“You LEFT AN ENSIGN?!”

“It wasn’t my choice, you idiot!”

It had turned into a near screaming match in engineering, as Plimmitt and Sylvester stood toe to toe. One snarling, the other hissing. The other crew in the deck had stopped everything, watching as the two argued; there was still plenty of crew missing, and the fact that Sylvester had already let Runt run off was like gasoline to a flame.

“It’s not my fault he wanted to disobey orders and run off, but I—WE—have a crew to protect!” Sylvester snarled at Plimmitt, who was shaking with anger.

”We can’t afford that luxury of picking and choosing, you lump of matted fur! Great, so now we’re not only down an Ensign, but down a crew member who has shown himself INSANELY capable!” He hissed, turning to walk towards the blast doors of the warp core room. They had locked themselves inside and were opening the door for anyone who could make their way there.

”Hrelle ran off without any regard for Velau or I, and I had to make a right call.” Sylvester scoffed, back turned from Plimmitt. “Don’t forget who’s in charge now that Jetta isn’t here.”

”Runt only ran off because you mentioned Williams—“ Velau started.

“Oh my god, this again, Ensign? Drop. It.”

“—and then you tried to tell him to NOT go! I sure hate to tell you this, ‘Captain’, but that’s his best friend.”

”That doesn’t MATTER, Prias!” Sylvester turned and glared at her. “I understand his feelings, but this is so much larger than any of that. I—we—have a crew we have to protect. If Runt wants to go off the rails and get himself killed, so be it.”

”He’s right.” Mazev stood up, frowning. The man seemed no way happy to speak on the subject. “I’m sorry, but he is. Look at everyone here.” He motioned to the chaos, injured, and overall situation. “We can’t focus on…one ensign. There’s so much we have to do.”

“But if we only focus on one, we lose more!” Plimmitt chimed back in, arms crossed.

“Why the hell do you care so much, Ruuvon? Huh?” Sylvester stomped forward, words venomous and posture aggressive. “I saw the way you reacted with Hrelle, the way you’re so adamant—why?”

“I—“ Plimmit’s cheeks flushed a bit as he stuttered, trying to find his words. “You—it’s—not important! We have to care about everyone, you-“

”Uh..everyone?? We got company!” Someone called, looking at the window of one of the blast doors.

There, coming through, was a set of Vaadwaurs; and right in the middle was the woman who had almost gotten Sylvester earlier.

”Shit! Everyone who can carry a phaser and uninjured, with me!” Sylvester cursed as he ran to grab his rifle. The doors lifted in almost a second, and a long line of starfleet were now pointing their weapons at their invaders—with said Vaadwaur pointing theirs right back.

”It’s cute that you think you can threaten us.” Muri smiled, crossing her arms. “I have a proposal for you, commander.”

”What is it?” Sylvester tightened his jaw, glaring at her. The Vaadwaur woman leaned forward, a big, predatory smile on her face.

”Give us the nanobug, and we’ll be on our way. We can leave eeeeveryone alive—or, those we haven’t killed yet.” She cocked her head to the side.

“Nano—what??” Sylvester paused, ever so slightly lowering the rifle.

”THAT’s what your all after?” Plimmitt sneered. “Seriously? You could’ve just asked!”

”Well, you all were awfully hostile to the idea of letting us board.” Muri rolled her eyes.

”You muzzled one of the only Caitians on our ship, clamped my mouth shut, and tried to silence Prias.” Mazev deadpanned.

”Force of habit. Now, tell us where it is, and we’ll be on our way. Unless you want to make my evening..” She smiled and raised her hand, the squadron behind her powering up their phasers.

”I’d be happy too.” Sylvester spoke, still awfully tense. “But…”

”Sylvester god DAMNIT! Give it to them-“ Plimmitt started to speak, whisper shouting. The XO cut him off.

”Tell us what it’s for.”

”No.”

”What do you mean no?” He gripped the rifle so tightly it strained his knuckles.

”I mean no. You don’t need to know—or get the right to know—WHY I’m doing  this, or why we need this. But we do.” Muri narrowed her eyes. “Don’t make us fight you, kitty cat. Or do! I’d love a new fur coat.”

There was a tense silence that followed, where nobody said a word and everyone had their phasers pointed. Everyone eyed the other nervously, as Sylvester and Muri’s piercing gaze fell over each other.  For a minute, it almost seemed like thats how they’d be for the next few hours.

And then someone’s phaser shot into the air.

Chaos instantly erupted, with Sylvester not hesitating to slam the rifle into Muri’s face and start wrestling with her. If there’s anyone who could match that strength, it would be him.

Plimmitt let out a scream and ran for cover, quickly slinking under one of the monitors. He was a god awful shot and couldn’t fight for the life of him. But very soon, he was met with a familiar face. His three armed friend, Numi, started to duck under the table.

”Numi! Quick, quick, get under here-“

”I am, I A—GHK!” She suddenly blurted out, letting out a horrified gurgle of what could’ve been a scream. Plimmitt looked upwards at what had just happened, seeing a gaping bloody hole through the poor girls neck. She slumped against the monitor for a millisecond, before collapsing onto the floor, dead eyes staring directly back at the Saurian. He had to cover his mouth to not scream.

Velau and Mazev quickly found themselves ducking under one of the monitors as well, watching as the chaos unfolded.

Just as Sylvester was about to get the upper hand, there was a swift, seering hot pain stabbed into his stomach; a blade from Muri being ripped across his lower half, blood pooling out, with flesh and muscle tearing itself open from the weapon.

He let out a roar of pain, doubling over as the female Vaadwaur put a boot to his neck, smirking. “MY MEN! AYE! We have what we need here. Keep watch, and slaughter any starfleet that try anything here. You two?” She pointed to two of the men as she yanked the bleeding and dizzy Sylvester off the floor. He could barely make sense of what was going on. ”We’re going on a little adventure, kitty.” She smiles wickedly at the XO. “Better hope you don’t bleed out before we find the nanobug.”

A pit formed in his stomach (and not from the bleeding), as Sylvester looked upon the core room. There was no more secure and safe space in the USS Morro Bay.

Everyone, truly, had no safe space anywhere. Not anymore.