<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mission: Death in the Shadows</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 3</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stardate: 2446.02.03</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(USS Illuminar - Deck 6, CSO’s Office - CSO Lieutenant (jg) Jaton Alyl - 1820)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The battle had taken the science staff all by surprise, to such an extent that Jaton hadn’t even been able to get to the bridge to take his station. He prayed to the ancestors that Sigurdsson could handle it. That’s when he heard a bang come from one of the labs. In a moment he was on his feet, dashing to investigate.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The main corridor was choked with smoke, and Jaton had to cover his face with his uniform jacket to keep from coughing. He tapped his commbadge. “Alyl to bridge. Emergency. Fire in the science lab. Fire suppression and extractor fans offline. Repeat. Fire suppression and extractor fans offline.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(reply bridge)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He staggered through the heat towards the source of the blaze, and saw up ahead a few disoriented crew members.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Here!” Jaton shouted. “Follow my voice!”</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Miraculously they seemed to hear him and began moving towards him, albeit slowly. Jaton continued to approach them, and saw they were Ensign Sklar and Crewman MacDowell. MacDowell was limping, with Sklar helping her. Jaton got under her other arm and together they made their way towards the exit.</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“What happened?” Jaton asked.</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“One of the hits we received destabilised the phase coils in Lab 3. Before we knew it, the entire wall exploded out. Julia got one of the bulkheads in the leg. I think it’s broken,” Sklar reported.</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">With the trio nearly at the exit, Jaton turned to them. “Get her to sickbay as fast as you can, ensign,” he said. “I’m going back to make sure no one else is inside. We lost Penny, we’re not losing anyone else.”</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“But sir—“</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“That’s an order, ensign. Now go!”</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">With that, Jaton went back in, stifling a cough as he looked around. The smoke stung his eyes and he couldn’t see much more than three metres in front of him. He proceeded cautiously, but with purpose. That is until he heard a crack, and a sickening screech from above. He looked up just in time to watch the ceiling panel give way along with the support beam above it.</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Jek so’k—“</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thud.</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">(reply bridge, any)</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">(posted by Spencer)</span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14.666666984558105px; white-space: pre-wrap;">NRPG: somebody find me quick. After all the plan isn’t to have Jaton die :P</span></font></p><br><div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div></body></html>