RO and Charge were sitting behind the control desk, getting out of the way from Jim. To many of the bridge it looked like they were being cowards but secretly there was something amiss with them sitting there. Even though it probably broke a lot of protocol according to RO, they were hatching a plan to get rid of Jim and take the bridge at the same time.
"So how are we going to do this?" Charge whispered as quietly as he could without being noticed.
"Well I thought you might come up with something!" RO hissed.
"Why me?!"
"Because you know this ship top to bottom. There must be some way of getting it moving again from up here." RO looked at the controls in front of them.
Charge went to say something but got about to look at the controls as well. RO didn't really know what he was doing so let Charge do most of the work, whilst he watched everyone else in case they did anything or came near them.
"Anything?" RO asked as Charge sat down.
"No. There isn't anything. We would have to get to main control where Nav is. That would mean moving." Charge sighed in defeat.
"What's going on over there?" Jim's voice cut off the conversation.
RO and Charge went silent. They slowly stood up from where they were sitting. The rest of the bridge were now scared of what would come next from Jim.
"We were just talking." Charge tried to say.
"About what?" Jim questioned further.
"Nothing much. Just the controls." RO lied.
Jim was still a little suspicious but decided to return his attention back to Kate instead. She waved them to sit back down again. Charge and RO slowly sat back down again trying not to show their real plan.
"So where's the CO then?" Jim asked.
"Why would you want to know? What good would that do?" Kate asked, trying to keep Jim talking.
"Because he has control over this ship. I need him to get to Navcom." Jim answered.
"He won't ever do that."
Jim smirked as he walked around the bridge a bit. Kate looked over at Nav. Nav was scared out of her wits and this didn't happen that often. She knew they were in serious trouble if Jim did finally get to Navcom. Something beeped on her station. Jim soon noticed and went over to her to find out what it is.
"What's that?" Jim pointed with the gun in his hand.
"I don't know." Nav turned to see what was going on with Jim still looking everywhere to make sure no one moved.
"Well?!" Jim commanded.
Nav soon saw the other ships moving away. Somehow someone had got to them and told them to leave whilst they could. She couldn't get them in trouble as well!
"Something down in engineering. I'm sure it's nothing." Nav stopped the button beeping.
Jim shrugged as he returned his attention to Kate. Nav quickly thought of something. A button next to her was only used in serious situations and nothing could be more serious than this! She pushed it luckily not making any noise.
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"What are you going to do? You won't get past Navcom." Kate's voice sounded in the sick bay announcer.
"Well done Nav!" Mike muttered under his breath with a smile.
"How?" Swaine muttered back.
"There's a switch on the bridge. It makes sure that anything said in the bridge comes down here." Mike pointed out.
Swaine and Bomber didn't know this. As Swaine usually stayed down in the sick bay he should really know but had never noticed this. Mike got up from his seat. Swaine was quite worried about this.
"Are you sure you should be getting up?" Swaine asked even though he knew what response he was going to get.
"Swaine please." Mike almost begged.
Bomber was also a little worried but decided to stick with Mike instead. Even though she didn't know what he was going to do.
"I need to get to my quarters." Mike mumbled.
"Sir." Bomber helped him.
"Swaine try to get a hold of Navcom." Mike ordered.
"Yes sir." Swaine quivered his voice.
Swaine watched and waited for Mike and Bomber to leave. He then got about calling Navcom hoping they had come up with a plan to get the Hammersley out of this.
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"Have you all got that?" Marshall asked.
"Yes sir." People said in unison.
"Good. Get to it." Marshall finished his conversation.
Maxine was still biting her fingers. She was a little bit less worried now that Marshall had a plan but was still worried whether it was going to work or not.
"They're going to do it Maxine. I know they can." Marshall reassured her.
"I know. It's just I hate waiting." Maxine sighed.
Marshall chuckled. Maxine rolled her eyes and walked back to her office just waiting for something to happen. She did have faith in the plan but there were so many things that could go wrong.
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Bomber had made her way with Mike back to the quarters. Mike was stumbling a lot. Maybe Swaine was right, maybe Mike should have stayed in sick bay for a bit longer. She didn't say anything however, as she would just get the rough side of the CO's tongue if she did.
Bomber helped Mike to his seat and stayed with him just in case anything went wrong.
"Thank you Bomber." Mike muttered, still sounding weak.
"No problem sir. Is there anything I can get you?" Bomber asked.
"My ship back?" Mike smirked.
Bomber put her hand on Mike's shoulder. She then left for either the sick bay or the bridge if she could get on it. She was always doubting herself but after everything they had been through so far, maybe she should have more faith in herself for future endeavours.
Mike looked up at his communicator. He then rang Maxine's number again hoping he would get through and not be cut off by Jim.
"Commander White please." Mike asked.
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Maxine nearly jumped out of her skin when the communicator in her office rang. She scrambled to pick it up. She then cooled herself down and picked up the receiver.
"Yes." Maxine said, calmed.
"Maxine, it's Mike." Mike's voice came through.
"Mike. Has the bridge been taken back?" Maxine asked hopefully.
"Not yet. We're looking for something to do but we haven't just yet." Mike sighed.
"Well we've got a plan and set it in motion. Hopefully it'll work." Maxine smirked as she rubbed her forehead with her hand.
"I'm sure it will." Mike chuckled.
"Look Mike…." Before Maxine could talk further the communication was cut off.
"Mike? Hello?" Maxine said worried.
Maxine slammed the receiver down. What could have happened now?! Marshall appeared at her office door. He could see how much stress she was under however, and turned back to his office to give her some space.
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Mike put his receiver back down as he realised the communication had been cut off. He then noticed someone at the door.
"What do you want Swaine?" Mike asked.
"How did you know it was me?" Swaine chuckled coming into Mike's quarters.
"Because you're the only one that will wait there for a whole communication."
"What did the commander say?"
"She has a plan. Didn't get to tell me what it was."
"Why not?"
"She was cut off. Someone's cut off our communications." Mike waved his hands at the receiver.
"Jim? Why would he do that?" Swaine almost cried.
"I don't know. Just to toy with us I suppose." Mike shrugged.
"So do we wait or do we do something now?" Swaine asked hoping someone would have an answer.
"I don't know Swaine." Mike sighed heavily.
Swaine sat down on Mike's bed. The two gents looked at each other. Neither of them would have an answer to those questions. They just hoped someone would answer their prayer.
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Bomber straightened her uniform as she joined the bridge again. Everyone stared at her as she came up the stairs. Jim didn't seem to mind as she joined Nav on her station.
"How's our CO?" Jim smirked.
"He's fine. No thanks to you." Bomber muttered.
"I heard that." Jim muttered back.
Nav tugged at Bomber's arm to make her sit down. Bomber admitted to some defeat and sat down. Kate smiled a little to have Bomber back. Even if Jim had taken over the bridge it was nice to see the crew still carrying on somewhat normal.
"So it looks like no one's coming to rescue you." Jim waved his arms around.
"Don't be so sure." Kate tried to keep spirits up.
"Why shouldn't I? Navcom has no idea you're in trouble and all of the ships are in quarantine." Jim smiled as he pointed out the window.
Kate looked around the bridge. The crew still had some hope but most of them looked like they had admitted defeat.
"Not for long!"