USS SORANUS: Making some progress, but it’s a long list!
by Andrew Bell
SD 211022

<  Previous Material >
MD: 8.2040
Scene: Main Engineering

There was a slight chirping noise "Lieutenant, good to hear your voice"
Commander Henderson responded "What's the situation down there?"

Doyle had a quick glance around "Sir, half of my team are injured and pretty
much all systems are down" he had a quick glance at a padd "I have managed to
restore minimal life support, main power is out. Strictly speaking I can't even
get out of engineering".

Another chirp from the communicator "At least we can talk, did you hear the
broadcast from the bridge?" Henderson replied.

Doyle thumbed the communicator "Yes sir, loud and clear. At least we know
you are alive up there". One of the engineers cheered just as the dim
emergency power lights came on, Doyle grinned "Well sir looks like I can
give you some auxiliary power, don't use it all at once though"

"It's a start Lieutenant" replied Henderson "I will get back to you with
some priorities.

"Yes sir, I look forward to it" Doyle closed the communicator and grabbed a
hydrospanner, "Someone give me a lift with this plasma conduit" he shouted
heading off towards the warp core.

< New Material >
Paul smiled as the connection closed off, and as the auxiliary power illuminated
the dishevelled Bridge.  Doyle was working his magic, even under the pressure
that seemed to be universal on the ship at the moment, but was making progress. 
Auxilliary power was definitely a step up on where things had been.  The
challenge would be where to start in terms of the list of priorities.  That was
something to be sorted sooner, rather than later, but all was not lost as yet. 
Far from it, given progress over recent minutes.

< Previous Material >
MD 8.2055

“Got it.” She said aloud triumphantly.

Those in the bridge including Henderson looked at her for confirmation and she
gave it.

"Communications are back on-line. However, I would suggest instructing people to
limit use and make reports in a staggered fashion. Too many people on the system
at once could overload it’s still a bit patchy”

The Commander nodded opening a channel for his second broadcast “This is
Lieutenant Commander Henderson, reporting from the Bridge. We’ve a small bit
of good news. I ask you to listen carefully as we need your help to fully assess
the condition of the ship. Communications are back online but not up to full
strength….”

As he spoke, Renee turned her gaze on him in the half-light. His voice held such
confidence and calm assurance as he matter of factly give instruction to the
crew *the kind of confidence that Captain Gopher’s reserved sometimes taciturn
ways failed to inspire.”* She instantly chided herself, the man had been fully
dedicated to the ship and crew and was qualified and highly intelligent ..and
fighting for his life in the ready Room. While certain memories seemed
unreachable, others from her past came unbidden . This would be the third ship
she had served on and possibly the second captain to be lost…but Gopher was
still hanging on and she was committed to doing everything in her power to
ensure his survival to ensure they all survived. Still she would have to face
that she may need help sorting through her own emotions in order to be an
effective counselor…She would need to contact the Counselor at the nearest
starbase, wherever that was…she felt
  alone and as if the situation would threaten to overwhelm her * I must take his
example,  she thought, looking at Henderson *focus on what needs to be done* but
even her own mind was betraying her, she couldn’t recall his first name

Then came a flash of memory of her in her quarters in  bed with Henderson
sitting on the edge of it. Her head began to throb almost as if her brain were
actively trying to block the memories but she stubbornly pushed through.

“Paul” she exclaimed!  She half realized with horror that she had spoken
aloud and that people were looking at her as she teetered near the edge of
losing consciousness as the pain in her head increased.

< New Material >

Paul’s eyes flicked in surprise at Renee’s sudden exclamation.  He was both
surprised, confused and then relieved as momentary realisation occurred to him. 
There was a lot going on within her at the moment, and these occasional glimpses
just provided the certainty on that.  Something he’d have to be mindful of,
without doubt, and keep an eye on.  Everyone was barrelling forward at the
moment, adrenalin masking many minor injuries they were undoubtedly managing,
but they could quickly manifest themselves at a moment’s notice.

The wince across her face betrayed the pain she was also experiencing.  It was
something that couldn’t be ignored, but could be tactfully managed.  He knew
ordering her into recovery would achieve nothing positive, and also leave him a
hand down, at a time when there weren’t a large number of additional hands to
work with.  But, there were things that could be done to placate things, whilst
also maintaining dignity and the need to be involved.  Just at this time, he
suspected that focus was a key to Renee’s current stability – removing it
could be catastrophic.

