Damage Control

Posted on Fri Sep 11th, 2026 @ 12:41am by Lieutenant Amarok tr'Ragnar & Lieutenant JG Declan & Ensign Leovinus & Ensign Scraliontis & Ensign Brobostigan & Captain Björn Kodak & Lieutenant Commander Emni t'Nai & Lieutenant Tork & Lieutenant Xex Wang & Lieutenant Axod Qo & Lieutenant JG Thomas Mitchell & Ensign Noah Balsam & Ensign M'Razza & Andrew Munro & Debbie Gless

3,904 words; about a 20 minute read

Mission: Port of Call
Location: Pathfinder Station, Promenade and Habitat Decks, Public Viewing Area
Timeline: Mission Day 1 at 13:20

Previously...

Declan nodded and the four headed out to board the Sojourner. tr'Ragnar meanwhile made his way over to t'Nai and Kodak. "Captain, Commander, is everyone okay?" He said as he inspected his fellow crewmates.

Emni and Tork, once they'd regained their feet and given each other a once over, had reached Kodak's side just a few moments before the Reman scientist. She glanced to the other man, nodding her acknowledgement of his arrival and shifting to include him in the haphazard circle.

"No," Emni confirmed managing at least a small quirk to her lips at the comment, "but good question." Quickly the Romulan peered around them, doing a quick head count. It took her a moment to realize that several of their crew were no longer in the immediate vicinity. Frowning she looked to Amarok for clarification.

"Mr. Declan and the three Rigelian officers that were sitting with you," she began, peering around again just in case she'd somehow missed them.

"I've ordered my Stellar Cartographer back to the ship to help the station's sensors analyze what just happened, I only just arrived here but I can say safely that that wasn't supposed to happen?" Amarok inquired to help lighten the mood, "right?" He added with a concerned smile.

Relief welled up in the XO. Of course... even off duty their crew was well trained in how to handle an emergency. Skies only knew it was key to what had kept many of them alive over the last months.

"Sojourner should be well out of dock for a run down on sensors and a few other items that needed checking after the upgrades," Emni offered, looking to Tork for confirmation as his team were the ones doing the bulk of the the tests. "You may want to call them back or let them know to standby.

Emni took one more neck-craning check around them, this time expressly looking for Xex and Axod. A lump of worry filled her throat only quelling when she put eyes on the Doosdarian counselor and confirmed he was, at least on visible inspection, not hurt.

"How would you like to proceed, sir?" She asked, turning back to Kodak.

And now...

June was crying.

It was the sound that cut through everything else: through the red alert klaxon still winding down, through the murmur of frightened civilians, through even Emni's question still hanging in the air unanswered. Eleven pounds of frightened baby, and somehow June was louder than all of it.

Andrew was already there, broad shoulders curved inward like a wall that had decided to become a person. He wasn't looking at Björn. He was looking at June, checking her the way you checked something precious for damage, his fast, thorough hands moving over the stroller's safety restraints with the muscle memory of someone who had done this a thousand times in two weeks. Confirming her safety, Andrew looked up and made eye contact with Björn: June was scared but alright. And there was something else in his gaze: Focus on the crew right now. I've got this.

The Chameloid's golden eyes held great appreciation for both sentiments. He nodded back before turning answer Emni's question. He was about to answer when another shrill noise erupted.

"WHAT NOW?!" The bellow came from somewhere behind the stroller, bracelets jangling as Debbie Gless pulled herself upright from where the blast had knocked her sideways into a chair. Her beehive had survived, improbably. Her composure had not. "Can't we catch a BREAK?! Like ever?! EVER?!" She flung both arms wide at the viewport, the promenade, the universe in general. "We were having a MOMENT!" But then the matron was in motion, triple-checking June's safety and offering Andrew support.

Björn was grateful Debbie was there but had no time to tell her such. Instead, he locked eyes with his XO. 

