Star Trek: Theurgy

EP 2 S: [D3 | 0015hrs] If You Want Blood, You Got It

March 02, 2025, 07:25:11 PM

[Jaeih T’haelaa | Corridor | Deck 6 | The Helmet] Attn: @RyeTanker @Ellen Fitz @Brutus

The former sentinel avoided the distractions of the battle raging beyond the viewports; there were elements in motion now that required her attention. Even as she walked at full stride, Jaeih’s mind churned at the implications and consequences of the few choices she had left, given the circumstances at hand.

Time, it seems, has run its course, the Romulan admitted to herself, pulling the hood free from her head to reveal the stark white drape of hair. In the next stride, the outer robes fell from muscled shoulders to the carpeted floor while she pulled the sword concealed from the scabbard between her shoulder blades with effortless grace – the steel, no longer than her arm, held a recurved edge and gleamed in the red-tinted gloom of combat lighting. The blade had a name, like all weapons should; it was etched into blood channels along its length – V’ale, in the nearly forgotten tongue of Jaeih’s ancestors – a name her more ‘modern’ kin would misinterpret as simply Truth.

Nothing is ever simple, Jaeih allowed herself a rare smile, only the barest curl of her lips. Word had finally reached her of the Praetor’s demise. Phase one, it seemed, had been accomplished, now the final act dawned: for the benefit of all Romulans, they could not trade one dictator for another – certainly not one as power hungry and arrogant as the upstart ‘Empress’ Donatra.

And now, the masks slip free, the sentinel exhaled quietly, features set in determination. By her own actions, Jaeih had aided Donatra in neutering the internal sensors and sowing confusion during the various incursion attempts by the Empress' and the Praetor's agents thus far; a necessary evil to assure the would-be monarch’s trust and confidence, as well as a means to an end, to see where the chips would fall. Now, we enter the endgame.

She turned a corner and the blade in her hand slashed the empty air in a flurry of blurred motion; emerald blood sprayed in an arc, jetted from seemingly nothing, painting the wall and viewport in gore. The hidden Tal’Shiar agent’s cloak-suit failed as it slumped with a wet gurgle, collapsing to his knees. Jaeih took a second to impale her blade into the wall as the man died, then casually lifted the disruptor pistol from his body, and loosed three shots into the wall behind her. Cold eyes returned to the body; this one had been one of Donatra's, and thus, one of Jaeih's. She had tracked his progress meticulously, and applauded his skillful execution; now he would serve a new purpose in death.

Surely that will bring someone along, the Sentinel nodded, tossing the weapon to the floor.

[PO2 Kino Jeen | Moving between decks 5/6 | The Helmet]

They’d materialized moments earlier and hit the deck running, as the saying went; Kino on point, followed close by Hirek, while Falvar and Agans fanned out on either side. The ship was taking a beating around them as they moved – if the constant rumble and shakes meant anything, not to mention the power fluctuations, or the fact that every time Kino glanced outside there seemed to be a constant lightshow on display. Not the nice ones either, like the one I planned for Red’s birthday, Jeen frowned to herself at the insanity taking place outside. Win or lose, whatever happens today will go down in history as a very bad day.

A ping on her wrist-PADD prompted a data feed spike into her helm display, as SecOps uploaded sensor data. Kino blink-clicked an acknowledgment. “Contact, weapons fire ahead, next junction,” she alerted her team and lengthened her stride in the same instant. “Eyes up."

Kino’s rifle moved in perfect synchronicity with her eye as they moved to intercept; at the corner junction she paused, checked her corners, pivoted, and locked in on a lone figure at the end of the hall. A female, tall, white hair: she stood with her back to Kino, next to a prone body on the deck. Damn, that’s a big bitch, Jeen’s brow twitched.

“Security – hands spread in the air, now,” Kino commanded.

The figure complied, slow and deliberate.

“Slowly turn,” Kino commanded, taking equally slow steps towards the woman. "Take three steps towards me."

The figure complied, revealing a surprisingly dark skinned, green eyed Romulan, dressed in form fitting leather attire of unremarkable quality. Jeen saw no visible weapons, other than the length of a blade impaled into the wall and the side arm near her feet. The Romulan seemed almost…bored.

“You took your time,” the Romulan spoke in oddly accented Federation standard, then gestured to the body with a twitch of her hand. “As you can see, you have a serious problem. One I am obliged to assist with, for the greater good of my people.”

