He pauses to listen to the rest of the ship - systems coming back on line, people shouting a lot - no change there.
"Bridge - Redd & Ralf en-route to engineering, keep us posted.
They make their way through the re-awakening ship, only slightly slowed
by the lack of internal gravity and dim emergency lighting. At least the
doors still work.
Aurora
In the cargo hold of the Aurora, Christian has barely enough time to
note the belated arrival of Lucan, recently restarted by 'Vouf, and
the two newcomer robots carrying the limp form of Dr. Tweel, with Tiger
the Aeloid flapping alongside and whimpering softly at its master,
trying to elicit a response.... when he gets another distraction.
With a glaring flash, a disc-like opening of softly glowing white light
appears before him in mid-air. Dimly, through its haze, Christian can
make out the outlines of the familiar Sickbay in the Alcyon.
*I have returned those in need who were stranded upon Me to your care,
Healer. Now it is up to you to heal them!*
Christian quietly and respectfully responds, his gratitude plain. "I thank
you for your assistance. Heal them I shall."
Amidst the thrumming power of that voice, 'Vouf's voice is a tiny,
easily-ignored peeping in Christian's comm unit. "Aenrra? You okay?"
"AENRRA, kae, you're back!" The anxiety and relief in Christian's voice
is testament to the strain of his situation. "The Hoop 'ported three
injured people to us, the trauma indicates they're crash victims, lord
only knows from WHERE."
His voice is suddenly infused with instinctive, professional concern,
yet his regret at the need for his services is clear. Christian curses
briefly. "Aenrra, the third is in very critical condition and I am
stabilizing him now. He'll need surgery soon. The other two are pretty
lucky, but they'll need some attention, as well as some enforced rest
and continuing observation."
Christian studies the hazy portal. "The Alcyon is best situated to handle
multiple bed-rest patients, the impending surgery, and the psychological
reorientation/briefing for the newcomers. The Hoop has opened a portal
for all of us down here. We're moving to the Alcyon for now."
The distant shadow of a memory prompts a near invisible glimmer in
Christian's eyes, as a very slight quaver in his voice is detectible
only by his vargr friend. "Wish me luck, aenrra. Keep me advised; I'll
do likewise. Take care of my ship. Van Der Merwe, out."
The veteran of countless medical emergencies firmly strides through the
R-Alphan gateway, beckoning for his rag-tag band to go through. "Lucan,
Dulinor, OSF, 333 ... Follow me." His gestures are decisive, his tone
cool and professional, as he forces his emotions aside to concentrate
his efforts on the daunting task ahead. The motley group passes through.
The portal hangs in the air for a long moment, then fades and flickers
into nothingness.
"Good luck, aenrra," Bhyarrvouf whispers. He watches the gate flicker
and fade on the cargo hold monitors, and switches off with a sigh.
"Looks like it's just you and me for a while, Moira," he sighs.
"Affirmative, Subcommander. All systems currently in active-monitor
mode, our course is stable and we are operating normally. If you wish
to rest, we will not require any action on your part for several
hours."
"Just kakh wonderful." 'Vouf looks at his gauntlets, now covered in
Tweel's blood. "I'd skip over to the Westwind, but SOMEBODY should
mind the store while Christian's gone...." He looks again at the
tactical readout. His ears perk up and his eyes widen in disbelief.
"On second thought, why bother? That little shuttle's gonna have
them sniffing our tails in no time flat!"
He prepares a datapulse to send to the Kingfisher, still locked in
its private conversation with the Trakh. "Command Shuttle, this is
Bhyarrvouf on the Aurora. We are up and running normally again.
Other status reports non-mission-vital. Contact when able. Out."
He then calls up the tight-beam communications board, establishes
a few other links, and flicks on his earbug. "This is the Aurora
broadcasting to all members of the former IASIC network. We've
recovered okay and are now functioning normally. All ships report
in. Paladin? Bhranda kghfe zhdaetso, Goughzar? Talisman? Andon,
Thul-- everyone okay?"
Paladin
Goughzar sits stunned watching the information flashing by on the screens
ending with the farewell and the screens going black. As the screens fade,
the ship's light and power fade, the emergency systems click into life,
and Charyn thumps to the floor, something finally seems to snap in Zar.
