Rallying the Crew
Posted on Tue Aug 11th, 2026 @ 3:30am by Lieutenant JG Katie Kellerman & Commander Alexander Espersen & Major Clay McEntyre III & Lieutenant JG Raven Windancer & Senior Chief Petty Officer Jadizon Enor & Petty Officer 2nd Class Ronan Drake & Petty Officer 3rd Class Fulvia Benvenuto & Crewman Apprentice T'Vel
1,961 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Die Hard: Chimera Edition (main)
Location: Station Hotel/Museum
Timeline: Continuation of Museum Post
Katie watched the screen and chewed her lip. “We need backup,” she whispered. “They’re holding us here and keeping people from getting to the elevator, but they can’t hold us and the crew outside if we alert them.”
She handed Jadizon her mop handle and began working on the screen. “All right…let’s find a weak spot,” she said.
“I’ve already tried getting into the computer,” he said. “Security protocols stopped me from accessing the communications system.”
“You’re good; I’m better,” she said, her fingers flying. “They cut off all outgoing messages, but clearly the network is still working, so let’s ignore communications altogether.” She pulled up the museum’s edutainment directory. “Because I can access their media network!”
Her eyes were darting through code as she scrolled through filenames, access paths and network connections. “Oh, perfect. Their system is connected to a central entertainment database.”
She started scrolling through the list of options and began creating a playlist. “All right,” she said, “let’s run up everyone’s room service bill.”
A minute later, every screen in the hotel began playing a montage of scenes from movies, Ferengie advertisements and entertainment files.
“Attention every….Star…fleet….people…museum….attack….help….Kate….” and then scenes began to repeat.
It played in every room where a television was turned on, every pool-side screen, every advertising screen and informational screen within the hotel lobby and throughout the grounds.
“Okay,” Katie said, “hopefully that gets some attention.” She turned back to Jadizon and took her mop handle back. “Shall we go cause a distraction?” She paused as she saw his face. “What is it?” she said, frowning.
Jadizon stared at the screen, then slowly turned his head toward Katie. “That was either brilliant,” he said, “or you just announced our location to every armed idiot in this building with the subtlety of a Ferengi furniture sale.”
"I mean, they kinda already knew we were here when they took us prisoner," she said.
He started toward the door, then suddenly stopped. His hand went to the side of his head, his expression tightening for half a second like something had pushed into his mind.
“Not now,” he muttered lowly.
Then it was gone. He straightened, forced the look off his face, and checked the disruptor. “We just changed their schedule. The crew might hear that, but so will they. Which means we have about thirty seconds before someone comes looking for the two people who hacked room service into a distress beacon.”
He looked at the mop handle in Katie’s hands and shook his head. “I hate that I’m impressed.”
Katie folded her arms over her chest. "Well, allow me to hate that you hate that," she said.
Footsteps echoed somewhere down the corridor. Jadizon moved beside the doorway, disruptor low and ready. “Stay close, Katie. We’re officially the distraction now.” He glanced at her stick one more time. “And if you knock somebody’s teeth out with janitorial equipment, I am absolutely putting that in the report.”
"You kidding? If I do that, I'm having it tattooed," Katie said following him out.
Quiet.
Utter peace and tranquility.
The hotel offered rooms which were so soundproofed, bombs could be going off outside and you would never know. And after the chaos that came with being second in command of the USS Chimera, Alexander Espersen was over the moon with the prospect of total mental and physical separation from others.
The bed conformed to him perfectly. The colour palette used in the décor was designed to calm the brain. The silk robe in the closet was finer than even the ones made by the Tholians.
And so for the previous six hours he alternated between reading a paper book he’d replicated and sitting in the quiet. No thoughts; just silence.
Knock knock knock
Siiiigh.
“Go away.”
Knock knock knock knock knock
Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh.
Like the emperor’s magic ring said: this too shall pass.
“Fine,” he mumbled to himself. He got off the bed and went to open the door. “Of course it’s you.”
“Whaddaya mean ‘of course it’s you’?” Fulvia said. “We got a real problem goin’ on and you’re gonna give us lip for comin’ to find you?!”
T’Vel put her hand on Fulvia’s shoulder and pulled her back. “What she means to say is: we apologize for the interruption, sir, but there appears to be a crisis unfolding.”
“Sounds about right.” Alex stepped back and beckoned them to come inside his room. “Let me get dressed and tell me about it. And turn on the news.”
The door closed behind them and he went to the washroom to dress in private, leaving the door open so he could still hear them.
“Swanky,” Fulvia observed about his room. “Anyway, sir, we can’t reach anyone on the ship, the museum, the elevator, anywhere. Major comms blackout. Maybe total.”
“And we saw a major disturbance outside the elevator complex,” T’Vel added. She had turned on the news screen and gestured to it. “The media appears to be setting up coverage of it now. No one knows what it is yet, but we have reason to believe our crewmates are in danger.”