“Is that a fact,” Kino snorted, clamping her rifle to her chest as her team closed in. “I’m sure they’ll wanna hear all about it in the brig, lady,” the Trill smirked behind her helm as she fished out a set of binders.

The Romulans eyes flicked between the four of them, then settled back on Kino. “You may call me Jaeih, and if you wish to prevent more bloodshed, you will listen. Right now, there is an effort underway to neutralize your greatest asset – that abomination you name Thea,” her white hair swayed as the Romulan shook her head. “This is a ruse.”

Kino’s head tilted as the Trill shrugged her armored shoulders. “Okay biggums, color me curious: you can talk while we walk.”

The Romulan opened her mouth to speak, but the entire ship shook under one of the worst barrages yet; sparks flew from the walls and ceiling as EPS conduits shorted or overloaded – lights flickered, failed. Everything tumbled into chaos, as the world tumbled. Pressure flared and died as Jeen was tossed from deck to wall back to deck, then something was pulling her backwards at an insane velocity.

Hull breach, she knew, instinctively.

The next second, Kino was pulling herself up to a knee, trying to shake the disorientation away as she called out for her team and visually checked for everyone. The corridor behind them ended in a jagged gash of twisted metal, folded in melted composite metal. Behind a shimmer of a force field, the battle raged on in the void. Fuck, Kino blinked, then prepped to hail SecOps to report the situation, watching as Hirek moved to assist the other Romulan to her feet while Agans and Falvar recovered.

“New plan, start talking,” Jeen told her.

Jaeih grunted something between a laugh and a snort as she regained her feet. “A multi-pronged assault is underway. Without, within,” she nodded to the void, then to the deck. “To sow confusion, to distract. Even I don’t know where all our people are, or where they intend to strike, but I assure you this: Thea would already be dealt with if it were possible.”

Kino stood, giving Agans a hand up with a grunt then gestured to Hirek. “Yall certainly are full of yourselves, I’ll give you that,” she snipped, then addressed Jaeih with a jab of her finger. “Nice story lady, but that’s nothing we don’t already know. C’mon, we got a nice hole for you to sit in for awhile.”

The sentinel moved in a blur of motion, and before Kino could react, Hirek’s bulk was colliding with her in a crash of armored limbs. The momentum carried them both to the deck in a heap, while Jeen cursed and struggled to push him off of her. Too little, too late; Jaeih, the former sentinel, stood above them both, blade angled down at their heads while the disruptor pistol was raised to cover Agans and Falvar.

“I need you to pay attention, Starfleet. I am not your enemy. Your enemy is moving to strike at the head and heart of this ship as we speak. Do you understand me?”

OOC - have fun, sow chaos. (dont kill Jaeih, pls - im saving her for some fun later, lol)

Re: EP 2 S: [D3 | 0015hrs] If You Want Blood, You Got It

Reply #1 – March 17, 2025, 05:21:18 AM

[Lt Ida zh'Wann | Deck 5 | Vector 01 | The Helmet | USS Theurgy] @Dumedion @Ellen Fitz @Brutus

The hulking yet svelte armored suits moved down the corridor pensively as they kept a watch out for potential ambushes.  It was the nature of the business, but it was also one that Ida silently cursed in her mind as her team stalked the alloy hallways.  There were two sets of infiltrators on the ship.  The never be sufficient damned House Mo'kai had gotten their people in and loose on the ship.  The other was the thrice damned Tal'Shiar.  At least she thought they were.  Professional, stealthy, and deadly.  Even with Thea, it was proving difficult to reconstruct who had actually killed the Chief of Security since both species were technically stronger than the human and he's been taken unawares. 

The ship was shaking under multiple impacts as the team advanced and crew members moved to and fro dealing with their battle station responsibilities.  This made the situation hectic for the group monitoring their surroundings while lines of fire were constantly being blocked.  There was a chirp in the Deputy's ear.  "Lt. zh'Wann."  Thea began, though much less intoned, cold even. "There are anomalous heat signatures moving on decks 6.  They're not going too quickly and seem to be sticking to the Jefferies tubes."  That seemed to track and Zark's voice chimed in. "Makes sense. Big Klingons, small access ways.  I think they're going to try to storm engineering and breach the core.  They could also wreack havoc against the engineers in there."  Ida nodded minutley. "I concur. I'm headed there now and will be in place to fend them off in two minutes.  Alert the security team there and give them a likely exit locus."

