Shaking the Cobwebs
Posted on Fri Oct 19th, 2018 @ 3:06pm by Major Cornelius Tremble
Edited on on Fri Oct 19th, 2018 @ 3:32pm
726 words; about a 4 minute read
Mission:
Episode 5 - It Would Be Their Pleasure
Location: Marine Country
Timeline: MD007 1220 hrs
Things…swirled. That was the best description his mind could piece together at that given moment. The images of mom’s face floated before his minds eye and his memory of her smiling at him filled him with warmth.
His mind’s eye blinked then as the image changed to his mother. Her blonde hair turned brunette and her facial features changed: the cheek bones narrowing and eyes shifted from green to brown.
Both women’s images seemed to morph together, then shift back and forth and then faded as his eyes opened to view what he hoped was reality.
Neil found himself on the deck, his mouth tasting of carpet and a damp spot on the same indicating he’d been doing some drooling. He processed things, a headache forming behind his left eye as he push/rolled into a sitting position, back against a bulkhead.
Things looked familiar. He recognized his…Neil’s… office. The hatch was closed and flashing yellow warning lights indicated the ship was under an alert.
“Which ship, though,” he asked himself as he contemplated things. He remembered being Jay Hoyle, but he was Cornelius Tremble.
Right?
A banging at the hatchway and the annunciator alerted him, annoyingly, that someone wanted his attention. He took a half breath and pushed himself up, using the bulkhead to steady his back as he gained his feet.
“Computer, un-dog that hatch and open.”
The computer at least seemed to recognize him and he heard the seals give way and the doors slid open. He saw Peavy.
“You OK, L.T.? Comm’s have been fluctuating and you didn’t answer the hail.” The Marine had a bruise forming on his left temple and looked a bit shaky.
“Maybe.” Neil answered honestly, but then looked the Corporal in the eye. “But it doesn’t matter at this point, we have work to do.” Activating his computer, he glanced at the system readouts being repeated for his convenience and shook his head.
“Looks like SNAFU for this ship,” he groused, more for the enlisted man’s benefit. “Lets go.” Neil moved to the hatch, “Tremble to Flarn,” he called out as he shot an arm through his level 1 body armor and ducked between the shoulder straps. The armor automatically snugged to his frame and he ran hands over it, ensuring everything was secure and in place.
When no answer came, he called out “Computer. Locate 1st Sgt. Flarn.”
“Sgt. Flarn is currently in his quarters.” Came the reply.
“Bio signs?” Neil asked, as he keyed open a storage bin and holstered his phaser.
“Respiratory and pulmonary signs read normal, though on the low side for his species. Sgt. Flarn appears to be unconscious and unresponsive to audio and visual stimuli. Medical has been notified.”
Grunting, Neil turned to Peavy. “Right, get your kit. Muster in five.” The Lance Corporal nearly saluted, catching Tremble’s look and nodded.
“Aye aye, L.T.”
Neil pulled his cover from the bin and settled it on his brow before commanding, “Computer. Play Assembly.”
Bugle notes began filling the passageways , living quarters, and compartments of Marine Country. Neil could hear booted feet moving about as he checked more status indicators and tried to establish contact with Marines that were currently on duty in other parts of the ship.
Minutes later he strode into the briefing room and found most of his Marines in formation, waiting. Most looked a bit rumpled and ragged and he let his eyes travel over each one nodding occasionally to the more senior non-coms. He tapped his communicator, linking in the Marines away from the unit.
“All right Marines. Seems the Fleet has gotten us into it again. Things are still shaky as to what, but there’s work to be done. Team One, you’re with me. We’re going to reinforce the no-loan zones. The rest of you, report to your Damage Control assignments and get busy. Our crew-mates need out help.”
He gave them one last look then called loudly, “Remember, We Are the Cure.”
Dismissing his troops, he gathered the Marines from Fire Team One and headed out. The strange memories and images in his mind would have to wait.
Second Lieutenant Cornelius Tremble
Marine Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
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