Getting Smoked (Part 3 of 4)

Posted on 03 Apr 2022 @ 1:24pm by Commander Morgan Tarin & Commander Scarlet Blake & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Commander Marisa Wyatt & Lieutenant Aria Rice & Lieutenant JG Tris Shizn & Lieutenant JG Karras & Ensign Mimi & Lieutenant JG Sofie Ullswater & Ensign Amanda Turell

4,521 words; about a 23 minute read

Mission: Episode 18 - Cold Station 31
Location: USS Galileo-A - Deck 5, Holodeck 1
Timeline: MD 06, 0626 hrs

Previously, on Getting Smoked (Part 2)...

Allyndra listened for a moment to Mimi and smiled slightly. The two of them were probably the superior runners here. Instead she turned her attention to Tarin. There was still a balance going on in her mind. She was not sure of her as a captain. While she herself had grown up with a strict formality, it had been just that, formality for social interactions. The Mother's always encouraged one to observe, think, and act if one had the need to do so. Instead of making one run the entire distance, the Mother's would have noted the problem and though they might not have pulled the individual out, they would have called the entire exercise at an early place. Though she had been around humans for a long time, there were aspects to the culture she still did not fully fathom.

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

Five-point-five minutes had officially passed since the last of Galileo's commissioned officers crossed the finish line from their two-mile run. Water had been consumed during the cooldown period and, at Commander Tarin's discretion, the group was now ready to continue. Her own heart rate had fallen during the break and she deemed it time for new exercises.

"XO," Morgan said to Blake, walking up to her while wiping her semi-flushed cheeks clean of sweat with the back of her knuckles. "PT formation again. Front leaning rest position."

Blake arched an eyebrow, giving an inward dry chuckle as she got flashbacks to Sergeant Doyle. She could look back at it with rosetinted glasses now...at the time, not so much. Actually, not at all. She turned to the others, lifting her hand and giving a round up motion. "Back in line...we're going into front leaning rest position!" she called, moving to crouch in front of them and waiting until they followed suit, resting her hands on the ground. "And feet back..." she kicked her feet back behind her in one swift movement, so she was resting on her hands and toes, the classic position for pushups, but remained motionless.

Aria took a moment to look at Blake, but more about her form and the way she was positioned. She got down and copied her, putting some tension on her core and focusing. I wish we were dancing... she thought, but there was no force behind it, just a quiet acceptance that for the next hour or so, this was her life and her body would have to deal with it.

This was going to be a bit harder for her Allyndra moved into position copying the commander. The position was easy enough, and the muscles were there in the mid-section for properly holding one for flight. It was just that she did not have a lot of upper body strength. Advantages and disadvantages, she thought. As she got into position though, she found that she wanted to naturally spread the wings as her body though it was going into flight. The wings twitched a few times making little rustling sounds and flashing a bit.

Tris begrudgingly lowered himself to the deck. He didn't say anything, nor was he smiling. To an Andorian, exercise was one thing, but putting himself in a position of vulnerability was not desirable. He had done this at the Academy, after several battles of words with his superiors. He thought he would never have to do it again. He continued slowly and took up the position, his eyes darting about, his antenna moving slowly, nervously.

The run had left Ullswater both anxious and a tad exhausted but she'd tried to spend that five minutes break putting herself back together. She had been able to do all this, she'd been able to do all this and more, she had been an athlete, a performer, a cadet: this shouldn't be getting in her way. As she took her position a little of the anxiety faded, unlike the run she wouldn't be obviously last, at least with everyone like this maybe she could just go unseen by her peers and hide in the group.

Karras dropped into position, ready to keep going. He wasn't concerned with whatever exercises they'd have to face - he maintained a high level of personal fitness and had a surprising level of upper body strength for someone of his slim appearance. It was a result of his love of swimming, and part of him hoped that one of the exercises ahead would be a dip in the pool. But he wasn't here to show off, and he honestly had no desire to do so. Best to focus on the present moment.

Marisa raised an eyebrow, but said nothing out loud. Inwardly she was paying attention to the others and how they were holding up. At least the doctor was here if anyone had problems. She dropped into the proper position for push-ups and waited.

