Re: Chapter 01: Protectors of Truth [ Day 03 | 1507 hrs. ]
Reply #45 –
[ ENS James "Jimmy" Mariner | SS Sabine NX-59846 | Docked with Goldeneye's AC-409 Mk III Valkyrie ]
The ride back to the Theurgy was much bumpier and less cozy than the flight in on account of being latched to a fighter, like glorified cargo. During this trip, Jimmy unwittingly took on the roles of both quartermaster and combat shrink as he instinctively took a protective attitude towards his new friend, Heather McMillan. For whatever else she was to others aboard, Jimmy saw her as a girl who needed help, lest she succumb to some alien disease (which he partially feared could vaporize him and his fellow humanoids... best to tame that). Part of his officer candidacy on the Hornet saw him undergo how to negotiate and handle crises; many problems could be solved without drawing a phaser.
Taming Heather with PaDD games wasn't helping her condition, and when it didn't work out, he had something that had varying degrees of success with his units, and occasionally, the enemy. Jimmy produced and clipped his padd on her belt and handed her an earpiece synched to the PaDD, which had music files for a variety of moods, with at least a terabyte's worth of handpicked music for just about any genre or mood. In Heather's case, he knew just the type, having spent some time of the ride to SuD Lang preparing something for her to keep as a mission reward; He learned firsthand from Marquez how to give morale-boosting rewards to colleagues as mementos of their shared enterprises. "Here ya go, Luv, try this."
"Keep it. I made a playlist just for you, thought it'd put a smile on you again. Heaven knows what a bright smile like yours can do." Jimmy himself smiled assumingly as he pressed 'play', mouthing along the lyrics in synch, hoping the song and its ensuing playlist would sooth the Radiant, like a first time sailor fixing their eyes on the horizon. After giving her the padd, Jimmy made idle conversation with McMillan. As he did so he kept neutral, but wary eyes on Zyrao (who seemed content enough just to take naps or pace about), and occasionally the prisoner.
Jimmy hummed along some of those songs and tunes as he produced Ida's phaser for tune up and maintenance. While Jimmy wouldn't turn down a seat in the cockpit, he had Heather to take care of, and incidentally, his damaged helmet to repair, lest his attempts to calm the Radiant's symptoms failed. At least he was familiar with his Security-Exo suit, whose helmet had since been replaced, except for some superficial combat nicks on the metal framing. The HUD-Visor, now-repaired was put on to complete the outfit he kept on the entire trip. The bronze-colored suit had taken no critical hits, but the helmet was another matter; a matter soon enough handled with the application of a welding tool and some soon-replicated spare parts. He also had the time to reinforce and polish the yan sword he'd secured. Now -that- was something he would take particular care of. He blew off some of the excess dust off the polished blade and was even able to get a rudimentary leather scabbard. Tarsi would be envious.
Having secured his prize in the arms locker, Jimmy approached Zyrao, and beckoned her to join him for a trivial but possibly valuable chore that would take some time off their minds.
The ensuing purchase of attention elsewhere had Mariner working opposite Zyrao. He kept his Phaser handy (though not in plain view), ready to use it in an instant on her, or the prisoner whose treason she exposed. Still, he didn't act like he didn't trust her, not when he could've given her something to do and farm trust, should she be a powerful ally. "You handled yourself well back there, Zy." Jimmy acknowledged her while he produced the set of Klingon disruptor pistols he'd policed from their previous firefight and which deliberately rendered inert without their power packs. Mariner just knew Bremmer would lose a brick, but despite her transparent disdain for him, she fell in line, and furthermore he actually knew what he was doing. It was better to be on good terms with a stranger than to radiate bad karma like others would've.
Mariner's friendly nature of course concealed his aura of neutrality, but from his conversations, he was able to learn that she was an El-Aurian, but he didn't debrief her fully, only making idle conversation about combat history, maybe tactics, but it was just harmless verbal sparring. Of course it wasn't until the subject of Ida's presence in the buffer was raised. "If Cap'n Scott could come out of a transporter buffer and beat the odds, so can a survivor like Ida. Doubt if Gollum there could."
It was when Jimmy returned the weapons to the arms locker and changed the password when he heard the voice of another ex-Resolve security officer. Keval! "About bloody time-- WHAT. The... Bloody hell is... " Mariner strode to the bridge, where his smirk of relief vanished at the sight of, "...That?" He wondered but didn't dwell at the sight of the largest bloody vessel he'd ever imagined; merely uttering in a whisper as he listened in... Crikey! Asurian creeps. That bloody Savi ship was, just a wee bit intimidating... not enough to make him leave his exo-suit to use the head. Inhabitants clearly compensating for something he thought, wearing a challenging smirk.
