USS Dark Fire (IC)

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.0700​

“Do you need assistance Doctor?” Dark Fire asked, the hologram looking at her as the prisoners were beamed out.

Reeves:​

“You do realize you left the Doctor behind. Was this intentional?” Reeves asked.

“Captain to the Bridge. Captain to the Bridge. Unknown warp signature detected. Captain to the Bridge.”​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

Xiana let out a shriek, startled at the hologram joining her. She had been taught on how to approach it, but was yet to use it herself. Seemingly, Dark Fire was her only source right now.

She put a hand to her chest to calm her breathing. Hyperventilating while trying to get a hold of the situation wouldn’t be good for her. “Dark Fire, find me the most accessible way out of here. If you can, tell me if the Captain and Commander are currently safe.”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.0700​

“Commander Reeves and Captain Hora are in turbo lift 4 on the way to the bridge, their vital signs are within normal parameters.”

“I can alter the holoprojection if you wish, to something more acceptable,” It said the burning embers of it’s eyes looking at Xiana within it flaming skull.

“You heart and respiration are extremely elevated, do you require medical assistance?” If she didn’t respond protocols required he beam medical assistance to her location.​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

“Thank you, no, um—it’s okay. It’s not you; it’s everything. I just need to get out of here,” Xiana explained, leaning against the door with one of her arms before looking at the figure once again. “Please, find me a way back or guide me out.”

She could breathe a little easier knowing the two were at least okay, but she made a mental note to chew them out later. Now, she needed to make her way back. She didn’t want to remain in place another second in the dark—figuratively.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.0700​

Dark Fire:
“Of course, the Ship replied as the turbolift opened. Do you wish the bridge? We have an incoming warp signature, type unidentified. Possibly anew species.”

“Or perhaps your office?”​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

To think she had wasted so much time running around. Then again, walking was essential to her health—not the priority.

Xiana knew she couldn’t provide much help to the situation. Had she actually made it worse? Or could she have done something differently? It didn’t matter now, did it? But what was she supposed to do? She didn’t have any helpful knowledge for the emergency at hand. She didn’t want to be cooped up in her office or quarters knowing her staff and others could quickly be at risk. “I... I don’t know. What do you recommend, Dark Fire? As of helpful alternatives.”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.0705

“I have stated my recommendations. Though it is my understanding the Captain wants you on the bridge for first contact events. Though you arre not in a duty uniform, you assessment of the new encounter may be beneficial.”

“You may wish to change your clothes to something more official.”​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

Considering the sexual conversations she already was forced to bear as is, changing into something more professional could truly help. “To my quarters, then, Dark Fire, thank you. How long do you estimate until I am able to see the Captain and Commander once again?”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.0710​

Once in the turbo shift it moved without her telling it where to go. “Based on the average human dressing time, to include a shower from a workout, or running around the ship lost. As well as including Turbo lift time I can state that you should be on the bridge in 20 minutes. Faster if you shorten the shower and dress quickly.”

When the doors opened, she was within a dozen meters of her quarters.​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

Considering she hadn’t been able to get her exercise in, changing her outfit would be quicker than expected. “Thank you, Dark Fire. You’ll be hearing more from me,” Xiana expressed, making her way to her quarters at a quick pace. She adopted a stiff posture, one to motion that she walked with a purpose - primarily due to the fact that if someone of her status was seen panic running it likely wouldn’t give the right idea. Once in her quarters, she rapidly switched out of her garments but hesitated at her new set of clothes. For someone as fashion-foward as Xiana, even a decision that miniscule seemed heavy at the moment. It was unlike her.

 

[milkmaiden38]

Hora

“It was not intentional.” Hora replied feeling a bit guilty to Reeves question about leaving Dr. Marlowe behind. “I was just in a hurry to see you. The Parasite… it calls itself, One, by the way. Tried to merge with the ship. Dark Fire beam it into space. We sent a warning out, federation wide and our allies.” Hora backfilled Reeves on what had happened.

“Captain to the Bridge. Captain to the Bridge. Unknown warp signature detected. Captain to the Bridge.” Announcement was made within the turbolift.

“Ugh… now what?” Hora gasped.