Mimi dropped down into the position, press ups were not her strongest suit having much stronger lower body strength than she did upper.

Amanda groaned, push ups were the one exercise she'd mostly avoided during her recovery, she positioned herself closer to Allyndra and dropped into position. "I may have difficulty here Sir." She told her.

Allyndra was still having trouble disciplining her body. She wanted to fly and the wings kept wanting to naturally want to move. She looked over at the ensign. "I think I am as well."

The acting captain positioned herself at the front of the officer formation to face the others. Her dropdown to the front leaning rest position was swift, after which she tightened her core muscles to support the tripod-like stance. Tarin lifted her head forward to regard the group. "Twenty reps on your mark, Number One."

"Follow my count," Blake called out, tilting her head enough to see them. If they stayed in time together with her count, she could keep them at a steady, optimal pace. To be honest, she'd rather be doing pushups than staying in the rest position. "1...2...3...4...."

Tris began the exercises, pushing his body with ease up from the deck. Yes, he knew that this specific exercise would be beneficial, yet his eyes, ears, and antenna were in constant search for an aggressor, to the point that his white hair began to curl by his neck.

Her tail bobbing up and down in time Mimi followed Blake's count, the position wasn't the easiest for her digitgrade form so she had switched back to plantigrade.

Aria started to move with the count, regulating her breathing. It was not her strongest suit, but she could do a decent amount before wishing she could amputate her arms. She focused on a spot before her as she did it, just focusing on the count.

Allyndra wished she could follow the count, the first maybe four or five she managed, but between not quite having the upper arm strength and her natural want to fly in this position it was a struggle. After a point, she just gave up and let nature take its course. She moved quickly away from the rest so she could spread her wings and then used them as nature intended. It was like an odd hover, but these muscles she was well trained with.

Sofie was, despite it all, trying her best to stay on pace with the others, Blake's count was rhythmic and for the first few at least it was manageable. She felt anxious, pathetic and tired and in spite of her best efforts the psychological and physical came together to halt her progress. Do what you can, don't beat yourself up about it she tried to tell herself but even as she did unwanted thoughts of self loathing were rapidly seeping through the ensign's defences.

"Heads and eyes forward!" instructed Tarin in-between long, deliberate breaths. "Body in a straight line...mouth to toes..." She'd noticed a few officers dropping their heads to look at the ground below them. Such a form constricted the trachea and hindered air flow in and out of the lungs. Keeping the chin up during pushups was crucial to endurance. "Warraquim...back down on the ground!"

After only the first five push ups Amanda was groaning, the ache in her shoulder from their earlier running was returning with a vengeance. After the tenth she dropped down to her knees to flex her shoulder for a few seconds.

Allyndra could not do what was being asked. Her body was fighting her the entire way. She stopped. "Sorry captain, but my biology in that position, means flight. I will attempt to try to overcome that, but it going to take some time."

Marisa was more fortunate. She loved to dance and practice martial arts, which helped her stay fit. Being Vulcan helped, too. She made a point of keeping up with the others and doing no more than was required.

Tris continued this pushing up exercise, keeping his body rigid and staying in time with the others. Yet, his frustration was not dissipating. He was beginning to over-heat, probably because of his emotions. He wasn't sure how long he was going to continue this infuriating situation.

Aria kept going, trying to ignore what was going around her, including the fluttering wings earlier. Instead she found herself humming, because it would help regulate her breathing as she moved.

Keeping the pace, Karras decided to focus on his own breathing and just get through this. Exercise should be fun but this felt the exact opposite of that... and the acting captain calling out Allyndra, with or without the physiological impediment was just bad form.

Blake was tuned into her body even as she kept the count and looked to the others, taking in how they were moving, the line of their bodies. She slipped into that place of feeling what was going on in her muscles, in her limbs, in her core, but just accepting it for what it was. "...19....20...and rest!" she called as she pushed up on the final one. She caught her breath, counting not only to keep the rest period reasonable, but also to help her heart fall into an easier pattern again. "Ready on my mark..." she gave a warning as they neared the end of what felt right to 30 seconds. "And again...1...2...3..."

