===== Shuttle deck, Warbird ===== Shane mind was still playing games with its holder but at least Shane wasnt feeling like after having drunk a 20 years old scotch whiskey for hours. He was already somewhat aware what was going on around him and even the blur caused by Dr. Quiocho's drugs dissapeared. A side effect of the stunning effects of the romulan grenade was an violently aching head, but Shane could (even when slowly only) think about the current situation. His away team found Athena in an Romulan cell and rescuing her they have tried to beam on board the Chimera. This plan wasnt a success, so the decission fall to try to steal a shuttle and use it to escape from the Warbird. On their way to the shuttle deck the team suffered several casualities, but very luckily noone was killed during the 'trip'. To be honest ... an another bigger battle with romulan guards would be the end of the away team ... but luck seemed to shine upon Shane's team ... for this time. Now, after some strugling to open the shuttle's hatch, all the team members were inside a romulan runabout class shuttle. The wounded were confortably lied in the back area of the shuttle and MaiKai, Kirkland (even if severely wounded), two Marines were about to act as teh shuttle's crew. Athena was in the back area as well, together with Shane. Shane was not sure who assumed command after he was 'out of game' cause both MaiKai and Kirkland were LtJg. Well, Kirkland was an acting department head, but he was wounded and as the only doctor in the team, MaiKai was in the position to relieve him from duty and assume command by herself. Anyway ... the one that was in command now had obviously an idea how to escape from the Warbird cause Shane could see through the runabout's little side window that the shuttle bay door started to open. He could of course not hear it, but he could very well imagine the romulan version of the ship's computer saying something like: [starting sequence engaged, shuttle bay door opening] A nice question was how to pilot the shuttle. Sure a basic shuttle piloting training received every cadet in the academy, but Shane was sure that noone on board ever flow in a stolen romulan runabout. Aside from the different maneuverbility all the controls were described in romulan and Shane already knew that neighter Mai or Kirkland understood that language! But luck seemed to shine really stronly upon the away team cause the shuttle (even with some rather strong shakes) really took off and slowly turned in the plot to face the exit with its front. Shane could hear voices from teh pilots cabine arguing about the romulans controls ... both male and female, but he could not understand what they were speaking exactly about. The shuttle was not fully turned, so Shane could with horror in his eyes see that the shuttle deck's door stoped for a moment and then slowly started to close. He sighed. It was quite an risky act to steal a shuttle ... the crew on the warbirds bridge surely noticed the unauthorised opening of the shuttle deck and overrided the command. The next step would be to send a strike force to 'see' after the 'burglars' in the shuttle deck. Shane was sure that in less then 3 minutes the room would be full of 'not too happy' romulan guards. The shuttle ended the turning and Shane asked himself what to do next when a shock wave hit the shuttle in a medium jerk and Shane saw some burned debrises flying around teh shuttle. For a short moment he thought that the shuttle was under fire from romulan forces, but when the shuttle jerked fastly forward and left the shuttle deck he realised that they have blown the shuttle deck door. For this moment he was glad that the romulan runabout distruptors were quite powerfull weapons. The view behind the little window changed rapidely and the typical romulan architecture from inside the Warbird changed into the familiar dark black of the space. Shane could not see the Warbird behind the shuttle but strongly hoped that it was staying behind ... and the runabout moving straight forward. After a little moment some force striked the runabout and Shane was not foolish to be surprised about the whereabouts. The Warbird was now shooting at the runabout. Beeing on the Warbirds bridge, Shane would do the same. Disabling the runabout shields and then catch it with the tractor beam. He could not see if the Warbird decloaked prior to attacking the runabout or if it was shotting through a window in the cloak, but in the end effects it doesnt matter much ... the runabout was under fire. Again, the runabout rocked as it received a direct hit and from teh raised noise level from the pilot cabin Shane was sure that their situation wasnt a nice one. Their only hope was that the Chimera will realise who is in the shuttle and beam them on board prior to the Warbird destroying the shuttle. Shane froze in horror as a rather loudly cry was to hear from the pilot's cabin: "Heavens! The Chimera is nowhere to see! Its not here!" ===== End of log ==== Cmdr. Shane Guzman XO/ACO USS Chimera