Main Engineering Red Alert, Part I: Marine Sweep Intruder Alert
Posted on Tue Jun 30th, 2026 @ 12:23pm by Captain Philippe Auvray & Lieutenant Commander Ryan Keel & 1st Lieutenant Ángel Martinez & Lieutenant Commander Nash Winters & Lieutenant Commander Eirly Andersen & Ensign Kash th'Kaasniik
Edited on on Tue Jun 30th, 2026 @ 9:54pm
1,820 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Peril at the Unification Accords
Location: Main Engineering
Timeline: MD 11, 1330 Hours, [Concurrent with Marine Sweeps]
Martinez entered Main Engineering with Private Marks a pace behind them, Marine armour secured over their uniform and their rifle held low but ready. The short dark waves of their hair were tucked back from their face, leaving the pale notch through their left eyebrow clear under the hard red light. They moved quickly without rushing, because while speed was always important, they never liked panicking a room full of Engineers. Or anyone else for that matter. The room was already busy with red alert tension, voices over consoles and bodies moving where they needed to be, and Martinez took it in without trying to interrupt the rhythm of the people keeping the ship running. They knew better after all.
Their eyes moved across faces, exits and the nearest access points, making a quiet count before they looked to the senior officer present, a Lieutenant Commander. “Lieutenant Martinez, Marine detachment, Sir,” they said calmly, giving him a nod. “Captain’s ordered a shipwide sweep, and Engineering’s one of the areas we need secured. We’ll stay out of your way as much as we can, but I’ll need a quick steer on where you want us first.”
“Understood, Lieutenant. Nash Winters, head of Engineering. Warp core takes priority over everything else. Authorized personnel only. We need the monitors and status boards manned by my team, so keep clear of those areas. Otherwise, do what you have to do. I’m around if you have any questions.” Nash leaned in close to Martinez’s ear. “Keep an eye on my office. We have a senior command officer holed up in there for his safety. Make sure he doesn’t touch anything.”
Martinez gave the faintest lift of an eyebrow at the last instruction, but the expression was gone almost as quickly as it arrived. “Understood, Sir,” they said, voice low enough not to carry past Nash. It all made sense. “Warp core, monitors and status boards.” It was just confirmation of what Winters had said loudly enough for the Marines to get. They looked back toward Keel, the shift in their expression enough to bring him closer, keeping their voice lowered a little. “Marks, I want you to go to the Chief Engineer Office, have a look in then...keep an eye. Door stays clear, nobody in or out unless Commander Winters clears it or I do,” they said, calm but firm. “No fuss unless someone gives you a reason.” Their eyes returned to Nash. “We’ll start on the outer access points and secure them, working inward. If we’re in your way, tell me and I’ll move us.”
“Thanks, bubba. We’ll make as though you’re not even here. Can you tell me what’s going on? More Romulan problems?” Nash asked.
'Well ... it ain't Tribbles, let's put it that way,' Tmarek called out with a grin as he made his way around Engineering, tricorder in his third hand while he cradled his phaser rifle with his other two. 'At least I hope not,' he muttered under his breath and he swept his head this way and that to cover every angle.
“Unless they have pointed ears and brow ridges,” Nash shot back. “Thanks for your help. Like I said, holler if you need anything.” Nash did an about face and returned to his team.
Private Marks made his way to the Chief Engineer's office. He took a hard look around as he did so. He was familiar with every inch of the ship - it was his job. But, he didn't make it down here to the actual engineering decks often. His training in space dock was months ago - most of it done in holotraining suites. He watched for anything - anyone suspicious as he moved, looking for people hiding their terminals, moving swiftly away to different locations, watching the marines - especially their weapons a little too closely.
The red alert light was becoming bothersome. Despite knowing its importance, Auvray couldn't help but judge flashing red lights and whiny klaxons as being counterproductive. He stood still for a moment, simply observing the Engineering crew begin to move between stations with a sense of urgency.
His eyes tracked Martinez first, then the Marines, then the warp core beyond them.
"Of course," he said at last, as the remainder of the Marines piled in.
He set his cup down on the nearest available surface--which happened to be the exact station an Engineer was using to verify the matter/anti-matter flow. She threw him a look of consternation before carefully sliding it out of her way.
Auvray was already moving toward Eirly and Nash, adjusting his uniform with a slight tug. "I'm heading for the Bridge." He turned to face Winters directly, adding, "Commander, you will continue to treat this situation as you see fit. I have no desire to interfere with your work or your people."
