Enforced dreamland
Posted on 06 Nov 2021 @ 11:52pm by Commander Amelia Fox & Captain Jonathan Reynolds & Lieutenant Commander Aidan Datari & Lieutenant Cassandra Higgins-Stevens & Lieutenant JG Rosaline Belikov & Lieutenant C'Tora Kuroka & Ensign Adam Morgan & Ensign Vince Stryfe & Ensign Gwen Leighton & Lieutenant JG Harper Matthews
Mission:
Picking up the pieces
Location: Shipwide
Timeline: After Don comes onboard
4345 words - 8.7 OF Standard Post Measure
ON:
"This was my little insurance policy," Sian said leading Julie into the bowels of the ship. Stopping she moved a panel and showed her the device. Linked into the environmental systems.
"There's enough to knock out everyone. I had it in case I ever needed to escape. I was trying to find a way to put it on a remote so I didn't need to come back but hadn't managed to build that yet. Anyway ...." she handed the other woman a mask so they wouldn't be affected. "Let's do this, then wake the drug dealers and get them on their merry way."
"Well, with me working with you, won't need the remote." Julie responded, she gave Sian a quick kiss before putting on the mask.
Later on, walking in eerie silence Sian and Julie located the drug dealers on route to quarters with the chief of security.
"Rumour has it you're knocking boots with the CO," she smirked. "Smart girl. He won't be too happy though that this happened on your watch.
"Okay aliens, your lucky our boss is working for folks who have your best interests at heart," she muttered keeping a phaser on them but pressing a hypo with a drug to alleviate the first one out of their system.
"Hidee hi Campers," she directed at the confused aliens.
Counsellors Office
After the offer of the position things had moved at break neck speed. Not six hours later she was already in her office trying to make it feel like her own. It had all the basics. Desk, chairs, lounge sofa, tables, bookcases and the like. It just needed personality. The problem was finding the time to personalise it which at the moment was not forthcoming. For the time being she was reading through the crew reports, trying to catch herself up on recent events when the door chimed, she assumed it would be the Captain checking up on her.
"Come on in!"
Ethan walked in, he had wanted to check in on Cassandra with her having been in a distraught mood. He gave a smile seeing her, "Hi, I've come to have my head examined." he quipped. "As I need a check up from the neck up. And I could only think about you and your calming ways-" anything else he could have said was cut off by her words.
Cassy rounded her desk, a scent in the air catching her peripheral attention as she intended to eject Ethan from the room. Her stride was confident, her tone clipped as she started to berate him for intruding on her work when all he wanted to do was play and add another notch on the bedpost... she stumbled as she went, feeling a little groggy suddenly and unsure of her step but she persisted in her task assuming she had just stood too quickly.
Finally, she reached him, her words starting to slur as she was asking him to leave before collapsing into his arms.
"Look I just came in for a psyche examination and to check on you, I'm not trying to.." he huffed and barely caught Cassy in his arms. He started to feel dizzy as well, his mind clouding. "What the devil?" He sank to the floor with Cassy in his arms, cradling her and passed out.
Bridge
After injecting himself with the pheromone neutralizing agent, Aidan had returned to one of the science stations on the bridge. He was still trying to get proper scans of the cargo aboard the vessel that belonged to their guests when he noticed his vision was starting to get blurry. He shook his head, rubbed his eyes a few times, or at least that's what he had planned to do. Shaking his head again, he started to stand, then collapsed to the deck.
Observation lounge
As Amelia sat down again next to Reynolds, she noticed a strange taste in the air and her vision started to go fuzzy. Her mouth went dry and her head started to spin as everything started to go black. She looked at Jon confused and tried to speak but no sound came out of her as she slumped back in her chair as the blackness swallowed her.
Sickbay
C'Tora's ears and whiskers drooped as he tried to clear his head. He heard a clatter from out in the treatment area and got up to see what was going on. He saw one of his nurses, crewman Baker on the floor unconscious. He reached for his combadge and tapped it. " Bridge... " Was all he got out before joining the others already on the floor, as the darkness swallowed up his last thought and fell unconscious himself.
