The Madness of Ro' HoD – Fire in the Hole
by HoD Ro' Matlh & Soghla' Marie St. Helene & Soghla' Terri (Tell) Hope

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Title   Fire in the Hole
Mission   The Madness of Ro' HoD
Author(s)   HoD Ro' Matlh & Soghla' Marie St. Helene & Soghla' Terri (Tell) Hope
Posted   Thu Nov 26, 2015 @ 1:22am
Location   Torpedo Bay, Deck 5, IKC FHew
Engineer jaqwI' dropped to the metal grating that served as a floor, his boots clanging loudly in the narrow space. The base of the Boom corridor was barely wide enough for a single person to walk along between the head of the ship and the main body, but it opened up around the torpedo launcher, at least a small amount.

Damn hot down here, Marie thought and wondered why that might be. Then she remembered hearing something about Ro’ ordering Germite to fumigate the Jeffries Tubes as she left the bridge. He’s probably closed off all the vents.

She unbuttoned the top of her uniform blouse. "Better get the torpedo tubes open so we can see how this new toy connects up to them."

JaqwI' moved to the hulking shape of the Klingon Torpedo Launcher. They were sleeker than the Federation models, and in many ways far more efficient and stream lined. Unfortunately they were rarely maintained to peak efficiency. This one was nearly 50 years old, and looked every day of it. The new Lyan device sat against the torpedo load chamber, looking like a shiny limpet on an ancient hull.

"Sonic de-coupler," jaqwI' growled, using English. He had at least learned the names of most tools, though the rest of the language escaped him.

“Sonic de-coupler,” Marie repeated, amusing herself with her best nurse impression.

Using the tool, jaqwI' removed the restraints on the firing chamber and opened it up to reveal the inside. The firing chamber fed a charge to the torpedo to trigger it's firing and timing mechanism, but the firing system was now linked to the Lyan Phase Generator as well. Engineer jaqwI' stepped back so Marie could see inside.



On the bridge the tactical display showed a warning that the photon launcher was off line. Ro' glanced at Bruce who was next to him at helm and not paying any attention. The captain carefully disabled the safety protocols.



The firing chamber was unremarkable. All of the work seemed to be happening inside the Lyan device, including some complicated Navigational plotting which had been linked to the computer systems. jaqwI' indicated the interlock points and then his tool kit to show he did not have tools for the job on hand.

"Jared," he grunted, suggesting in a single word who might have the tool they needed.

“Fine, but what do I ask him for?”

The assistant engineer frowned and pointed again to the bolts. He either didn't understand the question or didn't know how to explain himself better.

Marie thumped a fist on a wall in exasperation. Why didn’t that idiot Ro’ send Tell, she thought. And from the look on your face you’re probably thinking much the same.

As she made her way to the door leading back through the boom jaqwI' leaned in to the Phase Generator to see what it was feeding to.



On the Bridge Ro' shot a glance at Bruce to check he was not watching. Then he pressed the fire control on the torpedo launcher.



Marie heard the momentary whine of a pre-fire charge just as she was closing the bulkhead door behind her. flame and light flashed from the Launcher's open housing and flooded the room. It slammed the door against her, but not before scorching heat and light flashed up one side of her body.

Agony seared through her; fierce, brain numbing agony. She passed out.



On the bridge an alarm sounded. Bruce pulled up a display.

"We have fires in the Torpedo bay!"

"Stay here!" Ro' barked making for the starboard exit.



In engineering the alarms sounded as well, warning Tell a repair team would be needed.

"Your with me." Tell shouted to Klank, the other Klingon in the room. She picked up her repair kit and made her way quickly to the torpedo bay. She knew Marie and JaqwI' were down there and she only hoped she wasn't to late.



Ro' slid down the ladder without touching the rungs. The room was blackened and smoldering. Ro' grabbed up an extinguisher and doused the most vital items. He stopped at the body of the former jaqwI', now little more than a smoking wreck.

The alarms stopped and he suddenly became aware of a groaning noise.

Noise nearby roused Marie. Her thoughts raced. Amidst the turmoil, one kept repeating. It was probably only the door slamming that saved your life!

Looking around Ro' saw the Boom door was swinging ajar and could just make out a figure on the other side. Pulling his disruptor, he moved quickly to where Marie was trying to get back to her feet.

"Report!" he barked.

“Lyan weapon.... Exploded.... JaqwI’ in torpedo tube....” She lapsed back into unconsciousness, the effort at coherent thought too much for her.

Ro' look ed at the fallen woman, "And you survived the blast?"

"Pity," he said, leveling the disruptor.

Marie watched the disruptor as it was brought to bear. It seemed to take an age. She looked and saw the murderous intent in Ro’s eyes.

“No,” she begged. “Don’t shoot.... I tried to save jaqwI’...I really did.... There was....” Her voice rose in pitch as she tried to reason with Ro'. “There was nothing I could do.... Please...HoD Ro’.... Don....

He fired, cutting off Marie's desperate pleas. She was disintegrated in a single shot. He placed the Disruptor back into his belt and moved back to the ladder which led to the bridge.

He did not see that Tell had witnessed the interaction from the other end of the boom corridor.

There was a barely audible gasp from the engineer as she looked upon the scene in front of her. JaqwI's remains smoldering on the floor and Marie's death in front of her eyes literally tore her heart in two.

She tapped the Klingon on the shoulder. "Go, get back to the others and warn them," Tell ordered.