Help us! - Part 1

Posted on Wed Nov 16th, 2022 @ 6:38am by Captain Samuel Woolheater & Captain George Charles [Reece] & Lieutenant JG Heather De La Rosa {Kelea-Salik} & Senior Chief Petty Officer Emily Charles {Kelea-Salik} & Gunnery Sergeant Luxa Gami [Naxea] & Hendor Charles [Reece]

Mission: Season 6 : Episode 1: Circinus
Location: Various
Timeline: MD03 - 0230
4093 words - 8.2 OF Standard Post Measure

TURBOSHAFT 010

Four marines were climbing the turboshaft. They had made it all the way to DECK 13 as the sign painted on the interior of the shaft listed. Four marines with wrist lights and helmet lights and four medkits. The whole while, the ship made shuddering and shivering sounds. Everything seemed to vibrate. Their mission was simple; Get to the Bridge and give the SITREP to the officer in charge - whomever that might be. If there even was a bridge left?

"Can't go that way no more!", one of the marines said. "The turbolift is in the way. Access hatch is on the top. Can't go around LT."

The second lieutenant nodded, "Yup. We go the long way. We can traverse deck thirteen. Who's got the map? It's a medical deck right?"

"I do, sir. Yes sir. A lot of medical is on that deck." another answered.

The LT nodded, "OK. Don't get sidetracked. We have a mission to get to the bridge. You heard what Woolheater said? Top priority. Everything else will have to wait."

"Woot!" they responded.


DECK THRIRTEEN

They slide the turboshaft doors open and stepped onto the deck.

"Bingo!" the LT said. "This is going to be important. Surgical suites and supplies. There were also medical crew here. The Lieutenant gave everybody there the quadrant's fastest briefing on what they knew.

"Change of plans. We're splitting up. We stay in pairs - stay in pairs. Take as many medkits and medical shit and emergency crap as you and any of these knuckleheads down to marine country. Tell the captain what we found and that Williams and I are continuing to the bridge. Where is the nearest Jeffries tube?" the LT asked.

With that, the two marines and a dozen or so medical folks carried as much medical equipment as they could carry on their backs and all the way down to deck thirty-two.

=== MEANWHILE ===

"We go....yeah...that way. There an environmental access hatch that...yeah...then we go up and we bypass the turbolift blocking our way. Then, we're at the bridge. Forty-five minutes and we find out what happened."

The Lieutenant nodded, "Good work. Let's go!" They saw another person somewhat staggering about, "Crewman? Are you injured?"

Emily was traversing as best as she could in the dark, she knew better than to try the turbolift. She was standing looking around when she heard voices, and saw lights. Rushing toward them she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw marines.

“Can you help me!? I need help! My brother and nephew are trapped, George is severely injured.” She gave them a pleading look.

"Shit!" the Lieutenant said aloud. The other marine looked at him for directions and orders. "Ma'am, yes. Where is your brother and nephew?"

Emily smiled. “Thank you, they’re on deck 33.”

The LT said to the marine, "Stay here and help. Get anyone else you have to to help. I will continue on the mission."

"Alone?! That's twelve more decks!" the other protested.

"We don't have time to argue. I need to get going because we have to fulfill the mission. I'm staying in the turboshaft as long as I can. I'll be fine. When you are secured here, you can follow me up. Those are your orders" the LT said.

The Lieutenant nodded, gave the marine a rap on the helmet and then disappeared into the Jeffries tube

"Sir!" and the conversation was over. Corporal Williams looked at Emily and looked her over for injuries. He was no medic but she was in shock. "Crewman? What's your name? Take me to your brother and nephew."

“Senior Chief Petty Officer Emily Charles, I’m a surgical nurse” she looked back before remembering Heather and Cody. “I need one of your men to go to room 26 on this deck, Lieutenant De La Rosa and her son are there. Heather will be needed in Sickbay.” She looked back towards her quarters. “I need to get my medical bag. I’ll be right back.”

