<p style="margin: 0in; font-style: italic; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;">~~Engineering~~</p><p style="margin: 0in; font-style: italic; font-family: arial; font-size: 10pt; color: black;"><br></p><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="OneNote.File"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft OneNote 12">
<p style="margin: 0in; font-style: italic; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">"RECE...?" David called: retracting his arms carefully
from Jennifer: his head swinging around the room in a desperate search. The
realization of what his wife had said was plain. But the memory of her also
being in the Engine Room during the attack caused him great distress. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-style: italic; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">"Defender...?" David yelled: the first traces of fear
touching his voice. "Michelle? Aaron? Fritz?"</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">Every
muscle, bone, joint and any other part of the body Rece felt was still attached
to her....hurt. The last thing she could remember was launching
herself at Jennifer when she saw the walkway giveway. What happened after
that was pretty much a blur and a jumble of jarring, painful impacts. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">At the
sound of her name Rece moaned and tried to move, pushing herself up. A
wave of nausea crashed over her. She would have lost everything in her stomach,
if there had been anything there. Instead she doubled over as her abdomen
cramped painfully and she went into a coughing fit. "David?"
She managed to croak out. "I think..(cough) I'll lie...(cough) here
for a bit....(cough)..."</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">Slowly
Da'nak started to move. His exposed right arm and face stung like mad. Probably
burns from the console he thought to himself. His antennae screamed at him from
where they had impacted the wall during the explosion. He could hear someone
calling out from what seemed like a hundred miles away as he managed to
carefully drag himself into a sitting position. At least he knew he wasn't
dead, he hurt to damn much for that. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;"> He
tried to call back, but the effort sent a shaft of pain through his head like a
dagger causing him to squint his eyes shut. So this is what the inside of a
whirlpool looks like, he thought to himself absently as he sat there, trying to
piece together the world around him.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">Jennifer
made her way to Rece to check on her. On her way to Rece, Jennifer saw in the
dim lighting a blue figure and knew it was Da'nak. Changing directions she made
her way to him due to not having heard a response from him.
"Defender?..."</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">The
helmsman raised his hand and opened his mouth as if to speak, then waved
the thought away as he clasped the hand against his left eye. The pressure
seemed to provide him with at least a bit of relief from whatever was causing
the pain in his head. He panted for a second, then summoned up the energy to
say "P-p-p-present..." In a small voice, before he winced in pain
again.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">While
Jennifer made her way toward the Andorian, David continued on his way toward
Rece. Carefully starting to kneel beside her, he saw movement from the corner
of his eye. With a quick glance backward, he noticed Michelle Yearly walking
gingerly around the floor.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">"You
okay?" David asked the Petty Officer with concern - already setting
himself beside the Yorktown's Captain.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">"Yeah..."
Michelle said with a quick nod (although her now noticeable limping spoke
volumes against her answer).</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">"Go
see if you can get someone from Medical down here." David said with a
gesture toward the Hatchway out of the Engine Room. "Someone said
something about seeing a couple of Corpsman out there earlier. See if they're
still around..."</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">"Also..."
David interjected quickly. "See if anyone's found out what's happening on
the Bridge...We need to find out what's happening up there."</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">Without
waiting for a reply (although David was aware of Michelle's exit), David fully
returned his attention to Rece. "So..." David asked with a look at
Rece's head: checking for any notable bumps or bleeding. "How do you like
the Engine Room?" he asked in a dry tone, but allowing a small smile to
his face.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">Rece
took several deep breaths and slowly exhaled. The breathing exercises
seemed to ease the cramps in her abdomen. Turning her head she looked at David
and gave him a smile. "You have an interesting style. But if I
knew you were going to go this crazy with redecorating, I'm thinking I should
have left you at home." She tried to chuckle but it sent her stomach into
another set of spasms and she began coughing again.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">"Oh..."
David said with the same smile - still looking over Rece's injuries. There
wasn't a lot that he could do to help her (Anatomy and Physiology were not of
his stronger suits in the Scientific Knowledge). But he would do what he could
to help her. "But you didn't bring me along for my 'decorating'
techniques, did you?"</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">Rece sat
up and gave him a half smile.<span style=""> </span>"No I
didn't"</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">Jennifer
looked at Da'nak, her thoughts went to the sacrifices to his person that he'd
made to save them all. "Oh my gosh Da'nak," she said softly,
"let me see if there's anything I can do." She knew some basic First
Aid, but she'd never studied if Andorians would react the same way to it as
humans.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">Not
being totally confident in her abilities she kept looking around and gently she
started checking the Defender's head to see if there was any serious injuries
outside of the earlier cut. Uncertainly she took her fingers and touched one of
his antennae, she wanted to make sure they were still securely attached to his
head.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">Hearing
a noise a little distance away she saw two Corpsmen walk in the room. With a
bit of a sigh of relief she motioned for them to come over and help the
Andorian that she'd started to think of as a friend.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;"><tags
Da'nak (and Corpsman?)></p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">With a
quick word Jennifer asked one of the Corpsmen to help the Defender and the
other she directed to the Captain's location.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">David
noticed the movements of one of the Corpsmen: moving quickly to the Captains'
place on the floor. Giving Rece a comforting pat to the hand, he moved back,
and allowed the Medical Crewperson room to work...</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">Rece
looked at the corpsman.<span style=""> </span>It was the young
woman from earlier. Holding up a hand she stop her from talking.<span style=""> </span>"I know.. you told me not to move.<span style=""> </span>I will got to medical, just not yet."</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;">(tag
corpsman? )</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; color: black;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">David turned his
head at a rushed sound: watching Fritz Vogel nearly running back into
Engineering. "We've got a problem..." he said without regard for
anything else going on around him - heading for one of the last Auxiliary
Stations left intact.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">David waited for
(what seemed) a long moment. As the pregnant silence went unanswered, David
began motioning for the Petty Officer to continue. "What is it,
Fritz?" he asked impatiently. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">As the words left
David's mouth, Fritz turned back toward the Crewmembers. "This." he
said simply, and pressed a button on the control panel...</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">The Monitor situated
directly above Fritz 'flickered', and the image of an NX Class Starship
appeared. David felt a welling of happiness form in the pit of his stomach at
the sight. Rising to his feet, he began dusting away bits of dirt and grime
from his uniform. "Who is it?" David asked with an excited voice. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">"Meridian?
Challenger?" (He said the last word with a bit of hopeful expectation: he
hadn't seen the Challenger since his reassignment, and he was encouraged by the
possibility of his former post coming to help the Yorktown with this particular
problem). </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">A frustrated look
took Fritz's face, and he shook his head slowly. Returning to the Control
Board, the image of the Vessel began to tighten: the Ship Registry becoming
more visible as the lettering became clearer...</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">David felt his
throat tightening. His breath tried to hold in that throat at the paradoxical
sight, and he shook his head in response. "What the hell?" David
asked in total disbelief. </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Rece struggled to
her feet.<span style=""> </span>She didn't feel<span style=""> </span>well but she need to see the screen.<span style=""> </span>After making her way there she leaned in as
saw something that made her blink.<span style="">
</span>"Does that say what I think it does?"<span style=""> </span>She rubbed her eyes. "HMS
Yorktown?!"</p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0in; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </p>
TO BE CONTINUED <br>~~~<br>Cmdr Rece Morgan - CO<br>Defender Da'nak Ca'daar - CHO<br>Lt David Taylor - CEO<br>Eng Jennifer Taylor - CCO<br clear="all"><br>-- <br>RM<br><br>"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."<br>
-Calvin & Hobbes<br>