Command Evaluation - Kaylen Pt 3
Posted on Thu Jul 15th, 2021 @ 12:30am by Remal Kajun & Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen
Mission:
Gamma Quadrant
Location: Uss Sunfire
Timeline: Evaluation Week
The Next Day…
It had been a restless night. Her mind refusing to shut down and going over the manuals and different situations that may be presented in the command scenario. She must have drifted off at one point or another, for when she awoke, she was alone in their quarters. A quick check of the chronometer was 0700 hours, it wasn’t uncommon for Remal to leave for work early, enlisted or no, he was still a counselor and attended to regular clients.
She padded into the bathroom on bare feet, and emerged dressed in her regular uniform, hair still a mess but feeling a little more presentable. Hairbrush and hands worked their magic and turned the mass of hair that resembled a floor mop into something functional and practical, tied at the base of her scalp into a simple twist that kept it out of the way.
With a sigh of trepidation, she headed into the kitchen to make breakfast and coffee. Unknown to her, just beyond the door the ship, portions on fire, the red alert klaxon blaring, dead officers were strewn about the corridor. Everything she knew from one side of the door to the next was about to change.
Savar sat behind the one-way glass and waited for the Captain to make her appearance so the exam could officially begin.
Coffee and breakfast were simple yet important parts of her day, and as much as she wanted to savour the moment she also felt a distinct urge to 'do' something. Stewing in her quarters would do nothing so she decided an hour or two on the bridge would calm her nerves and soothe her mind. As she opened the door to her quarters however all hell broke loose.
"Red Alert! Red Alert!" The computer announced all the while the red light klaxon blared. A junior crew member ran past, a rifle in his hands, only to be shot in the back by something unseen just around the bend in the hallway. Loud thuds landed upon the deck plate, it was coming her way.
The adrenaline dump into her system was both immediate and hyperstimulating, sending her mind into overdrive as her body was flooded with the fight or flight responce.
Rhenora ducked out, low and fast to grab the rifle, plastering herself against the doorframe of her quarters for cover. There was a clear decision - stay here and fight whatever was attacking her crew, or get to the bridge to get more information.
"Kaylen to bridge - report!"
Static was her answer than a strangled voice came through, "Ca....ptain! Their ev...where. Watch your....." The voice faded away.
"Bridge... please repeat - Bridge! Commander Savar... respond!" Her voice was commanding but held a tinge of calm as her mind snapped into gear. For whatever reason someone or something was attacking the Sunfire, and they had been boarded.
"Captain....." Savar's voice came through the com then a scream and silence.
The Captain maintained her focus, ruling out heading to the bridge knowing that there were intruders there as well. She ducked back into her quarters, heading to the workstation in her living area to see if she could get any information on the ship's status and what was going on.
The real Remal looked at Savar and asked, "Was that scream from your dopple, your idea? Nice touch. We need something to get her moving, any ideas?"
"Yes and thank you. I thought it would add to the realism of the scenario." Savar replied to Remal. "As to getting the Captain moving, I do have several ideas. One would involve you and you being a hostage/tortured. Another would be her workstation is unresponsive and the invaders are just outside your quarters forcing her to move via the ductwork of the ship."
"While I would hate to think of myself as a hostage, that could be a good idea to test her resolve. As for forcing her into the ductwork, if there is anything I know about my wife, just when you expect she'll do one thing, she'll always surprise you by doing something else." He adjusted some controls so that her console would not work and then sat back and watched.
Rhenora swore as her workstation was unresponsive, the phaser rifle sitting on the desk next to the blank monitor. 'So much for getting intel' she grumbled to herself before hoisting the weapon again, she would have to do this the old-fashioned way. Thumbing the controls from regular stun to heavy stun she moved towards the door of her quarters, releasing the mechanism and using the bulkhead for cover before heading out into the corridor - weapon raised and ready to fire. She was heading for the bridge, desperate to find out what was going on and what had happened to her crew.
In the corridor and beyond, the lighting was dim with flashing lights and sparking wires. There were downed bulkheads, and small fires burning with a thick layer of smoke filling the space. The further she traveled, the worse things seemed to get, and the more bodies she came across, including a few she recognized. Every so often, the ship would shudder violently.
The Captain's heart raced as she moved through the corridor, pausing to check on the crew as she passed them. So far everyone had been dead, weapons fire evident on their bodies and uniforms. She heard weapons fire in the corridor in front of her and flattened herself against the wall as though it would provide cover.
Holo-Remal was putting up a fight, the phaser was long thrown to the floor, he had resolved to his fists. These creatures were massive but slow. And while they liked to fire rifles long-range, he was finding them an easy target up close. As he landed his fist again into what he thought was a face, he smelled her perfume wafting up the hall. She was close.
"Remal!" The voice erupted before the tactical part of her brain registered that distracting him in a fight was probably a bad idea. She couldn't get a clear shot on what was attacking him.
As she called out to him, his attention wavered. He turned and was rewarded with a long pincer shoved through his shoulder, just above his lung. The pain was enough to bring him down to his knees, but he was aided by the strength of the creature forcing him down. He grimaced as he looked at her, "Hi baby. Rough morning?"
The creature moved in for the kill, giving the Captain a clear shot. She took it, downing the creature that had impaled her husband.
" You don't do anything by halves do you" She grimaced as she took in his condition. She had no medical supplies on her person and could do little to aid him "Captain to Sickbay, medical emergency"
"No, and neither do you. I doubt they will answer, there hasn't been any... any communication for a while now." He was grimacing at the pain in his shoulder, though he knew it was going to hurt like hell when she pulled it out. "I was just trying to get to the galley when they attacked. They were fast. The bridge may be sealed off."
There was indeed silence, no response to her plea for aid. Nothing apart from random weapons fire in other locations. She was truly on her own. Tearing a strip off his tunic and the sleeves off her uniform she managed to make a wound pack and a bandage.
"I'm sorry" She whispered as she took hold of the impaled pincer and yanked it hard out, knowing it would do more damage. Packing the wound as quickly as she could she tried to staunch the bleeding, before darting down the corridor to look for an emergency medkit.
As she returned, Remal winced again, trying to sit up. He was losing blood and he knew it. He peered up into her eyes. "Listen. You need to go. You need to save your ship, your crew." he could see the tears in her eyes and so wrapped his hand around her head and pulled her in close, nose to nose. "You are my star of radiant light in a sea of darkness. You are strong. No matter what happens, I need you to know I have always loved you and until the day my soul is wiped away by the Targerous River, I will continue to love you." He coughed and then released her.
" Remal.. I...." She started before pulling herself together " Who are these beings? What are they looking for?" She asked, knowing she was clutching at straws. He was dying and she knew it and there was nothing she could do about it.
TBC
