Posted by Lieutenant T’Pris (Chief Science Officer) in Melania IV- Planetside

Posted by Gamemaster Budgie (Gamemaster) in Melania IV- Planetside

Posted by Commander David Morris (Commanding Officer) in Melania IV- Planetside
Posted by… suppressed (41) by the Post Ghost! 👻

---

Xekeer carried on pacing around the room waiting for the guards to return.
“How many of your people do we have to torture to get some answers?” He asked, to no one in particular, the frustration clear in his voice. His footsteps echoing around the dark chamber. It wasn’t long until the guards returned with Conway. Xekeer smiled as the door shut.
“I’m going to give you one more chance. Give us the ship movements in this sector, its a simple enough question.” He stated, Mary just glared back defiantly.
“Very well.” With that he picked up a syringe and injected Conway, who collapsed immediately seemingly dead. Mary looked stunned, the shock clear on her face.
“I did warn you. We are serious. Now, I’ll give you the evening to think over on what has happened here. I’m sure you’re broken Vulcan friend will have some choice words.” He stated with a grin.

GM Budgie

T’Pris’ eyes narrowed at the broken Vulcan comment but her concern was more for Conway, whom she studied closely to see if he was breathing.

~Dr. T’Pris

He seemed to not be breathing, if he was it was incredibly shallow, impossible to tell without a scan. She would likely, and logically, assume that Conway was dead. Xekeer smiled at the reaction, he knew he was getting to her. He wanted to break her.
“Come on, broken Vulcan lets get you back to the others. I’m sure you’ll want to cry over your ex-colleague.” He stated with a grin. The guards moved over and unbound T’Pris and Mary, who was still looking in shock at the ease in which Conway had been dealt with and then forgotten, like nothing had happened. The guards motioned for T’Pris and Mary to move and walk back to their cells, weapons drawn.

GM Budgie

T’Pris pressed her lips together as she said nothing as she rose and moved passed Conway’s body, trying to see again if there was any signs of life but she couldn’t tell.

~Dr. T’Pris
T’Pris pressed her lips together as she said nothing as she rose and moved passed Conway’s body, trying to see again if there was any signs of life but she couldn’t tell.

~Dr. T’Pris

T’Pris could see nothing obvious that indicated signs of life.

A couple of hours later David could hear footsteps coming. The familiar sound of Romulan boots on the hard floor reverberating around the empty cells. Eventually the guards appeared with T’Pris. Conway was nowhere to be seen. Surprisingly they lowered the forcefield on the cell David was in and they shoved T’Pris in the cell. They then put Mary Mayfield in with Darkliss. She was still on the bed in her cell.
“Evening meal will be brought along shortly. We’ll be back for you in the morning.” One of the guards explained. With that, they left without another word.

GM Budgie

T’Pris stumbled into the cell with the shove and fell to her knees. She grunted slightly with the impact before she pushed herself back up. She pushed her hair out of her face as she waited until the Romulans left before she spoke to the Captain.
“I believe Conway may be dead, sir. They injected him with something and I could detect no signs of breathing or heartbeat from him after that.” Her features were grim and the skin around her eyes was stretched taut. Her eyes looked like bottomless pits, they were so black. If a Vulcan could look haunted then T’Pris did. “Is anyone else gone? What about Darklis? Did they bring her back?”

~Dr. T’Pris

David indicated the limp figure in the other cell. “Shortly before you. She’s been unconscious since. Do not give up hope on Conway yet - it is possible to survive in a suspended state for a near-indefinite length of time, like many civilizations’ early sleeper ships. They may have only wished him to have the appearance of death as a bargaining tool. Did you spot any other passages while he took you there or back?”

Commander David Morris
Commanding Officer

“Lot’s of passages but I am not an engineer, sir. I am afraid I could not deduce the structure of the facility we are in. No windows to see the outside though.” T’Pris moved over to one of the walls and slid down into a seated position. She hoped Darklis would be alright, she had not liked seeing any of them being tortured, it was barbaric and very difficult to try to keep her stoic calm in place. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply in and out as she tried to purge herself of what she had been forced to watch and endure. She had to purge the anger as well, being angry at such a being as Xekeer was a waste of time and energy that she could not spare. She was only giving him what he wanted…a reaction. She knew it logically but it was difficult to put into practise.

