Saratoga Corridors
2:00 PM
The corridors surged with crewmembers. Everywhere there was shouting and barked orders.
"Leave everything! Get to your assigned evacuation area, now!"
"Move it!"
L'Naym led her group through the corridors. She held her son tightly while constantly noting the others.
Mrs. Tompkins, Jamar, Dominique, Trisha, Anna, Robert.
"Come, on Robert," she heard Anna saying.
At seventeen Anna Mayberry had an unquenchable curiosity and was a tireless inventor. She'd grown up
on the Saratoga and was known as 'Ms. De Vinci' for her constant designs and inventions. It was perhaps
to be expected that she'd form a friendship with little 'Michelangelo' Robert.
"Where's my mom?" he asked anxiously, eyes wide with fear.
"She'll meet us at the Waverider," Anna reassured him.
Get everyone to the Waverider.
That was L'Naym's goal and focus.
Her brows knit in concentration. Mrs. Tompkins and the others were civilians. As a Crewman she was
the 'ranking officer' as it were. This group was her responsibility. Getting them to safety her task.
Purpose and focus.
Those were two traits vital to an officer, a Chieftain or any sort of leader.
She had never had any desire to be a leader.
But right now she was.
"A Chieftain is responsible for everyone in his or her group. He not only protects them, he guides them.
Through burning heat, endless sands and desert storms."
"A Terahan always protects its herd."
This was her herd and she had to get them to safety. This was her caravan and she had to lead them
through the sandstorm.
Reach inside and find your strength.
By nature she was gentle and sweet-natured, but no one who knew her would think her weak.
Her strength was there. It had always been there.
It had been there during her Soul Walk on Nlia. When she had taken the arduous rite of passage that every Nlian
had to endure before becoming an Adult: A month in the desert with nothing but her trusted mount and what she
could carry on back. Traveling for miles alone on the caravan routes, relying on basic survival skills. A Walker,
not to be spoken to, looked at, or acknowledged in any way. One who had to walk alone and find their strength
within.
It had been there six years ago when she had saved Trisha.
It had been there five years ago when she had defied Dr. McCoy when both Jim and her lifemate were missing.
When both she and her lifemate had defied Jim when he'd ordered them to flee and leave him behind.
When the Saratoga had suffered through an epidemic. When she had nearly died saving the newly hatched
T'leek, allowing it for feed off of her until help arrived. Keeping it alive during the critical first few hours after
hatching when it had to attach itself to a parent and feed…or die.
It had been there three years ago when the Saratoga had been hit with particle fragments.
And it had been there two years ago when she and her beloved had endured their first separation during the Delphis Net
and the Tholian Engagement.
It had been there for each of those times and it was there now.
"Get to the hangar deck!"
"Clear these decks now!"
Purpose and focus.
Set a goal and focus on it.
Reach inside and find your strength.
She would.