Michael had made it to sickbay and had been placed on a biobed to monitor the powder he had only sampled, but there was the skin contact that made it worse. He felt pretty good but then time progressed and he became dizzy and quickly lost consciousness, quicker than what it may have taken.
Shuttle Bay
Derek Han had managed to get several small samples of the drug and liquid and placed them in small sealed containers, which he put into his jacket pocket. Derek departed the shuttle bay and made it about twenty meters down the hall, he staggered and placed his hand on his head and dropped to his knees before falling over unconscious in a heap on the deck.
Just outside of Sickbay
M'tara had just stepped out of the turbo lift on her way to meet up with C'tora in sickbay. She was halfway there when she became woozy, her eyesight unfocused then she fell to the floor, in the centre.
Security Office
Gwen was seated at a desk, one of four available to the on shift team leaders. She stared at the PADD in her hands and fumbled for some rational reason that things were spiralling for the crew like they were. Nothing made sense. With an audible snarl she stood, adjusted her uniform and set towards the door with every intention of speaking to Science. Each step grew sluggish and she dropped to the floor before she made it to the doors. Her PADD dropped to her side, glowing and chirping none the wiser.
Rose's Quarters
Sitting in her quarters, Rose was spending some time with her potential new partner introducing him to her daughter Ziva. She was a little nervous that Ziva wouldn't like Desmond, but hopefully, everything will go smoothly.
Desmond adored Ziva already, she was quite the cute child and he was known for having a good way with children. For some reason children whom didn't know who he was, they would come up to him and just want to be held or just have attention from him. It was said it was due to the calming aura he presented. He never treated them like they were a burden or a bother.
"That was a lovely dinner, Rose." He then looked at the yawning Ziva. "Maybe we should get her into her bed. "I am feeling a bit tired myself." His eyes beginning to droop downward.
Struggling to keep herself awake, Rose nodded, “that sounds like a good plan. I’m glad Ziva seems to have taken a liking to you” she said before scooping her daughter up in her arms and started to head for Ziva’s room, “feel free to use the couch if you wish” she offered as she was barely able to place Ziva onto her little bed before passing out on the floor of the room.
Desmond gave a tired nod, moved towards the couch and took a seat upon it, was taking his boots off when he passed out with one boot off and one boot still on.
Morgan's Quarters
Before he could go back on duty, Adam Morgan had to wonder about his dealings at his break of a so called lunch. As Morgan entered into his quarters, he needed to get all perspective on the possible facts that Durke had told him about. Morgan walked up to his computer terminal on his desk and turned it towards him wasting no time.
"Computer, access computer records on a Lt Commander Dacto Durke."
"Working," came the computer voice.
As Adam waited, he had to wonder what Durke had meant to him about 'reclaiming a friendship with him'. What was his motive? Did he have a motive? Adam shook that off, of course this man had a motive since he was now in the profession of mishap nowadays.
"There is no computer record for affiliated person on file," the computer suddenly stated.
How was that possible? Morgan walked around the desk to look at the computer screen to see the confirmation and he punched in a couple buttons to make damn sure. He was about to ask the computer for another set of ways to find the man when Adam felt the pain go through his chest. He felt the stabbing through his lungs as if he was not getting any air and he placed a hand on the wall closest to him. He touched his badge but that was too late as he fell to the floor in a heap and wondered again, was this a motive?
Durke looked around at the surroundings he was in as he looked at the various crew members of the Andromeda and hoped that his superior would be pleased on how these gifts could replace some of the cargo they lost, including the ship that was lent to them.
Giving a sigh, Kassie felt a little bad for these people, they had no idea what they were about to be thrown into. The Orion’s weren’t a people you wanted to mess with and hopefully, these ‘gifts’ could get her out of trouble.
OCC -Reserved to write once the first part of the drug runners stuff is written. May need to delete Durkes part depending on how the first part plays out. Jon aka Debs
A Corridor within the ship
Harper remembered a strange sense, a drowsiness that she couldn't explain. As she walked the two drug runners back to quarters she felt odd, her legs became weaker and her eyes heavy. There was a blurry image, then nothingness.