Down then up went Morgan, in tandem with the XO's calls. The thirty seconds of short rest had been brief yet lengthy enough to accommodate the standard Human's upper-body muscle recovery. Her breathing remained tight, controlled and methodical. The definition in her pectorals, deltoids and triceps was now highlighted by an increase in blood flow. More sweat accumulated on her face which started to slowly drip down her chin and onto the ground. ...4...5...6...

Aria started as well, her eyes closing as she followed the pattern. There was strain in her body and she was sweating, but she had sweated during the run as well. It was natural. She would need to stretch after this or else she'd be sore.

Still focusing on his breathing, Karras was starting to feel it in his biceps. No matter, he was going to match every exercise thrown at them with the same form, focus, and pace as Commander Blake. Then, when he had to bring concerns about this new regimen to Tarin... if he had to, he amended... there would be no question his concern was for the crew and not himself.

The short rest had not helped Amanda at all, the pain in her shoulder was getting worse with every push up. "Permission to stop Captain, medical grounds." She eventually said not wanting to push herself any harder for now.

...11...12...13...14... The sudden call from one of the security officers caught Tarin's attention. She looked towards Ensign Turell while continuing to press her upper body up from the ground before dipping again. "...Excused!" she called out while also re-observing the Akkadian doctor who wasn't performing pushups of any sort anymore. "Commander Warraquim..." The implication was clear enough.

'Thank god' Amanda thought, she bought her knee's up then rolled over onto her back, the relief was immediate.

"The let me invoke medical reasons as well." Allyndra responded without any emotion.

...16...17...18... Morgan continued counting in her head. There was a delayed response to the doctor, for it was only a few more seconds until they finished their final set. ...19......20.. She leaned back into a kneeling position then stretched her arms, breathing heavily. "Go check on the ensign," she instructed Warraquim.

Aria kept going, as they rounded up to 20, collapsing the moment they hit the number. She took a moment to catch her breath before pushing herself back into position, just in case...for all she knew, another 20 was coming to them. With Allyndra and Amanda out, she wondered what would be thrown at them next.

Tris was so grateful that the exercise had ended. He was out of breath, placing his hands on his knees, as his antenna flipped forward across his brow. He glanced at the details on his wrist device, which informed him that his heart rate was up, and his body temperature was beginning to arrive at the extreme that the suit could handle for him.

Marisa kept pace with the first officer, but she had to fight back a growing feeling of resentment at the callous attitude of the acting captain. PT was one thing, but the woman seemed determined to see how far she could push them. However, it was not the science officer's place to say anything, so she remained stoic.

"Fall out..." Blake pushed herself back up to her feet, her breathing even and measured as she stretched her legs and back. She used the sweatband around her wrist to gently pass over her face. There was colour on her cheeks now, and she had a healthy glow about her. "Take a couple of minutes to catch your breath and get some water," her voice was level, not betraying any emotion she might have about what had happened over the sets of pushups.

Aria pushed herself up, sighing as she stood slowly. She rolled her shoulders as she went to get herself some water, drinking a little as she let her heartrate and breathing go down.

Karras stood, grabbed some more water, and kept his opinions to himself.

The Vulcan science officer stood and stretched, then got herself some water. There was going to be more, she was sure, and she needed to be ready for it.

Sofie kept her eyes down and tried her best to avoid the attention of the other officers as she went to grab a drink. She didn't want to be perceived by anyone. She felt like a mess, some kind of a failure of an officer and the last thing she felt up to right now was talking to anybody especially after snapping at Aria earlier. On top of the mess building up in her head the ensign could feel maybe a little dizziness setting in; best not to mention it though, probably nothing and she didn't want to draw attention to herself.

Tris weakly stood erect, placing his hands on hips while still breathing heavily. He felt a touch embarrassed when his antenna flopped to the back of his head. This was too much for him. He turned and began to walk about hoping to find thicker oxygen in another part of the room, and not attract any on-lookers at his situation at the same time.

"Felt like my arm was going to pop off if I kept going." Amanda said still laying on the floor, that wasn't an idle remark, her arm was more prone to dislocations since her injury.

Allyndra was more than happy. It gave her the further excuse to not finish herself, though she could not either. She had no med kit with her so it was going to be physical examination.

"Ensign Turell, I am going to have to physically exam you. Do you give permission to be touched?" Allyndra asked.