Williams whistled and got the attention of one marine, he indicated through non-verbal hand sign that the marine should check on room number twenty-six. The guy took off to complete the order. "Room twenty-six is being checked right now. Help will be provided CPO Charles" he answered.

Emily was on the move. Williams was right in step with her, "We go together. Ship is falling apart. And you'll be needed everywhere." He followed her as she walked and said, "Every deck we open there are hurt and injured. Some people didn't make it. Some decks have hull breaches. Forcefields are holding." When they reached her quarters, Williams stood there and waited making sure she could see by aiming his wrist light where she needed. He called for two more marines and in a moment they were there. "I need you guy's help. Some more crew may be trapped. Stay close!."

The marines helped get people out and unstuck. They also had the unpleasant task of removing dead crew. They turned one storeroom into a morgue.

“I’ll warn you now” Emily looked at those with her. “It’s possible George has broken his back, I won’t know until we get to him. If he has getting him out of there could be one hell of a tricky proposition.”

Williams nodded, "Yes ma'am. We'll hope for the best." There was noise at the end of the corridor, where another turboshaft door had been opened. Williams nodded and one marine went down to check it out. He returned moments later with a report, "Ngono says that the secondary medical bay in the stardrive section, deck twenty-three has been opened. It's a medical deck. Surgical bay, supplies, its a mess but its open."

“I’ll have it up and running in no time” Heather smiled as she appeared with Cody safe in her arms. “I’ll help get triage up and running.” She offered Emily a hug and set off with some other marines to get organised.

“Let’s go!” Emily moved on. “I’m getting to George and Hendor right now!”

"Yes ma'am, Marines! On the move" Emily's escort came around. Seeing Heather again, there were a few 'old timers' that remembered when she was a marine medic. It was good to see her again. Someone took charge of the children from her. Five marines now followed Emily.

“I’m no survival expert” Emily turned to look at the marines, “I’m going to bow to your expertise in getting us to my brother.” She just hoped she could help George when they got there.

DECK THIRTY-TWO

With a quick debriefing at deck thirty-two, Captain Woolheater came over to the group. "Any help you need; you got it. Gunny Luxa Gami is working on the emergency batteries. We may have some power here soon? No word on the bridge SAR team...yet. Here? Look what we found?" A marine arrived with a handful of short-range SAR comm units. They affixed to the marines armor and were a temporary communications solution. Their range was limited, but certainly they should work for a dozen or so decks depending on the interference. Sam said, "Channel four, you need help - you call. Go get anybody you can. Carry on."

"Sir!" the marines replied and affixed their comm's. Sam handed one to Emily, "Sorry, these are made to attach to the body armor. Channel four, press here to talk. Keep it on you."

DECK THIRTY-THREE

It took a long minute to get the turbolift door opened on to deck thirty-three and when they did get it opened the situation got worse. There was a strange smell in the air. And there was an unusual and undefined heat source. From down the corridor to their left, the dark, spooky, one with sparks coming out of the ceiling, could be heard a hissing sound. Flashes of light illuminated some kind of fog. Audible alarms were sounding and there was an odd, barely visible green glow. To the right, engineering labs, aerospace labs and deuterium storage.

Williams dispatched two marines to check out the glowing green cloud, "Bloody hell...what the hell is that? Lancaster? Moy? Check that shit out please? Report back on the double!"

Williams looked to Emily, "You said deck thirty-three right? Are there living quarters on this deck? I mean, we got other shit going on this here deck that needs to be dealt with, but where is your brother? Where's Captain Charles?"

“There are living quarters, Deck 33, Room 7. Leilani is on the bridge, she was on duty shift tonight. George and Hendor are in their quarters. They’re Starfighter pilots quarters.”

"Copy that. OK. Hold up just a sec...the guys are coming back. Report!" he ordered.

Lancaster, a private answered, "Bad news, there's a hull breach here. It's down there. Anti-matter storage pods and a shitload of fucking deuterium. They're all jumbled together and they are resting right up against the emergency forcefield. They are in contact with the forcefield and its heating up the deuterium. There's a plasma leak in the next compartment that is burning through more deuterium."

