Post 464: Damage

Stardate.70928.0640
Title: Damage
Author: Ensign Xhian, Lt. Cmdr. Lair
Scene: Outside and Inside the crashed Alchemy
Time: Unknown
==================
Xhian opened his eyes, becoming conscious once more.

He found himself outside the ship somehow, face down in a mound of snow and ice.

He didn't understand how this could be possible. If he'd been thrown from the ship on impact there is no way he could have survived.

Someone must have brought him out, and left him here.

How much time had elapsed since the crash, and whether or not he was injured, he didn't know. He raised himself up and looked ahead of his current position and saw the crash site of the Alchemy. Fueled by pure adrenaline, Xhian rose from the snow and started to run towards the ship to check for survivors among his crewmates.

As the ensign ran towards the ship, he saw a long path- both of footprints that weren't his own, and also a long dragging line. Someone had definitely pulled him away from the wreckage. The drag line was consistent in size with someone of his build and bulk, and ended right where he had awoken in the snow.

At this moment, how he got to be where he was constituted the least of his worries. He had to see if there were any survivors on the ship and if need be help make plans for a rescue.

When he finally reached the wreckage, he examined the ship and noted all the damage he could see to the outside structure; not the least of which was a very large crack in the hull. He reentered the ship through that breach now and surmised that it must be the same one he was taken out of, by whomever had removed him..

He began calling out for survivors as he walked down the dark hallways. He heard nothing, and no one, moving around him.

He managed to find a palm beacon and attached it to his wrist. He examined the damage from the inside, noting that it seemed to be minimal compared to the hull tear. It was his opinion that the Alchemy could be salvaged- it was not a total loss. He finally managed to get back to Engineering, where he found their acting chief engineer on the deck, laying in a pool of her own blood.

"Commander Lair,"

Lair Kellyn tried to open her eyes, but they felt so incredibly heavy. She hadn't slept long enough, that was it. She needed just a few minutes more. Just five more minutes.

"LAIR KELLYN!"

She heard coughing, and realized she was the one making the noise. It was freezing in here. Had Arie been playing with the environmental controls again?

"Wake, up, Commander. We've got to find the others," Xhian implored her. "This is no moon, and we are not alone here."

The voice speaking was familiar but for the moment, she couldn't place it. Kellyn finally managed to pry her eyelids open and realized that she was being lifted up and carried by a large blue man, with antennae.

She tried to stay awake, but she just couldn't, she was too tired. Wherever she was, and wherever he was taking her, she would just have to deal with it after she'd slept a little longer.
----------------------------
Ensign Xhian
Engineering Officer
USS Alchemy & USS Independence

and

Lt. Commander Lair Kellyn
Acting Chief Engineer
USS Independence/USS Alchemy