"Arghoooo" and the howl falls to a growl and gravelly voice with the
definite tones and projection of command.
"Dr. Morser! Attend stations and bring the internal system of the Paladin
back on line! Dr. Limner, report at once to a terminal and begin work with
Dr. Morser to assess any damage to ship's systems and bring everything back
on line. Mr. Azani, report to the bridge and assist with Dr. Morser in any
way possible. Dr. Morser, when you have brought the computers back on line,
leave the rest to Dr. Limner and assist Mr. Robins".
Tense from the recent events, he moves to Charyn, cradles her head quickly
and then assumes his station at the helm. As systems come back on line, he
quickly slaves the controls of the pilot, navigation, and sensor panels to
his holodisplay and begins to bring up full scans.
When the systems are running... "Paladin, full tactical display and open
communications with Alcyon and Aurora. Full EMS active and passive scans
on ship last sighted. Continue with heading to Ringworld, do not modify
landing sequence. Damage control and status report on all functioning
systems".
As the seconds roll by, Goughzar watches as the commands roll through and
the displays light up again. _All systems functional, status reports all
systems rating at 100% with the exception of primary computer systems rating
at 180%._
"Good, identify all ships on tactical display and attempt identification of
new ship last known bearing 078 mark 12 at 2AU. Detailed analysis and damage
report given ship is type RT with a standard hull congfiguration of 1000tons."
Zar waits as the computer details information about the new ship and awaits
the opening of hailing between the Aurora, Paladin, and Alcyon.
Phin Shuttle
* I'm hoping to stay long enough to talk to the Hoop again, if it'll
let us in again. * Ian moves to face Ferdy. * It asked me to bring
back some crystals, and I have them... uh oh. They're on the Talisman.
Oh well. I'm not really able to say what we're all going to do. I
wanna party some, lay in the sun, meet new friends, and so on. *
* That sounds good. * Ferdy nods and flicks his tail.
* I think some of the other humans with me want to learn all they can
about your world, * continues Ian. * and some might want to take
things. It's hard to say. *
* I dare say we can all manage to have some fun together. *
* I really can't say what the Aslan are going to do. * Ian shrugs. * I
think they have some kind of predatory belief that this is now _their_
world. (laugh). *
* They sound like a very primitive race. A bit like the Kythui, maybe? *
* Ferdy? * Ian frowns. * Do you have something aboard that would work for
my eyes - visual sensors? I want to look outside at a passing miracle. *
* What? Oh, yes, of course. Let's go back and find Doejin and I'll
show you how the visual sensors work. *
Kingfisher
[Ger gives a long sigh...and places his left hand over his face, and
rubs his eyes. Ger then turns to Jett.]
"Judge, you are incorrect, this is a military mission, even if we are
not in an offical military unit. We are organized in a military fashion,
we are armed and facing two potentially hostile forces. When we make
landfall, then it will be a scientific expedition."
Richard Jett responds with alacrity, in crisp and crystal clear tones.
"No, sir! This is a CIVILIAN expedition, sir, which includes many former
military personnel, such as yourself, organized for SELF-PROTECTION. We
are here to investigate the unknown, sir, and TAKE RISKS! The aslan may
be hostile, but have they fired upon us? No! Are they likely to attack
us? Right now, no, as long as we don't PROVOKE them, sir! Who else is
hostile? The RINGWORLD? Iasic? Their acts are those of welcome and
curosity. Acting as you suggest may have STRONG consequences -- have
you CONSIDERED how the Ringworld, for Strephon's sake, how the ASLAN
may respond?"
As soon as Commander Ger start to speak Etienne half turns his acceleration
couch so that he can watch the Count while still being aware of the piloting
data out of the corner of his eye. He makes no outward reactions, until...
"Besides Lazer is aiming his pistol at the wrong person, I issued the
order, Mr. DeMer is following orders, besides with a flick of a finger
I could have the firing controls routed to my console here..."
A small frown crosses his face as Etienne looks at Lazer and gives a
small nod.
[Ger sivels his chair to look at where Farouk is standing.]
"Lazer I never thought that I would get any trouble from you, In fact
I was trying to keep you busy with little tasks so you wouldn't react
overly in security defense I didn't consider you the source of a
problem, remember also that there are things that you have been told
under security."
