>>5526155With your Ops officer by your side for support, you begin to flick through comms channels - heart hardened to the numerous cries of pain, requests for assistance, and directionless chattering. You hear Kiro whimper slightly, though you’re unsure if it's in sympathy or pain - his injuries seem to be greater than he is letting on.
You try all the command channels, searching for any officer of rank greater than your own and working your way down.
No response from the Captain or any of his alpha shift command crew.
Static from their counterparts on beta shift.
What remains of the gamma shift still floats around you unconscious.
The lack of direction and uncharacteristic chaos you witness is quite damning.
“Oh my stars..:” You hear the Marrok beside you whisper, aghast. “Is there no one left in charge down there?”
You find it too difficult to reply, your mouth set in a grim line as you continue to flick through channels, growing angrier with each press of the control.
“This is unacceptable,” you growl, “we’ve been attacked and this is how my crew reacts! We’re better than this.”
Finally a connection gets through to someone in engineering, you pause in surprise as a Tyllano engineer stares back at you blankly. You can see the compartment behind him in disarray, broken pipes and cables leaking fluid and sparking dangerously. The feathered man sighs wearily and begins to speak in the low flute-like manner of his people, his MPC translating it into a rich, baritone.
“Engineering, Ensign Flies-at-Night reporting. I’m sorry, I’m going to have to put you on hold for-”
You slam your fist against the arm of your command seat, your expression baleful enough in the stark red light to give the flustered junior officer pause. Before you can express your displeasure with the state of things, however, Kiro leans past you pointing eagerly.
“Hey Fan, It’s me Kiro! Don’t hang up!!”
You glance sidelong at your companion as he hangs from the back of your chair making himself visible to the hapless engineer on the display. He seems remarkably upbeat despite everything but you trust him to take over the conversation for now.
“Kiro? I thought all the senior officers were dead?” The Tyllano blinks slowly, his gaze seeming to look through you into the distance.
“Dead? What do you mean, dead?” Kiro squeaks in reply, his composure and voice cracking despite his best efforts. “The Ell-Cee and I are still up here on the observation bridge with most of the gamma shift command! Though they’re mostly sleeping on the job.”
Fan blinks slowly, seeming to recognise you for the first time.
“Sir!” he barks, snapping a crisp salute.
“Damage report, Ensign. And get the power back on up here, stat!” You command slowly yet firmly.
“Of course sir,” He glances away from the camera for a moment and touches a holo-display, navigating menus, before turning back and saluting again. Lights suddenly blind you as power is restored to the observation deck.
