Episode 36 To the Rescue

*"Freezing to death in deep space is something that should be reserved for being sucked into vacuum, and not for waking up in the morning."*
—**Yata**

## **Plot Synopsis**

### **Pre-Break**

The episode opens two weeks after the events of "Trial Runs pt. 2". USS *Ross* has been fully repaired. Starfleet has quarantined the Bota-Eeloz System so that the Ice Creatures won't be disturbed. USS *Johnson* has been dispatched there to do further studies. Meanwhile, USS *Ross* has been bouncing from system to system doing routine scans of spatial anomalies and other stellar phenomena.

In their quarters, CAPT Azeri Sull wakes up and orders hot oolong tea. Two seconds later, YEO3 Azzmi Shanto is at their door with the morning brief. As they approach the turbolift, LTCDR Yeri Prahl greets them. Sull is happy to hear that there is nothing exciting for him to report. Prahl notes that he has questions about the circumstances surrounding Sorex's departure from the ship. ("Trial Runs pt. 1") Sull suggests he talk to Azzmi; he says he will let it go, for now. The doors to the turbolift open and LT Zhyliss Vrenn rushes down the hall and into the lift.

Once they arrive on the bridge, Sull is greeted by CDR EXEO and Azzmi. Azzmi discusses the work of the day. She notes one interesting item; chef Maria Corona has requested to hold a "healing Tea Ceremony" on the Promenade. Sull approves it, and Azzmi leaves. As the turbolift doors open, she sees AMB Olyn Madzhin-Nil and LTJG Jane Lakat. She exchanges a hesitant greeting with Lakat, seemingly not noticing Olyn's presence. Lakat hesitates while trying to think of something cool to say, and then she gives a simple hello. Once Azzmi leaves, Olyn gives Lakat a meaningful sideways glance. Lakat asks Olyn to never speak of that moment again; Olyn says they will discuss it later. Lakat deflects and goes to sit at her station. Olyn sits down in their seat next to Sull.

Vrenn gives a status update on the position and heading of the ship. An alert goes off, and Prahl announces a priority message from Starfleet. He notes there is a three hour delay on it. Sull proceeds to their ready room and opens the message. ADM April Hebert appears, and she says that Narendra Station has received an urgent distress call from USS *Thunderchild*. It was operating beyond the normal distance approved for exploration missions. She says that the nature of the distress is unknown; the message from USS Thunderchild was garbled. She orders USS Ross to immediately proceed at maximum warp to render assistance. Sull returns to the bridge and relays the orders; USS Ross departs at maximum warp to coordinates of the distress call. Vrenn announces their expected arrival time is 3 days and 15 hours. EXEO asks if they should continue maintenance in the meantime. Sull agrees, but adds that astrography should examine why the message was garbled. Lakat and EXEO head down to Cetacean Operations to began the analysis.

Dr. Yata greets them as they arrive. Yata asks if they are present for a visit or for the distress call. Lakat remarks that, unfortunately, they are there for work. She explains the situation and provides the information. EXEO looks up USS Thunderchild's course and mission to provide to Yata. She finds that it was on a routine survey mission to the Motolys System, an uncharted system first identified by Narendra Station one year prior. Its only interesting feature is that it contains a proto-star. Yata performs his analysis. While working, he engages in small talk with EXEO and Lakat; he asks how they have spent their time. At first Lakat says nothing; she is still distracted with thinking of what she should have said to Azzmi. She snaps out of it, and says that distress calls make her distressed. Yata suggests she make an appointment with EXEO, but EXEO says it isn't necessary (she knows Lakat was lying). EXEO takes over the conversation to give Lakat a break. Yata announces that the transmission was garbled at the point of transmission; he also says that it doesn't appear to have been deliberately jammed. Lakat says that she expects the cause of the garbling was also the cause of the distress. EXEO and Yata agree.

Lakat suggests they compare the distortions in the distress call to distortions caused by known stellar phenomena. Yata hums to himself as he works. He finds thirty possibilities. Twenty of them involve naturally occurring subspace distortions. Lakat takes the data back to prepare her sensors for when USS Ross arrives. EXEO blips to the bridge. EXEO and Sull share compliments and opinions about Lakat. Sull says that Lakat could use mentoring. EXEO notes that Yata suggested it, but for the wrong thing. EXEO tries to talk around the issue (Lakat's crush on Azzmi) but Sull interrupts, saying that everyone on the bridge already knows. EXEO, in a very proper manner, says they should refrain from gossiping. Olyn merely raises an eyebrow at the captain. Sull waits for Prahl to get near, and then starts humming *We didn't Start the Fire*. Prahl's jaw clenches.