She woke up laid up against the wall of the corridor she had been in, she was now alone. Trying to get up quickly she felt a little shaken, her legs a little more wobbly than she'd have liked but she used the wall for support.
"F%k..." she muttered to herself as her heartbeat rose. The two drug runners were gone. She rushed to the end of the corridor, checked every intersection it felt like before realising the easier choice would be to just ask the computer. The computer was evil and told her they were gone.
Harper began to internally berate herself before asking herself how she'd explain this to the Captain. The Captain! She needed to get to the bridge.
3 Hours later
Silence filled the shuttle bay, and Vince lay on the ground motionless, barely breathing. He was still alive, but was worse for wear, his thoughts still going…
He looked around him, but everything was black, nothing was there, no sound, no light, but he knew he was somewhere. He looked sound again for something, then spoke to himself,” Is this heaven? Is this actually for real, or is this hell, I don’t know, never thought about it before.” He paused for a moment, then looked down towards his arm, he cocked his eyebrow, then as he thought everything was good, a searing pain hit him in the arm, a gasp of air filled his lungs, and his eyes opened to the lifeless shuttle bay, a spark intermittently coming from the mod on the trader ship. He sat up from his position on the ground, his right arm unable to move, pain coursing through it. He looked around and back at the trader ship, the piece of his near demise still mocking him.
“Well hell, I swear I might have cat in me, may have to check with the doctor. It’s gonna be rough moving, I’ll get someone to come get me, I believe I deserve it,” He went to hit his badge, the right arm not moving, smirking he reached up and hit it with his left hand,” Stryfe to medical, I need an assist in the shuttle bay, I had a shocking event with the trader ship,” He tried infusing some humour to make himself feel better, but one look at his arm, and he shook his head, it wasn’t good.
Thirty seconds passed, no response. This wasn’t normal for any Starfleet medical crew, so he tried again, short and simple, no reply again. Maybe his comm badge was jacked up from his stupidity, so this was on him. He pushed himself against the wall, sliding up to his feet, His whole body hurt, mostly in his right side, but he knew he could make it, and there would probably be someone who could help him on the way. Shuffling to the door, he focused himself, and got ready for the long walk. As he walked out into the hallway he remembered he could just ask the computer, and in the same moment, saw a person laying on the deck, motionless. Adrenaline hit him, and he moved with a little more determination over to the person.
“ Hey, are you ok?,” Vince knelt down, feeling the pain in his leg, but ignoring it the best he could. He used his left arm to roll the person over, it was Han,” Han… Han Ol’ buddy, you in there? “ Vince gave him a couple of small smacks, then for good measure a sternal rub, nothing happened. “ What the hell is this? Computer, I need a medical team on my location, we have two injured crew.”
“Unable to complete the request, no Medical team is available at this time,” The computer answered coldly.
Vince shot an angered look randomly,” What do you mean none available? It’s a big damn ship, there has to be someone.”
“ Current status of medical teams is unavailable,” The ship answered back.
Vince started to get mad, but remembered the ship wasn’t a true AI, it gave information, that was all,” Where is the CMO located?”
“ Chief Medical Officer C’Tora Kuroka Is in the medbay, but unable to respond to any message.” Again, a cold quick response, the thing she was good at.
“ Well, that shares a similarity to Han’s situation,” Vince looked down at Han,” Where is the Captain?”
“Captain Reynolds is not on the ship.” The computer answered confidently
Vince got a confused look on his face, again looking up at nothing,” Umm, since when, and give me any details you can?”
The computer quickly responded,” As of two hours ago the Captain was beamed off the ship."
“Well… That’s… odd,” Vince looked down at Han, then back into nothing,” So who is in command of the ship right now?”
Another quick response,” Commander Amelia Fox is in command. Attempting to contact but no one is responding. Several stations are non responsive."
Vince paused, a feeling of dread coming over him. He slowly stood up, the pain in his leg causing him to wince as he did. He looked back down to Han, there was nothing he could do at the moment, he needed to get to the Medbay, and find out what was going on. He started his trek across the ship.
