Trying to find a way out

Posted on Thu Jan 19th, 2023 @ 9:21pm by Master Chief Petty Officer Chuck Finley [Reece] & Vice-Consul Josephine Carlyle-Cragen

Mission: Season 6 : Episode 1: Circinus
Location: Deck 5
Timeline: MD3 - 0600
1045 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure

PREVIOUSLY:

Chuck said a quiet prayer for the dead crewmen. Then he looked around and nodded. "They should be. So long as the corridors are in decent shape, the tubes should be too. Though," he paused to give her a look of concern. "Are you comfortable going into one, in your current state? You know they can get pretty tight in places."

"I shall be fine" She assured him. "Tight spaces do not worry me and the baby and I are fine."

Chuck nodded as he replied. "Okay, then let's get you to sickbay." He then led her back the way they had come, as he worked through his head which Jeffries tubes would be the most likely to get them to Sickbay the fastest.

AND NOW:

They made their way slowly into the tube system, cautiously checking their point of entry. Josie kept her eyes open. She had never been through this sort of event but she, like everyone else had been trained.

Chuck led the way. As CoB, he was expected to know the ship almost better than the CO. He made sure to keep his pace within reason, to ensure that, if Josie needed help, he was right there to give it. "How're doing?" He asked after climbing down two decks. "Do you need to take a break?"

Josie shook her head "No, i am good." And she was. "You would be surprised to know that I am actually welcoming the exercise despite the circumstances"

Chuckling softly, despite their current predicament, Chuck responded. "Well then, let's get you down to sickbay." He then resumed leading the young woman down through the Jeffries Tube. As they descended deeper into the ship, he asked, "Is the baby's father on board?'

"No. I am divorced from the father." Josie repliee as she followed him.

Chuck nodded, not aware of the entire story. He was also respectful and polite enough not to press. "Do you know what you're having?" He asked, trying to lighten the mood as they continued to descend.

"Yes, a girl." Josie replied with a smile. "She is going to be a lot of fun I think."

"Oh yeah?" Chuck replied with a grin. "What makes you say that?" He brought them down to an intersecting chamber in the tube system, then took a beat to orient himself with the direction they needed to go. As he did so, he waited to ensure Josie was good on the ladder.

She joined him on the intersection. "Her father .... is a stubborn individual. I feel that she will be the same." She looked around "Which way?"

"She will be how ever you raise her to be," Chuck replied politely. He then pointed. "We have to go core wards for seven sections, then down two more decks, to sickbay." He moved over and typed in the emergency access codes to open the hatch. So long as there was breathable atmosphere on the other side, it would open, which it did. He then climbed in and moved far enough inside to allow Josie to enter, while he waited to reseal the hatch behind them.

She slipped past him and began to move towards the section he mentioned. "This is so fun," she said, forcing a joking tone. "I must remember to thank the Commodore for allowing us to explore the ship like this."

After she passed him, Chuck sealed the hatch, then carefully squeezed back in front of her. Chuckling softly, he replied. "I'll be sure to pass on your thoughts to her in the next staff meeting."

Josie smiled. "I bet you I can beat you to it." She paused to let him move a head a bit so she was not on his heals too much.

Chuck paused to glance back at Josie and grinned. "Loser buys breakfast?"

She laughed "Sure why not" She replied with a grin back.

Chucked grinned again. He was starting to like this woman. He'd make sure he did everything in his power to keep her safe. "Alright then, follow me." He then turned back forward and started to lead her to their destination.

Josie followed with a small smile. It was nice to start to talk to other people than counselors and doctors.

==A short while later==

The deck was filled with wounded, the dead were being stored in the nearest holodeck. Suddenly, a Jeffries Tube hatch unlocked and popped out, revealing the ship's CoB, as he crawled out into the crowded corridor.

Once he was out, Chuck stood and turned, offering his hand to Josie, if she required his help.

She allowed him to help her out of the hatch and when she straightened up she looked around. "Oh this is not a good look" she murmured so only Chuck could hear her.

Chuck nodded his head slowly. "It's worse than I thought it was." For a few moments, the pair moved slowly through the crowded corridors, until they finally reached sickbay.

Josie took a breath and looked around. "Yeah. Here is hoping it gets better."

Chuck nodded slowly as he continued to take in the barely controlled chaos all around them. Clearly, whatever it was that had hit the ship, had caused extremely traumatic damage. He held out hope that the death count would be as low as possible. However, he also knew that it was all up to the Fates.

Seeing an exhausted nurse approach, Chuck reached out go hee and told her about Josie. He then turned to his new friend. "You should stay here, Josie. Sickbay is a hardened emergency shelter. I have to get up to the bridge, if it's still there. We have to see if we can save the ol' girl."

Josie nodded. "Be careful Master Chief." She said honestly. "And thank you for your help." She knew without his assistance she may not have made it this far. She hoped he would be safe.

Chuck gave Josie a charming grin and nod of his head as he replied. "Of course! Glad I could help." He then stepped aside as rhe nurse gently guided Josie to an emptied biobed. Taking one last look around, the senior Noncom turned and left sickbay.

Time for him to get to the bridge.

~OFF~