The airlock quietly separated into three panels and each slid back into the hull of the ship revealing a dark passage. Anderson and Pushkin both activated their helmet lamps which cast a ghostly light before them, as they entered the Gr'Toth. They had no idea how to get to the forward compartments through the maze of passageways; nor did they have any schematic to work off. All the two could do was track their position relative to the lifesigns, on their wrist-mounted tricorders.
The going wasn't easy due to darkness and damage. Cables and conduit, along with large pieces of misshaped superstructure blocked their way at times and caused them to have to detour or even to crawl. Pushkin feared that a simple tear to his pressurized suit, by the jagged, broken metal would be the end of him!
Without working elevators, the two men had to make use of the stairs between decks which proved difficult in locating. But finally they came across a main vertical access and they were able to ascend multiple decks; this put them on the same level as the D6's forward bridge.
Ten minutes had passed.
Anderson carried a portable power pack and he again attached its leads to a series of wires that stretched out of an open panel. He smiled as he saw the access lights begin to shine and he pushed the button, opening the door. The sight that greeted them was grisly.
Death in a vaccuum is not a pretty thing and the two Earth men held their breaths a moment as they saw one of their fellow shipmates, who had been assigned to the Gr'Toth, suspened in the next chamber. He was bent unnaturally and the open wound his body had sustained in the explosion caused his entrails to hang outside his body along with a cloud of blood droplets. The man's internal body pressure had distended his shape a bit in the now pressure-less surrounds. Pushkin and Anderson moved carefully through the room so as not to disturb the deceased, but once past hastened on their way from the terrible scene.
[OOC:] I need the following tests from Pushkin:
- Athletics test TN 10 to successfully maneuver the wreckage (+1 affinity bonus from both Sport and Gymnastics)
- Intellect test TN 10 to navigate the D6 (+5 tricorder bonus)
Anderson Athletics test TN 10Athletics -1Roll(2d6)-1: 6,4,-1 Total:9 +3 (COURAGE) SUCCESS
Intellect test TN 10Intellect +3, Tricorder bonus +5Roll(2d6)+8: 4,5,+8 Total:17
Pushkin slowly moving through the passageway after the airlock gives them access. He reaches up, turning on the helmet turning back to look at the airlock as it reseals. "This is about as spooky as an Ukraine forest." He transmits.
He slowly moves through the alien interior ducking his head in trying to avoid the damage beams and hanging conduits. He looks at the conduits with the suit's tricorder, seeing if any power is running through them. "Alright, keep an eye out for some pressure suits. We might have to suit up the Klingons." He says to Anderson as he starts to make his way in the direction of the life signs.
Athletics test TN 10
Athletics (climb) +2, -1 (dazed)
(3, 3) +2, -1= 7 (use courage please)
Intellect test TN 10
Intellect +2, -1 (dazed)
Sense of Direction (no test required)
[OOC:] Hey Jeremy, I see that Pushkin has two Courage points marked off - did you mark your sheet for the above usage, or should I? Either way, good job on the tests guys and nice trait to have!
I am going to require one more test from both of you - due to the horrifc scenes you guys are passing as you journey through this ship, I want you both to make another Intellect test TN 10.
This is a Horror effect - not a mechanic mentioned in the CODA books, but it will make for a nice tie in to Peter's character as an on-ship psychologist. If failed your character will suffer a Weariness penalty based on DOS (see below). Your character is not literally wearied, but we will use that mechanic to measure how 'bothered' your character has become from what he/she has seen. This will reflect the loss of sleep, nightmares, unable to concentrate, etc. Make sense?
The weariness effect will last until cured through council - and that is something we will work out later. ;)
DOS Horror effects:
- Winded effect - on a Failure or Complete Failure
- Tired effect - on a Disastrous failure
Anderson's Intellect test to avoid Horror TN 10Intellect +3Roll(2d6)+3: 1,1,-2,+3 Total:3 +6 (COURAGE) = 9 FAILURE
The two men finally came to the source of the bio-signs - beyond an environmentally sealed door, Pushkin could detect six individuals. The room had to be some sort of a lounge or officer's briefing room for it sat just under the ship's bridge.
Anderson made the first attempt at contact. He pushed a button on his wrist communicator to allow the UT to broadcast in Klingon, "Hailing anyone that can hear me inside the Gr'Toth. Can you hear us?"