Martinez watched Auvray move away from the office, their eyes following him for a moment longer than they might have if the instruction from Winters had not been so recent. There was no change in their expression, no step forward to stop him. Winters had spoken directly to him and had not told him to stay, and this was still Engineering, still his room to run. Martinez was not going to make a fuss unless it was called for. This was not their room.
Nash raised his arms in disbelief as Auvray just walked off…..during a lockdown. He called out to his friend, Eirly. “Commander Andersen….a word.”
Eirly nodded and came to stand in front of Nash, "Absolutely, what's wrong?" She eyed the concerned look on his face.
“May I suggest you follow Auvray out? We’re in the middle of a lockdown and I don’t need him getting injured or killed. I appreciate it,” Nash said.
Eirly's head tipped to the side slightly and she gave him a look, "Babysitting duty? Really? I was already going to make sure he doesn't get involved in anything he shouldn't, so you've got nothing to worry about there, Nash." She added in a reassuring tone, "If anything happens, I'll be sure to report it to you and the Captain, okay? Don't worry, I've got this."
Their attention shifted briefly to the cup left on the station, then to the Engineer who had moved it aside, the way she moved and the slight annoyance in her, and finally back to Marks by the Chief Engineer’s office. A small nod was enough to keep him where he was. The order still stood, even as the other Marines made their sweeps, moving with the quiet purpose of people who seemed focused on doors, access points and corners. They did not look especially interested in what was happening between the Fleet officers, but they were listening all the same. In case someone needed an escort.
Moving back towards the Warp Core and the heart of Main Engineering, Tmarek shook his head as he planted his three feet firmly on the deck, 'nothing in quadrant delta-twelve,' he declared in a voice surprisingly high-pitched for one with such a broad and deep chest. Slinging his rifle across his left shoulder, he shrugged, 'I guess delta-thirteen is next ...'
"Hey what are you doing?" Kash called out his question loud enough for everyone to hear as he directed his attention to a Vulcan officer whose screen just suddenly went blank.
Private Marks heard the alarm in the officer's voice, and rushed toward the sound, "Everything okay over here?" He asked, looking for what had set off the alarm from the Andorian.
A male Vulcan with dark hair attempted to walk away from his station. His walk was careful, measured, his face showing no expression, not acknowledging that the Andorian had just called out to him. Behind him he left a blank screen, now completely black.
Nash caught a glimpse of the unremarkable Vulcan retreating from a console and ran over to Private Marks. “Who the hell is that? Certainly not one of my people. Damn.”
The engineer quickly made his way to the station where the Vulcan was and tried to access the engineering database. He tapped controls and all he got in response was unfriendly error tones. There was another terminal directly adjacent and Nash was able to gain access there. “I can’t tell what he was looking for but I can definitely say that there are files missing. There are supposed to be firewalls in place to prevent this from happening, but whoever this is, had a workaround.”
“Nash to bridge. We have a problem. A Vulcan got into our computers down here and took some files. Don’t know enough at this point as to what or why.”
The Vulcan quickened his pace, attempting to disappear into the shuffle of engineers on the lower decks of engineering.
After notifying the bridge, Nash realized he had officers to help . He tapped his communicator. “Nash to Keel and Martinez. A non-descript Vulcan in Starfleet uniform is trying to hi-tail it out of engineering. Have to find him and hold for questioning. Assume he’s armed. Please be careful. Nash out”
Letting out a high-pitched blood-curdling cry Tmarek launched himself at the suddenly scattering the Engineers as he chased the Vulcan down with the peculiar canter of his species. The Vulcan was too far ahead, and slipped out of the main doors, beginning to pick up speed. Awkwardly rounding the corner, slapping his commbadge he grunted, 'Vulcan making his way towards the central turbolifts!'
Keel slapped his commbadge in reply, [Copy on Deck Eight - we'll round them up. Martinez, care to meet us at the turbolifts. Anyone got a read on the Vulcan - any bio-signs?]
~tbc~
Lt. Commander Eirly Andersen
Second Officer
USS Astrea
Lt. Commander Nash Winters
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Astrea
1st Lieutenant Ángel Martinez
Marine Officer
USS Astrea
Lt. Commander Ryan Keel (&Tmarek)
Chief of Diplomatic Intelligence
USS Astrea
Captain Philippe Auvray
Senior Starfleet Security Liaison
Starfleet Security
(NPC of JB Dorsainvil)
Ensign Kash th'Kaasniik (& Simon Marks, the Vulcan)
Operations Officer
USS Astrea
(NPC of Remy Johansen)
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