Machines and Might - Part Four

Posted on Thu Mar 12th, 2020 @ 12:31am by Captain Marcus Duval & Commander Beth Woerner & Lieutenant Commander Tan'ato Tejera & Lieutenant Commander Shorin Gal'jaridd & Lieutenant Commander Kaitlin Nesbitt & Lieutenant Tyla Shrikewing & Lieutenant Rtas "Halfjaw" 'Vadum'ee & Captain Annalee Stevens & Lieutenant Michael Nelson & Lieutenant Commander Jacqui Briggs & Lieutenant JG Sarah Ashley & Master Chief Petty Officer Chen Vaxx

Mission: Mission 85: My Soul's in Arms, and Eager for the Fray
Location: Various Locations - USS Manticore
Timeline: 1500Hrs - May 12th, 2392

Commander Marcus Duval started as he woke up. Lieutenant JG Sarah Ashley was standing over him, tricorder in hand as she scanned him. "Easy skipper. You're awake.. good." the Counselor commented, a forced smile on her lips.

"Whats happened Counselor?" Duval inquired, before he let out a soft moan, while he noticed the sight before him.

"We got our ship back but over two hundred of the crew were wounded and twenty-nine are confirmed deceased and more or less the entire crew is in here, being treated for a hundred issues." Lieutenant Shorin Gal'jaridd came over, like Ashley next to her, the Bolian was splattered in blood and ichor from various members of the crew. "It's good to see you awake skipper but you're in no shape to do anything."

"I can-" he stopped. "not move." he finished as he had tried to get up and found that he couldn't. "Doctor?"

"The toxin has been purged from your system but you need time to recover and rest skipper." Doctor Gal'jaridd explained in her best 'I'm watching you very carefully' accent. The one that Duval knew not to trifle with.

"How bad was it?" Duval inquired.

"It was quite painful and we very nearly lost you. You will begin to regain your strength in a day or two, but for now, you must take things easy.. We'll send you back to B Kayor with the rest of the wounded."

"I can't leave my ship.," Duval answered. "This.. uh... fucking hell."

"Manticore is in good hands, we have guys over from the Concord Dawn and the Courageous helping with repairs and the like. We've also been reprovisioned and restocked with new weapons." Gal'jaridd explained with a rare smile on her lips. "There is no shame in this skipper. Manticore will be the same as you left her." she paused.

Ashley chipped in. "Look at it like this skipper. Everyone is where they need to be, we were trained well and you won't be the only one heading back as wounded. At least half the crew is going with you, but we've got it on good authority we'll be getting replacements soon."

"Alright." Duval sighed softly. "It'll give me time to write those dearly departed letters anyway."

"That's the spirit skipper. We'll handle things while the crew is gone." Gal'jaridd explained. "Sarah, help the skipper with his needs, would ya?. I need to see to the other wounded.

Ashley nodded her head. "On it." she smiled.

Meanwhile, the female Bolian in a blood-splattered uniform moved across the sickbay to her next wounded. Lieutenant Tyla Shrikewing, the Manticores chief security officer was lying on her bed, eyes closed as she looked to be asleep. "Tyla?" Gal'jaridd inquired.

Shrikewing opened her eyes. "Doctor. What can I do for you?" the black-haired woman inquired.

"Lie back and relax, that is what you can do for me, Lieutenant." Gal'jaridd responded. "I heard your people did well."

"I still lost too many of them," Shrikewing responded, in a soft quiet tone of voice.

"I understand. But they knew what they were fighting for. They were fighting to protect us." Gal'jaridd smiled. "We're going to be sending you back to B Kayor with the wounded. the Klingons have poisoned all of their blades and it's been draining for the people who have been poisoned with this toxin. It's fast acting and unstable so it hits different people randomly. It nearly killed the skipper but didn't nail you too hard."

"I see," Shrikewing commented. "Mind if I have the details of this toxin. I want to do some research on it, maybe devise some counters for it." Shrikewing sounded almost hopeful. "It'll give me something to think about on the long trip back home."

"Sure, I don't need to tell you about overworking. Do I?" Gal'jaridd inquired.

"You do not Doctor. Message received anyway." Shrikewing responded lightly.

"Good. I'll have someone give you the information okay?" she paused. "Call one of the nurses over if you need anything."

"I will, thanks, Doc."

Just then the doors opened and in walked Beth Woerner, the new acting Commanding Officer, she came over to where Shorin Gal'jaridd was standing. "Talk to me, Doctor?"

"We have two hundred and sixteen patients, many will be alright but we lost twenty-nine in all." she paused. "The toxin was removed from each person affected but it's going to take them awhile to come back from it. Some are worse than others but I need about two hundred and fifty new people to replace what we lost here."

Beth Woerner processed the news with a smile and a nod. "Alright. I'll inform Admiral Kumirae Onika of the good news and the bad news." she paused. "Thanks, Doctor. You and your guys did a hell of a job. You should be commended for it."

"Thanks, Commander." Gal'jaridd sighed. "We did the best we could."

"I know." Woerner smiled. "Besides. We all get to live and keep our ship. That's gotta mean something right?"

"It does. Thank you, Commander. I'd best get back to it."

"I'll leave you to it." and with that Woerner turned and departed.