Eshrevi’s antennae pressed against her skull as the remainder of the building in front of her collapsed, and buried Dawson underneath it. Why had the woman ran into what had been flagged as a not-sure structure? It was in those moments that Eshrevi forgot that not everyone had her training, and that many species operated on emotional instincts more than logical thinking. 

She would absolutely fault Dawson for that later… she just hoped there would be a later. 

Around her, screams had erupted. And while the chaos of coordination had already been taxing on her, the cries for help and the sheer panic were almost overwhelming. Almost. 

“I need help. Dawson-… the building collapsed.”, she said as she tapped her communicator badge, waiting for the matter to be forwarded to whoever was most suited to help – especially considering their medical staff was beyond busy.

“Lieutenant Commander Lorra Niala speaking. Can you provide an status on Lieutenant Dawson? Is she conscious?” Came the response from the Chief Engineer over the communications channel.

“I don’t know, she just dashed into it. I haven’t… checked… yet.”, the Andorian admitted through gritted teeth. No, she hadn’t checked for life signs yet. Mostly because she was terrified of not finding any. 

“Stay calm, Lieutenant. Recall your training, scan for life signs, and stay put. I’ll be beaming down with a team shortly,” Niala reassured, aiming to alleviate the tense atmosphere.

Eshrevi, in any other situation, would beat herself up for basically forgetting every single bit of her military training, but this really wasn’t the time of it. 

In the quiet of the moment, the distinct hum of the transporter filled the air, announcing the arrival of their reinforcements. Four figures materialized, their forms solidifying amidst the subtle shimmer of energy. As the last traces of light faded, attention gravitated toward the chestnut-maned Bajoran woman leading the group. Her gaze, sharp and determined, found Eshrevi without hesitation.

“Lieutenant Eshrevi,” Niala spoke, her voice carrying a sense of urgency. “Show us the way. Time is of the essence.” 

Eshrevi inclined her antennae, leading the group to what had remained of the building. “Lifesigns are weak but stable for the time being, though oxygen saturation in the blood is slowly decreasing.”

“We need to get her out as soon as possible,” Niala said, pacing back and forth. She paused, eyes brightening as an idea struck her. “What if we set up a pattern enhancer?” Her fingers traced the air, sketching an invisible blueprint. “It might just stabilize the signal and get her through safely.”

She considered that. “Would it be possible to beam her out without having a clear view on where she is? I know Doctor Brennan discouraged it in similar cases…”

But Eshrevi didn’t know if that caution also applied when it was one of their own, and when there weren’t so terribly many other options. 

“You’re right, Lieutenant. It’s a risky procedure, no doubt about that,” Niala said, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the chaotic scene. She turned to the two engineers and the medical officer behind her, who were anxiously awaiting instructions. “Lieutenant Marsh’on, get the enhancers ready, just in case. Ensigns, see if you can use that type II phaser to clear some of the rubble, but be careful.”

Niala then faced Eshrevi, her gaze steady and curious. “What’s your field of expertise, Lieutenant?” she asked, hoping to uncover any additional skills that might aid their situation.

“I served in the Imperial Guard before joining Starfleet. I served in a variety of fields – Security and Science amongst them.”

“That’s… impressive,” Niala murmured, her eyebrows arching in surprise as she glanced at Eshrevi. She took a deep breath, then gestured toward the engineers working on the rubble. “Alright, join them and see what you can do. We need eyes on the situation as soon as possible,” she said, her tone urgent.

Eshrevi acknowledged with a sharp nod, her antennae twitching as she moved to assist. She watched as the ensigns cautiously used the phasers to cut through the debris. The heat released from those efforts caused the air to shimmer, adding to the surreal quality of the chaotic scene.

With steady hands, Eshrevi began to lift and move the loosened rubble. Each piece she shifted brought them closer to Dawson, but the methodical clearing of stone and debris seemed to stretch time to an uncomfortable level in which Eshrevi decided that she wasn’t going to lose a fellow officer today. 