She and Commander Reeves stepped back onto the bridge. The Officer of the Deck, Lt Harris, came over to fill them in.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.0715​

“Captain. Commander. We have an unknown warp signature incoming. Approximately 30 seconds out. It’s big. Warp field displaces puts it in the same category as the Dark Fire. Bigger than any Starfleet or Klingon ship.” The Lieutenant reported.

Moving to his post Reeves loooked at the incoming Data. “Captain I recommend we put up shields. And go to yellow alert.”

He really wanted to go to red alert, and power all batteries – defensive and offensive - but that was the military man inside him.​

 

[milkmaiden38]

Hora

"Go to red alert, and power all batteries – defensive and offensive" Hora ordered. She had a bad feeling about this.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.0720



Dropping from warp the alien ship started firing at the Starbase and the Dark Fire. Using Hard lasers and firing large projectiles at the base, the new ship slowed.


​

The Dark Fire’s shields took a beating from the new ship but were holding. For the moment. The defensive batteries engaged the projectiles at long range, but they moved as if they were piloted.

 

[milkmaiden38]

Hora

“Evasive maneuvers…. Open fire with all batteries” Hora ordered as Dark Fire came hard to port “Launch all fighters… engage those large projectiles!” Hora ordered

“No threats… no demands… doesn’t anyone talk anymore?” Hora asked Commander Reeves as a joke.

“Assuming this is a Parasite ship… can we use our sonic attack on it or those large projectiles?” Hora asked as Dark Fire came hard to starboard.

The space around the space station lite up with phaser fire as Ambassador M’Chel joined in the battle.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.0725​

“I apologize captain, but the smaller projectiles are moving to quickly and erratically to target with the weapon. The Main ship may be possible, but I cannot target the entire ship due to it’s size and shape.”

“All fighters target those projectiles. Assume they are boarding craft.” Reeves ordered over the ship-to-ship comms.

The alien ship turned facing the Dark Fire as the pyramid structure on top of it began to glow with a buildup of energy.​

 

[milkmaiden38]

Hora

“How about targeting the big glowing thing building up energy on the main ship?” Hora suggested

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.0725

“Yes, I can target the energy buildup But the weapon is only effective against the Parasites. If this is not a parasite ship it will have no effect.” The Dark Fire replied, reminding the Captain and Commander of it’s limitations.

“The weapon is primed and ready to fire at you command.”

Even as the Dark Fire was talking with the command staff, it was engaged in battle with the other weapons of the alien ship and it’s solid projectiles.

“One of the alien projectiles has breached my hull. Section 42, Deck 14. Multiple intruders detected. Internal defenses activated.”

Generating a hologram the Dark Fire showed them the intruders.


​

 

[milkmaiden38]

Hora

“Dark Fire please target the enemy’s energy build up with all weapons. Phasers, photon torpedoes, anti-mater bombs, EVERYTHING. If we can fire up the sonic weapon, please do so. Not sure how the sonic weapon can get through space… and their shields… but you’re the smart one.” Hora ordered “The fighters will continue to focus on the projectiles.”

“Hull breach, Marines to Section 42, Deck 14”

Lt Sol

The dinosaur had a huge smile on his face as he reached section 42, deck 14. He lowered both anti-personnel phaser cannons (one in each arm) and unloaded on the first robot he saw.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.0730​

Phaser fire illuminated the alien invaders defensive shielding but did nothing to the invader itself, as large metal bug like creatures skittered across the walls and floor.

Turning to face Lt. Sol the invader fired it’s weapon blowing a hole through the marine reinforcements. Falling to the floor the marine, and the one behind him, had smoking holes burned through their chests.

Scurrying forward the insects crawled into the chests and turned into silver parasites, flowing into the bodies and reanimating them.

Jerking upwards the dead marines took weapons fire from the rest of the marines. Staggering slightly from the inundation, the newly converted fired back.​

 

[milkmaiden38]

Lt Sol

“THAT WAS DISAPPOINTING” Lt Sol yelled when his canon fire did not destroy the robot. But there were other ways to win this battle. He ducked back around the passageway

“Dark Fire… sonic attack Section 42, Deck 14” He ordered the ship’s AI. That turned the parasite into quivering jello. “Get ready to turn off inertial damper in this section, and erect an atmospheric force field.”

Then he looked at the Marines.