"We need a hardline terminal to raise the Sojourner. Combadges won't get through at this distance. In fact," the Captain's face hardened, "I'm pretty sure they won't be of much help in general." Kodak tapped his badge and got the confirming wash of static he'd expected. Everyone, it seemed, was trying to use the local comm mesh in the wake of the emergency. And as a result, it was too saturated to communicate over, at least for the moment.

"Let's start with getting our people accounted for," the Captain ordered. "I know our folks ended up in a few different locations. They're probably going to check in with the station's emergency response team. We should get them all headed somewhere central and safe to load back onto Sojo after we call her back. Emni," he addressed the commander, "use a hard line comm panel to connect and coordinate both. They can relay the return command to Sojo and let our pockets of people know where to go."

But where, exactly, would that be? They didn't know what was happening with the wormhole but the blast might have just been the first wave of continuing subspace tumult. If the station could be hit again, the Sojourner crew would need a fortified space to hunker down and wait for the ship to return. The outer ligatures of docking berths and connection arms would not be safe, even if they would offer quicker reloading onto the Sojo when she returned. So where?
A memory surfaced from the day before.

The kotra board between them, Kudred's long fingers moving a stone with the patience of someone who had been playing the long game his entire life. The conversation had wandered as it always did with the Cardassian, moving from strategy to history to the psychology of tea preferences. They'd played their game in Kodak's ready room, talking about unexpected parenthood and braving the wilds of the Delta Quadrant. But at some point during the game, Björn was pretty sure the station administrator had said something about Pathfinder's construction schedule: the sections still unfinished, the places Kudred would and wouldn't want to be if things went sideways.

"The central structural pylons," Kudred had said, with the particular certainty of someone who had read every engineering report. "The only part of this station I would trust unconditionally. They built those first and they built them to last."

Björn blinked in the sudden realization of where they needed to head.

 "Central structural pylons. Kudred told me himself they're the safest point on the station," Kodak said. "Get our people moving there, Commander," he nodded to t'Nai. 

"On it," Emni confirmed and turned, eyes already seeking each crew member she knew was present to confirm all were present, accounted for, and able to move on their own strength. A small outblown breath left her when a quick sweep confirmed no injuries although a few officers were missing from her count.

After a quick self-inventory to confirm he was uninjured, the counselor began scanning the area for members of the Sojourner’s crew. His eyes swept across the scattered groups, taking a rapid visual accounting of who was present, who appeared injured, and who was still unaccounted for. “Ensign.” He caught the attention of a Bolian science officer from the Sojourner, motioning them over. “Can you start mustering our people?” he asked. “Get everyone together and take a for as many of the crew as you can.”

The ensign nodded without hesitation.

“I’m going to check in with the XO.” With a brief gesture toward the cluster of senior officers gathering nearby, Axod set off at a brisk pace, weaving through the confusion toward the Sojourner command staff, ready to offer whatever assistance was needed.

In all the chaos of the emergency, Amarok had failed to recall that the Sojourner was actually away from Pathfinder. He knew Declan and the triplets would venture back once they remembered that to render whatever help they could. He nodded at Emni. "Apologies for that momentary lack of memory Commander, I'd surmise that once the wave hits the Sojourner they'd return. Without her here, should we assist response teams by being pilots, I'd feel that we'd get in the way of station senior officers if we burst into Ops." Amarok smirked again, keeping the mood lite as someone had to.

"Easy thing to forget," Kodak rasped back to Amarok. He didn't speak for Emni, of course, but tried to field the apology to give her room to continue coordinating as needed. He nodded then to Qo, "Counselor. I'm glad you're here. We're heading for the central pylons several decks down. Structurally speaking, it's the safest spot if this station gets hammered again. I need you to coordinate the group here. I might encourage you," he gestured towards Debbie, "to recruit a little help if you want."

"This is Command Operations," a disembodied voice suddenly announced over the comms. "All stations and all divisions, give me your attention. Medical Response Teams proceed to Life Decks. Security is ordered to provide assistance and escort personnel. Non-essential personnel and civilians proceed to the Safety Zones. Rescue Response Teams, report to the Shuttlebays. Launch all vessels. Repeat. Launch all vessels when fully outfitted for SOS response. More information will be forthcoming to field personnel as needed. Command Operations, out."

