[329904.20 ]
The shuttle settles down ten miles south of its destination. The side compartments blow open and 18 Rei`Krannsu spill out into the wet jungle foliage. five silently fan out from the cloaked shuttle to scout the area. A few minutes lapse and they return reporting no hostile contacts. Arrain tr`Raith gives orders for squad 3 to scout ahead and meet him and his squad on a ridge over looking the compound by 2100 the following evening. Ftr`Remi and two marines are left with the shuttle for eventual platoon EVAC. Squad 3, lead by Erien tr`Kuro, breaks off and disappears into the brush. Squad 1, Comprised of Raith, Elenhh, the helm officer, and five marines, follows shortly after.
tr' Parnus is with three marines walking towards the base. He has them activate their personal cloaks and he does the same.
tr' Parnus> We don't have to worry about being scanned. No the signature would be too small.
Parnus readies his disrupter. Along the way the team came upon the ruins of some former complex. After a short scan of the building it is determined that it has been occupied in the not so distant past. No equipment or materials of value are found and the team moves on towards the base.
[CO's Log: field activity 530 hours local time]
After a end of a grueling nights hiking my squad camped down in an opening for a morning`s break. My men and I have as yet not encountered any patrols or planet based dilemma. All in all its been a quiet venture so far. We should meet up with squad 3, on the eastern ridge, in about 8 hours.
Mental note: Inquire what Remi put into our ration stocks. Three men have lodged complaints about the food`s digestibility.
We break camp in twenty seuren-a and will continue on the original path.
[TAC Officer's Log]
Leaving the from the drop sight, tr`Kuro immediatly signals his crew to move out on orders to scout ahead. They start into the jungle, under cloak in a dispersed formation. As they hike through the thick wooded area, voices are scarcely percieved through the brush. tr`Kuro signals tr`Parnus and three marines to move ahead and a hold position about at sixty yards. Tr`Elq is motioned to provide cover fire with a unit of three as tr`Kuro pushes ahead with four marines to aleviate the situation. tr`Kuro`s unit advances into the brush as the snipers are put into position. The order is given for a quiet take down, thus the kaleh and side arms are made ready. They end up surrounding a small patrol taking a break in the brush. The close and utterly wipe out the unit, after a few short burst of fire, all friendly, and a few muttered obscenities. The patrol never saw their enemy, only a few flashes of metal and small plasma explosions. After a moment, they regroup, pushing forward into the wood. Kuro grins as he notes a member of his team has taken a war trophy; the rank, insignia of the officer in command. He gives Elq an approving nod for the decent shot he took through the foilage. They press forward, the body count entailing only a few small animals. Eventually, after a harsh hike through a gritty marsh they eventually come to a small clearing in the jungle, onto the windswept ridge. A swift emphatic gesture and they all crouch low, still under cloak. After a half mile hike over jagged stones, they find a small
trasnmitter hidden amongst the minerals. Kuro signals a marine to snatch it up and they pull into their final position. Peering over the ridge, Kuro smiles at the high ceramite walls. He points out the strategic points to his team, and takes up his weapon, awaiting the arrival of Raith.
tr`Raith`s squad slowly gets up, each individual checking their respective equipment, and re-nters the brush. tr`Elenhh and a marine take point, Raith following closely behind, the helmsman and three more marines bring up the rear. Aside from discovering what appears to be collateral damage from Kuro`s scouting party nothing particularly eventful accuser over the next nine hours.
[CO`s Log- 1330 hours local time]
We have arrived at the ridge and regrouped with squad three. Kuro made some note about running across a patrol earlier in the day, which I assume was what we had to walk through around 1100 hours. Aside from that little has happened on the surface.
The platoon is at rest presently- both teams being exhausted by the march. We will commence the assault on the Tal`Shiar complex during guard shift change, shortly after night fall. I too am tired from the trip and am going to catch whatever sleep I can in the next few hours.
[TAC Officer's Log]
Upon Raith`s arrival, my squad (squad 3) was designated to take shifts during the afternoon and keep watch, though little was expected to occur during their brief rest. My disruptor cried out to me during the night, but I knew soon enough it would be sated with the scorched corpses in the morn. I ordered my marines to get some rest and sat up with Elq, discussing the exact physics involved in the archaic Thudd gun he was wielding. I also pondered the strange thing I saw tr`Remi fabricating in main engineering, then hauling onto the shuttle. Daybreak came. We woke the men...
