Cadet Climb
Posted on Sat Aug 2nd, 2025 @ 10:55pm by Captain M'Raz & Kenneth Hunt
Edited on on Mon Aug 11th, 2025 @ 5:23am
1,035 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
Admiral Ambition and the Borg
Location: En Route to the Bridge
Timeline: MD004 - 1910 (ish)
"I know the Jeffries tube is alright," Bayre said, "at least heading up to the next deck because I used it once already." He shrugged lightly as he turned toward Hunt. "Beyond that, I think we're going to have to map it out as we go. Especially if Captain wants us to act as runners."
Kenneth followed his way through the tube behind Vespertine. "I wonder just how bad things are. Its going to take a whole lot of climbing and crawling through these things."
"Yes it is," Bayre said as he stopped, slipping into a sitting position so that he could turn toward Hunt. The tube in front of them had collapsed and an emergency force field was all that was keeping the air from venting into space. "Can these tubes be sealed at all? You know like closing or door or something?" He grinned cheerfully. "I'm a doctor not an engineering major, or I will be anyway, if I ever get to graduate."
"If the tube is damaged, that part of the deck is damaged as well. Might not be anything there to repair." Hunt looked around trying to get his bearings. "What deck is this?"
"Nine, I think," Bayre said as he rubbed the back of his head. "Well there's no way forward so let's see if we can find another way up."
"The Commander and Lieutenant made it down here from the bridge," Kenneth brought up. "So there has to be a way around."
"If they can, we can," Bayre said as he climbed out of the Jeffries tube and dropped lightly onto the deck. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to visualize the layout of the ship, and nodded. "There's another tube that way," he said, pointing to the other side of the deck. "Maybe that one will be clearer. C'mon."
Making their way down the corridor, Hunt took a mental note of the damages and several injured. This deck was fairly damaged but looked to be fairly stable. Minus the forcefield they came across in the jeffrey tube. But that was a sign that the deck above them had been compromised. "How bad do you think the ship is?"
"If the world-ending shaking is any measure," Bayre said. "Bad. Haven't seen an officer yet that didn't have that 'look' on their face. You know the one where your parents know something bad but just don't want to tell you? That look?"
"I've noticed that far too often," Hunt agreed. "Which is why I asked. The Borg did a number on the Task Force and I wonder if any other ships got away."
The once-orderly corridors were damaged now, like a small rabbit caught in a coyote's jaws, shaken and slashed. Sparking panels, places here bulkheads were dented, crewmen helping each other down a corridor. Bayre stepped over a bit of fallen debris as he shook his head. "Now you know they don't tell the cadets anything though I might happen to be waiting in line for coffee when some of the Bridge crew are talking." He scooted around a young crewman, arms wrapped around his chest, and kept on, keeping as quick a pace as possible.
"From what I heard, our weapons can't touch them and are shields don't hold against them," Bayre said as he turned toward Hunt, his expression grim. "Frankly, I'm surprised we got away."
Finding another access point to another tube, Hunt began to open it up. "I don't believe in running, but perhaps that should be the next course of action. A lot of people have died and more there are likely to be more deaths before we find a way to beat these Borg."
"Which we won't find if we run away," Bayre said as he followed Hunt up into the tube. This one was a bit clearer with a ladder that led straight up. "Glad we got rid of the civilians though."
"There is still quite a bit who decided to stay on the ship."
"Not all that many," Bayre said with a shrug as he started climbing the ladder, "but then, I didn't keep count. Too busy with the toting and fetching thing." He sighed as he passed the next level and continued up. "I miss the Academy."
"I couldn't wait to finish and be officially an officer," Hunt mentioned. "Another two and half years seemed like an eternity. Now I find myself longing for that time back."
"Got to wonder," Bayre said as he paused on the ladder, peering upward, before continuing on, "how long it will be before the Academy is operational again and ... what happens to all of us in the meantime? Personally," he said, punctuating his words with a grunt as a rung gave way. "Look out," he said as he grabbed the rung and tossed it out and away before continuing to climb. "Hanging out in the quad after classes, those all-night study sessions over pizza and beer ... long shifts in the hospital ... Good times."
"Those were good times," the other Cadet admitted. He thought back on the times in the quad with Ian and his other friends. And now Ian was dead. For all he knew, his other friends may have been dead as well. "The bridge should be the next deck up."
Bayre continued climbing and tried very hard not to think of what it would do to his day if the tube suddenly vented to space. 'X' did it. The Chief of Security did it ... I can too ... Repeated in his head, a sort of mantra he'd developed to keep himself from screaming or curling up in fetal position, Bayre climbed. Focused on the next rung in the ladder and not the greater horrors they faced. Finally, they came out onto Deck 1. He stood for a moment orienting himself and then headed down the corridor that would lead them through the break room and onto the Bridge itself.
"C'mon," Bayre said quietly to Hunt. "Let's report in and figure out what comes next, eh?"
"A couple of more trips like that and we should have this place mapped out."
Cadet Kenneth Hunt
Cadet Bayre Vespertine, Medicine
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