The Rescue Part 1

Posted on Tue Aug 17th, 2021 @ 9:37am by Petty Officer, 3rd Class Callistus 'CJ' Jackson & Major Samuel King & Lieutenant Samantha Leyton & Commander William Gerhard & Lieutenant Avira zh'Kenarh M.D.

Mission: Mission 4 - Eden
Location: The Caelestis - Deck 23 Aft end
Timeline: Day 168 11:30
1751 words - 3.5 OF Standard Post Measure

CJ had just been coming over to The Caelestis when the pair from the team at the front had been found staggering towards the group that was meant to be catching up with the aft team. It was a shock to find the pair in the state they were but their story was even more shocking, gas, the captain and engineer missing, the figure stalking them. "The Captain is still there with Petty Officer Szerda?" He demanded clearly stunned to hear that the figure on the ship had finally been seen in a way other than a quick glance.

Maddison was still trying to get her breath back as coughed. She no longer felt as dizzy but still felt sluggish. "That's...what we...said," she replied, taking in a deep breath.

"We need to call Lieutenants Williams and Leyton," CJ said glancing down the corridor his rifle primed if the figure came looking. The crewman quickly relayed everything back to the ship that they had just left but he stopped attempting to contact the other team when he saw them walking towards them.

"Sir... Williams is already here." The man said making CJ turn from the two women to the Armoury Chief surprised to see him so quickly not realising that he was not aware of anything that had happened yet.

William and two security officers approached the small group of people at the umbilical hatch. He had left Ensign Sloan in charge of the party at the DataCore center and had decided to return to the Atlantis to gather a search team of MACOs and go check on the other team. He then noticed the other search team was present, however, there was no sign of Captain Leroux or Petty Officer Szerda. William quickened his pace and made up the ground quickly. He saw Warrant Officer Walker and Dr. zh'Kenarh were trying to catch their breath as he came up to them.

"Where are the others," he asked while looking at Walker and Avira. He could tell something was wrong, but he kept his tone calm and firm. He would not lose his cool in front of his subordinates, but inside his head, he was cursing himself for not going with the captain and deploying MACO teams with each group.

“Well… Sir. It seems the Captain’s team met the figure.” CJ explained looking at the group wanting someone else to step in and explain it all properly but when no one else did he took a deep breath. “Walker and the Doctor were ordered to leave them behind to save themselves.”

William furrowed his brow and looked to the other members of the captain's team. There would be time to figure out the specifics on what happened later, right now it was important to enact a rescue of the captain and Szerda. He looked back at CJ, "Petty Officer, contact Ensign Sloan and his team and tell him to gather what evidence he can and return to the ship. Post a security team at the airlock and don't let anyone leave the Atlantis unless you hear from myself or the XO." As he said this, he motioned to his other two security officers to help Walker and Avira, "Crewman Fuller, get them to sickbay." He pulled his communicator out of his pocket and flipped it open, "Gerhard to Major King. I need a MACO QRF team over here ASAP. Captain Leroux and Petty Officer Szerda are missing on Deck 23 over here."

It had taken a moment for Avira to catch her breath, slumped against the bulkhead right outside where they had escaped the gas. "Tell king to bring an extra respirator, he's going to need an experienced combat medic on the team." Her antennae perked up in the direction of William, he and her both knew that she was the obvious choice. They also both knew that she was a very specialised asset to the ship that they could ill afford to lose, "I followed the order the Commander gave me, but either I'm going back in with the team and a respirator or I'm going back in holding my breath."

Samuel's communicator came to life and the information relayed sounded quite distressing. "Acknowledged Lieutenant. I'll be with you ASAP." he said before closing the communicator over.

"Count me in too," Maddison said through deep breaths. She hated the idea of leaving anyone behind.

William looked at them both. He knew that they should be checked out by medical, but he knew that if he were in their place he would go back in as well. He nodded at them both, "If your up for it, then I won't tell you you can't come." He then looked at Crewman Fuller and told him to grab some respirators. He then turned back to Walker and Avira, "What can you tell me about the gas," he asked.