Outside, the view was shifting... a strange feeling of equilibrium change. The stars were changing position. A vague sense of... vertigo. The station and its deckplates felt off. The station was moving. Pathfinder Station was never meant to move.

Something made Axod stumble. The sensation struck without warning, dropping into the pit of his stomach like the feeling of falling from a great height. For a heartbeat, the world seemed to tilt beneath him, stealing both his balance and his breath.

Almost instinctively, his hand moved to his abdomen. There was no pain, nothing he could identify medically, but the gesture had become an unconscious habit, born of a quiet protectiveness he was only beginning to understand.

He steadied himself with a slow breath, waiting for the strange sensation to subside before checking in on his comrades. “That was strange.” He said, looking for reassurance among the gather officers.

Emni, too, felt the shift. Instinctively she broadened her stance, leaning into it to keep herself stable before she could stumble. Even then she had to take a small half step. She frowned, unable to place the sensation even though it felt as though she should.

What was that?

Her stomach clenched against the strange feeling of shifting and she found herself doing a fresh count officers. Almost unconsciously she sought Karim as well even though the Vulcan hadn't joined them as she'd thought he might. She had invited him to do so.

Soon enough Declan and the triplets returned to the group, Amarok nodded at them and expressed his apologies at giving an invalid order. They waited to be given orders as given their ship was out and the station already had senior officers and dedicated crew, it seemed rude to while assisting can be helpful, but they had their jobs to do and a shipless crew would be in the way.

"We're moving towards the inner pylons," Emni informed, turning to take in Amorak and the newly returned officers. Her count finally tallied properly. "Anyone who wants to come with us can do so," she added, looking around the room. "I don't get the impression this is a common occurrence."

Kodak, too, was feeling the nauseating wave that stemmed from one's body staying still while the literally world shifted around then. He breathed through the stomach upset and nodded to Qo. "Let's get our people going Counselor. Lieutenant," he turned then to Amarok, "any idea what might be going on out there?" He used his nose to point towards the windows where, moments before, they'd all been so excited to witness the spectacle from. The head-cant was, he realized, an affectation he'd subconsciously picked up from Timmoz probably. Several quick cuts of the curl-massed Orion's head performing the same maneuver swam through Kodak's thoughts. He wished Timmoz was here now, too.

After some thought and a glance over at the windows that Kodak gestured to, Amarok brought up his hand with 3 fingers up the rest in a fist. "One. Someone on the other end fired something into the wormhole and caused the affect we felt. Two," he lowered one finger, "one of the ships that entered the wormhole on this end had some form of incompatibility with the wormhole verterons and caused the affect or Three, the wormhole itself could be showing signs of instability or failure by throwing up on us," he managed to say it with a straight face but a smirk had started to form at one corner of his mouth.

"You might not be far off on number three," the Chameloid nodded, mentally replaying what they'd seen the wormhole do through the viewports. "Once we get back to the ship, I want your full analysis as soon as possible." Kodak knew he didn't really need to give that order--Amarok knew his job and would do it well--but issuing expected orders offered both parties something calm and predictable to focus on in the chaos. "So uh..." the Captain rasped with a smirk, "I see you came well accompanied?" There was a mischievous glimmer in his golden eyes.

"I've been colleagues and now friends with all four of these fine officers," Amarok gestured at Declan, and then at the triplet brothers, "for some time now Captain. Though we did have a brief time apart while I worked on the Multi-Sector Reclamation Initiative with Daystrom." He said with a grin.

"Hello," Kodak nodded at the science officer's retinue. "Nice to see all of you. Under better circumstances, I'd stay to chat. But given the situation," the Captain gestured subtly to the scene unfolding around them, "I hope you'll understand splitting Mr. Amarok from the party. Lieutenant," he said, making eye contact with the Reman, "let's coordinate with the other senior officers." He moved back towards t'Nai and Tork, leaving the quartet behind as he re-engaged with his waiting officers.

