Commander Brady weaved is way through the rubble the best he could. He moved as quickly and efficiently as he could muster, but he also knew that had to be careful. If he and the team moved too quickly, they could cause the whole entire building to collapse completely quicker than it already was. Brady looked over his shoulder and watched Ensign Jablosnki crawl underneath a fallen beam just as he had done moments before. He was starting to sweat profusely and wiped his brow with his left arm. In that moment, he noticed more individuals approaching.

“What do you guys think you are doing?” Commander Brady called out to the two familiar figures. He couldn’t believe that both the Chief Science Officer and Chief Medical Officer were slowly approaching he and Jablonski’s location.

“We heard you guys were heading deeper in and we thought you could use some backup. Don’t tell me you aren’t happy to see us?” Lt Roders said with a smirk. Even in the midst of a serious moment, the Chief Medical Officer always finds a way to try and lighten the mood around him.

“Commander, I’m picking up readings suggesting that we are close to the reactor tunnel. Isn’t that where Taren worked?” Chief Science Officer, Commander Piya spoke up.

“Yes, I believe so,” Brady responded completely ignoring Lt Roders joke. “I think it’s this way.” He pointed to a collapsed hallway to their right.

“That seems to line up with the readings, Commander. I am also detecting a Borg bio-signature. I don’t have Taren’s bio information, but I doubt there are any other Borgs or ex-Borg around here,” Commander Piya stated matter of factly.

“Alright, Ensign come help me lift some of this rubble away carefully. Maybe we can slowly work our way into the tunnel,”

The team worked their way through the collapsed reactor access tunnel. Dust still hung in the air, and the glow of sparking consoles cast jagged shadows across the rubble. The tunnel ends at a collapsed bulkhead. Sparks jump from torn conduits hanging above. Just beyond the debris, Commander Brady catches a glimpse of movement. He squinted through the haze in the air caused by the dust and tried to clear some away with by waving his hand in the air in front of him. He was just barely able to see a figure slumped against a support beam, his pale skin streaked with blood, and the faint green glow of his remaining implants pulsing weakly in the shadows.

Commander Piya pulled at his tricorder and began scanning. “Life signs confirmed. Looks like we found him. It’s Taren. He’s alive but his vital are unstable.” He paused for a moment looking over data on his tricorder before speaking again. “I’m seeing signs of severe internal trauma and possible spinal damage.”

“We need to get over there. I need to check him quickly,” Lt Redrol spoke up with his equipment already in hand and ready to go.

“We’ll clear the way. Don’t worry! No is getting left behind today,” Commander Brady stated and then began clearing the path ahead of them as quickly as he could with Ensign Jablonski’s help. It took just a few minutes to clear a path big enough for them to work their ways through.

Lt Redrol led the way and knelt in front of Taren. “Neural Implants are damage, but they’re not reasserting control. That’s great news. He’s still himself. I can stabilize him here to prepare him for transport, but we need to get him to a proper sickbay as quickly as we can.”

Redrol worked as quickly as he could. He could tell Taren was just barely hanging in there and was hardly conscious. Taren watched him as he worked for a few minutes before he fell unconscious. “Alright, that’s the best I can do for now. Let’s get him out of here guys,” he looked to Commander Brady and Ensign Jablonski when he spoke.

Ensign Jablonski looked around him and spotted a metal covering with looked to have been some sort of top for a workstation. He walked over to it and touched it. It felt cool to the touch, and he offered a silent thanks up to whatever may be in higher power. “We can use this, Commander Brady.”

“Great thinking, Ensign.” Brady responded and helped Jablonski get Taren laid on top of the improvised stretcher. They worked together to lift him. “We will have to maneuver carefully through the tunnels. We do not want to cause any further injury.”

“Yes, Commander. Copy that.” Jablonski replied.

It took about 15 minutes for them to cautiously work their way back through the narrow corridors they had created. They exited the building and were greeted by various medical workers who helped get Taren over to a medical bed in the makeshift triage area. A ripple of relief spread through the awaiting crowd of colonists. Lt Redrol worked over Taren meticulously stabilizing him and ensuring that he would be stable enough for the spinal surgery that he would require.

Just as Redrol was starting to clean up, he noticed Taren’s eyes flutter open. He spoke with a weak voice. “I…..told them…..one more trip…..Had….to pull….them out. Didn’t……think the roof would….” he coughs and a flicker of pain crosses his face. “Did….did…..did they make it?” he manages to ask with a rasp of effort.

“They did,” Lt Redrol responded and placed a hand on Taren’s shoulder. “Because of you. You saved them, Taren.”

Taren gives a small, pained laugh. “Then…..then it was worth it.” He fell unconscious again and Lt Redrol couldn’t help but be in awe of the man. He was not looking forward to the intense surgery that lay ahead, but he would do whatever he had to do to ensure that this man lived.