Taking Its Toll

Posted on Thu Nov 27th, 2025 @ 8:54am by Captain Kagami Izumi & Lieutenant Commander (Soghla') Thorillo Son of Drej & Lieutenant William Neil & Lieutenant "Joliet" Jane Cooke & Lieutenant Maki Nishikino 'Bones' & Lieutenant Marina Kelea & Lieutenant (Sogh) Vep Ka of the Empire
Edited on on Thu Nov 27th, 2025 @ 8:54am

1,588 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Midnight
Location: Ops >> Main Galleria

The day felt slow, and Thor could have sworn the air itself had so much tension that he'd might suffocate under it. Those at their posts looked frustrated with their work he feared there could be some kind of outburst soon. Grethor knew he was close to it himself, but his Romulan heritage cooled his blood ever so slightly to keep it from the edge.

It was close to midday when the security post chirped.

"Cooke to Ops:" Came the voice of Frontier's new security chief. The young woman's voice sounded far too chipper to fit the mood, as if Jane were out of step with everyone else. "We've got a situation down here on the promenade:"

It hadn't even been enough time after the briefing to check if there was any progress on the scientific and medical investigation to warrant calling down, Thor sighed as he listened to the news.

"Whats going on?" Kagami asked as she stepped out of her office. "Whats the alert?"

"Sorry to disturb you, Captain:" Jane's voice responded. "But I might declare a riot here on the promenade soon: It started with businesses on the promenade refusing service to the Sonno, and things have spiraled from there."

Thor heard the announcement along with the Captain's reply on the Operations speakers. A riot already, and businesses not serving the Sonno, their guests. He approached Kagami. "Should I go or do you want to take this one, we both can go?" He asked, though something quickly occurred to him. "Any injures yet?" He inquired after jabbed his communicator on his left bicep.

Kagami let out a sigh. "Get yourself down there commander. I'll monitor here from Ops."

"What? I have heard Starfleet Captains like to be more hands on," Thor replied with a toothy grin and laughed as he headed to the turbolift.

Kagami shook her head. Usually she would be more of a 'hand on' type of commander, but this was not the time.

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Main Galleria
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Thor left the turbolift as it deposited him on Deck 10, he quickly made his way to where the computer had told him Lieutenant Cooke's location. A massive crowd had slowly been absorbing more Galleria patrons as the life continued onboard.

"Report Lieutenant?" Thor ordered as he passed through a line of Security officers and Defence Force warriors.

"Crowd is becoming increasingly hostile towards our guests." Jane reported. "They say they want them off the station."

"Did they say why Lieutenant?" Thor inquired of Cooke.

Suddenly, shouts rang out. "Get them off!"
"This all started when they arrived!"

People among the crowd began to start shoving each other around, it surprisingly didn't escalate further, Thor eyed them all, maybe they knew violence wouldn't solve anything.

Jane was surprised that things didn't escalate further. All riots typically started once the first shoves were given and snowballed from there.

"So, what are we thinking, Commander?" Jane asked, eyeing Thor. "Declaring a riot or not?"

Annoyed with how things seem to be going, especially with the lack of a reason from the crowd, Thor decided to go in. "Suppression stun if needed, Lieutenant," he ordered as he left Jane's side and entered the tense fray.

As fear rose in those closet to him, mostly due to his position and angry expression, slowly parted for him. "Why do you want them off the station?" The Executive Officer's voice boomed out in restrained frustration.

He recalled, one voiced the reasonable deduction that the Sonno are the cause, since it all started when they arrived. The how was the time-consuming part, and countermeasures still on the way kept Thor's anger in check. "See what happens when they leave!" Another shouted.

As his presence among them somewhat chilled the crowd out, Thor managed to turn around to see a fist slam into someone several people away from beside them. Sadly, it happened to be a Klingon warrior who gave into battle first that hit another, and it just rapidly spread across the crowd as all the sleepless energy found its release. Thor considered joining in, but it seems they were avoiding punching him.

He glanced over at Jane for her assessment of the protest now turned riot. Thankfully, the Sonno were out of harm's way for now.

"We have multiple Starfleet, KDF, and civilian injuries." Jane declared over her combadge. "We need to pull back and regroup!"