[CO's Log SD 239904.27]
It was cold.
".....Raith....."
Light began in through the darkness. I could feel myself being jostled.
".....Raith....."
"Yes Ku?" I knew who it was and what he was about to say.
Entr`Kuro> Its time rekkhai.
Atr`Raith> Aye...
Raith opens his eyes and sits up. His iris expand out and shift from their normal color of violet to a deep red umber. His vision, bringing in all the infrared radiation in the vicinity, is as sharp as it is in daylight. Raith gets up into a crouch and approaches his gathered troops.
Entr`Kuro> How long has it been since au slept?
Atr`Raith> Since before we left port. ::turns to tr`Elenhh:: what is the status of the Facility?
Entr`Elenhh> Little movement. A single patrol entered the complex through the main gates two hours ago. Nothing on their com signals indicates they notice anything out of the ordinary.
Atr`Raith> ::nods:: menkha. ::pans across the troops:: Its time then... Ku?
Entr`Kuro> ::nods:: Aye rekkhai. ::pulls out an ISD and sets it down in the center of the semi-circle formed by the Rei`Krannsu::
Atr`Raith> ::activates the device and begins pointing at sections of the compound:: Squad three will act as a diversion. Ku, au and your men are not just restricted to blasting the south end of the complex- au may advance inside if au feel the situation warrants it. ::turns to Elenhh:: Au and I will hop this ::points to the eastern wall :: wall and deactivate the base's com and security systems located ::points to a building in the northern end:: here. All other troops in squad one will wait here in reserve. Any questions? ::looks around the group::
Entr`Kuro> Will squad two be involved in this as well?
Atr`Raith> I assume they haven�t contacted us yet? ::Kuro shakes head:: hmm... then I assume they are still busy on the SSS craft. If they do arrive tell them to take up position with the reserves and enter the complex either on my command or yours should au sufficiently clear the complex. After tr`Elenhh and I release the prisoner the platoon is to converge on the center of the complex where tr`Remi will provide us with EVAC.
The assembled troops nod and get into their squads. Entr`Kuro, Etr`Parnus, Ftr`Elq, and their squad dart off into the brush under cloak. Raith and Elennh activate their shrouds and follow.
Atr`Raith> ::pulling his hood down over his face:: Anything else Erien?
Entr`Elenhh> Na rekkhai... except I am concerned that squad two hasn't contacted us as yet. ::pulls down his hood becoming almost completely invisible::
Atr`Raith> ::nods as he fades out:: Aye...
The two Rei`Krannsu quickly reach and scale the eastern wall of the complex. Elenhh proves invaluable as he disarms several primitive, though effective, detection devices. He and Raith keep to the wall and shortly reach their destination. Silently, Elenhh goes to work on cutting base communications, while Raith works on deactivating the automated security systems. The calm night air is split by the eruption of weapons fire along the southern gate and wall. Screams and green flashes of light fill the air as guards burst from their barracks. Amidst the guards, Elenhh and Raith slip into the complex unnoticed.
Atr`Raith> ::draws his Kaleh and deactivates his shroud. Sprints down the corridor::
Entr`Elennh> ::Following, also deactivates his shroud, and draws his pistol::
Atr`Raith> ::Rounds a corner and, in a fluid motion, impales a guard. Continues sprinting::
Entr`Elenhh> ::leaps over the falling guard:: (whispers) should be around the next corner at the end of the hall.
Atr`Raith> ::nods:: Aye... ::his eyes look like reptilian slits, trimmed with green now. He sees through the bulkhead at the end of the hall:: (w) four guards. two on the left, one on the right, one behind a desk in the back of the room.
Entr`Elenhh>:: nods not questioning:: (w) Aye.
The two marines round the corridor and burst into the cell block. Raith throws his sword through the officer at the desk and, still running, slams attacks the guard on the right. Elenhh rolls into the room firing hitting one guard in the shoulder. He rolls up into a crouch in front of the desk and lets loose with a volley. The uninjured guard keeps his head but is unable to hit anything before he is cut down. Elenhh stands, a cracking noise informing him that Raith is 'finished' with the other guard. They both walk calmly around opposing sides of the cell block control's desk, not even glancing at each other, and start working on the door codes.
Atr`Raith> ::hears a door hiss open::
Entr`Elenhh> Who the hell are au?