“Ok, here we go then,” Vince winced with every step, the pain was almost unbearable, but he had his mind focused, all he needed to do was get to C’Tora, a plan that was easier in his head, but he was an X-Marine, he had this, but it did hurt quite a bit.
Several minutes, a turbo lift, and a long walk later…
Vince stepped through the doors of the Medbay, he hadn’t been so happy to see the place in a long time.
“Computer, please activate the EMH,” Vince said.
In an Instant the EMH popped into existence, looking right at Vince,” Please state the nature of the medical emergency.”
Vince pointed at him and then at C’Tora.
“You appear to be injured,” The EMH motioned to Vince’s arm.
“I am, but I need the CMO as soon as possible,” Vince handed him the hypospray.
“Understood,” The EMH turned and started his work.
Vince smirked as he walked over to the CMO desk and sat down,” Thank god that’ll only last a short while. Now let’s try work out what happened to everyone. Computer can you bring up logs of the last few hours.”
C'Tora woke feeling groggy and felt a bit hungover. He hadn't felt this bad since the night he had graduated from the academy. He looked around and saw his staff on the floor, then he caught a pungent odor. ' Hells! What stinks? " C'Tora jumped up as he saw Vince and smelt the burnt flesh. He woke a nearby nurse and gave her the hypo and had her wake the rest of the staff.
With tricorder in hand he began checking the damage to Vince. " Care to tell me what happened? and did you get the number on that grav sled that hit me ? "
Vince didn't move or change expression, staring at the computer screen as he answered," Well I grabbed what looked like a mod pulling power from the trader ship engines, and it sent me into a wall, and did this," he gestured to his arm," Then I woke up and found everyone passed out, came to sickbay and the EMH activated. The computer is reporting now, a foreign substance was let into the ship environmental systems. Its all here if you would like to inspect the report."
Vince stopped and turned towards C'Tora,"We have missing crew. The Captain, Hawkins, the traders, and apparently a further 3rd party had beamed over and then there's this one." Vince pointed at the screen, a name showing above his finger.
"The tricorder slipped from C'Tora's hand and clattered to the floor. " They took M'tara? Why? " A painful expression clouded his face and then took on a darker visage. He tapped his combadge and then began to work on Vince with the dermal regenerator to repair the damage done to his arm. " Computer, track the ships that have departed from the Andromeda within the past twelve hours display it on helm control and set an intercept course. " He thought briefly. " Computer also introduce Hyperzine into the air system at 20 parts per million and notify me when the command staff is awake. "
The computer chirped. " Acknowledged, working on request. A hissing came from the air vents. C'Tora glanced around briefly and noticed the remainder of the crew was beginning to stir. " Looks like that stimulant is doing the trick. "
An hour later after beginning work of Vince, C'Tora finished up. " Well Ensign Stryfe, The damage done to your internal organs has been repaired as well as the damage to the muscle and skin tissue. It's going to be sore for the next two to three days, so try and take it easy alright?. " C'Tora half turned and stopped in his tracks. He didn't look back toward Vince. " Ensign, I know you were a marine. It's in your medical records, But how you made it from the shuttle bay to Sickbay is just amazing. With the type of damage you sustained and that was repaired, You must have been hurting like hell. It also tells me that your a man with drive and determination. Please exercise a little more caution if the future, Your injuries could have been much worse. "
He went to his office and grabbed a medical kit, he stopped in the doorway and faced Vince.
Vince stood up, rotating his shoulder, wincing from the pain that was still there," Being a Marine had nothing to do with it, Doc. I was worried, I hit my badge and had no reply, and then making my way here, seeing everyone out of it, I knew something was wrong. I wanted to give up several times, but I knew I needed to just make it here. I knew crew were in trouble, and missing, and I was awake. If I would have given up, we'd maybe never have a chance to get our crew back. Everyone might have eventually woken up, but I had no way to know that. Not to mention with my injuries, I probably had plenty of adrenaline to help keep me going that extra bit." Vince gave a slight smile," Also, kind of a sappy thought. A starship crew has to be a family to survive , and family takes care of each other, and now we need to do everything we can to find the Captain, and the rest of our peeps, so I know where I'm headed."