Olyn leaves the bridge and heads to sickbay. Once there, LTJG Ursine Wedaj informs them that M'Qrell is in her office. Olyn goes in to greet her. Olyn says that the two of them haven't had many opportunities to chat, and that they haven't had tea together, yet. M'Qrell suggests that Olyn could join her right at that moment. Olyn says that they visited to ask her about Sorex. Olyn says that they think M'Qrell knows Sorex better than anyone else on the ship; M'Qrell agrees. Olyn asks for her impression of him. M'Qrell says that Sorex was raised to believe in one thing only, and that his time on USS *Ross* opened his eyes to other possibilities. M'Qrell asks why Olyn is asking about Sorex. Olyn reminds M'Qrell that their first interaction with Sorex involved a phaser pointing at their back. ("Prologue")

The scene moves to the "healing Tea Ceremony" taking place on the promenade. Maria Corona is guiding the group in meditation as tea is passed out. M'Qrell sits nearby, sipping her own tea. Olyn leaves their office on the promenade and goes to meet M'Qrell. M'Qrell greets them, saying she needs to spend more time on the promenade. The conversation returns to Sorex. M'Qrell says that, for the first time, Sorex has a way of putting his talents to good use, instead of merely following the orders of superiors. She asks Olyn again why they ask. Olyn asks if M'Qrell trusted herself around Sorex. M'Qrell says she did, and she feels they were becoming very close friends; she misses him. M'Qrell asks if Olyn trusts him; Olyn says they do not. M'Qrell says that Sorex's actions when he met Olyn were out of desperation and concern for his family (which didn't exist). ("Prologue") Olyn thanks her, and says that they regret the two of them haven't had more conversations. They joke a bit about Prahl's tendency to clench his jaw, and their concern over his dental health.

Olyn inquires about the plants which M'Qrell had been concerned about after the encounter with the Ice Creatures. ("Trial Runs pt. 2") Their empathic powers told them M'Qrell was overjoyed at the plants' survival. M'Qrell says that they are a special herb she's been growing since a child. Olyn asks if they are specific to Caitians. M'Qrell says they are a "personal hybrid". Olyn asks if she's spoken with Lakat about them, since Lakat is a botanist. M'Qrell deflects; Olyn remarks that Lakat is an excellent botanist. Olyn can tell that M'Qrell is desperate for them to change the subject. Olyn does so, and asks her about other plants she cultivates. M'Qrell says "hibiscus"; she often referred to them as "hot biscuits" when learning English. The conversation moves to M'Qrell's general discomfort with small talk, and Olyn reassuring them. They take a moment to watch the tea ceremony.

Joining the ceremony are Ondred Vlassadaf and LT T'Karra. Maria Corona sees Olyn and M'Qrell watching and invites them to join the ceremony. Olyn turns to M'Qrell, but M'Qrell declines. Before Olyn departs, M'Qrell tells them to say "hello" to Sorex on her behalf. Olyn questions why M'Qrell thinks they have any reason to speak with Sorex. M'Qrell says that she has a "feeling". Olyn departs to join the Tea Ceremony. They are handed a comfortable pillow and a cup of tea.

Two days later, USS Ross is one day from arrival to the Motolys System. Lakat attempts to scan the system, but the sensors completely glitch out. Lakat audibly growls at her console. The sheer amount of plasma coursing through the ship (due to traveling at maximum warp) created a surge of power through the main sensor array. USS Ross is reduced to only one light-year of sensor capability. Lakat informs Sull that they won't get any information about the system until they arrive. EXEO says she will check on Lakat in about four hours. Engineering division gets to work repairing the sensor array.

A day later, USS Ross arrives at the same time the sensors are repaired. Vrenn reports a ship on sensors. Sull orders the ship to yellow alert. On the viewscreen, the bridge crew sees USS *Thunderchild* adrift with a completely destroyed warp nacelle and a scorched hull. Lakat scans the ship. USS Thunderchild is currently on minimal life support and is undergoing large power fluctuations. She also detects hundreds of life-signs, but there are 21 fewer than USS Thunderchild's full crew complement.

### **Post-Break**

EXEO ask Prahl for an analysis of USS Thunderchild's damage. Prahl says that he cannot make any definitive determination. EXEO turns to Sull, and says that Lakat and Yata's initial analysis had not indicated an attack. Lakat scans the proto-star. She discovers three asteroid belts, high amounts of radiation, and powerful plasma discharges. She is able to determine that the powerful radiation from the proto-star is what garbled the distress signal. Sull concludes that it's possible the damage on USS Thunderchild was caused by a plasma discharge from the proto-star.