"Acknowledged."  Zark came back quickly.  There was a pause where Lt. zh'wann expected the medic to close the comm frequency, but instead the line stayed open.  "Hold on, we just got a solid confirm on Romulan life signs nearby.  One of them is fluctuating wildly.  Looks like a trauma response. Kino is on her way to investigate.  Will update when I have more information."

Lt. zh'Wann could feel her antennae try to shoot up at the unexpected news.  What was going on, who had gotten the infiltrator?  Was it a trap?  The Deputy considered comming the Petty Officer to tell her to be careful, but she shook away the notion knowing the experienced NCO would do that automatically.  This was not a time to micromanage.   Instead, the Andorian opened a comm frequency to her team "Full speed to engineering. Hopefully we can get the Klingons to surrender before they exit and do damage."  It was possibly wishful thinking about getting them to surrender, but the Deputy knew she had to try.

[Shohlogh G'gedh | Deck 6 | Vector 01 | The Helmet | USS Theurgy]

He was by no means small, and that made their current situation worse as he trailed behind his three other comrades snaking their way through the cramped maintenance tubes on board the grethor damned Starfleet vessel.  Still, he didn't complain.  He would take his vengeance against the interlopers that had brought shame down upon his house.  If they hadn't interfered, then Mo'kai would have been victorious and House G'gedh would have been elevated in their fued against House Mnath.  Never mind they were both very minor houses, the fued had gone back over a millennia and Mnath had sided with the existing regime under Martok. 

Unfortunatley G'gedh had been crushed and their holdings absorbed into Mnath, and as much as it disgusted the third son of G'gedh to be slinking in the shadows instead of facing his enemies face to face, eye to eye with cold steel; this was a necessary part of his vengeance.  Still, there would be enough alien blood to be spilled soon when they got to the engineering section of the ship.  There had been that one blonde woman they thought was a human, but had turned out to be a Bajoran.  She'd been taken unawares and he's savoured her subdued meep of surprise when his burly arms had encircled her neck and head.  Not a sound had escaped as he massive hands had covered her mouth.  She'd barely even struggled and he's only gotten a whiff of the terror that had over taken the woman before he'd felt her neck satisfyingly snap.  It would have been better if he'd been able to plunge his dagger into her body and watch the life bleed out of her, but the group had larger goals.

Thoughts of vengeance stopped for a moment and the Klingon gagged as the stench of someone venting noxious silent flatulence in a confined space and a chorus of silent filthy curses followed, though the offender instead hissed then chuckled at the misfortune of his fellows. It took some more crawling and they were past the hideous fumes to the point where thoughts of vengeance could reassert themselves.  Soon.  Soon, the shame of house extinction would be wiped away in a glorious fireball that would signal to the universe that he had taken vengeance and he could recount his tale in the halls of Sto-Vo-Kor.  He was certain of it.

[IRS Vas'deletham | The battle in the Triangle....]

The lumbering carrier manoeuvred far more smartly than her size and bulk would give credit for as Commander Borroso ordered the large ship into an evasive pattern.  The ship shook under a few hits, but it was less than what could have been in store as most of the plasma torpedoes flew harmlessly passed.  One squadron of fighters formed up on each flank, fending off other attackers, or engaging some of the slower moving torpedoes. The Commander looked at the tactical display, looking to discern a pattern in the battle.  Too many ships were moving too and fro, but there had to be a key to the whole battle.  Something that would cause mass confusion in the ranks.

Then his mind saw it.  It was a small thing, but very easy to miss given the colour codes used to denote friend and foe.  There was one symbol that stood out.  The Federation starship.  There appeared to be a bubble around the ship that made any attacks difficult.  Maybe other ships were protecting it, but the amount of firepower it was putting out was impressive.  The Klingons were Federation allies the Commander mused.  Maybe destroying that ship would cease the reason for the Klingons to be here.  That didn't matter though, it was a threat that needed to be dealt with. 