Williams shook his head, what bad luck! He reported everything to Woolheater who was on his way down now. In the meantime, their orders were to evacuate that deck.

"Copy that. Marines on me, let's find any survivors. Williams switched on his combat tricorder to search for life signs. Despite the interference from decaying deuterium and deuterium gas, the tricorder did detect life signs ahead. There were piles of cargo and tables that had been dragged through as the deck decompressed. They made short order of it. Finally, after much effort, they pried the door open to room seven, "MARINES! Anyone in here! Any survivors?!" Williams called out loudly as their flashlights and helmet lights began a search of he living quarters.

"Captain Charles!" another marine called.

“This way!” Emily followed her senses. “George! Hendor!”

In the master bedroom, George heard the voices, he then smiled as he felt his sister. ~In the master bedroom, Emm.~ he sent to her over their bond. It was clear that he was in a lot of pain, but was hiding it as much as possible from his son.

Williams, Lancaster and Moy followed Emily into the master bedroom. It was a disaster. It was a miracle that the kid and Captain Charles had even survived. George did not look good. He was pale and sweating.

“Hey” Emily rushed over George, giving her nephew a huge hug. “It’s okay Hendor, we’re here now, you’re safe.”

Hendor held tightly to his aunt as he tried not to cry. "Papa...Papa hurt his back!!"

“I know sweetheart” Emily hugged Hendor for a moment, before she turned her attention to George pulling out some pain relief. “Okay let’s get this into you.” She gently pressed it to his neck, then pulled out her medical tricorder. “Let’s see” running a scan she tried not to look alarmed at the results. “Okay...you know what I’m going to say, don’t you?”

As soon as the meds entered his system, George's face relaxed noticeably. Then, hearing the tone in his sister's voice, he knew it was bad. "Just tell me."

Emily nodded. “The damage to your back is... severe.” She gently took hold of his hand. “I’m not saying it’s not repairable, but it won’t be a quick recovery either. I can only do so much for you here, we have to get you to Sickbay, but moving you has its own risks.”

George nodded slowly. "Do what you need to do, just get Hendor to safety first, please." He looked up at his fellow Marine, hoping he'd get the hint."

Williams smiled at the kid, "You and your dad are pretty tough survivors." The marine listened as Emily spoke to Captain Charles. He heard the "severe" part and then quietly spoke to the other two marines. "You guys look for a flat plank or maybe one of the table tops in the hall. We need a flat surface, strong enough to move him up to 32...maybe higher up if we have too. His back is hurt bad. We need straps and some cushions. Keep an eye on the anti-matter & deuterium. I'll meet Woolheater when he gets here. OK? Go!"

"Sir!" they nodded and disappeared into the glowing red hallway and started rummaging through the debris.

A few seconds after that, Captain Woolheater appeared at the doorway. He stepped inside and asked, "Hey? Emily Charles right? How's your brother doing?"

Emily stood up to greet Woolheater. “It’s not good, his back is severely damaged. I wouldn’t move George if I didn’t have to, but as it is he can’t stay here. Any moves we make will need to be slow and gentle.”

Sam nodded, "We have to go." Sam lowered his voice so Emily could only hear, "The deuterium is heating up. Whet it gets too hot it'll explode. The magnetic suspension capsules that keep the antimatter in stasis have had their batteries damaged. I have a plan but we need to get him and you and Hendor out of here."

Sam looked at the kid, "My word, you're certainly brave Hendor. You stayed with your dad and everything. Good work kid. You holding up OK? How about we get out of here huh? I could certainly use your help on deck thirty-two if you're up for it?" Sam knew that getting Captain Charles out of here was not going to be pretty and that he would be in a lot of pain - or drugged out to dull the pain. If Hendor didn't have to see that part; it might be helpful. He looked at Emily and George for guidance.

“You go and help out Hendor, I’ll look after Papa, I promise!” Emily gave her nephew a loving hug.

Woolheater looked at George and said, "Don't worry. We're going to get you out of here." He looked back at Emily and nodded.

