Chapter Four--The KarTech

Bridge-1032

"Captain to the Bridge," Tom said calmly walking from Harry to in front of his chair.

Tuvok walked onto the Bridge from the ready-room that had once belonged to Captains Janeway and Chakotay.

"Report, Commander."

"They've found us again, the KarTech."

"How many ships?"

"Three, a scout, and two destroyers," Harry answered.

"Raise shields, Mr. Paris, evasive maneuvers. Tuvok to all hands, Battle Stations."

The Bridge shook causing Tom and Tuvok to loose their balance, but they both recovered quickly, used to the sensation.

"Disrupter blast, shields at ninety-seven percent and falling!" Harry shouted above the confusion.

"Mr. Ayala, return fire," Tuvok ordered calmly.

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Engineering-1034

B'Elanna used a railing to support herself after the ship shook again. "Alright! Kids, get out of here! You know the drill!"

The students turned and headed for the Mess Hall. They knew the drill all to well. Their job was to be the emergency medics. They all began to ran out but an explosion behind them stopped them. B'Elanna and two engineers lay unconscious on the floor.

"Stretchers! Let's go!" Carrie ordered. The others rushed over, getting strechteres from the wall compartments. They loaded the three engineers and got out of the other busy engineers' way.

"Computer, site to site transport!" Carrie yelled over the commotion.

"Transporters are down," the Computer calmly responded.

"Damn!"

"Carrie, what do we do?" Jessica asked.

"I'm thinking," she looked around for a moment, "Turbo lifts! One at a time. Right to the Mess Hall, set up once you get there. Ben and James, you two first. Jess, Cass, and Jared, you next. Eric and I will follow with my grandmother! Let's move!"

Jessica leaned to Carrie. "This is ludicrous," she whispered in her ear.

"Do you have a better idea?" Carrie asked.

Benjamin and James were gone in just a few seconds. Jess, Cass, and Jared followed with their 'patient'. Carrie and Eric waited a moment for the next Turbo Lift arrive. The tightened the elderly, far-from-frail, woman down. The put her upright and set her up in the Turbo Lift. "Deck two."

Carrie anxiously counted the decks. The Turbo Lift lurched between decks two and three. "You have got to be kidding me!" she yelled angrily at the computer.

Carrie then saw Eric lying on the floor, unconscious. "He must have hit his head," she said to herself. Carrie stood in the Turbo Lift, not knowing what to do. Pacing kept her calm, but alas, she had no room to pace.

Carrie looked up. An evil grin spread her face, with a crazy idea spreading her mind. Using the walls for support she got her feet onto the small crevasses in the walls. She opened the top of the Lift and climbed topside. She pried the door open to Deck Two. Carrie braced her legs above the Turbo Lift and grabbed the top of the stretcher her heaved her unconscious grandmother out.

After must effort and struggling, Carrie pushed the starched out onto the corridor floor of Deck Two. She jumped back into the Lift careful not ot land on her counsin. Carrie grabbed his hand and one handedly climbed out of the Turbo Lift and placed him next to his grandmother. Holding Eric over shoulders and the top end of the stretcher, Carrie slowly made her way to the Mess Hall. Jessica, Ben and James met her halfway.

"Carrie!" Ben and James shouted.

"Let us help." Jessica and Carrie took a shoulder of Eric and his feet dragged behind, while the twins got the stretcher.

"I really could have used you guys a couple of minutes ago, stuck between two decks with two unconscious bodies."

The Stevens' were shocked as they carried the two crewmen into the Mess Hall and set them up on cots, and assessed the condition of each of the many patients arriving.

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Bridge-1048

"Captain, the last KarTech vessel has been destroyed!" Harry shouted triumphantly.

"All stop, stand down Red Alert."

"Mr. Paris, begin damage assessment and repair assignments."

"Aye, Sir." Tom sat down and took a deep breath. Tuvok exited the Bridge to his Ready-Room, looking tired.

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Mess Hall-1048

The Doctor walked into the Mess Hall briskly. "Report." He looked around at the many bodies before him.

"A huge mess," Carrie replied as she scanned yet another new arrival.

"That is why it is the Mess Hall," the Doctor joked as he joined her.

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