Commander Borroso acted.  "Comm! Get me the Raalar wing! I want those Valdores to punch us a hole towards the Starfleet vessel."  The commander next turned to the tactical station. "Launch the reserve squadron and have them form up behind Raalar.  They'll lead the strike in and we'll follow them.  Standby to focus all forward batteries on the eneny."  The tactical officer nodded and moved to turn the Commander's intentions into action.  Commander Borroso then turned towards his marine commander. "Centurion, when we have knocked down their shields, standby to board and seize the Federation vessel."  The Centurion gave a predatory smile and gave a salute then turned to leave the ridge to organize his forces.

The carrier commander turned his attention back to the tactical display to watch his plan unfold and make any more adjustments.  His eye caught the first change to his plans too late and the ship rocked as a quartet of Klingon Birds of Prey swooped in from the aft quarter and unleashed a withering barrage of disruptors and torpedoes in a high speed pass.  The bridge shook violently as the shields did their best to weather the storm, but bleed through was inevitable and sparks exploded as several conduits vented their abuse.  "Four Klingon Warbirds coming in from 263 mark negative 85.  Hull damage to the port aft and port impulse engines!"  It would seem Commander Borroso's master plan would need some time before it would come to fruition.

Re: EP 2 S: [D3 | 0015hrs] If You Want Blood, You Got It

Reply #2 – June 01, 2025, 03:43:01 AM

Cmdr. (3rd) Hassar al-Zaheer | Corridor Outside the AI Core | Deck 2 | Vector 01 | USS Theurgy] Attn: @Brutus @Dumedion @RyeTanker @Ellen Fitz
[Show/Hide]

The battle had been going on for some time now, an hour at least if Hassar’s chronometer was working properly, and other than a bunch of heavy jostling and the occasional power flicker it was quiet by the AI core. Around the ship though things were in chaos and Hassar knew he had already lost at least one Marine and another wounded from those attached to the Starfleet security teams. While his job was to defend his current position he couldn’t help but feel impotent, he wasn’t in charge of the ship’s internal defense, having only just arrived the day before, and had to leave the fates of his Marines in the hands of a people who eschewed direct combat in favor of diplomacy. He trusted the Spirits though and if it was their time to go hopefully they would find comfort in the afterlife; yet his frustration still lingered. Rather than think on that topic more he instead returned to the thoughts of defense of this vital part of the ship, the AI core, a miraculous piece of technology, so miraculous to Hassar it seemed like magic, however that could apply to so much Starfleet technology. He spoke with the AI, Thea, it called itself and took the guise of a human woman using holographics, it seemed pleasant and like a real person, nothing like the crude AI systems that the Vaharrans had brought with them from the old world. Thea’s realness was perhaps what solidified the importance of the mission to defend her for Hassar and his Marines, beforehand it just felt like any number of standard system defense protocols, defend the reactor, guard the armory, and so on.

There was a sudden shock that sent the entire security team tumbling to the steel deck. The lights flickered and then were extinguished to be replaced with emergency lighting. Hassar rose to his feet and helped up one of the Starfleet security officers that were with him while another broke out her tricorder device and started to scan the area. Even without the scan Hassar and the others could sense something was wrong, the communications equipment, both his own and the Starfleet issued combadges, were spotty and filled with static and the air felt heavy as the scents that accompanied broken equipment wafted down the now dimly lit corridor. Finally the security officer with the tricorder reported in, “there’s been a major hit on our deck, a hull breach, decompression of a section, the turbolift is down, shields are down in this area but are reassembling.”

“Are we going to lose oxygen?”, Hassar inquired.

“No we should be fine, the emergency force fields have sealed the damaged section.”

“Very well, let’s get some respirators on han-”

“Wait!”, he was suddenly cut off by the security officer, “I’m detecting transporter signals and Romulan life-signs, they’ve beamed a boarding party onto our deck!”

No sooner did she report this a metallic sphere was tossed by someone down the corridor in their direction, the defense team did not waste time as everyone made another acquaintance with the steel deck as the sphere bounced a couple times before rolling to a stop near the barricades to almost immediately detonate with a ear splitting noise and a blinding flash of light. Hassar was partially caught by this stunning device which left his ears ringing and temporarily unable to see in his right eye as he had not covered it in time. Most of the rest of the team were in not much better shape except for the two Marines by the portable barricades who scrambled back into a fighting position just in time for four Romulans in combat gear to round the corner intent on rushing the position while everyone was stunned. The lead two attackers were killed almost immediately before they could get a shot off, the first was hit in the neck and chest and slumped to the ground dead while the other was hit square on the right side of their forehead spraying their comrades in green blood and brains. The two following behind immediately took as much cover as they could and opened up with their disruptors but by now the rest of the combination Vaharran and Starfleet alien security force had recovered sufficiently to engage as well.