[He then turns back to the nomal rest position for the chair, and
addresses no-one in particular]
"Don't you think that the ringworld will have active defenses? Do
you really believe that a single missile could do anything to somehting
the size of the ringworld? Besides in my orders there is a situation
which I am to destroy the ringworld. Almost none of you will be able to
detect the conditions which fulfill that part of my orders. I am following
my orders to the best of my ability."
"I am fully congizant of my actions, and their implications, and I am
in complete control of my mental condition. In case you havn't noticed,
the entire Imperium is in a state of War. Crimimal actions are those
actions found unaccepatble by the winners and the writers of history."
At this statement, Etienne's eyes narrow and his jaw clenches. One hand
moves closer to the hilt of his blade and his entire body tenses.
Richard reacts and takes a half step backward, as if struck by Ger's
last statement. The passion and heat present just moments ago has
been snuffed out. He stares at Ger with a mixture of utter surprise
and revulsion. His voice is quiet, yet clearly audible and very hard
edged. "Indeed, sir. War precipitated by fools and despots, intoxicated
by power, acting without regard for life, or law, unfettered by such
*PETTY* concerns."
He steps backward, and sits down, heavily, in an empty chair, but with
his unwavering gaze fixed upon Ger. "Sir, I didn't come aboard this
mission simply because Rachel Turnskaad asked me to protect her interests.
I came because I saw a chance, a small chance, to reach out and EXPLORE
a WONDROUS world. I thought I would be travelling with likeminded
explorers, yet in you I find the same attitude, the same "winners write
history, so what I do is right" philosophy."
"Fortunately, sir, your compatriots do not agree with you. As for myself,
sir..." Jett is somber and sincere. "...you disgust me."
"I will not be one to be doing the writing of history." counters Ger.
"I'm only pointing out the way things work in this universe. As for
'disgust', I find little in your chosen profession to drive me to earn
your respect. How many 'Legal Counsels' have successfully defended
mass murderers on a technicality such as failure to receive a statement
of rights the the time of their arrest? Disgust from a man like you
carries little sting."
"I am the Captain of this ship as well as the mission commander. The
disobeying of my orders also have serious consequences. I don't expect
unwavering obedience, nor do I expect my actions to be blocked by my own
crew. Lazer put your weapon away. If none of you will do it, I'll just
fire the missile myself."
Judge Jett shakes his head in dismay. "Arbeit macht frei, eh Admiral?"
[Ger's finger flicks over the console, and an area changes from some
ship status to a copy of the firing control board].
Etienne's voice rings out, "Computer, engage all safety interlocks on
missile turret."
Jan noting that legalistics and negotiations are not going anywhere,
brings his weapon to bear on Admiral Ger.
"Sir, I am placing you under arrest, step away from the console. Do it
now."
"Fine." states Ger. "I'm under arrest. What are the charges and who are
you installing as captain?"
Lazer's pistol shifts smoothly to aim at Ger's keyboard.
During the whole incident Johann has been sitting silent at his console,
working the sensors and doing his job. A perceptive person on the bridge
would see a slight tension in the muscles of his neck, even though it
doesn't reflect in his face.
>From his seat, Richard nods in agreement. He sounds tired. "Thank you,
Doctor Yorblin...." He draws his pistol, verifies its readiness, then
replaces it, as he views the tableau before him.
Rigo stands up, slowly so as not to startle anyone, his hands empty and
held out from his body, neither anyway near either of his guns.
"Commander, I signed up for an exploration party, not a military venture.
Your authority is no greater than any other ship captain's. That's quite
great, to be sure, but it dosen't extend to murder or suicide. Come to
that, even military authority dosen't run to murder. You're almost certainly
right about the ringworld's defenses, but you can't be sure. If you try to
launch that missile we will have to try to stop you or become an accessory
to attempted murder or at least reckless endangerment. Besides, you can't
be sure of the nature of those defenses. Quite possibly the defense would
extend beyond neutralizing the attack to exterminating the attacker. The
ringworld may treat hostiles rather more harshly than non-hostiles. Don't
do it, Commander."
He then moves his right hand down to hower near his stunner holster, but
makes no attempt to draw it.
Zben has been following all the dialogue very carefully (and has
set up a couple of other small windows on his control board). At this
point he makes direct eye contact with the Commander, and addresses
him in (not perfect) Darrian *"Sir. I have always respected your
people's pride and intellect. BUT, the action you contemplate could
have larger effects than the *Maghiz*!*" He continues in Standard.