On the bridge of the Atlantis, Samantha crossed her arms as she stood in front of the command chair. She didn't feel right sitting in it so she mostly stood or rested against the railing when needed. She glanced at the ensign sitting at the helm console. She envied the woman as her only responsibility was to fly the ship while Samantha was in command of the Atlantis. 'You did this to yourself,' she thought with a slight shake of her head. Glancing at a nearby chronometer, she realized the Captain's Away Team was overdue to check back in which the Captain had always been diligent about. "Comm, open a channel to the captain."

The comm operator nodded and quick set out doing it but turned back around to look at Samantha. "I am unable to contact the aft away team, Sir."

Now Samantha was beginning to worry as she decided to contact the next senior most officer over on there. "Comm, open a channel to Lieutenant Gerhard."

As William closed his communicator it began to chirp. He flipped open the device, "This is Gerhard. XO, we've got a situation over here. It appears the Captain's party encountered someone while searching deck 23. Captain Leroux ordered Walker and Dr. Avira to fall back while she attempted to extract Petty Officer Szerda. Major King is putting together a MACO QRF team and will be here shortly. I'm ordering all Atlantis personnel to return to the ship and then the MACOs and I are going to rescue the Captain and Szerda. I would recommend severing the umbilical once everyone is back aboard."

Leyton paused for a moment. The Captain was missing? She instantly felt the weight of her position bearing down on her as she closed her eyes, clenched her fists and took a breath. Opening her eyes and relaxing her hands, she knew she had to focus and take it one step at a time. "Understood, lieutenant. We'll be standing by to offer assistance and transport you out as soon as you get the captain. Atlantis, out." She turned to the Armory officer at Tactical. "Set Alert Condition Red. Polarize the hull plating and arm weapons." She then stepped up behind the helm officer. "The minute we get everyone aboard, detach the umbilical cord and get us away from this ship."

They ran from their position, start to finish. Sam put together a team, including Sergeant Rhodes, and kitted them out in the appropriate equipment including respirators. They were a little out of breath but they recovered quickly due to their fitness levels.

William closed his communicator and returned it to his pocket. He then checked the charge on his rifle and shed any gear he would not need. He then looked up as the MACO team began arriving and signalled Major King to join him with the others. "Glad you could join us Major. Now Walker and Avira are going to lead us back to where they last saw the captain and Petty Officer Szerda. We can confirm one hostile who appears to have access to the environmental controls which is why I asked you to bring respirators. We don't know what kind of weapons he might have, but he has clearly shown hostile intent by gassing our people. So, we go in fast recover our people and hotfoot back here to the umbilical. Make sure all weapons are set to kill, we are not going to lose another person to this place." As he said the last part he looked at each of them to convey the seriousness of his orders. William would face any consequences of potentially killing his only suspect later, but this assailant was too dangerous to risk anyone else's life.

"And the stun setting...on the phase pistols doesn't work. I had managed to hit the guy...but he recovered after a moment, so we should use the kill setting instead," Maddison offered as she was slowly recovering from the gas.

"We follow your orders Gerhard." Sam said nodding and looking towards his team. They were all setting their weapons to kill as per his request. As this was a ship environment the Armoury was the lead team and Sam knew this. He would be there to assist that team to the best of his ability. "Here are your respirators," he said passing them out.

For a moment he checked on the two that had gotten out. "Deep breaths before going back in. Calm your respiratory rate before putting these on. We will get them back." he said assuredly.

William took the respirator and fit it around his head, but did not secure it fully. He checked his plasma rifle and set it to kill. He then made waited for his team to signal they were ready. Once he was sure everyone was good to go he nodded to them all and opened his communicator, "Gerhard to Leyton, we are ready and proceeding to Deck 23 now. We will keep a comm channel ready in case we need extraction."

"Acknowledged," Leyton replied.

"All other teams are back aboard, ma'am," the Armory Officer reported.

"Helm, disengage the umbilical cord and move us to their four o'clock with the Bow towards them," Samantha ordered, placing her hands on the railing behind the command chair.

"Aye, ma'am," the officer replied as he punched in several commands into the helm console.

William closed his communicator and secured his respirator. Once he cleared it and had a good seal he signaled his team to advance, "Alright, let's move out."