Hassar, still partially deaf, gestured for Al-Ahnad to get firing with the KP-100 while he himself crawled to the barricade. The heavy machine gun opened up as more Romulans down the corridor joined in the escalating fire fight, its deep pow pow pow was thunderous in the confined space of the ship as it sent its twenty millimeter rounds down range; its tracers and massive muzzle blast lit the corridor as did the sparks of its rounds slamming into various wall panel, shredding them to pieces. The two Romulans part of the initial assault tried to flee but were gruesomely mowed down. The Marines at the barricades along with Hassar contributed to the cacophony of noise and bullets as they kept the Romulans, probably taken aback by the destructive weaponry being used against them rather than a more civilized Starfleet phaser, took their own shots but with the level of bullets heading their way it was difficult to get a clear shot as disruptor beams struck bulkheads and barricades but were unable to hit any of the defenders directly. Sensing that the Romulans were sufficiently warded off from making another rush on their position Hassar ordered the firing slackened to conserve ammunition for another big push and with his hearing recovered enough to actually hear himself talk he attempted to reach out to his other Marines via their radios but could not get through and so switched to the Starfleet communicator.

[Security teams, this is Commander Al-Zaheer, we are under attack at the AI Core on Deck 2 by a large Romulan boarding party, numbers unknown possibly a dozen, we’ve got them held in place for now, be aware that the lift for this deck is non-functional, Al-Zaheer out], he reported to whoever was on the channel; he didn’t need reinforcements yet, but it was best to let those around know the situation. With that taken care of he popped out over the top of the barricade and sprayed a few rounds down at the Romulans to rattle them a little.

---

OOC NOTES-

-Hassar will for the moment be defending Thea's AI core during the battle but that may change based on events. Feel free to add a Vaharran NPC to your security squads if you like, just let me know if you have any questions about what gear they are carrying and how they fight.

-Refer to this post that details Hassar's arrival to Vector 1 with his Marines.

Re: EP 2 S: [D3 | 0015hrs] If You Want Blood, You Got It

Reply #3 – June 13, 2025, 06:54:53 PM

[Hirek tr’Aimne | Corridor | Deck 6 | The Helmet] Attn: @Brutus  @RyeTanker  @Dumedion @joshs1000

There were many things Hirek tr’Aimne excelled at—manipulation, seduction, subterfuge. Moving with grace in an over-engineered Starfleet exo-suit? Not among them. The damned thing made him feel like a battle-scarred mollusk dragging a torpedo casing.

Still, he adapted.

He stood now, boots braced on the angled deck, the scent of scorched conduit biting through the filters. One arm still cradled the pale-haired Romulan—Jaeih, apparently—whom he'd helped to her feet after the sudden decompression and containment seal locked them into this corridor of chaos. Whatever he’d expected from their mission today, being body-checked into Kino Jeen mid-stride certainly wasn’t on the list.

A smirk tugged at his lips. “If I’d known you wanted me on top of you, Lieutenant, I’d have arranged more flattering lighting.” Although he'd known Jaeih had been the one to use his bulk as a weapon against Kino, Hirek couldn't resist the opportunity to make her squirm in annoyance.

Pushing himself up with a grunt, just in time to see Jaeih draw her blade and level both it and a disruptor at their teammates. What a surprise...or rather, not. Hirek narrowed his eyes. He didn’t trust her. No right-minded Romulan would, not yet. But he understood her. Anyone playing a long game inside the Tal’Shiar’s snake pit that was Romulas earned a certain measure of wary respect. And, even more, she'd been working directly with the so-called Empress. That took great skill to survive.

Still, they had no time to debate philosophies.

And predictably, their argument was interrupted by the universe attempting to kill them again. The deck exploded in heat and light as Klingons burst from the adjoining corridor with bloodlust in their eyes and bat’leths high. Weapons fire blazed. Agans and Falvar moved to intercept, but one Klingon broke through fast—

Falvar stumbled—then screamed.

Jaeih spun in, her blade a whisper of motion. The Klingon’s roar became a gurgle as her blade slipped through his midsection, then twisted savagely. She shoved the body aside without a word, already scanning for the next threat.