"Aye sir," Amarok chuckled as he nodded at his friends and followed the Captain, who got his name mixed up but given the situation it was hardly the time to correct him. He didn't mind 'Mister Amarok' instead of attempting his Romulan surname in all honesty.

Meanwhile, Axod had stepped a few paces away from the group, positioning himself where everyone could see and hear him without having to raise his voice too much. He cleared his throat to draw their attention.

“Sojourner crew,” he called, noting with quiet satisfaction that those who had been scattered throughout the area had begun clustering together. “We’re going to move toward the inner pylons.”

His tone was calm and measured, the steady cadence of a counselor slipping naturally into a leadership role.

“Let’s do so in an orderly fashion. Stay together, keep an eye on the people around you, and let us know immediately if anyone needs assistance.”

He raised a hand, indicating a corridor framed by emergency lights that pulsed steadily on either side of the doorway.

“Through that corridor,” he instructed. “We’ll regroup once we’re clear.”

Emni's gaze tracked the instructions all of the other officers had heard as Axod began to shepherd them toward the corridor. Slowly the group began to move and as they did her dark eyes scanned the space around them. Certainly there might be a console where she could access a hard line comms panel to hail the Sojo. But despite her confidence in such a thing's existence she couldn't imagine why there would be one in the space they were in. At least not one she could access.

"Any thoughts on the best place to find a hard line comms link we can use?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at Tork in a particularly Vulcanoid way. "I mean... one that isn't likely already in use by station crew members in the process of trying to coordinate rescue operations and so on?"

Meanwhile, the gathered crowd was starting to move. Well, parts of it anyway. But some seemed frozen in place, probably out of worry, fear, or a magnified blend of both. Debbie stamped a foot in frustration. They all needed to go and go now. So Debbie did what she always did and let her tropical storm upgrade into a hurricane. Two fingers went into her mouth. The whistle that followed made the red alert klaxons sound restrained in comparison.

"ALRIGHT EVERYBODY," Debbie announced to a radius of approximately thirty meters, bracelets raised like a conductor calling an orchestra to attention. "YOU'RE GONNA FOLLOW THE COUNSELOR AND YOU'RE GONNA DO IT NOW. SINGLE FILE IS GREAT, ORGANIZED CHAOS IS FINE, BUT WE ARE MOVING."

She pointed at a cluster of stunned-looking civilians near an overturned food stall. Then at a family with two small children frozen near the viewport. "YES, YOU. AND YOU. LET'S GO PEOPLE, GRANDMA'S GOT A BABY TO PROTECT AND SHE IS NOT PLAYING." Somehow her wrinkled, color-splashed lips had become the razor sharp beak of a hawk.

The rest of the crowd started moving, probably more out of fear of Debbie than whatever was happening with the wormhole. Satisfied, she fell in beside Andrew, who was beaming at her despite the situation. “What?” she said, smirking like someone utterly pleased with herself. She half wondered if, in some other life, she might have made a good villain.

“Oh just…seeing what Björn sees in you,” Andrew smiled. He readjusted his grip on the stroller handles as they moved forward, coming up alongside Qo. Debbie smirked back before reaching down to flick June's spinners into motion as they walked, hoping the sparkly motion would calm her some as they walked. Andrew, however, was looking towards the Counselor.

“Shoreleave will help, huh?” The biologist’s face was cracked with something resembling a frown, thinking back to the aftermath group therapy conversation they’d all had. Time off on Pathfinder had sounded like just what they all needed to regroup, but now... “Remind me to start vacationing with a duffel full of doomsday supplies, hmm?"

Ax shrugged, offering a knowing smile. “That’s deep space for you.”

A lock of his thick Doosodarian hair had slipped forward over his forehead. He absentmindedly brushed it back before settling into his usual relaxed posture. “Expect the unexpected.”

"Is it unexpected if it always goes sideways?" Andrew asked back, shaking his head. He focused on pushing the anti-grav stroller holding his little plant princess, a determined look spreading across his features as he regarded hers. They were going to get to safety. And then? Then he planned to have a strong talk with the universe itself.