Alex came out of the washroom putting on his uniform jacket when the screen suddenly cut out and was replaced with a variety of half-second-long clips, forming an undeniable distress call from ‘Kate’. He smirked. “Clever, Ms. Kellerman. Okay. We need to get to our people. Strength in numbers. Do what you two do best and get past the perimeter and to the Captain. Whatever it takes. Find allies along the way. I’m going to the museum. I was there earlier, I know the layout. I think I can find her.”
Fulvia grinned, unable to stop from bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet. “Yes sir!” she said excitedly. “C’mon, Ears. Let’s get to work.”
"And THAT'S why I told you NOT to challenge her!" A Bajoran smacked his Betazoid friend on the back as Raven took her winnings and bowed to both boys before heading to her chair to stow her newest prize and towel off. As she did so, she glanced up at a TV...and froze as an SOS flashed across the screen.
"Oh shutelorf!" Raven hissed softly as she hurriedly finished toweling off, practically ran to the changing rooms, switched into a stealth outfit that she'd started carrying for kicks but looked like she actually needed this time, and headed for where her crew were in trouble, not WANT wanting a fight...but started mentally prepping for one.
She was intercepted coming out of the changeroom by a Vulcan and an Iotian. “Lieutenant Windancer!” Fulvia said cheerfully. “Commander Espersen has a job for us! Come along!”
"AH! Oh...it's you two. Sorry, thought I was gonna have to slug someone. Ya'll got a sit-rep?" Raven pulled her punch inches from the Iotian's face before following the bouncing little energy ball. Raven'd not officially met either yet, but there'd be time for proper introductions AFTER they'd saved the Captain and the others.
"Follow me," Fulvia said. "We're sneaking into the terminal so we can punch bad guys and save our crewmates. We'll explain more on the way."
[Ooookay...this kid's a bundle of energy! I'm wondering if she can even BE sneaky!] Raven thought as she followed the duo, keeping her eyes and ears open to what was going on around her.
Alex struggled to balance keeping his eyes open for help and for threats while also making best speed for the museum, all while considering his options. The front door would surely be locked and guarded. A building like that would probably also be hard to get into; art is valuable and this museum was integrated into the elevator terminal.
But surely there would be something they could do. There had to be.
He cut through a green space and his eye caught a familiar sight. A helpful sight.
“Major McEntyre.” He didn’t slow down. “Red alert. Are you armed?”
Clay grinned and pulled out a phaser pistol and racked it. " Always "
“Situation not fully known,” he explained as they walked. “Threat actors have taken at least some of our people hostage, possibly including the Captain . I’ve got people trying to break into the terminal. We’ll work our way to them via the museum. Engineer Kellerman got a signal out that she’s trapped there, probably with others.”
"We'll need intel. How many, where they're holding our people, composition of weapons we got." Clay said.
Alex stopped alongside him. “As far as I can tell, an armed group has seized at minimum the ground terminal and the museum. Probably also the orbital annex, where Captain Skyie and her negotiating team are, and the ship. I can’t reach the Captain or the Chimera. The ship should be empty, but the computer isn’t responding either. Now, you and I can’t do much about the Captain and the station and ship from here. But I know the layout of the museum, where I know at least one crewmember, Katie Kellerman, is in danger. Probably also Jadizon Enor, plus others and innocent locals. So you and I are going to get into the museum, secure our people, and work progressively to take control of more spaces until we get to the elevator terminal.”
"Oo-Rah, XO. Let's get dangerous them" Clay nods as they walked to the museum.
"And you said they want us to sneak into THAT mess!?" Raven sputtered as the trio got to the terminal, which was SURROUNDED by both cops and a curious crowd. NOT that Raven wasn’t game for tackling the obstacle...there were just MORE obstacles than she'd been expecting...namely civilians she couldn't coal-cock into submission.
“What, like it’s hard?” Fulvia teased.
"Not if ya mind crumping civies." Raven grumbled softly.
“The crowd may work in our favour,” T’Vel noted. “If it did something loud to draw the police attention, we could sneak past.”
“Not bad,” Fulvia agreed. “Another choice is we find another entrance point. This building is huge, with lots of annexes. I know Mister E—sorry, Commander Espersen,” she corrected, remembering she was speaking with a superior officer, “is going through the Museum Annex. There are others, which might be easier. But further away.”
"Pffff...'Mr. E'? I'll have to tease him bout that later. We can kick up a brilliant ruckus cause those three right over there are quite eager to earn back their money." Raven grinned as she caught sight of the boys she'd beaten earlier.
“Alright,” Fulvia said. “Lieutenant, get ready to sneak past. T’Vel will let us know when it’s safe.” With a nod from the Vulcan, Fulvia approached the three young men who were apparently gunning for Raven. “Hey boys!” she called out. “How’s it feel to get your asses handed to ya?”
They started shouting obscenities toward Fulvia, whose smaller stature helped her blend back into the crowd. They started charging the crowd toward Raven, who was far enough away for the police not to notice that she was their target. Security only saw the approach of three angry and drunk youths and moved to intercept them.
“Now,” T’Vel whispered.
Raven got infront of the duo and quickly made a hole to the door, not ruffling a single shirt or dress as she 'thread the needle' to their destination.
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