Another Klingon crashed toward Hirek. He lifted his weapon—but not fast enough. A shot cracked. The warrior’s head snapped sideways, armor splitting. He dropped like a sack of wet meat. Glancing over his shoulder, he caught Kino's eyes just as she moved the end of her rifle away, already scanning for her next contact.

A third Klingon suddenly leapt from cover, barreling toward Agans. The human tripped as he sought to evade, phaser scrambling uselessly from his grip.

Hirek charged. No time for grace—just brutal instinct. He ducked the swing and drove his fist into the Klingon’s throat. Cartilage crunched. The enemy fell clutching at the crushed mess that had been his windpipe.

The last Klingon made to retreat—but not fast enough. Falvar, still bleeding but mobile, let out a bark and fired. The heavy stun dropped the warrior mid-step. At Hirek's questioning glance, Falvar gave a half-shrug.

“Alive,” Falvar muttered. “We’ve got questions.”

Jaeih wiped her blade clean on the last body and glanced toward the bulkhead. Her earlier warning still hung in the air: the true threat was already moving. As if called forth by the very thought, a Commander Al-Zaheer spoke through the comm system. Knowing he'd not met everyone onboard, Hirek didn't pay much attention to the man's name, just took note of the location of the thread and sighed. He doubted it was going to be an easy approach.

Hirek looked at Falvar. The injury wasn't fatal, but he'd slow them down if he continued. Presuming on behalf of Kino, Hirek gave the man a half-smile before moving past him in the corridor. "Don’t let our new friend pass out before he spills everything.”

Agans moved to help Falvar, dragging the limp Klingon into a secured niche. Above, the lights flickered as the ship trembled again.

Jaeih met Hirek’s gaze before turning her attention back to Kino. “Do you believe me now? Or do we need to risk more before your inferior mind sees the truth?”

Hirek doubted Kino was going to take kindly to name-calling, especially not after one of her men was injured. “Ladies,” Hirek drawled, casting a glance at both women beside him. “Try not to fight over me while we save the ship.” Better they both be annoyed with him than at each other's throats.

And with that, he turned and ran, stumbled, recovered with a grunting chuckle, and resumed course towards engineering.

Re: EP 2 S: [D3 | 0015hrs] If You Want Blood, You Got It

Reply #4 – June 22, 2025, 06:29:52 PM

[IRS Vas'deletham | A few moments earlier.....] @Brutus @Dumedion @Ellen Fitz @joshs1000

It had taken longer to setup than Commander Borroso had hoped to set up the attack, but the Romulan ship master was a pragmatic man and he'd done what necessary bring his plan to fruition.  The carrier had taken some more damage and was trailing a small amount of plasma from one of the impulse engines, but the plan had worked as the lumbering ship sped away from the Starfleet ship while the more nimble Valdores brought themselves about for another run on the ship identified as Theurgy.  She was trailing smoke and atmosphere now, and like hunters going after a wounded prey, they were going to pounce. 

The only aspect of the plan that upset the carrier commander was the fearsome losses the fighter group had taken and his lips had to give a begrudging grin since the target had put out an incredible amount of firepower that had smashed fighters left and right in the attack run. It had all been worth it though as the gap he needed in the ship's defences had been created.  "Commander Borroso to boarding party, remember, I want that ship as a prize. Good luck.  Transport and launch Shuttles." The Commander solemnly intoned as 40 Romulan Marines beamed over to the Federation ship and shuttles carrying another 80 launched themselves into the maelstrom.

[Shohlogh G'gedh | Deck 6 | Vector 01 | The Helmet | USS Theurgy | In the present....]

The maintenance tube shook and the sound of weapons fire impacting vibrated through the very structure of the cursed ship as the team of Klingons shimmied their way through towards what the schematics were calling an auxiliary engineering room. At least that was the guess of the team leader since the most amount of energy being output was in that direction.  The timing was too good and any discomfort the infiltrator felt was a minor inconvenience.  The crew would be distracted in trying to keep the metal skin around them intact.  Nobody would notice.  Soon.  Soon, vengeance would be his and the thought tasted sweet in his mouth.  The group just needed to get through the junction up ahead and then there was a small access hatch into the engineering deck.  "I look forward to this day brothers.  We should savour this moment when we burst amongst the cowardly voles.  Starfleet. Hah!"  Shohlogh laughed derisively.  "Nothing but a bunch of prettied up technicians."  He concluded. 