Hendor had tears in his right eye and his bottom lip was trembling. So much was going on, his young mind was having a difficult time adjusting. Finally, he looked at his aunt. "Auntie Emm, you can make Papa better, right?"

Emily walked over to Hendor, kneeling in front of him she hugged him lovingly before leaning back. “I won’t lie to you Hendor, Papa is badly hurt. It’s going to take a long time to get him back on his feet again, but I promise you I will do everything I can. No matter what I’ll take care of you, that’s a promise.”

Still feeling overwhelmed, Hendor at least recognized that his aunt was telling him the truth. Slowly, he swallowed and nodded as he reached up and rubbed his right eye. "Okay," he replied softly.

Moving back to George, Emily loaded a hypo with extra strong pain relief, enough to sedate her brother for his move. “Hey, I love you George. Forgive me, this is going to be rough. She pressed the hypo to his neck and waited for it to take effect, then nodded to the marines. “Right... let’s do this!”

Woolheater said, "I'm going to get Gunny Gami. I'll take the kid. Since I'm going back to marine country, I will bring back a stretcher and some straps. You help her with whatever she needs. The clock is ticking." Samuel kneeled down and said, "Right, here we go. Climb on and hang on to me OK? We're going to climb a ladder and get to deck thirty-two."

Emily watched Hendor go, she knew he’d be in safe hands. Right now George needed her.

Hendor did as the man told him. Then, as they were leaving, he kept his eyes trained on his father as long as he could, then turned back forward and and laid his head on the back of the man carrying him

After Woolheater left, Williams, Lancaster and Moy said, "We can at least get him on this?" They produced a piece of the door. One of the panels that had come off the rails. It was light, solid and strong. Sam would return with a stretcher and handles and straps to tie George to the board and carefully haul him up the ladder, into the turboshaft and onto deck thirty-two. "Ma'am? Is he ready to move?"

Emily nodded. “I’ve given George all the pain relief I can, he’s pretty heavily dosed. Any movement has to be slow, VERY slow. Any quick movements and damage could be permanent.

DECK THIRTY-TWO

Sam kneeled down and congratulated the boy, "You did real good bud, real good. I'm going to ask your Dad if we can't recruit you early. Listen? There are other kids here. They are a little bit scared. Can you help me out and be with them? Let them know things will be OK? I'm going to go back down and help get your dad. OK?"

Hendor nodded slightly. "Yes, Sir." He then moved over with the other kids. Thankfully, he didn't have to worry about the bullies any longer, as their parents had left the ship when they were back at Earth. Looking around, though, he couldn't find Skylah, and he started to worry that she was okay.

Sam called for Gunnery Sergeant Gami, when she came over to the armory, Sam was already in the weapons locker. He said, "Gunny? "Get suited up. I need your help. Deck thirty-three has a hull breach. The emergency forcefields are holding, but there's a problem. When the hull breached and horizontally split open, it took the emergency system a few seconds to engage. Deuterium storage tanks and the damn anti-matter magnetic capsules storage were moved across the cargo hold. They are resting against, half in and half-out of the emergency forcefield. That's causing the deuterium to heat up. When it gets too hot, it'll blow and when it does it'll take the antimatter capsules with it. Their batteries were damaged in the hull breach. They are failing. If we do nothing; we're dead either way. Either by explosion of deuterium or anti-matter. "

"I'm no engineer, Sir. You have a plan?" Gami asked as she moved to start donning her Assault Armor.

"I have a plan and I need you to help. I want to shoot out the plasma conduits to the forcefields. That will cause them to collapse. When they do, it should pull the antimatter capsules and the deuterium into space and away from the ship. The momentum from being sucked out into space should put some distance between us and it and stop the plasma fire and the hot deuterium. I hope. I need you to shoot out the secondary lines as I shoot out the primary power junction. Otherwise, the field will just re-establish. Are you with me Gami?"

"Sounds like fun, Sir," Gami grinned as she finished donning her armor, picking up the full-face helmet in one arm and a CQB Pulse rifle in the other.

