=Somewhere in the Chimera=
When Gustav told Rick that shields had finally been restored, the CEO
still found himself in the middle of a fire fight with the Romulans. When
more security crewmen arrived, he saw this as his change to work on
the next problem ... the impulse drive.
He knew that he had to work on the drive itself in order to get it
working properly. Without it and the mobility it would provide, the shields
that had just regained would not last long.
Rick managed to sneak out through a series of jeffries tube before being
deposited on the impulse drive deck. As he walked down the corridor, he
felt the ship shake worse than normal. Then, there was an explosion just
ahead of Rick, which tossed him back several meters. He blacked out for
a long moment before regaining conscience and struggling to his feet.
"Are you OK, sir," a crewman rushed up to him asked.
Rick rubbed his aching head and cleared his vision.
"I'm fine," Rick said. "What happened?"
"I ... I don't know sir, but we've been ordered to abandon ship."
'So it was that bad,' Rick thought, rubbing his hand through his hair.
"Then go to the nearest escape pod," Rick ordered.
Rick walked away with the crewmen just watching. He knew that there
was nothing he could do now for the Chimera. He also knew that his own
people would get off the ship safely.
So, he had one priority now ... his family.
Rick's first stop was to get Rachel. But before he got too far ...
"Commander Rodgers," Rick heard someone say over the internal comm link.
"This is Lieutenant T'Vel from Sickbay. Commander Summers and I have the
children and we are evacuating via escape pod. Do not beconcerned, Rachel is
safe with us."Rick was still concerned, but he knew his daughter was in
capable hands. Now he had to find MaiKai and make certain she was OK.
He made it several meters from sickbay when a security crewman stopped
him. Rick noticed that up ahead, something was not right.
"Sir, you can't go that way," the crewman said, stepping in front of Rick.
"Why not?" Rick asked with some anger in his voice.
"Most of the deck up ahead had been destroyed, including sickbay. There's
nothing left."
Rick felt the blood drain out of his face and his heart beat more rapidly.
"Get out of my way," Rick grunted, trying to force down the lump in his
throat.
"Sir, I can't let ..."
Rick just pushed him out of the way and continued forward. The crewman
didn't bother to follow, instead going the way Rick had come.
When Rick turned the corner, he saw nothing but space and debris being
held back by a force field. He's legs gave out as he fell to his knees. Tears
started streaking down his face.
"Oh God no ... please no ... no ... no ...," he muttered in a state of shock,
unable to move.
Commander Rick Rodgers
Chief Engineering Officer
U.S.S. Chimera
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