In the Blink of an Eye...

Posted on 29 Feb 2024 @ 11:13am by Chief Petty Officer Katja Becker

932 words; about a 5 minute read

2395 - Bolarus Sector (TANGO) - Beta Quadrant

When the war broke out again, it was only a matter of time before the transfer orders came. Galileo was nice and all, but her experience as a combat medic during the Dominion War was most assuredly going to be held against her. And how ironic it all was. Going back to fight against former friends and ‘allies.’ She had met a lot of good Klingons and Romulans during the war…shame.

Regardless, Katja looked forward to going back to the hell that made it so she would never be able (or willing) to function in normal society. Maybe she had a death wish. Maybe it was because being back in it made the fabric of her life fit better. To be surrounded by fellow troops on a mission was far more comforting than the unsettling 'quiet' that had been her ‘home’ life after the war.

The transport ship she was hitching a ride on was bringing replacement personnel to fill the holes from the Battle of Bolarus, ordinance, and equipment. Intelligence reports were sounding the alarm that the Romulans and Klingons were gearing up for Round 2. She was headed to the line, and she was ready to get it over and done with.

No one had considered that their position en route to Bolarus to be particularly vulnerable. They were coming from well into what was considered the ‘safety’ of Federation space. Their vessel was all but a fatted calf, ready for sacrifice to the Romulan valdore style warbird that was hunting them. They struck out of nowhere. Katja had to give it to the crew of the transport vessel - they really did give it there all and managed to give the Romulans a number of scrapes and maybe even a 'back eye,' but they were hopelessly outgunned.

The Romulans ultimately made quick work of their pitiful defenses before the vessel was listing, having lost shields and propulsions. Life support was hanging on by a thread.

Katja. meanwhile, was elbows deep in alligators. The ship’s physician, the EMH, and herself were frantically trying to save their fellow shipmates’ lives. The sickbay on the vessel was woefully under prepared for scope of the casualties being triaged today. She grimly kept at her work, but part of her waited in grim anticipation for next impact…the one that would end them all; end IT all…but it didn’t come. Somehow, that was worse. Romulans didn’t leave survivors. What were they planning?

Focus!

–

Hours passed. The chaos in the sick bay was slowly ebbing. The critical had been stabilized or they died, and now Katja was passing the time dealing with minor injuries. Hopefully they’d be able to get most of the injured back to active duty by the end of the day.

That was Katja’s mistake right there…she started thinking to the future; started thinking that they were going to make it through this. The sudden whine and green sparkles that was definitely not Starfleet technology filled the main space of sick bay and a fireteam of disruptor-aiming Romulans teleported into reality.

The Romulans started yelling out orders, “Everyone hands visible; do not move!” her commbadge translated the Rihannsu command being directed at her, and she glanced over to Dr. Visla and saw that he had a phaser and–

The firefight was brief but violent in its ferocity. Visla was vaporized by disruptor fire, and Katja threw herself to the ground to scrabble under the biobeds to avoid the initial volley of blasts. She quickly got to her hands and knees, and but wasn’t even able to take a step before she was grabbed by vice-like hands and thrown onto the biobed she took cover under by her throat.

“You healer? You…medical?” The Romulan officer harshly inquired in broken Federation Standard. His hand squeezed, cutting off her air just for a second before releasing.

Message understood.

Katja nodded. “Medical. Yes.”

The Romulan holding her nodded once then pulled her up by her throat and brought her close. She…she had never been at the receiving end of Romulan strength.

He barked something into a communicator that her commbadge UT didn’t have a chance to translate before her vision started to fill with emerald sparkles and a weightless sensation began to run through her until she disappeared in a transporter beam.

–

IRW Aethra

Katja was dragged off the transporter pad by the man holding her throat and forcibly shoved along much dimmer corridors past Romulan personnel until she was pushed through a doorway that barely finished hissing open. What greeted her was…surprising. It was their medical bay.

Turning around, she looked up to the Romulan that just released her.

“We lost our healer. You are it now.”

Katja suddenly felt a vibration begin to thrum through her. It was their engines…they felt different.

Wait. Oh. Mein. Gott. The ship was moving. She had just been kidnapped aboard a Romulan vessel and it was leaving. Her breath started to hitch as she warred with rising panic. They…they brought her to heal their injuries. Talk about forcible conscription!

“Woah, wait…I’m not...” Katja bit her tongue.

“Save him first.” Her captor said matter-of-factly as he pointed to the man laying on a biobed, looking rather bad off.

“Save him or you die.”


To be continued...

----

Chief Petty Officer Katja Becker
Combat Medical Officer
en route to her next assignment

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