Retrieval - Part II

Posted on Tue Jun 10th, 2025 @ 5:08am by 1st Lieutenant Maria Zamorano & 1st Lieutenant Mazal Falk & Major Cameron Bourne & 1st Lieutenant Kara Melo & Ensign Chevy Tuff

1,331 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Broken Mirror

[PREVIOUSLY]

Giving one last glance around, Cam looked to the transporter operator, “Punch it.”

[CONTINUED]

The team materialized on a dimly-lit corridor. The thrum of the ship's engines was the only sound.

Chevy looked around. His larger eyes were able to gain more sight but he saw nothing of interest. He thought to himself. Perhaps we have beamed to the incorrect location.

Once they were solid from being transported, Both Mazal and Maria took up point positions moving down a corridor just to check the security of where they were at. So far they hadn't seen anything, they kept watch until Cameron told them otherwise.

Kara looked up and down the corridor, then turned to Chevy. "Our job is to find the nearest computer console so you can find where they're keeping that scientist. Then to get as much information on what they're up to as you can." She had a military tricorder and used it to look for any hostiles.

"The nearest?" Chevy asked. "That might not be terribly useful," he countered. "It may not have much at all whereas something in the command center, wherever that might be, would have much more. Do you think it wise just to stop at some panel in a hallway when we could seek something that might contain greater information?"

"Yes," Kara said firmly. "Going to the command center means being seen and that will mean a fight. We're not here to fight with a ship full of mercenaries. We're here to get a scientist and what data we can and leave. Alive."

"Alright, Falk, Zamorano, you're with me. Our objective is to find the scientist. Melo, you and the Nerd find what information you can get. This should be a quick in and out. Maintain radio silence, mission critical communications only, understood."

Chevy turned to Kara and protested, "But you want the most information possible and that is where it would be located. If the Captain merely wanted us to get whatever was nearest, which could be the ins and outs of the disposal system, she would have said so. Therefore, I believe that it is wiser to find an area with more critical sensitive information so I can attempt to access it."

"We have to go with the best we can find," Kara replied. "If we get too close to where they're actually working or living, we'll get caught and the commodore will get nothing. You're supposed to be good at your job. So, if we find a computer, you should be able to get into any system on the ship, right?"

Both Mazal and Maria fell in behind Captain Bourne, Mazal looking over her shoulder towards where feather duster was seeming to be in a slight argument with Kara. She turned away deciding to ignore what was going on there. Maria just shrugged, Kara seemed to be quite capable of dealing with Chevy.

"I am quite good at my job. Your frustration with the situation should not be turned into anger at me. I am only trying to assist," Chevy insisted.

——
Search team ——

Leading his team down the corridors of the ship, Cam kept a tight eye out for anything or anyone that might trigger an alarm. The last thing he wanted was to trigger a firefight in an unfamiliar starship. "Alright, let's make this quick and clean. Weapons on stun only, no lethal force, got it?"

"Weapons already on stun Captain." Maria uttered. "Unless we are told otherwise, of necessary deadly force. it has been a habit learned."

Mazal gave a nod it was her way as well. Not every mission needed to be in gun battle mode.As they continued on, Falk wondered quietly. "The scientists we are going to rescue, where do you think they will be located. In a science department or in a holding cell."

"Holding cell would be my bet" Cam said, taking out his tricorder and starting a passive scan, "Hopefully our scientist is the only one of their species onboard" he commented as he started to scan for life signs.

Maria moved forward, pausing near Cam and Mazal. "My strength is in recon." she said quietly. "I am not as tall as either of you, so I won't attract as much attention as either of." flashing a smile, she pulled out her own tricorder, accessed the layout of the ship. "We're going to have to go one deck down. From what I could tell, scanning the ship, there was interference as to seeing all of the layout of the ship. It's easier with being here. Instead of utilizing their turbo lifts what do you think about doing a jefferies tube crawl. After all this is a sneaky rescue?"

Cam nodded, "Good plan, I'd like to keep out of the main travel areas as much as possible. Zamorano, you're our map reader here. Falk, you're on rear guard." he said, moving over to a nearby jefferies tube access, "alright, let's get moving." Before ducking into the jefferies tube, Cam looked over at Kara one last time before focusing on the task ahead.

Kara had stopped to watch them. "Be careful, Cam," she mouthed. She'd been on an emotional roller coaster ride since he returned, but she could not walk away without saying that.

Seeing Kara mouth her message to him, Cam was a little stunned. Did that mean she still cared for him or was that simply professional concern. Giving her a subtle nod in response, Cam mouthed in response, ”come back safe”. Closing his eyes for a second, Cam took in a breath and held firm a moment longer before releasing it and turning around

Crawling through the jefferies tubes, following Maria's directions, Cam lead his small team through the ship. These tubes were definitely not designed for comfort, especially for someone as tall as him. While the majority of lifesigns they had picked up were humanoids, Humans, Orions and Nausicans, there were a few non-humanoid pirates running around the ship. one of them appeared to be Something squid like while the other was a birdlike creature similar to an Emu.


--Research Team--

Kara managed to guide Chevy down a corridor and around a corner before stopping. "Now we look for the first computer that doesn't have someone in the same room. Got it?"

"The first computer may not be the best computer," Chevy reminded Kara. "We could put a little more effort into this to find something that might be useful for the Commodore."

Kara glared at Chevy. "I'd rather get out of here alive. That's our option. We'll try the first computer we find. If you're as good as you say you are, you'll find something. If not, we'll look for another. Is that satisfactory for you?"

Chevy had a suspicion that Kara was not going to give him much of a choice and that bothered him. "I am quite adept at my job. However, I cannot make waterfalls from a cloud." He hoped that she was bright enough to understand what he was saying. "Regardless, staying here is not helping either of us, do you agree?"

Oh, she understood exactly what he was saying. She just didn't agree with him. "Trust me, if you try to go anywhere that will let the crew of this ship know we're here, I'll shoot you myself. Got it? Now, if you're done trying to convince me to let you go to what you think is the best place to get information, I suggest we find the first safe place and see if you're as good as you think you are."

Then she pointed down the corridor. "Let's go."

(To be continued...)

Captain Cameron Bourne
Marine XO
USS Calypso

1st Lieutenant Kara Melo
Squadron Leader
USS Calypso

Ensign Chevy Tuff
Engineer/Computer Specialist
USS Calypso

1st Lieutenant Maria Zamorano
Marine
USS Calypso

1st Lieutenant Mazal Falk
Marine
USS Calypso

 

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