Now it was a bloody good idea that he'd taken the initiative in replenishing their arsenal and his own gear, with particular care. His glory-hounding had its advantages "Why collect trophies, she asks," Jimmy muttered, wasting no time in rounding up and dividing the dilithium crystals he'd secured, including some extras he took along for good measure when he and Sera were on their way out; pity he didn't steal--- secure, for evidence--- more of the stuff at the refinery. He stifled a laugh at the XO's snarl to the Sabine's passenger. Even if she had a point, there was no questioning who was in command.
Mariner could afford a heartbeat of cheekiness, "Help yourself, Petty Officer. Mine's gonna sit this fight out.... just save your lip for the Hornies." referring to the Asurians (and yet unaware what a Savi even looked like to coin a shorthand moniker), Mariner thumb-gestured to the arms locker where all weapons, active or spare parts, were stored. "The new password's 'Downtown, Victor-Tango-Niner." he informed her, having changed the password. Fortunately the Sabine had spare crates for Theurgy's transporters for Jimmy to divide the dilithium crystals with and send accordingly. With the crystals secured, Jimmy locked in the crates and planted one apiece transporter beacon patched to separate beacons on the three vectors for the transporter chief(s). Jimmy was still in his suit after its repairs were made. He could shower later and he didn't need to use the head yet... even if he was just a notch intimidated by that huge honking ship outside.
"What's my obsession with gear, they wonder." he continued griping mockingly under his breath, feeling vindicated at his notion to round up additional firepower and prepared to return a disruptor to Zy, but instead he found himself holding Heather's hand one last time. She was just his friend; he didn't want to get involved with anyone else, not when Meony was the unspoken motivator for his safe return. Still, for peace of mind, Jimmy cast one last smile at Heather McMillan, as if to let her know everything was going to be okay, giving her hand a light squeeze before tapping his comms.
Mariner got the opportunity to contact his former department chair and longtime friend, "Mariner to Keval: Deputy ThanIda is in our transporter buffer. She took a disruptor bolt on the mission." Jimmy reported. Jimmy was all too eager to deal with the traitor. "There's more, Leftenant. Hi'Jak set us up, Klingons ambushed us on his information. He's wounded but he managed to hypostim Ida with something before she got placed in the transporter buffer." It was then when the Ensign felt he lost complete control of the situation, though he wasn't aware of it right away, not until the interior of the ship got intensely bright, as if a sun just appeared in the room; Jimmy blocked his visor as it occured.
"Recommend Security prepare a holding cell--- What the.... Unknown transporter beam --Heather! ... Sir, she's... they got her, sir." Jimmy had no idea what happened, having felt Heather's hand in his grip just moments before. Something was wrong. The cockpit's screens had gone haywire, just like the ones in the aft compartment, flickering and showing gibberish code, flashing as if they were under outside control. The bridge might not have picked up that last bit he said. He could but hope the words carried through.
Reactively, Jimmy set his Helmet's polarization to full, to keep his eyesight, and got back on his feet only moments later, eyes leaving the cockpit. Still in disbelief, Jimmy raised his sidearm and began a search of the compromised ship, starting with the cargo hold. There were maintenance panels back there, and Hi'Jak might have come out of his restraints...
Fire in his eyes (though hardly anywhere near Sera's level of intensity), he opened the sealed door with a manual release since the code wasn't working. "Allright, Gollum. Where is she, where's the preci-- Bugger me, Where are *you*!?" Jimmy's eyes widened in anger, spotting only the constraints Bremmer had so thoroughly fixed to their prisoner, but no sign of their occupant. "He's gone! They're both gone! Say again, WO McMillan and traitor Hi'Jak status both MIA."
In stunned disbelief and apparently quite angry, not sure what might have happened to Ida in the transporter buffer since the computer was hacked, Jimmy had made his report to the shuttle's non-functioning bridge. There, he saw the welcoming view of the Theurgy's vector outside; He wished Lance would just step it up and get them aboard already. His song for Heather was still stuck in his head as he uttered to himself, "Everything's waiting for... you... Downtown.".
At that point, sorrow firmly turned into determination, reflected in the form of Jimmy getting his Yan secured to his back holster and his phaser pistol charged and armed, its battery packs secured to his person. He stood by the hatch, bathed in flashing lights from the monitors, ready to dispense disruptors to any onboard who would join in on the party. It was decidedly not the best start of the ensuing battle...
Topic: Chapter 01: Protectors of Truth [ Day 03 | 1507 hrs. ] (Read 21472 times)
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