Across the way, Kodak watched the biologist go. He watched them all go, wishing he didn't have to separate from his crew. But staying together wouldn't get them any closer to answers; nor would it get them comm system access to contact the Sojo. "Alright then," he said with finality, folding his arms across his barrel chest. "The crew's headed to the inner pylons. But we," he looked to Emni and Tork, then back to Amarok, "are going to Ops. Come on," he rasped, his golden eyes flashing as he gestured to the bank of lifts nearby.

The lift doors were limned in red light and closed tight, refusing to open to those who approached. The lifts were in a restricted routing mode, designed to funnel the station's population along designated safe corridors, glowing floor signage pointing civilians in careful streams away from critical systems. A panel beside the leftmost lift read "ACCESS RESTRICTED — AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY" in glowing crimson and white-outlined letters.

The Chameloid captain pressed his hand flat against the reader. "Kodak, Björn. Captain, USS Sojourner. Authorization delta-seven-seven-epsilon...enable." The red lettering flickered for a few moments before turning amber; a signal that the panel was now accepting his input. "Override access restrictions. Destination: Operations." He looked back at t'Nai, "There's a long-overdue conversation waiting for us up there, hmm?" Waves of frustration colored his emotional signature, like shoots of violet threading the cyan of his mostly-calm.

Emni nodded, lips pressed into a thin line. Her empathic sense was locked down tightly and had been since the initial shock of the crisis began--more a method of self preservation than anything else. Still, the Romulan woman couldn't miss the flavor of her Captain's emotions. She had the sudden impulse to try and reach Karim or even T'Vel. Perhaps they could help smooth the way toward answers.

The lift doors opened, as Kodak knew they would, and he stepped aside, letting the others into the lift before entering himself. As he faced outward towards the rushing throngs of station denizens, it was apparent several people had spotted the now-operational lift. They were rushing towards the waiting open doors, no doubt wanting to board themselves. The Captain reached forward to manually stab the lift controls, mouthing "I'm sorry" as they swished closed to form a barrier between his crew and the frightened civilians.

As the car began its ascent, Kodak looked over his shoulder at the others. "I'm not sure what to expect up there. Be prepared to lend what help we can...and try to figure out what the hell is going on while we're at it." Looking forward again, the Chameloid steeled himself for what would come next. He just hoped confronting a throng of cagey brass wouldn't bring his career to an abrupt halt.

"We should consider the possible situation that we are cut off completely from the Federation, and plan what we should do," Amarok added, he was fighting the urge to go and find out if the Unstable Unicorn was okay as they were headed back through when all this happened. He had his duty and by extension by finding out what was going on, he could do something about it.

Had they been moving this thought from Amarok might have stopped Emni in her tracks--at least for a moment. Yes, the wormhole had closed prematurely, but surely that didn't mean... No... not surely. The Reman wasn't wrong to point out this consideration though the discomfort of the four officers rose the way a tide creeps in... slow enough not to alarm, but noticeable to anyone watching where the water meets the shoreline.

There was something else too. A sort of pulling in the scientist's emotional makeup that Emni thought she recognized, if only a bit. She offered the man a bracing, if grim, smile. "First we get in the door," she said wryly, "then we can start the disaster planning."

=/\= A Mission Post By =/\=

Captain Bjorn Kodak
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Commander Emni t'Nai
Executive Officer

Lieutenant Tork
Chief Engineer

Lieutenant Xex Wang
Chief Medical Officer

Lieutenant Axod Qo
Ship's Counselor

Lieutenant Amarok t'Ragnar
Chief Scientist

Lieutenant JG Thomas Mitchell
Assistant Chief Scientist

Ensign M'Razza
Nurse

Andrew Munro
Biologist

Lieutenant JG Declan
Stellar Cartographer

Ensign Leovinus
Matter/Energy Systems Specialist

Ensign Scaliontis
Astrometrist

Ensign Brobostigan
Exo-Botanist

And...

The inimitable Debbie Gless
Chief Diner Matron and Grandmother to June

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