C'Tora Patted Vince gently on his good shoulder. " Your a good man Ensign Stryfe, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. And your right about a starship crew being a family, If we don't watch out for each other who will? Now if you'll excuse me I need to get up to the bridge and check on the people up there." As he turned and head towards the door with purpose in his step knowing he'd stop and help out any others along the way.
AN HOUR LATER
Amelia stirred and her eyes fluttered open. The first thing she realised is what Jon was no longer there, as was I'Dis and his aids. In fact, she was alone.
Fearing the worse, she tapped her comm badge "Computer locate Captain Reynolds."
The computer responded, "Captain Reynolds is not onboard the Andromeda."
That statement certainly cleared her head. She slammed her hand on the table and stood up "Computer, initiate red alert and have all senior officers report to the bridge. Are there any other members of the crew unaccounted for?
"Three additional crew members are not present. Lieutenant Michael Hawkins, Ensign Adam Morgan and Ensign M'Tara Kuroka."
"How long have they been absent?"
"Three hours fifteen minutes."
Amelia was heading for the bridge while the computer was still speaking. She had to catch herself on the wall more than once as her head was still a bit fuzzy. Stepping onto the bridge she hurried, well as fast as an eight month pregnant woman can hurry, over to Aidan to help him.
"Ohh my head," the Trill complained as he struggled himself back up into a sitting position. "Oh commander, don't bother, I can do this..." He didn't want her to exert herself any more than she really needed to, being very very pregnant. "What happened?"
"I'd wager something though the ventilation system and since we are now missing 4 crew members including the Captain, I'd put good money on who has taken them. Is that Orion ship still close by?" Amelia asked, already guessing the answer would be no.
"No ma'am," the Trill answered once he'd gotten himself back up to his station, "but there's a trail we can follow." He paused for a moment. "With Captain Reynolds gone.. that puts you in command ma'am... what are your orders?"
After speaking with Vince, C'Tora headed straight to the turbolift and went to the Bridge. He stepped out of the lift. " Does anyone here need medical assistance? "
On the opposite turbolift Harper stepped out across from C'Tora in an almost harried fashion. She had woken up to an empty corridor, a sore head and a pissed attitude. She hated failing, letting anyone down and now she'd lost those in her charge. "The drug peddlers are gone..." she said as she used the upper console section to stabilise herself, she had ran to the bridge as soon as she woke up, maybe a little too quickly.
"And taken the Captain and several others with them." Amelia said, herein Harper's report. "Doctor, We'll get your wife back I promise. Would you mind having a look at Harper there, she doesn't look too peaky."
" I know we'll get her back Captain, and yes you are the Captain for now like it or not. And I'll be there where we retrieve M'tarra because I'm going to be on the away team in case any of our people are hurt." He said with a determined look in his eye. He then moved over to assist Harper. " So Ensign where does it hurt? " He heard Amelia call for battle stations Let's get you to your post and I'll treat you there. "
Harper felt like waving the Doctor off but she knew that would do no good. "Just my head Doctor. I must have hit it when I lost consciousness. Honestly though I am fine, it only hurts a little." she added whilst she logged onto her station.
Amelia turned back to Aiden, settling herself into the Captain's chair. "Lay in a pursuit course and engage at maximum warp! We're going to get our people back, and I've got a feeling that diplomacy will fall on deaf ears."
She took a breath before opening a ship wide comm.
"All hands, stand to Battle Stations!"
OFF:
Commander Amelia Fox
XO
USS Andromeda
Lieutenant Michael Hawkins
Chief Engineer
USS Andromeda
Lt. Commander Aidan Datari
Chief Science Officer
Ensign Adam Morgan
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Andromeda
Ensign Vince Stryfe
Flight Control
Lieutenant JG C'Tora Kuroka
Chief Medical Officer
USS Andromeda
Ensign Harper Matthews
Chief Tactical/Security Officer
Ensign Gwen Leighton
Security Officer
Lieutenant JG Cassandra Higgins
Ships Counsellor
Captain Jonathan Reynolds
Commanding Officer