Suddenly, there was a change in the pattern of the beeping from the medical tricorder. It was faint but noticeable.

“There’s a fluctuation in her readings,” one of the ensigns reported, his voice tinged with concern. “She’s still alive, but her condition is deteriorating.”

Niala felt the weight of those words hit her like a bolt of lightning. Used to the pressure of engineering deadlines, she was no stranger to racing against the clock. But this was different—this was life or death. She clenched her jaw, pushing the fear aside. She had to act decisively.

“We have no choice but to beam her out, and soon!” Niala commanded, her voice steady and resolute. She turned sharply to her right, her eyes locking onto Lieutenant Marsh’on, who was hunched over a console. His hands moved swiftly, adjusting the settings on the pattern enhancers.

“Marsh’on, how are those enhancers coming along?” she asked with an intense gaze.

Marsh’on glanced up, his brow glistening with sweat, and gave a terse nod. “Almost there, Commander. Just a few more tweaks.”

“Perfect,” Niala replied, her tone brisk. She then shifted her focus to Ensign Vrenn, who was still assisting with the rubble, her eyes wide but focused. “Vrenn, stand by for medical aid. Be ready to stabilize her the moment she’s through.”

Vrenn grabbed her medkit and gave a determined nod. “Understood, Commander.”

Niala then turned to Lieutenant Eshrevi, her eyes flicked between the readouts on the tricorder and the tangled mass of rubble.

“Eshrevi,” Niala called, her voice cutting through the hum of the phaser beams, “can you get a transporter lock on her?”

“Working on it,” Eshrevi responded, her voice tense but focused.  Her fingers danced over the controls of her tricorder as she adjusted the parameters, trying to get a stable lock on Dawson’s bio-signature.

“Come on, Dawson,” she hissed, her antennae twitching in concentration. “Don’t you dare give up now.”

Niala watched as she worked, her own heartbeat matching the rapid beeps of the transporter console. Every second counted, and she could only hope their combined efforts would be enough.

The readout flickered, and for a heart-stopping moment, Eshrevi thought she had lost the signal. But then, the tricorder pinged with a steady tone, indicating a faint but viable lock.

“I’ve got a lock!” Eshrevi shouted, her voice cutting through the chaotic noise. “It’s weak, but it’s there.”

“Don’t wait for me, Lieutenant. Energize!” Niala commanded, her voice echoing with urgency.

The enhancers whirred to life, casting a shimmering field over the rubble. Eshrevi watched as the familiar hum of the transporter filled the air once more. The debris seemed to glow as Dawson’s form began to materialize, her unconscious body stabilizing within the enhancer field.

Eshrevi ‘s eyes returned to the readout. “She’s coming through.”

The tension was palpable as the enhancer completed its cycle. Dawson’s form solidified, lying still on the ground but unmistakably alive.

As Dawson’s body materialized before Niala, bathed in the flickering light of the transporter beam, she watched with a mix of hope and dread. As the air echoed with the soft hum of the equipment, each detail emerged slowly: the creases on her uniform, the way her hair clung damply to her forehead.

But as she fully materialized, Niala’s heart sank. Despite the beams of light that still surrounded her, Dawson’s face was unnaturally pale, her eyes closed, and her body unnervingly still. 

“She’s out!” Eshrevi called, relief flooding her voice. “We’ve got her!”

One of the doctors was already at Dawson’s side, her medical tricorder in hand. “Vitals are weak, but she’s stable for now,” she confirmed, her hands moving swiftly to administer first aid. Eshrevi let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. “Good work, everyone. Let’s get her to sickbay immediately.”

A wave of relief washed over Niala, her shoulders visibly relaxing as she exhaled a long sigh. She met the Lieutenant’s gaze with a nod of approval. “Indeed, Lieutenant,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of gratitude. “Let’s get her out of here. Well done.”

“We did it,” the Andorian murmured to herself, her antennae relaxing. “We saved her.”