Prahl opens a communications channel as MCPO Theq Lynadas, ENS Dari, and CPO Amandeep Singh gets transporter signals on the crew of USS Thunderchild. A voice answers their hail; the voice is not that of CAPT Victor Navarro, the commander of USS Thunderchild. Sull says they were dispatched by Narendra Station. The voice reports that the ship was caught in a solar storm; CAPT Navarro and the XO were injured, and there were 21 fatalities and 147 injuries. The voice introduces itself as Chief Medical Officer LTCDR Randall Mullawy. Sull sends over M'Qrell and EXEO (with her ring).

When they arrive on USS Thunderchild's transporter room, they are alone. M'Qrell pulls out her tricorder and they head out. They detect fluctuating temperatures and lights. The crew are gathered in clusters throughout the ship. A large number of crew are in sickbay, along with the EMH. They look down the jeffries tube to get to sickbay. EXEO grumbles about the lack of holoemitters. EXEO just jumps down the tube. M'Qrell slides down the ladder. Stepping out of the jeffries tube, they see dozens of injured lining the corridors; they make their way to sickbay. The EMH (a Mark I) greets them coldly. He makes a sarcastic remark about only bringing two people to assist, and then he tells them to "get to it".

Mullawy greets them and takes them to the sickbed with CAPT Navarro. He describes the extents of Navarro's injuries. He shows them the XO, Sessan Tam, whose injuries are severe. Mullawy says they are running low on energy and supplies; most of their medical equipment was destroyed by the solar storm. M'Qrell checks on the captain and XO, and sees that Mullawy has stabilized them effectively. She determines that Tam will require a direct transport to sickbay. She contacts Sull, who orders Theq, Lakat, and Singh to begin working on a transport lock.

Just then, Prahl reports an incoming solar wave. Sull orders Vrenn to move USS Ross between the wave and USS Thunderchild; they also order Theq to extend the shields. USS Ross takes the brunt of the impact, and saves USS Thunderchild from being irradiated. Sull compliments Vrenn on his piloting. Sull orders Lakat to scan the structural integrity of USS Thunderchild. Lakat announces the ship will be able to handle a tractor beam, but the interference from the star may disrupt the tractor beam. Sull calls Theq and requests he begin efforts to physically tow USS Thunderchild, which USS Ross had prepared in advance. Theq determines it will take one hour; he informs Sull it will take 90 minutes.

Back in sickbay, M'Qrell prepares Navarro and Tam for transport. She contacts Sull again.
Singh works his magic and successfully transports Navarro, Tam, and M'Qrell through the interference and into sickbay on USS Ross. Olyn greets them, prepared to alleviate the injured crew members' pain as needed. Olyn can feel the throbbing pain from Tam, even though he is in a medically induced coma. They hear him in their mind. He asks them where he is, why he can't see, and who they are. Olyn answers his questions. He asks them again. Olyn walks to him and begins to draw out his pain; they can sense the sheer power of the burning sensation he'd been feeling. They ask (in their mind) if he is feeling better. He says yes, and he repeats his questions. Olyn tells him to rest; he thanks them. M'Qrell gets to work on the most serious injury she has seen since coming aboard USS *Ross*. She is assisted by Olyn. As they get to work, Vrenn announces another solar wave headed for the ship. The crew braces for impact. M'Qrell braces Navarro; she orders the nurses to handle Tam. The computer alerts the ship that shields and power are getting low.

The tow cables connect to USS Thunderchild. Lakat engages the tractor beam and begins the operation to tow the ship out of the system. Meanwhile, in the main sickbay of USS Thunderchild, one of the patients starts to snarl. An injured Vulcan gets up, disoriented, and throws one of the nurses against the wall. His veins are bulging; he appears to be in the throes of a Vulcan rage. He sees EXEO and charges at her. EXEO raises her hand to keep the ring safe, and takes the hit. When he makes contact, they both go down. EXEO wraps her arm around him. The Vulcan begins to pry her arm off, in spite of her strength as a hologram. His hand slips, and she restrains him. The EMH administers a hypospray and the Vulcan goes unconscious. The EMH says that his name is LT T'Nol, and that he had been undergoing *Pon farr* when the ship was struck. The EMH compliments EXEO on her grip. He begins to scan her, and realizes she is a hologram. He compliments her "good looks", and she flirts back a little bit.

USS Ross gets hit by another solar wave as it pulls USS Thunderchild out of range of the proto-star. USS Ross begins the long work to tow USS Thunderchild back to Narendra Station. At maximum possible warp (warp 4) the journey will take over a month. Narendra Station orders USS *Johnson* to assist, which will reduce the time significantly. Still 36 hours away, CAPT Amelia Dalton hails USS Ross and greets Sull. Sull declares that Navarro will be buying them drinks when he wakes up, for towing his ship. Dalton says that the deaths on USS Thunderchild are the first Federation deaths in the Shackleton Expanse. After Dalton ends the communication, Vrenn announces that he is proud of himself for his good flying. Lakat offers him a high-five.