Atr`Raith> ::hears a scuffle going on behind him but decides to finish with his door::
The lock finally yields and the cell door swings open. A middle age Rihannsu female is sitting in the corner of the cell. She looks disheveled but otherwise unharmed.
Atr`Raith> ::recognizing her:: Erie`Riov Den t`Kethry? I have come to get au out of this place ::smiles and offers his hand::
Ervt`Kethry> I am retired marine... ::weak grin:: but hann`yyu.
Atr`Raith> ::unslings his rifle and hands it to her:: The complex is still unsecured- au may need this.
Ervt`Kethry> ::accepts the rifle and steps out of the cell:: Hann`yyu again..
Atr`Raith> ::walks over to the guard behind the desk and pulls his sword out of his chest. removes the officer's rank bars as well:: We must hurry... turns to tr`Elenhh and stops:: ...Nerik?
VEntr`Nerik> ::standing over a bruised tr`Elenhh:: Raith?
Nerik / Raith> What by the elements are you doing here?!!!
*=\/=*
[Earlier...]
The cell sickened him.
J'rik S'rued tr'Nerik lay on his cold and lifeless bed. A bed of hard duranium. Arrienye! It was even a makeshift hard duranium bed.
A estranged odor lingered around the cell. It was seemingly deathly.
He wondered about Fvillha t'Kazan and how she'd be living the adversarial political life and how tr'Danlek would be happily settled in a leisurely moderated command of some base or ship in the Galae. All his former Ra'Kholh officers somewhere doing something and him.
Alone.
*Plank plank plank*
Another Rihanha in some distant cell pounded at his wall with a spoon. Claustrophobia or pure insanity, tr'Nerik wasn't sure what it was.
He sighed and uttered aloud. "Be it this monotonous incarceration."
"You're so hard on yourself," a voice sprang out.
tr'Nerik stood up quickly and looked towards his cell door where a triangular space in the middle of it was protected by a forcefield.
"Make light of it all." A coy guard peered through the window space. He smiled wryly.
"Don't you have another Senate politician to stalk?" tr'Nerik shot back. "I'm sure that fvillhaih'deihu tr'Vohrkel still plots to be Emporer."
"I'm done with deihu-a, they're just old," he pelted.
"And your just too young to die."
The guard retorted with a growl and continued on his patrol.
tr'Nerik smiled and went back to his lying position. "I hate this place."
[Several Days Later...]
*WHAM*
tr'Nerik glanced down at his victim unsure whether it was warranted or not.
At least he got out.
He took the officer's disrupter and glanced up with a shock.
"Raith?"
It was Erein tr'Raith, or at least, use to be Erein.
"What by the elements are you doing here?!" They both shouted at each other.
"Never mind," tr'Raith said exasperated. "Au just disabled a Rihanha who saved your life."
tr'Nerik grumbled and helped the officer to his feet.
tr'Elenhh shot his arm away and took his disrupter back.
"Anyone else?" tr'Raith said.
"No," t'Kethry answered.
"Then let's go."
tr'Nerik, hardly absorbing his rescue... Rescue? He wondered, is this a rescue? Who are these people? Oh wait they're here to help. Obviously, he hammered on himself, I have been too long in incarceration. He began running along with the Rei'Krannsu blindly. At least they appeared to be Rei'Krannsu. tr'Nerik glanced towards tr'Raith.
The fellow officer he served with on the Ra'Kholh had changed. Aside from the peculiar eyes, he had succumbed to the keen and respective image of a commanding officer. Glancing at his rank isignia 'swooshes,' he smirked.
Hopefully the Rei'Krannsu were smart enough to setup a parapet in case the facility activates their ground-to-air disrupter gatling guns, tr'Nerik thought. But then again they are the Rei'Krannsu.
"So you're an Arrain?" tr'Nerik said ahead, huffing along.
"Don't be jealous," Raith blurted aloud.
Nerik rolled his eyes glancing around familiar corridors. {{When the bird drowns itself tr'Raith.}}
*=\/=*
[CO + CEO's supplemental logs]
Raith couldn't help but constantly glance over his shoulder as he moved through the complex. It had been over a year since he had seen Nerik on the Ra`Kholh. Things were different now- he wasn't even the same person he was then. As soon as He and his team returned to the Kalen he would inquire how his old superior ended up in such a place, but for now the mission was all that mattered.