"Quiet!"  The leader called back as he took a moment to turn back and deliver a deadly glare.  "Give away our position, and you'll never get a chance to sink metal into the enemies flesh.  They may be cowardly, but a phaser blast will kill just as surely as a blade."  The team leader turned back to crawling and keeping somewhat steady as the ship shook while Shohlogh cursed derision under his breath.  While there was wisdom in the team leaders words, it seemed too gutless.  Maybe he'd keep an eye on his 'leader' and if presented the opportunity, give him a coward's death.  It would be a vindication of his abilities before he went to Sto-Vo-Kor.  Shohlogh's canines became visible as he smiled at the potential of the situation.

The team lead stopped to take a moment and sit up in the cramped tunnel as he listened and watched to make sure their exit wasn't trapped.  His hand came up suddenly, stopping the other Klingons as the sign of impending danger arose.  Hurried boot steps could be heard coming down a ladder.  The clunking got closer for another 3 or 4 steps when the leader leapt out of the tunnel with a snarl and grabbed an alien by the back and flung him onto the deck.  The human screamed for a second then yelled as he landed hard and clearly in pain.  The Klingon was on top of the stunned witless human and drove a powerful palm strike at his quarry's face.  The human grunted as his head was smashed into deck, sending blood flying as he was dazed.  Another man yelped in surprise and scrambled to ascend the ladder with haste.  The leader silently cursed as he pulled his disruptor and fired at the fleeing human.  The first shot missed and scored the bulkhead with an ugly black splotch.  The second shot caused the engineer's foot to shatter in a cascade of leather, bone, and flesh.  The man screamed first as the pain smashed through his nervous system, then as he lost his footing and fell to the deck.  The leader brought his pistol to bear on the gap the engineers had emerged from checking for any more interlopers. 

This was his chance.  Shohlogh quickly exited the maintenance tunnel and put the stunned engineer in a headlock with a thrill.  The rush of power over his helpless for was intoxicating as the human began to struggle for air, hands clawing at his face for any sort of purchase and release from the massive arm that was choking the life out of him.  It was not an even to be enjoyed for too long as the team leaders words came through quickly and harshly.  "End it, we have a mission to complete."  The infiltrator quietly sighed as he pulled his d'k tahg and held it aloft, long enough that he was sure the human saw the implement of his own end before driving it with all his might into the human's chest.  The human screamed and Shohlogh moved to cover his mouth as he twisted the metal inside the human's body.  "Quickly now, the humans could have heard us, we need to go to maintain out advantage." He finished before diving headlong into the final tunnel before their objective.  Another infiltrator sliced open the other engineer's throat.  "At you will had a quick death instead of life as a cripple."  He finished before following the leader.  Shohlogh sneered as he regarded the two fallen before him and spat thick globules at each of their bodies.  "Far better since your deaths were at least honorable."  With that final indignity, dove in after everyone else to glory.

[Lieutenant Ida zh'Wann | Deck 6 | Vector 01 | The Helmet | USS Theurgy]
Fights were breaking out all over Vector 1 and the situation was definitley becoming hectic as Lieutenant Zark's voice became shorter and more clipped as she managed the battle from the Security Centre on Vector 2.  The secure comms flowed with information as the chaos flowed in. "Hull breaches dorsal Vector 1.  Fires and plasma leaks on decks 2 through 5.   Vector 1 transport inhibitor is non responsive.  Repeat, Vector 1 transport inhibitor is non responsive.  System shows destroyed. Romulans beaming in decks 1, 2, 6, and 10.  They're going for the bridge, main computers, engineering, and shuttle bay.  Automatic defences on the bridge are responding.  Friendly forces on decks 2 and 10 are engaged. Ida, hostile Romulan forces are coming up from behind you and we have Klingon weapon fire near engineering.  Kino, finish your situations and head to the shuttle bay to repel boarders.  Hirek, head to deck 6 to reinforce engineering."

Shelat. Lt. zh'Wann thought to herself as she made her way towards engineering, going from a steady clip to a full out run, armoured boots thundering on the deck.   "Zark, do you have an exit locus for the Klingons?"  The pause was tense as the other security officer's mind worked.  The tension didn't last long though. "Port side, either the storage room or the power relays." Ida mentally nodded. "Understood."