At the same time, Pushkin chose a more primitive means of contact. Picking up a large pipe, Alex slammed it against the bulkhead.
CLANG! CLANG!
Inside the forward lounge, the surviving Klingons of the Gr'Toth started at the sound of the pipe hitting the door from the outside. Each had been comtemplating his death, most of all Captain Vrang. His life and command had been little more than a disgrace, having been given this relic of a ship and then to see it smashed into submission, only to have him survive and not receive his warrior's death.
He and his companions had discussed the different means that they had to pass to the next life. It was opted to just open the lounge to space; melee in one-on-one combat until only one remained and then, as a true warrior, he could fall on his own weapon and pass with glory; or to just sit until the air ran out and suffocate with the disgrace they felt that they were due.
But now there was the sound of life beyond the small sealed chamber. Vrang stood and pulled a communicator from his hip. He activated it and let it scan all bands to see if it could pick up a signal, and then in a mechanical form of Klingon he heard, "... an you hear us?"
Anderson's message repeated.
Vrang raised the communicator to his lips and spoke, "Who is out there?"
[OOC:] The courage point has been marked on my character sheet!
Pushkin looks around, keeping his head low in trying to avoid the damaged hallways. "They're right behind here." He transmits to Anderson before banging onto the doorway with the damaged pipe. He looks to Anderson as he hears the reply back through the bulkhead. He smiles to the Navigator before activating his commlink. "This is the Lt. Commander Pushkin from the Columbia. We'll try to get you out of there. Is there anyone hurt or who needs immediate medical attention?"
He looks to Anderson before looking around slowly. Now how are they going to get them out safely...
Intellect test to avoid Horror TN 10
Intellect +2, -1 (Dazed)
(3, 2) +2 -1 = 6
Vrang looked at his communicator in surprise - the humans had survived and were here to help him! They did know honor. The Klingon looked around and saw nothing but defeat.
He spoke, "Those that needed medical attention are dead. So... no..."
Vrang's second in command approached, "Sir, we do have a locker with four environmental suits."
The Captain knew that for them to leave this trap, two would have to be sacrificed. He replied once more to Pushkin, "This is Captain Vrang of the IKS Gr'Toth - one of six survivors. There are only four environmental suits available to my crewmen. I will be ordering them to be donned and the door opened once done. Honour and glory shall be mine and my second-in-command's. Be prepared for the door to open. Vrang out."
Pushkin looks to Anderson in surprise as the Klingon Captain replies over the comm. He turns and glances around. "Copy that, Captain. We will try to find two more pressure suits for the rest of your crew. Stand by." He shakes his head within his helmet. He was not going to responsible for the death of those two other Klingons. He looks to Anderson. "Alright. Were there any suits by that airlock we came in? Maybe if we can seal this section, we can give them just enough time to suit up the other two crewmembers."
Vrang continued to look at his communicator after Pushkin had ended the transmission.
"Even in my wish to die with honor, these humans want to interfere," the captain whispered.
It was his XO that heard him and replied, "If I may be so bold, sir, perhaps your honor lies in your survival and your bringing a potential coup and civil war to light, so that it might be evaded."
The Klingon commander turned towards his second-in-command, being brought from his dreary thoughts, and he contemplated his words. "Yes... perhaps that is so. We have survived to bring this war to the treacherous dogs who have thought that they could destroy us." His own words seemed to rally him even more, "Prepare the men."
Pushkin's communicator announced, "Find two suits, human. We shall be ready!"
Anderson cocked an eye at Alex, "Seems our friends are in a bit of a testy mood. I am not sure about the suits, why don't you go look while I set about closing off this chamber."
The navigator immediately set about moving to the first door that was unsealed. He opened a panel and connected his power pack's leads and in seconds the door was shut. Anderson looked around and saw there were four more to close and moved onto the next one.
Pushkin made his way back towards the airlock that they had come from and began opening panel doors to see if any had stowed the Klingon version of an EVA. The fifth compartment proved successful and he quickly gathered up two of the suits. If all went well, Alex figured he and Anderson, along with their Klingon guests could be back in the shuttle in twenty minutes. From there it was a twenty minute ride to the Columbia and they could get out of Klingon space.
"Yeah...." Pushkin says, agree with Anderson. "Alright. I know my way back. I'll go look for those Pressure suits. I want you to stay here and see if we can seal this door." He brings up his tricorder, scanning a bulkhead. "We don't need much. If we can just a little air, just enough. They can change into the new pressure suits and we can all get out of here." He gives him a thumbs up before starting to move down the hall, having his tricorder map out the systems and rooms. Anything might be helpful as he heads back. looking for those pressure suits.
