sol fired without hesitation, his body and mind falling into the old familiar state of battle. Somewhere between adrenaline, analysis and instinct, his steps fell into time with Volsung, his phaser sending out a chain of blasts over the human's shoulder to cover them as they cut a path into the room.

"Running to the next point," Volsung said before he started running to another point of cover. He took position, grimacing at the impact as he had to dive to avoid getting hit. He opened fire again, noticing that some were pulling back slightly. Enough to get a better view of the field. "Drake, Turell, report," he called out, wanting to hear them. Their voices. Anything.

"We're two down here," it was Drake that replied, his voice tight and betraying the stress the small security team were under. "And me and La'ro are pinned down up top."

Zize ran close behind Volsung and Sol ducking as disruptor blasts passed close overhead, when he hit the deck she carried on a few more paces before dropping into cover herself. Out of the corner of her eye she caught a flash of federation uniform then saw La'ro's head pop up from behind a console. "Hey La'ro, having fun?" She called out to her.

"This is not what I'd call fun!" La'ro shouted back, sweat on his strained features, his fingers clasped vice like around his rifle. He was holding his own though, it was just clearly taking its toll.

Sol's gaze went to the unnaturally still body that was crumpled on the deck in a Starfleet uniform. "I need cover to get to the casualty!" he called to the rest of his team, eager to get to the severely battered body of Turell.

"I count at least 8 targets still down there." Joran called out as he fired down from near the entrance. "Amanda's tough, she can hold on." He added, though he was concerned for his friend sending Sol out to her too soon would just lead to him getting shot too.

Sol swallowed down a rogue flash of frustration, settling back into the safety of stoicism as he adjusted his grip on his phaser. He set to work firing instead, aiming for two of the assailants who had their sights on the pinned down Marathon team.

"Moving." Zize called out and broke from cover passing behind La'ro and dropping into cover beside Drake. "Hey Drake, how do we get down to the lower level?" She asked.

"We're going to have to head down the stairs," he motioned with his rifle towards the metal steps that were currently being covered by a couple of nausicaans. His eyes went to Smith who was laid out directly in their path, his chest tightening for a moment. "She's already gone," he added quietly with a sharp shake of his head.

Having not initially noticed the body of her fellow security officer Zize looked at Smith, surrounded by a pool of blood she was clearly long gone. "Damm." She looked back to Drake for several moments. "I'm gonna head down, keep me covered."

Drake put a hand on her arm to keep her held back for a moment, remembering all too clearly how they'd tossed Amanda over the railing. "Did you bring any grenades?" he asked with a frown, wanting to make sure the stairway was well and truly cleared first.

"That new Lieutenant bought almost the entire armoury with him," Zize replied, she dug into her uniform pocket and pulled a stun grenade out. "I snagged a stun grenade off Patrelli."

For the first time since all hell had broken loose, a smile came to Drake. He nodded firmly, clapping her on the shoulder. "Take the bastards out, I've got your back," he assured, already lifting his rifle to provide covering fire.

Shifting on her knees Zize triggered the timer on the grenade and with practiced aim threw it so it would clatter down the ramp way to the lower level, a few seconds later there was a large flash and loud whine followed by an equally loud shout of pain as the grenade found a victim. "Let's go." Zize called out and took off towards the ramp.

As soon as the flash cleared, Sol looked towards the ramp, seeing extra bodies on the deck and the Federation boots pushing down to suppress the invading force. He didn't wait for a go ahead this time. He ran forward, keeping low as he headed straight for Amanda, hypo already in hand. He pressed it to her neck to help stabilise her, his features set tense but breathing even as he got his hands under her arms. Any doctor would keep their patient as still as possible in an ideal world. But the field of battle was not ideal, and she was at more risk remaining in the crossfire. He dragged her carefully but swiftly back to where he'd come from, his Vulcan strength showing with the smoothness of the journey.

Sol knelt on one knee at Amanda's side, blocking out what was going on around them as he ran his tricorder over her. Concussion. Internal bleeding. Broken bones. Fractures. Contusions. He gave a single disapproving shake of his head as he reached into the medkit, loading a hypo to control the internal bleeding at least. "We need to get her into surgery. Now."

"Their sickbay is on Deck 3 if you can get her there." Zize shouted over the din of battle as she sent another one of the mercs sprawling to the ground.