"Sir. Please. Do we want to be known by these people as undisciplined
savages? We asked the entity to release our vessels from its control.
If you check sensors you'll see that is happening. If this entity
wanted to harm us, _we_would_be_dead_by_now! To demonstrate that we
have the capability of harming the Ring is unnecessary." He slowly
sits up very straight in his seat. "Sir. I would not fight violence
with violence," (he glances at the drawn guns, and then returns to
Ger) "but I will do what I deem necessary to either prevent that
missle from launching, or to destroy it as soon as it is launched."
His face twists into a small grin. "Ask any of these fine folk who've
played poker with me. I don't bluff..."
Alcyon Sickbay
So much has happened there, in such a short time, that it is a homecoming
of sorts for the good Doctor. Innumerable physical exams and inoculations,
important not just for raw data, but for that personal touch and intuitive
impression that cannot be quantified. A painful secret revealed, leading to
an intricate, painstaking surgical cure. He can almost feel the sweaty
concentration.
Death. The grim task of the autopsy on colleagues killed by an unseen
saboteur, before he had the chance to know them as personalities and
not merely personnel files. Killed in their sleep, awake, at their post.
Unfortunate and maddening not even to know why. Christian hated that
mystery. The uncertainly robbed the dead and the living alike of the
peace that was due them. Injury. Lives saved, bodies repaired, though
not always returned to normal. Lying side by side in the adjoining
low berth compartment, Christian's failures lay in icy repose, silently
mocking his vaunted skill.
A sudden thought roared through Christian's mind. Adrian Bishop! The
memory of the discovery, the valiant attempt at help, rejection,
catastrophic failure was still raw and painful. He felt sorrow,
deepening into fundamental regret. His conscience taunted him. *The
high and mighty Doctor, you've got all the answers. Didn't have the
answer for Adrian, did you? You meddled, Christian, and destroyed
him. You sure knew what was best for him, didn't you. Hah!* A part
of his mind was uneasy about what he might find, once the instant
demand on his time had ceased, and he was forced to confront what,
or who, Adrian had become. Christian forced his mind to turn away
from such nervous, idle speculation.
A life hung in the balance.
For a minute, Christian plays the role of traffic cop. He points to
the adjacent Chief Medical Officer's suite. "Triple Three -- Take Doctor
Tweeerrrlll to that cabin. Monitor his condition and alert me to any
significant change. I will review his condition later. Go!" Gesturing
to two patient beds at the port wall of Sickbay, he tells Lucan and
Dulinor, "Install the non-critical crash victims over there. Continue
to monitor, report updates to Sickbay computer. Prepare full medical
report and prioritized treatment protocol." Christian turns away, then
adds an afterthought. "Oh, and go though their gear bags for any
identification. Look for standard medical history datacrystals, or
at least names. Report findings. Carry on, your majesties."
His voice inflection becomes fractionally more urgent. "OSF, put the
trauma patient, there, on that surgical bed." He walks over to the
surgical bay and brings all systems to full readiness for immediate
trauma surgery, muttering disjointed phrases of arcane medical jargon.
Christian looks down at the critically injured stranger, lips pressed
together in urgent concern. The man's blood volume had fallen to a
dangerously low level, complicating his wounds and internal injuries
with severe shock. While Christian concentrated on that stranger, Lucan
and Dulinor continued to minister to the less severely injured strangers
by stabilizing their condition, medicating with painkillers and anti-
infection pharmaceuticals, and conducting intensive scans.
Passing a med-scanner over the injured form, Christian grimly notes that
his condition, while stabilizing, was clearly precarious. The med-computer
beeped insistently, as the latest blood workups and test reports glowed
into existence on its vidscreen, accompanied by a calm computer voice
reading them out for the benefit of the harried doctor. The extent and
severity of the internal injuries indicated that prolonged surgery would
be required to save his life.
Glancing at the overhead holo, Christian pulls up a menu and makes a
number of selections. An integral injector pokes out of an alcove in
the bed, pivots, and silently administers a cocktail of surgical
pharmaceuticals. With one eye monitoring the patient's vitals, Christian
taps on a control pad, then reaches down to select his instruments from
the tray that silently appeared.