Sam nodded, "Now that's a bad ass marine if I ever saw one. Let's go!" he indicated to her uniform and the fact that she was ready.

Sam was already in gear from the boarding and repelling training sim, but he had taken off the helmet since then. He was back in full gear now. With Gami's help, they secured a long, manual, poly-canvas stretcher with carry hand holds at each and in the middle. He also secured straps to hold George in place while he was moved. "Just one more thing." He got on a chair, stood on it and in a loud voice said, "Everyone! I need as many hands as are able. Marine or civilian. There is a man down, below us who needs our help. Transporters are offline but he must be moved. I need people to help carry him from deck thirty-three, up the turboshaft and along this walkway to the medical section here. SO! If you are able, get in line and get ready to move this pilot. Form a line, and many hands together we will carry him to safety. Alright, here we go, follow us if you can help."

And, unsurprising, that's exactly what people did. Meeting at the turboshaft a group of ten started down the ladder. Six stayed in the turboshaft, ready to be handed the stretcher with George strapped to it. Four followed Sam and Gami to Emily and George. The three marines were waiting and could use the extra hands.

Sam and Gunnery Sergeant Gami delivered the gear and the straps. He would be secure and safe once they were sanctioned up. Handing the supplies to the three marines, they opened the poly-canvas stretcher, placed it underneath the rigid door, secured Captain Charles to it and began to move the injured man out. The work of many hands that day. George was carried from the living quarters and along the corridor. Some held lights so they could see. Other people called out to be ready. Other people got in the middle to help carry the pilot. When they reached to turboshaft, someone had the good sense to use rappelling ropes from the SAR team. And using a makeshift beam, they affixed the rappelling ropes to the stretcher and slowly, as quick as they dared, hoisted him up the turboshaft. All along the way, people made sure that no harm came to him. They did not tilt the stretcher nor did they lose their grip. They were careful not to let it bang into the sides nor did they yank it in any way that would further injure him. It was an amazing sight. People working together for a common cause. Helping a member of the tactical fighter wing. The men and women of the fighter pilots that so often risked everything o protect the ship, to keep it safe, to draw fire away or to attack. They did so much for the ship. Everyone felt like this was a moment to give back and to help one of them. And so they did. It didn't matter what color your uniform was. Or even if you wore one. Everyone helped.

Sam looking up as George was carried aloft looked at Luxa, "Hot damn, I'm proud of these people today!"

Minutes passed as they hoisted George higher and higher in the turboshaft. Finally, he was at the top. Someone called from below, "Make way up there! Doctor Charles on the way up!"

Emily couldn’t help but smile. “I’m not a Doctor you know, I’m a surgical nurse and medic. I don’t hold a doctor’s title” she kept climbing, she needed to be with George once he reached top.

A crewman said to her, "When life calls us to be more than we are; the best in us rises. Today, Chief Emily Charles, today you are a doctor." He smiled and offered her a hand up.

George was at the top of the turboshaft. A group of marines and crew was there to receive him. The removed the rappelling ropes and they carried him safely and smoothly, as fast as they could to the emergency medical bay here on deck thirty-two. A marine medic had the place ready to receive him and assist Emily should she need it.

Reaching top Emily climbed out, pausing long enough to offer her gratitude. “Great work! Thank you all so much!!” With that she followed on after George.

BACK ON DECK THIRTY-THREE

Lancaster and Moy did one final sweep of the deck, "Confirmed sir. Everybody is off this deck."

"Good work, now go. Gunny Gami and I are going to try and fix this mess down here. GO! Up the turboshaft! Seal the bulkhead at the top when you're at the top. We're venting all the atmosphere off deck thirty-three. We'll find another way in. You have your orders."

They looked at one another but they responded, "Yes sir!" and after they stepped through, the turboshaft doors were sealed. It was just Sam and Luxa now to deal with the deuterium, the anti-matter and the plasma fire. How hard could that be?


[OFF: to be continued in part 2]