Lieutenant zh'Wann reached engineering and noticed the two guards posted outside the door were missing as they headed in. She hoped they would be enough and she could move on to other trouble spots, but hope was not a plan and she heard a pair of loud bangs inside the compartment followed by disruptor fire and screaming.  The door whooshed open at The Deputy's approach and her face went hard as chaos greeted her. Smoke and sparks mingled with engineers scrambling to find cover as one of the two guard's was screaming and writhing on the deck, grabbing his smoking abdomen. The other one was covering behind a support beam and firing back with her rifle. This was a lot less effective than it looked since she was also trying not to shoot her crewmates.

The Klingons had no such constraints and one of was using the body of an engineer as a shield against return fire while blasting away practically indiscriminately. Another engineer tried to get away and screamed as a mek'leth slashed his back and spun him towards his assailant. His suffering became much worse as the wicked blade came back up with practiced ease and plunged into his belly, eviscerating him. Another member of the engineering staff tried to tackle the sword holder and a quick flick of the Klingon's shoulder sent her flying into the railing surrounding the warp core with an audible thump. The Klingon smiled as he raised the short sword and prepared to plunge it into the defenceless woman.

Ida was faster as her phaser rifle snapped up to her shoulder and the sight picture in her exosuit helmet aligned with the target's back. A quick flick of her thumb raised the power setting from 3 to 6 and she pulled the firing stud. Three orange energy bolts sped across the engineering compartment, barely missing someone trying get away from the fighting. The sword holder had no such luck as his body arched from the impacts for a moment and he let out a silent death scream as his innards were fried. It was his last act standing as his legs gave way and he fell on the woman he'd tossed earlier, pinning her to the deck.

The hostage holder roared hatred as his comrade went down and he turned the pistol towards the Andorian.  Ida grunted as she a disruptor bolt hit her pouldron and spun her around while she fell.  Damage codes flashed on her HUD, and she didn't know where her rifle was, but all indications showed her armour was still in once piece and she rolled over as she pulled her pulse pistol from its holster.  Pulling herself back up against he master system control, the Zhen leaned up against the console and turned towards the other security guard who was pinned behind a bulkhead.  The ship shook from a hit and the console behind the guard exploded sending her sprawling to the deck, back filled with shrapnel. Clearly the situation was spiralling out of control.  They didn't have time for this and The Deputy took a breath before shuffling to the edge and taking a quick look around the corner of the control station.  The corner sparked as a shot came in her direction and she pulled back just in time.  Taking one more quick breath, the Andorian turned around knelt. She made a quick check on the power level of her sidearm before springing up and spraying phaser fire at the Klingon and his hostage.  The hapless engineer yelped as he was clipped in the shoulder by a level one phaser bolt and went limp.  The Klingon was also hit and the sudden loss of sensation forced him to drop his weapon.  He was so intent on holding on to his body shield that the suddenly unconscious engineer dragged him towards the deck.

Lieutenant zh'Wann quickly exited cover and moved towards the Klingons.  She covered the distance in a few strides and set the phaser to maximum stun.  Another Klingon was exiting and she fired at him, hitting him in the shoulder and head, bowling him back into the storage room.  She took one moment to pause and fired a burst of stun bolts into the downed infiltrator, sending into sleepy land for a long time.  Still, there was the rest of the room to clear and she moved quickly towards the storage room.  Her sensors told her there were a few more infiltrators inside and she fired at the door to cover her advance.  The left hand dropped to her stored grenades and she activated a stun grenade before tossing it into the room.  A whine burst through the room followed quickly by the sound of a couple of bodies falling.  Incredibly, someone was still inside and The Deputy charged in looking to take advantage of her momentum.  It was not to be as her quarry had been well hidden behind a crate and he practically threw it at her.  Ida grunted as she was knocked backwards and her pistil went flying.  Her instincts took over and she rolled then leapt up in case the Klingon tried to jump on her.  Instead, she found herself facing a grinning opponent who had pulled a d'k tahg.  "Finally, a real opponent, not these cowardly rats." Shohlogh challenged.  Ida didn't have time for this, but her pistol was no where to be found.  With choices running out fast, she pulled her combat knife and reversed the grip as her legs settled into a ready stance.