~Dr. T’Pris

“Understood,” David noted. Labyrinthine passages complicated any escape attempt. But one would need to be made, and soon. “Lt. Castle should be alright as well, when the Wolverine is able to locate us. She will survive this, even if it does leave scars of some variety.” David smiled softly. “I hope Xekeer is willing to engage in a civilized discussion soon.”

Commander David Morris
Commanding Officer

“That, is unlikely.” A familiar voice replied, it was Skolvik, the half Vulcan Intelligence Officer, David had spoken to earlier.
“He is fully maniacal. He hates the federation, they all do. They blame us for the downfall of the Romulan Empire. All they want is to cause pain and suffering.” He added moving into view, he looked over at T’Pris.
“I’m surprised he didn’t just kill you outright.” He stated matter of factly.
“I’m sure you have lots of questions. We have plenty of time for them now. Please, ask away.” Skolvik stated with his arms folded.

GM Budgie

T’Pris grimaced, “I must admit I am surprised myself.” T’Pris said after she had taken a deep breath and looked up again. “I do not believe we have met, I am Dr. T’Pris, scientific civilian and you are quite right about Xekeer. I do not see us getting out of here unless the Wolverine is able to effect our rescue. I wish my psychic skills were up to more then telepathy and empathy, though I have never tried anything more then a small bit of telekinesis in moving small objects.” She frowned suddenly as she studied the doors wondering if they might be vulnerable in having moving parts within. But even if they got out of here, where would they go? They were on an unknown planet and had no idea if the Wolverine were even on the way to find them.

~Dr. T’Pris

“Are you able to get a signal off-planet?” David asked. “Or barring that, smuggle in any form of medicine?”

Commander David Morris
Commanding Officer

Skolvik nodded before replying.
“I can do one better. I could probably get this forcefield down. I’ve noticed that they usually run a system wide maintenance every other day in the early hours of the morning. There’s a very narrow window where the system is vulnerable for a few seconds. It just so happens that today is the day for the maintenance. I could get this forcefield down long enough that you could both get out of here. I I can get you a map of the base and a tricorder.” He stated and paused, letting that sink in.
“It’s not much but the best I can do. Are you up for it?” He asked looking at T’Pris and Morris.

GM Budgie

T’Pris straightened, “Absolutely, Captain?” She felt energized for the first time in a long time. Mind you why was this man willing to do that? Who was he?

~Dr. T’Pris

(OOC: Split!)

“It’s enough,” David agreed. “But can you get Lt. Castle out somehow? I don’t think we’d manage an escape carrying her, but I refuse to leave a member of my crew behind.”

Commander David Morris
Commanding Officer
Skolvik sucked in a breath.
“It would be a stretch, I don’t want to blow my cover. I will do what I can for her when the field goes down.” He replied, hoping that would be enough.

Seeing the confusion on T’Pris’ face Skolvik smiled.
“My name is Skolvik. I’m Starfleet intelligence.” He stated simply.

GM Budgie

“Ah.” T’Pris said with a short nod of understanding. “I’m ready whenever you gentlemen are.”

~Dr. T’Pris

“Let’s not waste time. We still have to figure out where they took Ensign Dradvia after we escape.” David leaned against the wall. “How long until the field goes down?”

Commander David Morris
Commanding Officer

Skolvik took out a PADD and checked.
“Half an hour. I’ll go and get the tricorders and a phaser.” He made to leave and then paused.
“Ensign.... Dradvia did you say?” He asked.

GM Budgie

“That’s correct. Do you recognize the name?”

Commander David Morris
Commanding Officer

Skolvik nodded and looked at Morris, his eyes full of sadness.
“I’m afraid she’s lost to you. I overheard one of the leaders. They’ve given her over to the Syndicate. She’ll be long gone by now. I’m truly sorry.” He stated and with that he scurried off.

T’Pris frowned, “Maybe the Federation could negotiate her return with the Syndicate.” She murmured.

30 minutes later, Skolvik returned, he had two tricorders, hand phasers and a PADD- this contained a map of the facility. He was panting and he returned. like he had been in a hurry. He put the items on the floor and walked over to a console at the back of the room. He looked over to Morris and T’Pris.
“Are you ready?” He asked.

GM Budgie

T’Pris walked over to the items and passed up a tricorder, a phaser and the map to the Captain before she picked up her own tricorder and phaser. She checked the setting on the phaser and made sure it was set on stun. She then flipped open the tricorder and set it to scan for life forms.

~Dr. T’Pris

The tricoder showed the starfleet officers in the cells. There were no other life signs in the immediate vicinity.

