Pied Pipers

Posted on Mon Dec 8, 2025 @ 7:04pm by Lieutenant Commander Curtis Thibideaux & Lieutenant Annora Tessaro & Lieutenant Bronwyn P’ril & Lieutenant Carissa Holmes & Ensign Jallold Akioika

1,364 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Chicken Run
Location: Operations level, then various
Timeline: MD002

Curtis still wasn’t sure how this was all going to work. After consultation with Brother Boyle once again, he’d modified a clamp-amp to fit his saxophone that he theoretically would attract various animals (hopefully the types that were currently plaguing the station).

Modifying the tech hadn’t been all that hard. It was the frequencies that mattered, and Boyle insisted that natural instruments would be best. Curtis knew the man made a mean hot dog. And he’s been right about making mud out of kitchen stores…the piggies had been delighted with the chocolate mud they could roll themselves in and snack on after it dried.

He’d decided to gather the station’s musicians near ops and people were slowly filtering through the chaos that had the station in a swirl. Leaning against the nearest bulkhead to stay out of the way of the crew that was bustling about, trying to get a handle on things, Curtis snickered quietly to himself as he thought this was going to make a heck of a story.

Later. Once they’d most of the poop cleaned up.

He’d found otters in his quarters fifteen minutes ago and he’d decided to run the bath for them and sealed his quarters, penning them in. They were cute but he’d likely have to renovate… He also was curious on how Otters had shown up when they weren’t really part of a colony package.

At least that he’d ever heard of.

A piano wasn’t exactly portable, but a Melodica was. And of course P’ril had one of them handy. What pianist didn’t? Well, probably a lot of them, but they really should. They were easy to learn if one played the piano and they sounded sort of like a harmonica. So, she brought it with her to Operations, where she found Lieutenant Commander Thibideaux with a saxophone. And an amplifier. “Do you suppose a saxophone needs amplification?” she asked by way of greeting.

Carissa arrived bearing her own musical instruments. Pan pipes and a flute. "I don't know which of these will work the best but I do know that animals do love music." smiling brightly. She was wearing denim overalls and a long sleeved blue shirt. and comfortable boots.

Ensign Jallold Akioika had been off duty until the situation escalated and most the remaining security staff were called in to provide assistance. She was in the middle of a full promenade sweep, gathering information on the types and number of animals to send back to the control center and corral teams when a message came out from Commander Thibideaux requesting musicians to help herd the animals. After getting permission from the patrol desk, the Bajoran headed for Ops after a stopover to grab her tivara. Along the way she ran into Petty Officer Esramm, trumpet in hand. Before long, the two security personnel arrived at the designated rally point.

Looking over the assembled musicians, Curtis took stock, then smiled at P'ril. "I wasn't taking any chances, so I added one. I've found it's good for street performances. I worry more about the animals being critics."

To Carissa, Curtis said, "Try both and see which they respond to better? I also don't know if we should go out individually or not. My playing very well might start a stampede...or whatever they call a mass exodus of critters."

As the security officers arrived, Curtis nodded and said, "Anyone have experience with herding chickens. Or ducks. Goats? Possums? "

Carissa raised her hand, having tucked away her flute, and only held the panipes in her hands. "I do have experience, And you're gonna need a willow switch to help move the critters along. And any of these goats have leader bell on them?"

"We have plenty of animals on Nova Tarentum. Didn't have to do any large scale herding, but there was the occasional one that escaped their pen." Esramm wondered if they would get lucky enough to find a sheep dog that spawned amongst all the chaos. He thought back to the duck pond in the middle of the large park in Demike. He spent many a lazy afternoon gaining their trust with offerings of corn and grains.
"Could try bribing the animals with food, although with replicators down that's easier said then done."

"Food was my first thought," Curtis replied to Esramm. "But yes. Replicators are having their own special moments right now, so music and sound is where we're at. Looking to Carissa, he said, "Is the switch for the animals or..." He grinned, trying to add some levity to this whole mess.

It would be funny later.

"But we do need a trial run so let's work through something....anyone have a piece of music that might work here," Curtis asked as he got his reed clamped into the mouthpiece.

“Pied Piper,” replied P’ril. “We do not have a piccolo, but the flute could be substituted.”

Carissa gave out a laugh, "Oh the switch can have multiple uses." waggling her eyebrows up and down, giving him a wink. She sombered up

"There is a song about the Pied Piper written by a Crispin St. Peters. Its a lively tune and perhaps the animal would follow. Or the song played in the play of Pied Piper of Hamelyn." Carissa commented.

Curtis brought the music piece up in sheet music form, projecting into his HUD and he nodded, "I think that will serve as well as any other. Since Ops is also having special moments trying to handle the computers, I've set up a sub-routine that will link into your comm badges and use them to amplify the music, running the sonics through spectrum until we find something that will hopefully attract them. The amp I'm using will link in to my comm and contact. For anyone that needs sheet music I have a few pair of glasses that will project and alter the subroutine my contact is running for me."

He set a dozen pair of what had been fashion accessories that he had commandeered from a shop.

Grasping his sax, Curtis tested a few tentative notes, adjusting the mouth-piece slightly and running through fingerings before pronouncing, "Ok. I think I'm all set...anyone have questions, concerns or anything to add?"

Carissa ran through the piece herself, when she felt she was ready she looked at Curtis. "I'm ready. Lets get the animals confined where they can get cleaned up and sent on their way."

She then spoke to Curtis, "You will be the leader of this fine motley band."

Akioika looked at the musical score, running it through her head. As her instrument was similar to a clarinet, it wouldn't be too hard to match the intended tune. For his part, Esramm was going to have a bit more work. He did a few practice runs, just simulating the notes. If he played softly an in a lower range it should compliment the rest of the musicians.

"RIght," Curtis said with a last look around, "Off we go, lets give this a try together, then I want to slowly break down removing by half until we know what we'll need as far as groups go and then we'll experiment by animal types. Biggest thing is to see this will work or not." Smiling, he turned and said, "By twos. We don't need a formation march, but lets keep some sort of order. Forward...harch."

As the music swelled amongst the ranks of the Pied Pipers, Carissa kept playing but there was a definite smile in her eyes. This was fun and also she loved that the animals seemed to be responding as the group were joined by the animals seeming to be enchanted by the music.
END

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A Joint Post by:

Lieutenant Curtis Thibideaux
Strategic Operations Officer
DS 5

Lieutenant Carissa Holmes
Ambassador
DS 5

Ensign Jallold Akioika
Security Officer
DS5

Lieutenant Bronwyn P’ril
Chief Engineer
DS 5

Esramm ??
Written by Lieutenant Annora Tessaro (maybe??)
DS5

GM notes: Music that inspired.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsrPWrZCET0 )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUAwuuENP30

 

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