With the pressure suits in tow and all environmental doors sealed, Anderson wired the final door - the one that would open into the chamber where the klingons waited.
Inside that chamber, Vrang was donning the helmet of his EVA - his second and another crewman refusing to allow the captain to risk the decompression of the room. All knew that the two unprotected klingons would have about ten minutes before they would succumb to the lack of oxygen.
When all was ready, Vrang sent over the communicator, "Proceed, human."
It all happened very quickly. A great white puff of air shot from the door, as Anderson opened it, and the atmosphere immediately thinned as it spread throughout the greater area. The two Columbia crewmen rushed inside to hand the environmental suits to the two exposed klingons. The protected klingon crewmen took over in the assistance, knowing as they did the manner in which their suits worked, aiding the two others who struggled to breath. Arms flailed and hushed curses could be heard, but at last the gear was donned and all were safe.
Pushkin immediately directed all of his charges back the way they had come to the safety of the Galileo outside. It took them another fifteen minutes to reach their destination, but not before Anderson caught his suit on a piece of jagged metal, tearing it.
They made it just in time before he lost all environment.
[OOC:] I am going to roll for each klingon - they will only perish in the result of a double 1 or 3 result:
Roll(2d6)+0: 6,5,+0 Total:11
Roll(2d6)+0: 3,4,+0 Total:7
No problems!
Now, I need the same TN 10 athletics test to get out, as you got in.
Anderson Athletics TN 10
Athletics -1
Roll(2d6)-1: 2,4,-1 Total:5 FAILED
Klingons Athletics TN 10
Athletics -1
Roll(2d6)+4: 5,6,+4 Total:15
Roll(2d6)+4: 5,2,+4 Total:11
Roll(2d6)+4: 4,4,+4 Total:12
Roll(2d6)+4: 6,4,+4 Total:14
Roll(2d6)+4: 5,2,+4 Total:11
Roll(2d6)+4: 3,5,+4 Total:12
[OOC] A couple quick questions. Are we back to the shuttle then? Do we see anything if we are on the hull? Do you need a test from me and if you do, am at -2?
[OOC:] Hey Jeremy, to answer your questions...
1) Yes, you guys are getting back to the shuttle now.
2) No, you can't see anything from the hull of the Gr'Toth. The Columbia and B'rel's are almost a million kilometers away.
3) Yes, you will be at a -2 to all actions until healed.
Anderson, panicking as his EVA lost its precious air, walked across the outer hull of the Gr'Toth as quickly as his mag-boots would allow. He did not wait, or even look back to his companions, as he made the dash for the shuttle, his mind reeling with the possibility that he may soon be dead.
The Galileo sat there where they had left it, its tractor beam still anchoring it to the hull. The main access hatch was still open and Billy quickly climbed aboard, turning as he did to see the distance remaining for Pushkin and the Klingons. He held his breath and counted each second. It was going to be very close. Anderson began to beckon to them to hurry.
Alex made a long stride into the shuttle, and moments later, the surviving crew of the Gr'Toth started to clambour aboard as well. Once all inside, Anderson hit the panel and the hatch slid into place and sealed. Knowing his friend's panic, Pushkin touched the controls on the main console and lights came on inside along with the environmental systems. The ship took another minute until it flashed a green light announcing the inner cabin was safe for the crew.
Anderson unlocked his EVA helmet and drew it off, gasping air as he did. His right arm was numb from the freezing cold that had penetrated his suit where it had been torn. It also started to scream with pain as his body internally repressurized the apendage. Pushkin came over to see if he could be of aid, but it was over a few minutes later.
"I can move it now," said Billy. "It should be okay soon."
Around them, the Klingons had also taken off their spacesuit helms and were watching the two humans. Alex stood up and went to the pilot's chair. They needed to get back to the Columbia.
Pushkin looks to Anderson as he snares his suit upon the piece of twisted metal. He grimaces within his helmet before clambering over the hull, hearing each thunk inside his suit as his boots connect with the hull. As he closes for the shuttle, he takes a moment to glance around at the space around them. He made sure the space was clear for take off visually, not want to crash into a new piece of the damaged Klingon cruiser.