Later, Navarro wakes up in sickbay. Sull enters to greet him. Across the room, they see Tam regenerating, and Olyn and M'Qrell engaged in conversation nearby. Navarro greets and thanks Sull for the rescue. He asks for a tour of USS Ross after he gets better. The two trade gentle barbs about the capabilities of their ships. M'Qrell thanks Olyn for taking away Tam's pain. She adds that there may come a time when she will need Olyn to stop because a patient is too far gone; Olyn says they would follow her orders without question. M'Qrell says that taking away pain is not always worth carrying around a piece of death. Olyn nods, and can feel immense emotional pain coming from M'Qrell. Olyn, almost instinctively, starts to reach out to M'Qrell's shoulder. M'Qrell looks them in the eye and says she can carry her pain. Olyn feels a consciousness appear behind them. They turn to see Tam waking up. He raises a hand in their direction. Olyn takes his hand. He says "there you are".

Later on, Sull steps into their quarters. They remove their insignia and sit down on their bed. Out their window, they can see USS Johnson next to USS Thunderchild as the three ship move through space at warp. Sull looks up at their ship and thanks her. Sull reaches to their comm badge and calls Azzmi. They inform her that they will be sleeping in the next day; the briefing will have to wait.

Meanwhile, in Lakat's quarters, there is a chirp at the door. When she answers, Azzmi stands in front of her. Azzmi looks at her and says "I have the morning off". Lakat answers "I'm taking a sick day, tomorrow". She invites her in, and Azzmi nods.

## **Cast**

* Eric Campbell - Game Master
* Revati Dhomse - Jane Lakat
* Gina DeVivo - EXEO
* Sam de Leve - Azeri Sull
* Aki - Olyn Madzhin-Nil
* Xander Jeanneret - Theq Lynadas
* Bonnie Gordon - M'Qrell

## **Non-Player Characters**

* Azzmi Shanto
* Yeri Prahl
* Zhyliss Vrenn
* April Hebert
* Yata
* Ursine Wedaj
* Maria Corona
* Ondred Vlassadaf
* T'Karra
* Aulyn Dari
* Amandeep Singh
* Randall Mullawy
* Mark I EMH (USS Thunderchild)
* Victor Navarro
* Sessan Tam
* T'Nol
* Amelia Dalton

## **Ships**

* USS *Thunderchild*
* USS *Johnson*

## **Notable Lines**

*"Even though it is true that the salinity of the water in our environment is going to make it a little more difficult for water to freeze, I'm still quite grateful that those Ice Creatures did not choose* our *deck to come in and visit. Freezing to death in deep space is something that should be reserved for being sucked into vacuum, and not for waking up in the morning."*
—**Yata**

*"Only 32, maybe 20, options about what this is. That's good. Better than 33."*
*"Well done, lieutenant."*
—**Jane Lakat** and **Yata**

*"She has quite a handle, I think, on haunted space."*
—**EXEO** about Jane Lakat

*"She sits six feet in front of us, EXEO, we all [know]. She doesn't think she's subtle about it, does she?"*
—**Azeri Sull** to EXEO and Olyn Madzhin-Nil about Jane Lakat's crush on Azzmi Shanto

*"Sorex has a way of seeing deeper into people than most."*
—**M'Qrell**

*"A lot of my job is one of two things. Making people feel comfortable, and making people feel very uncomfortable."*
—**Olyn Madzhin-Nil** to M'Qrell

*"What would we do without you?"*
*"Stop breathing."*
*"You know, I really might."*
—**Azeri Sull** and **EXEO**

*"Two of you? Excellent. Well, we should have the entire ship in shipshape in no time at all."*
—**USS Thunderchild's EMH** to M'Qrell and EXEO

*"Brace, and stars help us."*
*"The star's doing it, Captain."*
—**Azeri Sull** and **EXEO** about the incoming solar wave

*"You seem to be made out of the same thing that I am made out of. Well, that would explain your good looks."*
—**USS Thunderchild's EMH** to EXEO

*"Sometimes, taking away pain is not worth having to carry around a piece of death with you."*
—**M'Qrell** to Olyn Madzhin-Nil

*"I have the morning off."*
*"I'm taking a sick day, tomorrow. What a coincidence. You wanna come in?"*
*"[Nods and Enters]"*
*"Cool."*
*"Cool."*
—**Azzmi Shanto** and **Jane Lakat**

## **Notes and Trivia**

* The sudden scene change with M'Qrell and Olyn was due to Aki being aggressively threatened by a cricket.
* Eric employed a home-rule alternative to Extended Tasks for M'Qrell's healing of Tam. He declared a specific number of successes (8) required for M'Qrell to obtain over a series of rolls.