A high pitched hum begins to emanate from the surgical bay, as the
sterile field forms around the injured human. Poised to begin the
task of rescuing a life, Christian pauses for a second as he activates
the intercom. "Bridge, this is CMO Van Der Merwe. I'm in Sickbay with
several injured sophonts and treatment is underway. Don't ask how, I'll
fill you in later. Since I'm the only Command officer, I guess I'm the
temporary Alcyon CO, but you have the conn, I won't have time to worry
about that now. Just keep me apprised of developments. Out." He turns
back to his patient, and begins his struggle to save a life.
Gemini Arbiter
Aurelia Xerxes furiously glances back and forth between the sheaf of
contract forms in her hand and the empty corridor which just moments
before contained a glowing archway and a jaunty Vargr.
"WHA... BLOW ARE HEADS OFF!" she exclaims. "Who does he think he is? I..."
"Now Aurelia." cautions Nichole, "Calm down. Don't get excited."
"Ahem! ..." Aurelia composes herself. "You're right. Here!" She thrusts
the papers into Nichole's hands and walking towards the bridge. "You look
over these papers while I fill in Arby and run a systems check."
Nichole quickly steps away from the bridge iris and warns, "...I wouldn't
walk in there yet!"
As Aurelia thumbs the hatch button, she turns around towards Nichole
and frowns. "Whaaa...?" and is immediately hit by the leftover anti-
hijack gas from the bridge, "...ACHOO!..."
She paws the door controls and rapidly backs away from the slowly dispersing
cloud of gas. "Just great! ...ACHOO!... I hate that stuff."
Nichole smirks a little as she chides, "I warned you!"
As she turns and heads aft towards the lounge, Aurelia mutters, "On second
thought. We'll both go over these papers while the bridge is being cleaned."
Talisman
"Ah-HEM!" The voice from behind Ralf and Redd is firm and a bit
exasperated. "I am very gratified to see you up and around so
quickly, Ralf, but you DID give us quite a scare." It's Doctor
Tabor. "Mind if I have a quick look at you? Won't hurt a bit."
"No problem doc, glad to see you again." Ralf pulls a data crystal
from the handheld at his belt and tosses it to Tabor. "Here's
my medical history and my vital signs for the last hour. C'mon down
to engineering and I'll start prepping the sensors while you read."
Alcyon Bridge
"Say WHAT?!" Morgan Grey sits bolt upright in his chair on the Bridge.
"Christian, what, where--" He sputters to a halt and flicks another
switch. "Pater, where's Doctor van der Merwe?"
"Doctor van der Merwe is in Sickbay. He has activated sterile procedures
at Trauma Table One and has disengaged communications," the Alcyon's
computer replies mildly.
"Gimme internal cameras in Sickbay," Grey snaps. Pater complies, and a
holo of the doctor at work appears on the main tactical screen. Grey
stares at it in disbelief. He's still staring when Werner walks in....
"Morgan, you would not believe what I found in-- GOTT IM HIMMEL!" He
rushes over to the holo, loosening his tie and running a hand through
his unruly hair. "That is Doctor van der Merwe! But-- but-- I was THERE
not FIVE MINUTES ago, and the room was EMPTY! Only Bishop--" His eyes
bug out even further. "Something RESTARTED HIS POD!"
"Restarted his...?" Grey's eyes narrow. "Pater, are your self-diagnostics
running?"
"Of course, Morgan. Always." Pater sounds a trifle offended.
"Did you restart Adrian Bishop?"
"No."
"Then who DID?!"
"Scanning...scanning...ah!" Pater registers interest and concern. "Here
it is. A rogue process spawned from Subregister F7F73E0040 in the main
bank. It moved through the structure, straight into the cold sleep berth
where Bishop was, and vanished. No other interference noted. If it WAS
a virus of some sort, it was very fastidious about what it touched."
"Huh!" Grey slaps a hand to his forehead. Then he frowns. "Run securecam
in Sickbay back ten minutes and play forward at double speed."
"Here you are." Grey and Werner watch the playback. The door opens, Werner
enters, crosses to Bishop's low berth, stares at it. His lips move, he
is obviously shouting. He then backs out of Sickbay and closes the door.