Sol took a glance around. A twinge of instinct bade him stay for the fight, but his duty was to the care of the injured. "On my way," he got his arms under the bleeding, broken officer, lifting her as carefully as he could before making for the door, keeping as low as possible.

"Cover fire for Sol." Joran called out as the Vulcan carried Amanda towards the exit. He started to lay down a rapid series of phaser bolts in the direction of every disruptor bolt that came their way. One striking a merc square in the face.

Zize bolted ahead of Sol to secure the door for when he got there, she was about to drop into cover behind a console when a disruptor bolt struck her hand blowing off several of her fingers and the front of her phaser rifle. She yelped in pain and stumbled before a second bolt hit her in the side quickly followed by a third. Falling to the ground she collided with the console she had been heading towards.

Sol turned his head, taking in the smoking, blackened wounds with the authority of a war veteran. It was too late for Zize, there was nothing that would save her now. He turned back to the casualty in his arms, a woman who still had a chance, and pushed on ahead, leaving the battle behind to get Amanda to safety.

Drake swore loudly enough to hear over the din of battle, shifting to try and get better aim from his elevated position. He laid down covering fire, motioning for La'ro to push forward. A beeping from the rifle made him glance down, his breath catching at the low power warning.

With both Zize and Amanda down Joran was pissed, he dialed up the settings on his phaser rifle and seeing one of the mercs taking cover behind a console simply vapourised the entire console and the man behind it. "I count two more."

Magnus frowned as he nodded, taking a deeper breath. "You go high, I go low," he said, quietly proud of Joran and how he was handling the situation. "Let's end this."


[Away Team heading to the bridge]

Commander Slattery turned the corner, weapon ready. They were closer to the bridge, the best route being the most direct one. Which he didn't like. Yet here they were. He kept focused, though. It wasn't his first away team in a hostile environment. It didn't make it easier, though. He kept close to the wall and knew the team would do the same. "Two decks up," he said, loud enough for his team to hear, not loud enough to be heard ten feet away. A balance, like everything else in life. "Access is to the left, we can enter there and take the ladder that runs alongside the turbolift.

Brendan looked ahead. Something was off, but he couldn't lay his finger on it. Yet, in his experience when you are dealing with unknown factors it was better to see what would happen then hold the whole group and throw in assumptions. He nodded at Slattery keeping his doubt about everything for himself.

They reached the ladder and started climbing, finding themselves with an access panel between them and the bridge. On the other side, there were sounds of phasers and disruptors firing. He looked over at Patrelli and O'Sullivan, nodding for them to get ready as he reached for the internal handle. Once it opened, all Hell would break loose.

Crewman Mathew Cronauner was still firing, a few times a shot would zap over his head, he had almost been watching their support vessel USS Wolff approaching as the fight had been proceeding so knew a boarding party from there must be quickly approaching as the fight for USS Marathon continued.

Leo Carter looked across the bridge in time to see the arrival of the cavalry. He wiped his sweaty brow with an arm, not realising he was wiping off blood with it, holding his arm out towards the centre seat. "Get to the Captain!" he called out before casting his gaze around to try and find his phaser. He couldn't find it in time, a bat'leth swinging at him, slashing at his middle. He managed to jerk away from it before lunging forward, grabbing at the intruder's wrists to drive him back and force the blade up and away.

O' Sullivan started firing quickly as they arrived on the bridge, picking his targets quickly and alternating between shots. It was cancelling out the opposing invaders.He saw Carter, but right now it was a question of securing the area.

"Pattrelli I want covering fire on my left." he said as he moved forward .

Slattery fired as well, the phaser set to maximum stun, aiming at the man attacking Carter. He let out a breath as the man fell and he went into cover, firing away. "Seems things have gotten a little bit out of hand..."

"Took you all long enough!" Munro shouted, grimacing where he was braced, blood dripping down the side of his face. He was smiling though, even if it was a grimace. "We weren't counting on dinner guests, not sure our replicator can handle it..."

O'Sullivan fired his last shot at a Nausicaan trying to get up and then slung his rifle on his shoulder and moving to Munro. And grabbing his medkit.

