Nothing Is Futile

Posted on Sat Apr 5th, 2025 @ 7:44pm by Captain M'Raz & Lieutenant Commander Jason Reeves & Lieutenant Elias McEntyre & Lieutenant Micheal Taggart & Lieutenant Richard Pierce MD & Lieutenant Michael Harris
Edited on on Thu May 1st, 2025 @ 9:46pm

2,014 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Resistance is Necessary
Location: Escape Pod 31
Timeline: MD002 - 0530

The Hawking had never known what hit it. The ship was never designed for combat. And yet, they had to try, had to. Michael was adrift in his escape pod now. As he looked at the debris he wondered how many of his friends died, and if any of them were out there adrift looking toward him. At least my size comes in handy for a change. He thought as he realized there was a tad more room due to his smaller stature. He was unsure exactly how much time had passed as he checked the limited supplies he had. At least he would live among the wreckage for a week or so and hopefully someone would show up to rescue him. Although that was doubtful due to the orders given by Command to stay away from Earth.

Michael sighed heavily, closed his eyes and ran his hand through his hair. In this moment he thought all was surely lost. When he opened his eyes there seemed to be dimming of the starlight within the pod. His eyes widened as he saw something he could not believed. An Ambassador Class starship and in tact. "Man I hope there are people there and not Borg." He decided to throw caution into the wind and turned up his transponder. "Come on... come on get the message."

The world had shifted in upwards of an hour; with refugees on board, the Jane Addams was proceeding through the debris field toward Utopia Planitia where Raz hoped they could rescue a few more and pick up whatever they needed. "Continuous scanning," Raz said. "Just in case there's someone floating out there."

Elias nods at his station. "Aye Sir, Continuous Scans."

"I see it!" A young bolian female, wearing the rank pip of a petty officer first class, called out from her position at helm, as she pointed a delicate finger towards the mage of a tumbling life pod, seen on the main viewer.

"Scan," Raz ordered. "Let's make sure of what's on board, shall we?"

"Scans show one lifeform aboard. Humanoid. No signs of any cybernetics." Elias reported from his station.

"Alright then," Raz said. "Open a hailing frequency and notify the transporter room, we'll be beaming someone aboard."

After some time and nearly going blind as he watched the ship move across the little window of his escape pod Michael heard the familiar tone of a hailing frequency. "Please don't say resistance is futile." He said to no one and then opened the channel. "Hello anyone out there. This is Lieutenant Michael Harris. Up until now the Chief Science Officer of the USS Hawking. Is anyone out there?"

"I'm Captain M'Raz aboard the USS Jane Addams," Raz said. "We are within transporter range. Gather your belongings and prepare for transport."

Michael looked around and smirked. Other than the food, water, a phaser, tricorder and small engineering kit. There was nothing, everything went with the Hawking. He knew that he would not need any of those things if he was boarding a Federation starship. "Captain I am sure glad to hear your voice. I am ready for transport."

"We'll have you on board in just a moment," Raz said. "End transmission and notify the transporter room. Send them the coordinates."

Reeves looked over to the Captain. "I'll head down to the transporter room and greet our new passenger."

"Notify medical we have someone incoming and take security, just in case," Raz said quietly.

Reeves tapped his commbadge. "Pierce we have two in an escape pod. Please meet us in transporter room one." Thinking about who he wanted to bring with, he looked over to McEntyre who was big enough to be three security officers. "McEntyre come with me."

"Aye, Sir" McEntyre nodded, turning his station over to a young ensign in security before following the XO to the turbolift.

Standing next to man who clearly towered over him. Jason for the first time, caught a glimpse of his paws. "I just have to know. How many people have you damn near killed with those paws? Do you use a custom-made phaser or phaser rifle?"

Elias patted the thigh holster where a phaser pistol sat. "Customized model based on the old 2287 Assault Phaser pistol. Heavier duty." He commented to the Commander with a grin. The first grin he'd given since before the attack.

Pointing an approving finger, he returned the grin. "My man. But we're going to talk that first question over drinks sometime." The turbolift doors opened as they exited.

"Of course, Sir. Though I will have to find a sitter." Elias spoke as they exited the turbolift.

[Transporter Room 1]

A few minutes later, Jason walked into the transporter room with McEntyre. "Chief energize."

The sound and feeling of the transporter effect was as welcome as a vacation on Risa would have been. Within seconds Michael materialized onto the transporter pad of the Jane Addams. Harris thought that his size would have thrown people off, but it was the two officers that greeted him that threw Michael off. It is rare that you see a human and a large lionesque person standing there. Nevertheless Michael mustered his small four and a half foot frame to attention. There was a lot of things he wanted to say, most of them inappropriate. So, he went with what he thought was expected of him. "Lieutenant Michael Harris of the USS Hawking. Permission to come aboard sir."

Reeves stared for a moment a bit thrown off. Looking back at Elias who was extremely large, bringing him along to greet the four foot officer at this moment seemed extremely overkill. "Jason Reeves first officer. And Elias McEntyre acting Chief of Security. Is there anyone in the pod with you?"

Elias nods in greeting. He was quite an intimidating Caitian. His uniform choice didn't help, armor and duty belt.