"Whatever you need to do doc," Amanda said somewhat surprised at actually being asked to give permission. "Push ups don't agree with me too well since I got messed up."

"Thank you, I will remember to bring a medical diagnostic tool next time." She then went to examine the joints and shoulder and nodded after a point.

"Due to previous injuries and not full reconstruction, I am certifying you as medically unable to participate in this form of exercise. You many attempt to try whatever else is planned, but if at any time you feel that you are furthering your injury, you may stop."

"Thank you." Amanda said, she'd wanted to continue where she could but having permission to drop out if her pain got annoying was a great thing


Approximately Two Minutes Later...

Commander Morgan Tarin sipped from her water bottle at a slow and leisurely pace. In between drinks she re-corraled her dark curls back into a pony tail while pushing a couple sweat-soaked stands back behind her ears. She was feeling good. Her heart rate was up and she felt alive and alert despite the early hour of the morning. Some people did their best to dodge daily exercise, but she'd always been the opposite throughout her entire life. She liked workouts. She enjoyed the fatigue and pain in the moment, and embraced the active lifestyle. Maybe it was the endorphins released during each intense session, but to consider her a gym rat wouldn't be too unfair of a critique.

Morgan looked across the other Galileo officers who seemed to be regaining their composure. She walked up to Blake and spoke in a quiet voice. "Did they teach you the Cardassian Cockroach at the Marine Academy?"

Blake frowned as she thought back, rubbing the back of her neck absently. If they had, it had been under another name. "I'm pretty sure that's a no," she looked to her with curiosity.

A very faint, ominous smile tugged at the corners of Tarin's mouth. "Get everyone back in PT formation. I'll demonstrate."

Blake nodded, moving back to the area they'd been using, circling her hand in a round up motion. "Fall in!" she called, more than just a little interested to find out what was on the cards. She was raring and ready to go.

Aria rolled her shoulders, walking back to what she considered her spot now, eyes front, shoulders relaxed as she rocked lightly on her feet for a moment. She was glad to get going again, if she waited too long she'd start getting cooled down and then she'd struggle getting going again.

Karras fell in and started to consider what he might like to have for breakfast when this was over.

Marisa once again found a spot where she would not draw attention. She was done with PT and the first session wasn't over yet.

Tris, with his breath now under better control, and his antenna looking and feeling much more perky, moved back to his position in the formation.

Amanda groaned, she had heard of the 'Cardassian cockroach' and it wasn't fun at the best of times.

"Listen up!" Tarin called out, seeing the exercise formation re-established. "On Commander Blake's signal, we'll get down on the ground and lay on our backs. Arms and legs will then be extended straight up into the air," she described. "On the commander's next signal, your legs will begin to move in a bicycle pedal motion with knees bent, quickly extending alternating rotations from one leg to the other. Your arms will also start moving in the same motion. Like you're turning a wheel with handles on each side. After 60 seconds, we will pause to extend legs and arms straight back out into the air at 45-degree outside angles. We'll hold that position for 30 seconds then resume. Back in my day at the Academy, we called this...the Cardassian Cockroach."

Tarin looked to Blake to see if she understood. "Ten minutes, Number One. Whenever you're ready to start."

Blake nodded, wondering briefly if they'd get away with calling it that now. "With me," she called, moving on to her back, taking a second to make sure she was laid out more or less comfortably so she wouldn't get distracted. 10 minutes, a nice round number to work with. Lifting her arms and legs, she took a slight breath to make sure she was settled. "And move!" she started to move her legs and arms in the circular motions described, making sure to hit a rhythm with her countdown of sixty seconds that worked.

The Vulcan science officer watched the acting captain, then the first officer and began the exercise. Dancing was a lot better, but the acting captain was in charge--for now. And so she would comply.

While it was not the most comfortable feeling laying on one's wings, it was not impossible either. Allyndra complied with the request. This was to her, not that hard either. Again, a mostly aerobic exercise that she had a great physiological advantage.

Tris moved quickly to his back and began the motions in unison with the others. He knew this was going to just as strenuous as the previous exercise, but at least he was looking up and could see anyone coming toward him. The level of anxiety was not the same with this exercise. The Andorian was pleased at least for this minor point.