"Pattrelli shoot anything that moves. Cap'n, take a seat, just need to act as a nurse. I'm Chie.......... Lieutenant O'Sullivan." His head moved, indicating Slattery." that's Commander Slattery. The Commander will ask the important questions after we are done. "" He checked his medical tricorder. "We got a Doctor with us, but he's with the other party. Looks like a minor head wound. How are you feeling physically?" Brendan looked at Munro and removed a dermal regenerator from his kit. He nodded to Slattery trying to indicate it didn't look that bad. "Anyone else needs to be checked out? Carter, Cronauner, Winters?"

Matthew simply said "I'm good Sir. Glad your team got here when you did." He headed back toward the bridge Engineering station to see how bad the damage was. First point of call, start a level five diagnostic to analyse the console and prepare an order of repairs to be done on it. Start small and work on the other stuff later was not a luxury Engineers had, especially on experimental vessels.

Winters pushed a hand away that reached for him, wiping his face with his sleeve before hauling himself back up into the pilot's seat. He set his back to the others, his features settled into a grim scowl as he took control of the conn.

Munro looked around for a moment before his eyes went to Slattery. "Get these SOBs off my ship," he said and moved to re-take the Captain's chair.

Slattery hid a wry smile, tapping his combadge. "Bridge Secure. Team Two, status report?"

"Still working on securing here, got some causalities," Volsung's voice came through with the background sound of phaser fire. "Keep an eye out for us in case there's reinforcements."

Slattery nodded to himself and looked over at Munro for a moment. "We need to be their eyes in the corridors and tubes."

Munro exhaled before he looked down at the pad just under his fingers in the arm rest of the Captain's chair. "Get internal sensors running, alert of any movement that isn't our people."

Carter took a slightly unsteady step back towards the security station. His jacket was now lying in tatters on the ground, and the blue undershirt was stained with blood. He tapped at the screen, bringing up the internal sensor readings in and around transwarp engineering. "There's still weapons fire down there, but no intruder movement approaching or moving in or out...and we currently have...12 dead and 4 incapacitated...2 more are still fighting."

O'Sullivan looked at Carter and then at Slattery. " Commander, I think we might be of more use down at Engineering." placing his medkit on the nearest chair he grabbed his rifle and checked his hand phaser.

"Cap'n, suggest Pattrelli takes over the Security station to relieve Mister Carter, Sir. In my medical opinion and experience, I think the Ensign has done enough, sir. Then again I'm a soldier not a medic." He looked at Carter and gave him a slight nod.

Carter let out a soft breath of frustration, fixing his gaze on the Captain, intensity burning in his eyes. "I'm not done yet, Captain...use me here, or send me down to Engineering, don't bench me."

Munro looked at Carter for a moment before nodded. "You need a break," he said, glancing at Slattery. He seemed content to give Munro the space to be Captain rather than taking over, which was reassuring. The ship was still his. "Pattrelli, take the security station. Carter, you falling over because we've overused you would be reckless. We don't know what is coming."

Leo's brow furrowed deeply at the order, his chest and throat tight with the frustration of being sent away in the middle of a crisis. He bit his jaw together to hold back the protestation to his Captain, instead nodding weakly before seeing himself off the bridge and to Sickbay.

=^= Drake to Bridge, =^= the strained voice of the security officer came over the bridge, a slight breathless edge to the words as he recovered from the fight. =^= Engineering has been secured, I repeat, Engineering has been secured. =^=

"Mister Drake, that is excellent news," Munro's voice was warm with the smile on his face. He looked over at Slattery, giving him a small nod before he went to take the Captain's chair. "Let the Wolff know the ship is secure."

Sling his rifle on his shoulder O'Sullivan started restraining the stunned assailants also checking identities for outstanding warrants.

"Cap'n, do we have a holding area?" checking an assailants with a padd for outsanding warrants.

"There's the brig," Munro said before he shook his head. No. Too much power. "Restrain them and put them in the cargo bay, with armed guards. It'll have to do."

O'Sullivan nodded to Pattrelli. He had already checked the prisoners for concealed weapons, but as he got them up he checked them again and there restraints. Pattrelli held up the lift door. He moved five prisoners in with Patrelli. "Patrelli, send a message when you arrive at the cargobay, I'll wait for you and will move the other 5 when you checked in.

Patrelli nodded and kept her phaser ready and her watchfull eye on her group of prisoners as the turbo lift doors closed.

Brendan looked around he checked the weapons for a second time and removed all powercells just in case. His combadge chirped. He checked the other prisoners again before hurding them into the turbolift and headed for the cargobay.



TBC

 

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