He moved to the emergency medical kit and retrieving a hypospray, checking the
contents to be sure they were what he envisaged would do the trick.  Whilst not
a doctor, his training in Science and time as a Starfleet officer had taught him
enough to know the hypospray would be innocuous, but would do the temporary
trick.  Paul made his way to Renee’s side as she tried to vanquish the torture
the pain was providing currently, standing beside her and talking quietly so as
not to draw further attention to Renee and her internal battle.

“Counsellor, I’m no trained doctor, but I can tell you’re struggling with
pain at the moment.  I’m concerned about your injuries”, he continued, then
put a pausing hand on her shoulder and held her gaze as she turned to
protest,” but I don’t need to be a counsellor to know I’d have to order
you into the triage to stand down from your efforts at the moment.  I don’t
want to do that for a range of reasons – you want to be here, you’d fight me
on it, we’re fairly short handed at the moment and, I suspect being here at
this station is actually helping you currently with whatever your injuries are. 
But, as much as you are strong willed, your pain threshold only goes so high,
and you are struggling with the pain you are feeling.  This should help”, he
said, handing her the hypospray.

“It’s generic and fairly benign, with no longer term risks or effects, but
in the short term, it will take the edge off that pain and help you function
more comfortably.  Once we’ve sorted through this mess to a reasonably sane
degree, then we can get you fully checked out.”

Without giving her a chance to argue, Paul stepped away, moving back to the
command space, looking down at the readouts before him, his focus returning to
the tasks at hand.  He knew there were lots of questions and queries, but time
was of the essence.

“OK people, we need a priority list for repairs and focus:
Internal Communications are stabilised to an extent – important for that
stability to become permanent, so that we can be talking to one another.
Primary Systems are our key –
We need power stabilised
We need our eyes back – we have no idea what is around us at the moment, and
who could be waiting for us.  We need external sensors back online.
We need a comprehensive idea of what shape we’re in – do we have total
structural integrity, or are we venting atmosphere?  I need emergency response
teams to physically comb the ship, until such time as our external sensors and
damage systems are back online.
Whilst our propulsion systems are important and need to be up quickly, I’m not
as worried about them until we know we are in one piece and what is around
us.”

Having outlined the list verbally on the Bridge, he collected his thoughts for a
moment, then set about getting everything organised in place with crew and
departments.

“Commander Robbins – I want you to focus on stabilising our communications,
and getting our external sensors and communications back online.  Knowing that
talking to one another isn’t going to crash will be reassuring, and being able
to see and talk to the outside world will definitely be helpful.”

“Lieutenant Rox, I need your department getting me information, and helping
where you can.  Your people can be mobile fastest, given your contingency plans.
Use that mobility to get me information on the status of our ship.  I know many
of your people have an engineering background as well.  Get a sitrep on the
physical state of this ship.  We need information on how together we are,
physically, to focus Engineering’s efforts.  Also, shields and weapons are
your task.  Shields are a priority, to keep us together and fend off any
surprise that might be around us.  And we have no idea what has happened or
where we might be, so let’s be as ready as we can be.”

[Science, I need your people supporting other departments at the moment.  Those
with medical expertise, move into injury management and triage.  Those with
technical and engineering expertise, cycle to Engineering to support their
efforts.  Any with strengths or foci in communications and data analysis,
Communications can use your help in getting things re-established.]

“Henderson to Engineering.”
[Doyle here, sir.]
“I have that priority list for you, Lieutenant.  Primary systems stabilised
– power, life support, sensors and shields.  Propulsion, whilst important is
slightly less so until we know we’re in one piece, and will stay in one piece.
I have Science personnel being divided to the key areas, to provide assistance. 
Use the extra bodies as you need them.  Until internal sensors are back online,
Security are going to provide you with a flying team to physically check all
sections to compile your focus and target areas for structural integrity and key
issues.  Hope that’s enough to keep you going, initially, Mr. Doyle.”

Paul breathed for a moment, then looked toward Renee.

“Counsellor, put me on shipwide transmission please?”
“Go ahead, sir”
[This is Commander Henderson.  Department Heads have been given our priority
areas for getting back on our feet.  All of you have tasks to do.  You are doing
a great job, and whilst it’s going to take a step at a time, we’re getting
there.  Set about your efforts, and let’s get things sorted out.  Keep up the
great work!]

Paul broke off the channel, and sagged for a moment, able to breathe for a
second.  They weren’t out of the woods yet, not by a long shot, but for one
small moment, it seemed like control was there.

Respectfully submitted
Andrew Bell
playing
Lieutenant Commander Paul Henderson
XO, USS SORANUS
Website: http://usssoranus.org
Email: llebwerdna@...

<< NRPG >>
All -
Tags across the board.  Plenty to do!  Enjoy!