Phaser and disruptor fire began to rang out, on stun it appeared. Only a few, but it was enough as several people went down, and a few Security officers and Defence Force warriors sustaining stunning impacts to their limbs. Thor growled as he grabbed a Klingon's disruptor and clipped their face with the butt of the disruptor. "Have a nap, figuratively speaking," Thor growled and swiftly moved to the next armed offender. He wondered if any of the Starfleet Security officers would get involved.

The riot that followed was long, bloody, and arduous as Jane, Thor, and their respective forces worked to quell it. Not helping matters was that the fight drew more people in, making the job of Starfleet and the KDF even harder.

Long after the Sonno had been whisked away, and when the dust had settled, more than fifty rioters were in custody. Some were well enough to be placed in holding cells, while others had to be moved to sickbay and placed under guard.

As the last of the rioters were carted off, Jane took a moment to survey the mess that the Galleria had become in light of the riot, and the extensive cleanup that would have to ensue.

"Man, what the hell have I gotten myself into?" Jane muttered sadly.

Thor was breathing heavily as he came back to stand by Jane, a massive toothy grin on his expression. "My what a work-out. Lack of sleep did tire most of them of strength. Still bloody though." He rambled on about the battle, he was only defensive. All the Warriors were as they valued Frontier's purpose as a joint operation so they'd taken the brunt of the melee as Starfleet Security was better at stunning those with weapons. Another issue they'd have to investigate of how civilians got weapons.

But that was a future Thor problem. "You and your Security team did well, Lieutenant." He praised.

"Given the alleged lack of sleep they were working on, I'd say they did pretty well." Jane agreed. "They got our guests to safety and, with your warriors' assistance, got the riot under control. We've got the worst rabble rousers detained, even if some of the more seriously injured ones will be recovering under guard..."

"Very good," Thor kept his grin as he spoke. "I'd like you to place Defence Force and Starfleet Security officers along the Galleria and on all 4 levels, for the next few shifts. You have that authority as Chief, if you need extra I give it to you, Lieutenant as both Executive officer and the senior Defence Force officer here should you find any Warriors hesitant." He said, he did feel like he should stop by the Main Infirmary.

Battered and bruised, Thorillo was, luckily his secret can be kept by his bleeding a colour he shouldn't be. That is, if his body hadn't changed since the last time due to his mixed heritage. He eyed Jane, "the security presence will help deter any further conflict." He intoned that she probably already knew that but said it for anyone listening.

"Don't forget to, and I say this loosely considering the situation, get some 'rest' when you can." Thor chuckled heartily, his bruises protested as he grunted a few times.

"So, I've heard." Jane remarked as she brushed another speck of dust off her shoulder. "Though, I must ask for official investigative purposes: Is it really as bad as everyone says it is?"

Thor frowned as he nodded. "Yes, apparently in a range. I doubt anyone has had sleep." He confirmed.

"I see." Jane sighed. "Well, I'll make sure to keep your recommendation in mind. Hopefully we get to the bottom of this before somebody gets killed."

"Agreed," he had a feeling everyone was now more aware of the situation they all were in. A stray thought crossed his mind and his eyes went wide. "Can you die from no sleep," Thor's tone a little uneasy as he offered the not quite a question to anyone in particular.

“It’s a possibility in a round about way” Marina answered as she joined the others. “Lack of sleep can have all kinds of side effects from hallucinations, to headaches, mental illness, depression, irritability and anxiety, to mention just a few symptoms.”

Thor turned at the sound of the Counselor's voice. "Ah Lieutenant, hello." He greeted.

Marina offered a polite smile and nod of her head. “I thought I’d see if I could be of any help.”

"Well, you missed most of the action..." Jane commented before she realized she was staring at a new face she hadn't been introduced to yet. "I'm sorry, I don't think we've met yet: Jane Cooke, Chief of Security."

Jane decided now wasn't the time to include her nickname of "Joliet." That would come at a later point.

Posting by:

Captain Kagami Izumi
Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Commander (Soghla') Thorillo Son of Drej
Executive Officer

Lieutenant William Neil
Chief of Operations

Lieutenant "Joliet" Jane Cooke
Chief of Security

Lieutenant Maki Nishikino 'Bones'
Chief Medical Officer

Lieutenant Marina Kelea
Chief Counsellor

Lieutenant (Sogh) Vep Ka of the Empire
Imperial Intelligence Officer

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