Doctor Pierce strolled into the transporter room with his usual confident gait, his sharp blue eyes scanning the newcomer with a mix of curiosity and amusement. He hadn’t been sure what to expect when he got the call, but a four-and-a-half-foot officer standing at full attention wasn’t at the top of his list.

"Well, aren't you a sight," Popeye quipped with a smirk, arms crossing over his chest. "I was expecting someone in a worse state, but you look like you could punch a Klingon and walk away just fine."

He stepped closer, his practiced gaze quickly assessing Harris for any signs of injury. "So, Lieutenant Harris, you feeling intact, or did you hit every bulkhead on the way here?" He nodded toward Reeves and McEntyre. "You two have a talent for dramatic rescues, I'll give you that."

Michael glanced around and was a little put off by all the poking and prodding. However, he also understood it with the threat of the Borg looming. He turned toward Reeves first. "I was alone in the pod sadly Commander. I wonder do you know anything about the status of the Hawking?" His eyes roved over to the Security Chief. Michael found him to be the most intimidating Caitian he had ever met. It did not help that Michael had a small stature.

"Thank you Doctor I am feeling well save for some bumps and bruises. Thankfully I managed to get off the ship before an encounter with the Borg. I am just glad to be out of that pod." Thus far he found the crew of the Jane Addams to be welcoming, but he did miss his friends on the Hawking. He suddenly became sullen as he realized that there was most likely no survivors from the Hawking save for him.

Jason sighed before answering the question. "I'm afraid the Hawkings is destroyed and adrift. We're currently searching for anymore survivors. But at the moment you're the first and the only."

Popeye’s smirk faded slightly as he took in Harris’ reaction. He’d seen that look before—the dawning realization of loss, the weight of survivor’s guilt settling in. With a softer tone, he nodded.

“Well, hell,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m real sorry, Lieutenant.” He let the moment hang, not rushing past the gravity of it.

Then, in true Popeye fashion, he nudged just enough levity back into the air to keep things from sinking too deep. “Guess that means you get VIP treatment in my sickbay. You don’t have a choice—standard policy for lone survivors. We poke, prod, and make sure you didn’t rattle your brain too hard bouncing around that pod.”

His smirk returned, though it was gentler now. “Come on, let’s get you checked out. And if you behave, I might even let you complain about the food.”

After everything he had been through Michael wanted nothing better than a bed, a stiff drink and a clean uniform. He also knew better than to argue with any doctor ever. Years of dealing with Starfleet docs taught him that. "As you say Doctor. But, if it wouldn't be a trouble can I have a clean uniform first at least." He looked at the sweat, dirt, and what he thought was blood all over the uniform and decided that simply having a clean one would make him feel more human.

"Probably best for the doctor to check you first," Reeves insisted. "The clean uniform will come."

"Very well... Then lay on MacDuff." Michael said in his best Shakespearean tone.

"Are you a doctor?" Reeves inquired.

Michael beamed, he was glad that someone got the reference. "Act five, scene one. Bravo Commander you know your Bard. Color me impressed. But to answer that if it were a literal question. I am indeed, but not a medical one. I hold doctorates in both astral physics and temporal mechanics." Michael replied. This was the one thing he hated most about working on a starship, having to keep up with the rest of the crew. It took him twice as many strides to stay in step with a normal sized person, yet he managed.

Popeye let out a low whistle, clearly amused. “Astral physics and temporal mechanics? Damn, Harris, you’re making the rest of us look bad.” He smirked as he walked beside him, deliberately slowing his pace just a fraction so the shorter officer didn’t have to double-time it.

He gave a thoughtful nod. “You ever try explaining temporal mechanics to a sleep-deprived doctor? ‘Cause I gotta tell you, I tried wrapping my head around it once, and it felt like I was getting kicked by a warp core.”

With a chuckle, he gestured toward sickbay. “But hey, that’s your problem. Mine is making sure you don’t have a concussion, internal bleeding, or anything else that’ll make my life difficult. So, let’s get this over with, and then maybe you can give me a crash course in time travel—assuming I don’t fall asleep halfway through.”

Jason took a mental note of all the information that Harris had just shared with him. Clearly the new guy was quite accomplished. When the time was right, he would definitely like to pick his brain about their current dilemma. "Doctor, we'll leave you to it."

Popeye gave a mock salute to Reeves. “Aye, aye, Commander. I’ll make sure he’s still in one piece when you get him back.”

Elias stood their like a big brick wall. "I can leave Mr. Harris to you, Doctor. If there's nothing else, Commander?" He turns to Jason with that Question.

"I believe the doctor will need no assistance from us," Jason answered. "Let's get back to the bridge."

Michael thought that if this banter was any indication he would rather like being on the Jane Addams.

=================
Captain M'Raz
Commanding Officer
USS Jane Addams

Lt. Commander Jason Reeves
Executive Officer
USS Jane Addams

Dr Richard Pierce
Chief Medical Officer
USS Jane Addams

Lieutenant Michael Harris
Chief Science Officer
USS Jane Addams

Lieutenant Elias McEntyre
Chief of Security
USS Jane Addams

 

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