“Hang-on to something” He ordered them. Then he came back around the corner. Hitting the alien robot with to canon blasts as he charged at it. At the same time, he told Dark Fire “Turn off dampers”. Suddenly, everything was weightless. Floating up from the deck plate. He fired another canon blast which opened a hole in the ship’s side as he collided with the robot like a football player. Without anything to hold on to, Sol collision, and the atmosphere rushing out the hole. The robot was sucked into space.

This was all good. On the bad news side, Sol took a direct hit from the robot to the chest before the collision. “Erect atmospheric force field” Sol ordered as blood came out of his mouth. His order was quick enough so that he bounced off the atmospheric shield before being sucked into space.

Hora

“THAT WAS DISAPPOINTING” Hora yelled as Dark Fire weapons were hitting the alien ship but was not getting through to the energy pyramid

“KEEP FIRING” She ordered “TRY THE PLASMA TORPEDOES!”

Dr Marlowe walked on to the bridge in a proper uniform with her extreme rigid appearance. Her hair was prefect, not one strand out of place. Everything tight, and exactly where it should be. Her appearance was under control and so were her emotions. She did not want to be here, but that was her job now.

She quickly realized the captain yelling was not good for the bridge crew. It increased everyone’s tension and reduced efficiency. She walked over and placed a hand on Hora’s shoulder. “Captain, let’s not make fear a second enemy we need to fight. You have got this.” She said in a low and confident voice.

Hora looked at the doctor for a moment and then nodded in agreement.

“Helmsman bring her about, to course 129 mark 2 bring us in closer, keep us level with the ship’s horizonal plane. I have an idea” Hora said confidently and calmly.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.0745

Firing the plasma torpedoes at the enemy ship had a far less result than expected

“The enemy vessel is resistant to phaser fire and is using Hard light, called Lasers, as it’s primary weaponry. The solid projectiles are boarding pods, not dissimilar to my own.” Dark Fire reported.

“I have prepared an Isolytic Burst Torpedo, it is ready to fire on your orders.”

“All ships, switch to solid shell weaponry.” Commander Reeves ordered. Switching on the internal comm Reeves ordered, “All personnel, the enemy may be less resistant to hard light or solid shell projectiles.”

In the corridor one of the Marines called for a medical evac and Lt. Sol was beamed directly to surgical ward as the Marines opened fire on the small insectoid looking aliens and the bigger ‘robot’ kind.

Looking at the Marines the ‘robot’ spoke one word. “Necron.”​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

Despite her calm demeanor, Xiana’s heart was nearing speeds she hadn’t experienced before. She stepped away from the captain and clasped her hands behind her back, tighter than usual. She didn’t doubt her superiors would have everything under control, but the risk was still present. Adding that anxiety to the anger she felt prior to being left behind was an unfavorable combination. Her antagonizing would have to wait until they were in the clear.

Forcing her posture straight, she observed the crew work, nothing short of impressed even if her face didn’t show it. At the commander’s use of the word “personnel,” she briefly thought back to her office. It would’ve been a passing connection had she not remembered what she had left in there. Her eyes widened.

“Oh no. Scuti. I left Scuti in my office.” Xiana had a small pen for the animal for some enrichment time. Having originally anticipated a short exercise, she had left him there prior to the attack.

She began to pace backwards, each step faster than the other. “I have to go. I have to put him in his enclosure,” she explained nervously. Perhaps she was ridiculous for making that her current priority, but it didn’t make the creature any less important to her. He was practically her only companion there.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.0745

“I do not recommend traveling the corridors while we are under attack Doctor.” Reeves commented as he glanced at her before returning his gaze to the holographic display of the battle.

“We have hostile forces on our ship. As well as several holes in our hull. I’m sure the mouse will be safe enough where it is.”​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

She stopped in her tracks. “If there’s danger out there, then he can’t be all that safe, can he?!” Xiana argued instantly, putting her tongue between her teeth at her uncommon retort. Her escalation had served as a reset, one where she remembered she had no place to raise her voice at a superior, much less at such a crucial time.

The woman took a moment to compose herself, but the urge to leave was still there, urging her to head out the door as if her office had its own gravitational pull. It was difficult for her to keep herself in place. “I’m sorry.”