Ftr`Remi, still waiting in the shuttle, makes final preparations for the eminent EVAC. The sound of gun fire had been a roar 10 seuren-a ago, but now from this distance was just a faint trickle. He glanced at his helm screen as a red beacon flashed. He immediately did a narrow
field scan.
Ftr`Remi> Federation huh!::growls with hate::+taps+Rekkhai, this is Remi.
Atr`Raith>+taps+ Report.
Ftr`Remi>+taps+scanners turned up a Federation shuttle entering the planets atmosphere. Should I pacify.
Atr`Raith>+taps+Negative. It�s squad two returning from the SS ship. Hail them with your coordinates. Orders are to stay at those coordinates until I call for extraction.
Ftr`Remi>+taps+ Aye rekkhai.
Atr`Raith>+taps+Raith out.
Ftr`Remi>::hails the shuttle:: Remi to Shaleya...
The group approached the end of the corridor, weapons discharges and explosions could be heard emanating from out in the court yard. Raith, taking point, crept silently over some bodies toward the exit. t`Kethry follows him close ready to lend cover fire. With no hostiles present the
group moves out of the complex, into the courtyard, and down along the shadowed eastern wall.
The base is in ruins, Dozens of bodies littered the area. Weapons fire still pulses out from the burning complex but its source is unknown. The group stomps half way along the wall and holds for EVAC.
Atr`Raith> +taps+ Raith to Remi
Ftr`Remi>*> +taps+ Ie rekkhai?
Atr`Raith> Prep for EVAC. Also what's the status of the platoon?
Ftr`Remi>*> ::pauses yelling orders over his shoulder:: ...Squad two finally showed up about an hour ago- Shaleya set his shuttle down over here and is awaiting orders. Ku hasn't called so I assume squad three is fine- but I'm not sure.
Atr`Raith> Acknowledged. Start your run now and tell tr`Shaleya to follow you in.
Ftr`Remi>*> Ie
Atr`Raith> ::turns back to the group:: The shuttle will be here in a few seuren-a.
ERvt`Ketry> ::nods:: Ie... can au explain to me what is happening ::pause:: and why?
Atr`Raith> ::nods:: Ie -but wait until we get back to my ship... I also have questions, especially for Nerik but I'm sure its all going to take some explaining.
Entr`Elenhh> ::looks irate that his intelligence reports make no mention of Nerik's presence at the base::
Ftr`Remi>+taps+ Rekkhai.
Atr`Raith>+taps+What?
Ftr`Remi>+taps+It's getting to be a party around here. I just picked up a Romulan shuttle entering the area as well.
Atr`Raith>+taps+Menka, will dispatch Ku for pacification.
Atr`Raith> +pc+ Raith to squad three
Entr`Kuro> +pc+ Aye? go ahead
Atr`Raith> status report Erien?
Entr`Kuro> 29 confirmed enemy kills sir. No squad losses.
Atr`Raith> Menkha. We have a new problem- That Romulan shuttle the federation dropped when we entered orbit is almost to the compound. Get over here but leave half your team on the western wall of the compound. Get ready for boarding action, I want to take the ship in tact.
Entr`Kuro> Acknowledged.
Ftr`Remi>::gives orders to the two other Rei`Kransu:: Secure the big boy! Place it on the mount next to the hatch. You will have to adjust it's positioning in-flight. Raith needs EVAC now. Be ready! These things tend to be a little messy.
Ftr`Remi moves into the cockpit and throws a few switches. After the little red glow plug goes out he throws the ignition switch.
ACTION> Engines roar and thrusters begin firing
Ftr`Remi>+taps+Remi to Shaleya.
Entr`Shaleya>+taps+Judging by the sound of your thrusters I suppose it's time to go.
Ftr`Remi>+taps+Aye, you take point in. I'll follow around after and EVAC the platoon.
Entr`Shaleya>+taps+Orders confirmed. Shaleya out.
ACTION> Bottom thrusters fire. Both shuttles lift straight up until they are above the jungle canopy. Once they are above all thrusters fire.
Ftr`Remi sees the sun starting to set out of the left window of the cockpit. He grins as he move the engines to full impulse and pilots the shuttle toward the compound.
Erien tr`Kuro and a few marines join Raith's group on the eastern wall. They all activate their shrouds (t`Kethry and Nerik are supplied with cloaking tarps as well) and await the SF Romulan shuttle's arrival.