GM Budgie

“There is no one in our immediate vicinity, Captain.” T’Pris said as she stood ready to go.

~Dr. T’Pris

“Then let’s get moving,” David stated, plotting out a route to whatever hangar facilities were accessible. “We need to assume the Wolverine won’t be able to reach us, although I think it’s likely they will.”

Commander David Morris
Commanding Officer

“Aye sir.” T’Pris said briefly, ready to follow the Captain’s lead.

~Dr. T’Pris

“Keep your phaser ready. Fire on anyone - if it’s a member of our crew, we’ll carry them with, but I wouldn’t put it past Imperial Sabre, from what I’ve read of them, to use surgically altered decoys to try to recapture us.”

Commander David Morris
Commanding Officer

“Aye sir.” T’Pris said with a slight grimace. She didn’t like the thought of firing on a crew member but the Captain was right so she would do it.

Skolvik nodded.
“Aye, they’ll use whatever is necessary to get you back.” Then a voice popped up.
“I for one, am not intending to let that happen.” It was Mary Mayfield the Fleet Captain. She hobbled over to the group and she turned to David.
“We have a plan I take it?” She asked.

GM Budgie

“We do, ma’am. Steal one of their ships and sabotage anything we can along the way. Do you think you’ll be capable of operating a station once we get to a ship?”

Commander David Morris
Commanding Officer

~Dr. T’Pris

Mary nodded and smiled.
“Sounds good to me. I suspect your ship will be arriving soon. Assuming they followed you as soon they could I would guess they’ll arrive in the next hour or.” She replied.
“I’ll be fine to manage a station, believe it or not, I’ve had worse. These clowns couldn’t interrogate a sheep.” She smirked and then motioned to the others to follow her.
“Let’s go then. Morris, you take point. Vulcan, you watch our back I’ll be in the middle.” She then turned and looked mournfully at Commodore Oper a tear forming in her eye. She hated leaving Officers behind, but in Intelligence it was expected.

OOC: What happened to Oper? Why are we leaving Oper behind?
OOC: This is my sleep-deprived recollection but because she was tortured to a mental break and is in no condition to move on her own.

OOC: Amdirgol is correct. She’s catatonic but effectively dead at this point

T’Pris nodded and took her place at the rear, she didn’t appreciate being called ‘Vulcan’ like that but did not comment or show that it bothered her. This was not the time or place.

The corridor was straight for about approximately 20m and then split off, left and right. The right corridor was dimly lit the walls were smooth. The left was the same except for a couple of doors on either side approximately 10m on from the T junction.

GM Budgie

David waved a stop, and held up the tricorder, scanning for energy signatures that would indicate a ship or shuttle.

Commander David Morris
Commanding Officer

T’Pris stopped and scanned as well.

~Dr. T’Pris

Commander David Morris
Commanding Officer

No signal was shown on either tricorder. One of the rooms showed a large collection of life signs. It was likely either a barracks or mess hall. To the right a Romulan suddenly appeared.

GM Budgie

T’Pris’ reflexes were fast and she fired dead center at the Romulan.

~Dr. T’Pris

David’s shot half a moment later went low, about a foot under T’Pris’ beam.

Commander David Morris
Commanding Officer

The Romulan collapsed with a thump after taking both blasts to the chest. The silence straight after was deafening. Then, the lifesigns on the tricorder began to move, it looked like they were moving to the door and about to enter the corridor.

GM Budgie

T’Pris quickly looked at the tricorder to see the quickest way to hide.

~Dr. T’Pris

David didn’t bother taking the time to check the scans - he just bolted for the second room on the left, phaser still leveled in front of him.

Commander David Morris
Commanding Officer

T’Pris scurried and followed the Captain, huffing quiet ly in frustration.

~Dr. T’Pris

The door opened, it was pitch black inside, or had been, as the light flooded into the room. They could see that it was a store room of some kind, probably a small weapons room judging by the area of . At that moment klaxons responded throughout the base. The instant the door shut Romulan voices shouted outside in the corridor, making their way to the door of the weapons locker.

GM Budgie

T’Pris frowned and quickly looked around for inspiration. Could they detonate any of these weapons like bombs to throw at the guards?

~Dr. T’Pris

Along the same train of thought, David checked to see if any of them could be quickly programmed to lay down repeating semi-random fire and set up at the doorway to prevent the guards from entering.

Commander David Morris
Commanding Officer