He makes his way onto the shuttle and waits for the shuttle to pressurize before reaching to take off his helmet. He helps Anderson into the Ops chair, making sure he is seated before reaching for the first aid kit that was stowed. He brings up the suit tricorder, scanning him to make sure he will be alright. "You're going to be fine." He says giving him a weak smile before moving to the helm chair. He turns to the Klingons. "Have a seat. When I fly, it can get bumpy." He says with a weak grin before turning back to the console, powering up the engines. He makes sure they are up and ready before hitting the comm. "Galileo to Columbia. We're heading in with passengers."
The Galileo lifted off of the now derelict D6 battlecruiser, leaving behind only the dead to drift in perpetual silence, never to deteriorate. Only if the wreck were drawn into the gravity well of some large body would its state ever be affected.
The thought caused a chill to run down Anderson's back as he thought of his fellow shipmates that had been killed aboard the Gr'Toth. He remembered the bodies floating within the hull of the ship, and how it reminded him of some of the old movies he had seen of old Earth surface ships that had been sunk, and the ghostly way the bodies would float in the cold depths of the wreckage - at least the sea would consume both body and vessel. That would not be the case here.
Anderson quickly brushed the thought aside as he focused on the controls before him. He commanded an active sensor sweep and was pleased to see that the Columbia was still present and that there was evidence of small inbound craft. Did the Columbia send more shuttles out to help?
An answer came almost immediately, "Galileo 042, this is Wasp Lead-1. We are inbound to escort you back to the Columbia. There is presence of B'rel-clas KBOP, but it has cloaked and seems to have drawn off for the moment. Stand by... we will be approaching from your starboard. Lead-1 out."
Vrang took immediate interest in the transmission. His mind started to calculate the potential threat of the Bird of Prey to the Federation Cruiser and knew that the commander of the scout would be a fool to attempt any attack. Still, he could ghost the Earth ship and call for more aid, bringing down terrible firepower. The Klingon captain looked back out the port at his dead ship. Part of him was angered that he had not had his warrior's death, but then he straightened and began to contemplate how to bring the fight to his House's enemy!
It took thrity minutes for the small crafts to rendezvous with the Columbia and another half hour for them to land. The bridge was made aware as the landing tractor beams grabbed the Galileo to guide her in to bay 1.
Pushkin smiled at Anderson as the Galileo thumped down onto the deck of the Columbia. Both silently agreed that the ship they were returning to looked a lot different then the one they left - especially for the fact that they'd be able to depart the shuttlecraft to an environmentally safe bay.
The navigator stood up and looked to their charges, "Sirs, I welcome you, again, to the Starfleet vessel Columbia. Captain Darkan has requested that you be escorted to Sickbay to assure your well-being. He will be meeting us there."
"I can assure you," said Vrang in his gruff voice, "that me and my crew here are fine."
Anderson could sense that the Klingons were still assuming betrayel of some sort, "Captain Vrang, I assure you that our captain is only interested in your well-being, and that this is just a standard procedure. Besides, there may have been radiation or other lethal forms of exposure that we were not aware of... better to be sure, yes?"
Vrang haltingly nodded.
Anderson smiled, "Good. I will conduct you to the sickbay and then I am sure another crewman will show you to some comfortable quarters. Until we figure out what is next, you are guests aboard our ship."
The hatch on the Galileo opened and Billy extended an arm to allow the Klingons to exit first. He looked to Pushkin who was still going through the shutdown steps of the Galileo, "I'll see you on the bridge."
Alex nodded and hit the comm, "Captain Darkan, Galileo 042 has landed and Mr. Anderson is escorting the Klingon survivors to Sickbay. Pushkin out."
Pushkin brings the shuttlecraft through the Columbia's large hanger door, placing the craft gently upon the deck. Once the normal thud of landing is felt, he starts turns and looks to the Klingon. "Welcome to the Columbia, Captain."
He looks to Anderson as he takes the lead of guiding the Klingons and starts to shut down the shuttle systems one by one. He looks down at the bulky suit. "Let's get out of you." He says, crawling out of the Flight chair, heading out of the craft and out onto the deck. He nods to the deck crew, heading for the nearest storage locker to change out of the environmental suit.
[OOC:] Hey Jeremy, it takes Pushkin all of 10 minutes to get unsuited and redressed in his uniform. Let me know what/where he is heading now. If he goes to the bridge, move to that thread; sickbay; or wherever.