Nothing happens for several moments, then the two watchers on the Bridge
are left agape as the coruscating white flash deposits the good Doctor,
three humans, an Ael Yael (?!), an Aeloid animal of some sort, and three
robots into Sickbay.
"Unglaublich." Werner shakes his head. He looks over at Grey, his eyes
feverish. "Multiple teleport with no momentum-transformismus. Only the
Ancients could do that...."
Grey isn't listening. He's staring at the holo. Never taking his eyes
off it, he reaches for the comm unit. "Bridge to Security. O'Shi?"
"Whatcha want, Grey? I was doin' my nails."
"Stuff a sock in it, Mahlel," Grey orders. "Grab a Gauss Rifle and get
to Sickbay doubletime-- somebody just teleported a WARBOT into our laps!"
Paladin
Azani, hearing Zar's orders, hurries to the bridge. Moving quickly through
the corridors he heads to where mayhem and tradgedy has struck. Entering
the bridge, he sees Zar and the doctors tending to the still limp body
of Charyn.
Azani looks upon Charyn with a blank unemotional stare. In his line
of business, death was not an option, it was a given. Emotions get in
the way and cloud the thinking process. Emotions made people create
illogical thoughts and mistakes.
*Just do your duty...* thought Azani as he knelt down beside the doctors.
He had been on the bridge before and had dropped of some medical supplies
so the docs could help Charyn. He had left to find Charyn limp and perhaps
lifeless. *...just another soldier Jordan lost in the fight.*
"Doctors, I'm here to assist you in anyway I can. I don't have any
medical experience but I'm willing to try." He places some of the other
equipment that he was gathering next to the blankets and medical kits
he had gathered earlier. He then takes the helmet of his combat armor
and waits for a reply.
Talisman
"Always too bloody busy for the Doctors," Tabor grouses as he pops
the crystal into his hand computer. As he chases Ralf down the
corridors, he casts a pleading eye over his shoulder at Redd.
"Harrumph. OCG steady except for some thready bits at the end; blood
pressure stable throughout; no evidence of trauma; EEG-- WHOA!" He
looks up at Ralf's back, careens off a corner, and chases after him,
waving the hand computer like a subpoena. "RALF, GET BACK HERE! I
have to doublecheck this EEG scan! I'll bring the equipment down
to Engineering, but you HAVE to let me do this!"
Kimball Redd glances round -
"Hi doctor, try not to keep him long, engineering seems to be horribly
busy on this trip - I've been in quieter battles!"
Trakh
Aolrkhea' finishes whispering a few short phrases into her throat
commdot and nods as she finishes her conference with Aiwi, the
_Khaurl_, and Fa'eairl. She turns to face the Admiral.
"Sir, our pinpoint densitometer map of the interior of starship ID
_Talisman_ is being processed by Fa'eairl now -- I will display it
on the central holotank at your command. Hwa'ahel is preparing the
internal scan of starship ID _Paladin_ for immediate relay.
Akhouw leans back in his command chair, surveying the display of the
human ships with an experienced eye. "Hrmmmmmm..." The throaty rumble
is a clue to his thoughtful analysis, as his dewclaw slowly taps a
martial rhythm on the chair's arm. As he expected, nothing out of
the ordinary; still, such information was never irrelevant when the
future was unclear. When his eyes survey the readout on the _Paladin_,
he sits up slightly, then relaxes into his typical pose of serene
confidence.
"Admiral, might we extend an offer of assistance to the fiyfiyalr?
They seem to be having great difficulties with their engineering
subsystems. Perhaps we could aid them in some way. It might help
smooth our relations with them, as well. And perhaps we might discover
what their problem is, and whether it threatens us."
Akhouw closes his eyes and meditates for an areiaao. The answer, as it
should, was best found by attention to haaealri (balance). His eyes
opened as the command chair rotated towards Aolrkhea''s duty station.
"Your suggestion is apt, Aolrkhea'. Open a lasercom channel to the..."
His eyes shift to the holotank then back to her. "... Aurora. Their
systems have failed twice, perhaps the problem is worst there. Inquire
as to the source of their problems and offer our assistance." His
expression lightens. "Remember that they are fiyfiyalr, and strive for
haaealri. Some humans are less familiar with Aslan, and require your
tolerance..."
She turns back to her console and glances down as a blue tell-tale
begins to flash on the densitometer status panel. She continues to
assist Aiwi as she reports.
