The die is cast (PLOT CRITICAL POST)

Posted on 03 Sep 2020 @ 11:52am by Commander Kristiana Petrova & Lieutenant Madalene Sabine & Lieutenant Callisi Veera

1,093 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Ab Intra
Location: Bridge
Timeline: MD01, 1715

Kristiana walked onto the bridge. Still her uniform dusty and scuffed, still her shoulder lightly injured, the uniform torn and her skin broken. Still her hair a mess from the storm. Still her Type II sidearm holstered on her waist. She gave a nod to those present - Sovok, Madalene and Callisi, waiting for Sovok to vacate the center chair before taking it for herself.

As she did, two others followed her in, keeping to the back of the bridge. Two security officers, also armed with their Type II sidearms.

Armed security, on the Bridge? This felt like the Empire, not the Federation. Callisi gave the pair a glance, noting that they stuck to the back of the bridge, their backs to solid walls. They had a good vantage of the entire room and no blind spots to worry about. Tactically sound, but still, tactics like this weren't something she'd expect from the "Ready, ask questions, aim, diplomacy, ask more questions, threaten to fire, more diplomacy." mindset that she had read the Federation employed. Maybe she was wrong. Though, she hadn't stepped out of line, so she had nothing to worry about from the presence of armed security forces. There was a reason for it, perhaps, but that reason was slightly above her paygrade. She grit her teeth, grinding them slightly at another flare up of pain, but when she went to return back to her task, the flare up died down. It only bothered her when she...

Was she being conditioned? Flare up. What a silly thought. Pain stopped.

Madalene looked up when she heard the lift doors open, and what came out should have surprised her but it didn't. It was rare to see crew with weapons even on their hips while on board their own vessel, "commander, welcome back," Madalene said simply, but still feeling that pull in the back of her mind that screamed this wasn't right.

"Thank you. As you were," Kris replied, as she started working, pulling up menus, entering in commands on her armrest terminal. She seemed frustrated at something, hesitating for a moment and muttering under her breath before continuing

Callisi relaxed as the order was given, returning to her duty as casually as she slid to the more relaxed posture. Though her ears twitched at the mutterance. "Is everything alright, Commander?" Callisi asked, the pale reflectionless glance of her living eye sliding off her panel to look at Kris.

"Hm?" Kristiana seemed very distracted and more than a bit frustrated at her work, though as Callisi glanced her way she covered her armrest console with an arm, as if to shield it. The Russian woman gave a quick nod to the two armed security officers, who started to quietly move closer to Callisi.

"Yeah, I'm - ... We're - ... Everything's fine. Don't worry about it. Everything's going to be just fine," she replied, turning her attention back to her work and her armrest console. "With some time and effort." Kris added under her breath, so quiet she didn't think anyone would hear. Anyone without Ts'usugi ears.

"Of course, Commander." she gave a nod in agreement with most of the sentiment. Callisi's lack of patience cost her dearly. "We take our time, and we get it right." she turned her full attention back to her console, resuming her vigil over the storm. During the shuttle's descent, the storm had abated slightly, then again as it came up. Whatever this storm was, she had as little information about it now as she did when she first woke up.

Maddy noticed the two security guards move, "commander, umm," Maddy was about to mention that the storm was letting up but, but then it was back to normal, shaking her head were her eyes playing tricks on her again. "....umm looks like, well not sure what happened but it appeared that the shuttle parted the storm, I think," Maddy said looking at her scans.

"Yes, I am aware," was Kris' quick reply. A moment or two more work on her console before she sat back, closing her eyes for a moment. Upon opening them again she tapped her comm badge - sending out a message to certain crew - ones that, like Sovok, like her, like Madalene, had been taken over.

"The ship is ours. I've locked out any computer access outside the bridge. Start rounding up the free people, put them in the b - " 'Cargo bay two! screamed the real Kristiana, her mindvoice unheard by all but the being, " - cargo bay two," the being blinked. Why did she say that? Ah well, no matter. It'd suffice.

The two security officers drew their sidearms, one motioning at Callisi, the other at Madalene.

"She's one of us," spoke Kris, motioning at Madalene. "Lock the other up in cargo bay two."

Callisi turned to face security, glancing at the phasers pointed at her. The ship was theirs? She didn't have the time to think about the options. Shapeshifters? Mind control? Ligament kinesis? Or something simpler... Disloyalty? It was her vs the bridge, and she was hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned. "What's the charge?" she asked, expecting some half-brained answer. Transport to the cargo bay may indicate that her future was to be spaced. A grim fate.

"Little rabbit please go peacefully," Maddy said turning and stepping a few steps away from her console, "I do not want to see you hurt," the being said, which was true.

Little? Callisi narrowed her glance at Maddy, such a dismissive term casually offered her way. This would mark the first time in Callisi's opinion that Madalene spoke to her with confidence and conviction, and it was to inform her of her options for surrender. She'd scoff at the notion, if surrendering to security wasn't her only option. "So the charge is Loyalty." she nearly spat the words as she was nudged by the two security officers and taken to the turbolift, and to her final destination. Her hollow, endless glance never left Madalene as she walked by her. Another question without an answer. Another disappointment. Another action taken without reason.

"The carge is being resistant to our mind control," Kristiana-being said as Callisi was escorted out. "Thank you for cooperating," she added, turning her attention back to the situation at hand. They'd played their hand. Now to plan their next move.

You'll never get away with this.

The real Kristiana was like a tiger in the cage of her own mind. Pacing. Angry.

Kristiana-being just smirked. "We already have."

 

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