Karras was engaged in the exercise, again not particularly challenged but given the length of time they were expected to complete, he knew he would be 'feeling it' soon. That was okay, as he was certain the point was to push themselves. He continued to mull over breakfast options, his memory recalling an exquisite roasted vegetable omelet he had enjoyed back at the Academy. He wondered if the galley would have the supplies on hand needed to prepare it.

Aria kept focus on what she was doing, rather than focusing on time or muscles complaining. What was good was that she kept herself fit. It balanced her diet (which had enough cake in it to warrant two hours a day doing something really physical), as well as kept her able to do her job. She would never be able to do the bench presses some of the Security people she had known would be doing, but she could keep going a long time if she had to.

After taking a few seconds of shuffling to get her tail in a comfortable position on the hard ground Mimi began the movements demonstrated by Blake, it was certainly a different exercise to any she'd done before but her body quickly settled in the rhythm.

Given the little more leeway she had thanks to Allyndra's permission, Amanda took a little longer before settling back down onto her back and started to move accordingly though at a more conservative pace.

Her legs were feeling things a bit more than anything else, but it was more since she had not had the time to have anything and energy reserves were not as good as they should be. Three hearts, and multiple lungs and air sacs kept muscles in the aerobic range, but sooner or later Allyndra was going to have to have something a bit more than water.


Five Minutes Later...

"...and hold!" Blake called out at the end of a one minute burst, changing the angle of her arms and legs to hold instead. Her eyes weren't really focussing anymore as she found herself slipping into the place between concentration and trusting her body to do what she knew it could. "...and cycle!" she called the start to the next burst, her legs and arms going again despite the muscles making her feel it. Her breath was more strained, but she kept it steady and controlled, using the count to keep her going rather than it working against her.

Aria was sweating, some of her hair that had escaped the ponytail deciding it would be better sticking to her face. She didn't really notice or care, her arms and legs moving with it. She could feel the aches happening, as muscles started complaining about it all. She ignored it, because it wasn't like she was on pointe, or having her forearms bruised by close combat training. This was her body, and Aria was damned sure not going to let it slack due to some sweat and aches.

Memories of Starfleet Academy were subconsciously flooding Morgan's thoughts while she stared at the holographic ceiling. She remembered the late evenings and midnight PT formations; the cadre of no-nonsense recruit division commanders; the deliberate sleep deprivation and always being one power nap away from dozing off in class. Through it all, though, she maintained fond recollections of the experience. It had helped shape her into the woman she was now. Blake's exercise commands were a comforting reminder of the culture she'd grown up with and come to love. Tarin's arms and legs continued their motions while she tightened her breathing. She could feel the onset of fatigue from the burning sensation in her thighs, shoulders and abdomen. It was going to be another long five minutes.

Arms and legs were beginning to physically tremble for Tris. The mental issues of security were completely gone from his mind at this moment. He had to focus on his movements and the pain and the desire to continue. He knew he had the stamina, but doubts were beginning to mentally poke him.

The kind of cockroach that Sofie felt like was not the Cardassian kind but the dead kind, flipped over with their legs all splayed out. The kind of cockroach that didn't want to be here anymore and certainly couldn't imagine keeping going for another five minutes. She meekly tried to follow the actions but any notion of pace or actual proper execution had vanished from her long ago.

Amanda's legs were keeping up but her arms were another matter, she'd taken to only doing 45 seconds of 'cycling' and was seriously considering lessening even that. The grinding sound from her shoulder was getting louder.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

CMDR Morgan Tarin
Acting Commanding Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Saalm]

Lt. Aria Rice
Chief Security Officer
USS Galileo-A

CMDR Scarlet Blake
First Officer
USS Galileo-A

CMDR Allyndra illm Warraquim
Second and Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo-A

Ensign Sofie Ullswater
Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

LTJG Karras
Chief Counselor
USS Galileo-A

LTJG Tris Shizn
Helmsman
USS Galileo-A

Lieutenant Commander Marisa Sandoval
Chief Science Officer
USS Galileo-A

ENS Mimi
Deputy Operations Manager
USS Galileo-A

ENS Amanda Turell
Security Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Mimi]

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