*=\/=*
Tr'Elq puts down his Thudd and surveys compound--two towers crumpled. A wall severely carved into little pieces and nothing moving save a few shrouded marines and a wind scented with vaporized Tal'Shiar. With the removal of the prisoners and Arrain tr'Raith's team to EVAC, squad 3 moves into position to "greet" the Starfleet-occupied Romulan ship that will soon descend upon the compound.
Tr'Kuro and 4 Rei'Kransu take up position to the left of the landing pad as TR'Elq's team of 3 takes position to the far side and Tr'Parnus' takes position on the near side. All of them shrouding once in position.
ACTION> About 10 seuren later a small Romulan ship comes into view-moments later descending over the compound.
Tr'Elq grumbles and clenches his disruptor since their orders are only to dispose, char, what have you, of the crew but to leave the ship entact so that they can leave on it.
ACTION>The craft touches down and the shuttle doors open. Ten marines charge out of the ship--5 to the near side and 5 to the far. As they begin to spread out and take up positions to attack the compound several are cut down on tr'Elq's side by a combination of fire from tr'Kuro and .tr'Elq's respective teams. The marines attempt to make it back to the ship and regroup but Tr'Kuro's team have made this impossible by putting a path of heavy disruptor fire between them and the ship on either side. A howl is heard from tr'Kuro as a shot vaporizes another marine.
Tr'Elq's team cuts down the last two on his side as they try to make a break for the compound. One is vaporized by a Rei'Kransu as tr'Elq punches a hole through the torso of the last one with his disruptor and then pegs him once more just for kicks. All of them disposed of without reeturning fire or even realizing where the fire came from.
On the other side of the craft tr'Parnus and his team unload on the five remaining federation marine. Parnus takes down two himself firing through the knees of one and hitting another in the temple. The other three are able to scatter and move toward the openening that was the west wall of the compound trying to escape the fire from seemingly invisible sources. Two of the three are cut down while they run by members of tr'Parnus' and tr'Kuro's teams. The last one manages to get withing 10 meters of where the wall once stood and almost to the location of tr'Kuro's team befor, in a daring and potentialy risky lung, tr'Kuro pulls out his Kaleh and slash's the marine's head off while yelling in an old archaic language "Ite, maledicti ignem eternem!" AFterwards he kicks the body a few feet in the air and then puts away his Kaleh.
Certain there are no more Star fleet marines in the compound tr'Kuro takes off his shroud and motionsto the other teams to slowly converge on the ship while he does as well. Shrouded again they tr'Elq, and tr'Parnus enter the ship from opposite doors and slowly scan over it for anything living . After moving through it and finding no more marines they motion the rest of the squad onto the ship and take off their shrouds.
tr'Kuro> marvellous. farein tr'Elq any casulties on our side?
tr'Elq> no sir. all present and accounted for in my team.
tr'Parnus> as are mine rekkhai
tr' Kuro> good. its been a fun day but its time we got out of here. Strap in, its time we were under way.
tr'Elq> le, rekkhai. that was a sweet move with the kaleh back there.
tr'Kuro> menka, i saw your hole-puncher routine. nice job.
tr'Kuro, and tr'Elq move to the cockpit with tr'Parnus and continue talking about the events of the day as they depart from the planet.
[CO's Log SD239905.4 -- Tal`Shiar compound]
Raith, Den t`Kehtry, tr`Nerik, squad one, and squad two pile into Remi's shuttle. Raith orders tr`Kuro to go and Squad three lifts off in the stolen Romulan shuttle. Raith leaves Remi and Ruanek in the cockpit and goes into the hull.
Atr`Raith> ::Sees the two shuttle gunners struggling to lift something:: What are au two doing?
Rei`Krannsu1> ::grunts:: The chief said we had to aim this thing
Rei`Krannsu2> yeah ::struggles:: `said it was a Plasma torpedo launcher or something...:: his eyes go wide as Raith takes it from him::
Atr`Raith> ::walks to the starboard hatch and leans out:: Hann`yyu marines- I almost forgot about this. Lift off! ::shouts toward the cockpit::
As the shuttle leaves the ground Raith hangs out its side hatch, steadies himself with one hand, and takes aim with the other. The shuttle banks left and accelerates upward, all the while Raith keeps careful aim on his target. His finger tenses, a large green blast shoots away from the transport, and the stolen federation shuttle, left in the middle of the complex, is destroyed. Raith grins and closes the hatch. He tosses the weapon at the gaping marines and walks to the cockpit.
|