"Gravitic systems aboard the disabled fiyfiyalr vessels seem to be
returning to normal function now. Interference is returning on all
bands on the densitometer."
Alcyon Sickbay
There was a feeling of light haze and a sense of deja vu... then the
pain made its presence known. Tiblisi's head felt better than before,
but it still felt like it had been smashed open and glued back
together again... and the glue hadn't had time to set yet.
Memories began flashing back and forth... a bright flash, dry air,
brief memories of jump, trying to get out of a crash couch, impact,
getting the mess ready for dinner, finishing the Purser's log, moving
being thrown against the bulkhead, darkness, tumbling, and a bright
light. Everything seemed mixed together and out of sequence. Then
more memories -- being in the cargo terminal getting a ship loaded for
lift, the sound of a crane traversing overhead with a huge crate, the
sound of splintering material, then crashes, then an explosion, then
screams, then the pain...
Tiblisi's sits bolt upright with eyes open wide in panic, looking
straight up. *No, this isn't the terminal. That was so long ago...*
The sudden movement brings dizziness, a wave of nausea, and more pain
to the side of Tiblisi's head. With a groan, Lee takes several deep
breaths and then things begin to fall into place -- the attack, the
concussion, the misjump, abandoning the ship and crashing here. Lee
takes several more deep breaths and the pain receeds a bit. *What an
atrocious stench!* Several more deep breaths and Lee's eyes begin to
focus. The pain continues but it is bearable. Lee gingerly moves
each limb -- the right arm is numb, but everything seems to work.
*Well, it can't get any worse.*
Lee's eyes focus more. *I'm in an infirmary on whatever planet this
is. That helps.* There is someone -- a passenger -- on the table to
the left. Unconscious, but with regular breathing and no apparent
major injuries. *Well, I'm in no condition to do Basic Aid -- not that
that would help -- and there is probably another doctor here to help
anyway. Relax, things will be fine.*
Turning to the right... "It's worse...". A doctor is operating on
someone -- by the telltale yellow hair, the passenger in B7 -- and
also several robots. The stench continues to grow. Looking down,
gore covers Lee's jumpsuit. *Things are definitely worse* Lee then sees
that one of the robots assisting in the operation is a warbot. *Great.*
"Things are much worse..." Dizziness returns and Lee falls back on
the table with a soft thud. The tender spot on the back of Lee's head
flares with pain on contact with the table. "Oh, Geezz..."
*Maybe there isn't another doctor available. I didn't *see* anyone else,
and the only one I did see is busy. He'll get to whoever's next when
there's time, and I can't do more than pass out again anyway - I think.
All I need is something for the dizziness and remnant of the concussion,
and then help with a long, hot shower. Maybe the shower first -- the
stench is horrible...*
Alcyon Deck 1A
O'Shi Mahlel has been described by some of those working with him as
"An attitude with legs." He does his job with a sneer and an unspoken
addendum that things would be smoother if HE were giving the orders.
Having the Alcyon to himself was a Godsend-- no eyepatched fruitcake
or stogie-chomping butthead telling him what to do, no duty roster,
no nothing. He was was all set to settle into a nice routine of sitting
around and drinking beer....
The corridors in the Alcyon are LONG. It takes several mintues to get
somewhere, even at a dead run, and that's what O'Shi is doing, with
his Gauss rifle in hand and his Bermudas riding up. He doesn't want
to THINK about Grey watching him on the monitors, nothing on but a
T-shirt and Bermuda shorts and socks....
He hits his commdot as he skids to a halt at the door to Sickbay.
"If this is some kinda joke, Morgan, I'm gonna kick your ugly Scout
keister from here to next week!" He palms the door open.
Alcyon Sickbay
*Oh my head and neck!* thinks Berana. *Ugh, where am I, what is all this
stuff? I suppose I could try and open my eyes?*
After forcing blood encrusted eyes open, Tar finally gets a sense of where
he is *sickbay...robots?, noseplugs...*
Tar tries to look a bit more but his neck is too stiff to move. He does
manage to see what he hopes is a doctor operating on that Red-something
guy from the ship. Ship attacked, lifeboat, pilot screams? Tar mumbles
"Last time ... fly Tukera."
TO BE CONTINUED...
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