Another Notch In The Body Count

Posted on Wed Oct 18th, 2017 @ 8:12am by

Mission: https://wellington.pegasusfleet.site/index.php/sim/missions/id/3
Location: Nacelle Control
Timeline: June 17th, 2399 @ 1130

Meru and Copeland walked into the Nacelle Control, nodding at the engineer in question. The Ensign indicated there had been problems with the nacelle readings that he saw and he couldn't make any sense of it. He accompanied her to the bridge.

"Is everything alright, Commander?" he asked.

"Just running a systems check down here. I want to make sure none of those faulty chips from the Starbase are installed in the nacelles." Meru replied.

"I think there's a couple, but so far our readings have been quite normal. Probably nothing to worry about. Lieutenant Cordale and one of the guys we picked up from starbase were down here not long ago."

"Good." Alennis said. "As long as we can still fly this thing. Some of these readings are still a little off though. Probably from that surge of power to keep the shields up. Ensign Copeland was trying to move us away from a piece of debris overnight."

"We've been trying to compensate, but we won't really know how screwed up everything is until we have to go to warp or move quickly. Let's hope neither happens." The engineer replied.

"Don't be so sure that we're in the clear yet." Meru replied. "This might be bigger than you think." she said as she ran diagnostics of the chips. "Damn. I still can't get a proper power flow through anything with this arrangement. He did the best he could, but... Damn!"

"We may be able to bypass if we switch a few of the chips around... Or swap them out from other areas."

"We're hitting critical as is with a lot of other systems. I don't think Ops is going to be happy if we keep messing with their allocation patterns." Meru said. "And I fear if I get in there too much, we just might short out more. When I find who the hell is responsible for this, I might just shoot them myself."

At that point, the door opened to the nacelle control room. It was Lo'Mah. Meru looked up at him. "Major, is there something I can do? Never thought I'd see you here."

"You can tell me why your engineers are plotting a mutiny and trying to frame Commander Bowman." Lo'Mah said. "I've been arresting crew for treason all morning, and I'm not afraid to start filling up the brig with you cowards."

"Cowards? I beg your pardon, Major? I'll thank you not to make those allegations in front of junior officers. If you want to question my loyalty, you know where to find my office and I know where to find yours." Meru said. She wasn't going to let this lack of professionalism stand.

"What are you both doing down here?" Lo'Mah asked.

"I'm the Chief Engineer, and he's the Acting Chief Helm Officer... In the Nacelle control room. Very likely looking over Engineering and propulsion matters and bringing the Ensign up to speed so he can brief his department."

"And how do I know you are not in on deliberately withholding access to Engineering from my men to plot a mutiny?" Lo'Mah asked.

"With all due respect, Major... You are not the Chief of Security even thought you're stomping all over the Acting Chief. You are the Acting Marine Commanding Officer and you don't carry out security functions on this ship. And I don't care if you're the Second Officer and if Commander Bowman is President of the Federation... My engineers are in lockdown and secured so that whoever the hell killed our Captain doesn't get into Engineering. And I reserve the right to make that call as head of my department. Get off my turf... Sir."

"Commander Meru, you are relieved. You will report to your quarters immediately." Lo"mah said.

"Major, she didn't do anything wrong." Copeland said. "She simply--"

"Ensign Copeland, if I want to hear a word out of your mouth I will ask you a question. But in the event I do not... You are to shut your mouth in the presence of a superior officer until you are spoken to. IS THAT CLEAR?!" he asked. Meru motioned for the Nacelle Control officer to leave, which he complied.

"I will not be told by a subordinate to leave an area I have the right to be in." Lo'Mah said. "Get to your quarters or I will escort you there."

"I'm taking this up with the XO." She reached toward her commbadge when Lo'Mah raised his rifle. "What are you doing?"

"If you do not comply with my order, I will kill you where you stand. Now do as you are told." Lo'Mah said.

"I wasn't aware your job as Second Officer was to kill your fellow senior staff like a common thug. Let me tell you something about actually being in charge, Major... You can't just act like a despot even in a crisis because someone is following protocol." She said as she tapped the commbadge. "Meru to Ba-" she said without finishing. Before she knew it, Lo"mah fired the phaser rifle. Copeland jumped into the direction to shield her, let out a scream and went down. She looked up at him, seeing the burn on his uniform, and feeling his pulse. "He's dead." She said looking at Lo'Mah. "You just killed our senior pilot."

Lo'Mah placed the rifle against his head, and fired it again. "Just in case he's still suffering."

"You son of a bitch!" Meru said as she drew her phaser. The phaser, however got knocked out of her hand and Lo'Mah grabbed her, pushing her towards the active nacelle tube. She looked in shock and tried to grab to push him in if she had to, but it was no use.

"You will report to your quarters and do what you are told without question. Or you can meet your end here. And if you tell anyone... You won't live to get a word out of your mouth!" Lo'Mah said. "You don't comprehend who's in charge now, Commander. It's not you."

Meru tried to kick her phaser over toward her. Lo'Mah saw this and laughed as he still held her towards the nacelle tube. "I wonder what reading they'll get in the nacelles in a moment?"

"What do you mean?" Meru asked.

"I mean this. PetaQ!" Lo'Mah said as he shoved Meru in the direction of the nacelle tube. She nearly got a grip of the wall, but was unsuccessful, falling and screaming towards the direction of the plasma... Within seconds, she was vaporized. "Serves you right." he added, before also throwing Copeland's body into the tube. Two threats down, more to go.

Major Lo'Mah
Acting Marine Commanding Officer/Second Officer
USS Wellington

Lt. Commander Meru Alennis
Chief Engineering Officer
Murder Victim
USS Wellington

Ensign Paul Copeland
Acting Chief Flight Control Officer
Would-Be Hero
USS Wellington