IC: *Dalmad was looking over the armory. WHen he heard Achates come in, he went over to him.* Dalmad: "You're the other new guy, yes? I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I'm Dalmad ra Imperianna." *he puts out his hand & Achates reaches over too shake it, only to pull back on feeling the icy coldness of the magical tattoo.* Dalmad: "Oh, sorry. I'm used to shaking hands w/ people who excpect that."
Chelsea stared at the others, incredulous that they would want to talk about a jailbreak with the ambassadorial drone nearby. "No," she said, feigning her emotions. "If C'aarth broke the local laws, then we're essentially bound to accepting his fate. Now, I don't like it any more than any of you, but he got himself into this mess. Now, I want to call a staff meeting. All crewmembers are to meet in the main conference room next to the bridge in twenty minutes." "Are we gonna talk about how to get him out?" asked Jarrel in a conspiratorial voice. "No," she replied. "We're gonna talk about where we're gonna take this ship next. Now, Zhavonn. I want everyone in the meeting room in twenty minutes. No questions asked. Just get them there. Understood?" "Yes, ma'am," he replied, confused as to her sudden change of demeanor. Twenty minutes later... Jarrel was the last member of the crew to walk into the conference room. Barging in, he shouted, "Captain, I must say that leaving him behind does NOT inspire confidence in your leadership abilities." Chelsea sat in her chair enjoying a cup of coffee from the replicator. Well, 'enjoying' wasn't the right word. 'Choking it down' seemed more appropriate. Setting the cup down, Chelsea looked at her security chief. "I have no intention of leaving him behind," she said. "I just wanted to make the Caians think that was my intention. I really wish that you guys hadn't started talking about a jailbreak. Now, they'll be expecting one." "Oh," said some of the less militarily inclined crew. "Nevertheless, we do need to get him out of there. Suggestions?" "Transporters," said Siene. "Not possible," chimed in Zhavonn. "The Caians have erected jamming and we can't pinpoint the source." "I still say we go in guns blazin'," said Hawke. "I appreciate the enthusiasm, Hawke," said Chelsea, "but that's not the best idea." "I say we go in during the night, small team, take out the guards, and get him out," said Jarrel. "Sounds like a plan, except we don't know where he is," said Krio. "In that case," said Chelsea. "I'll do the recon." "Why you?" asked Tyler. "Because it'd be more expected for the Captain to show up and console the prisoner. That and I can sneak a tricorder in and get some readings on the area. In the meantime, Zhavonn, is it possible to make a personal shield? Y'know, shrink down a regular shield to be used by a single person?" "It's possible," he said after a few minutes. "I'd need some time and some help." "Good. Jarrel, help him out. Make at least six of them. Oh, Zhavonn? can a tricorder be made to operate in silence?" "Yeah." "Excellent. Do that for me, will ya? I'd like to get in and scope the area out ASAP so we can get him out before he's executed." Nearing nightfall that day... Chelsea took the turbolift down to the surface, stepping out into chilly Caian night. To guard against the cold, she wore the leather jacket she had retrieved from the Meklor space station. Secreted inside the pocket was an open tricorder, scanning and committing to memory the surrounding area. Immediately greeting her was the First Archon. "Yes, Captain. What can I do for you this evening?" "I would like to visit the prisoner. Can that be arranged?" The First Archon smiled a bit, puzzling over the request. Finally he responded. "I suppose so. After all, you did assist us when that strange vessel attacked. Come with me." Chelsea followed along after the drone, flanked by two combat drones. Together, they walked out of the starport and into the city, the tricorder dutifully recording all information regarding the surroundings. When she returned a few hours later, it was with grim news. She called another meeting in the conference room. "Okay, how're the shields coming along?" she asked, taking out the tricorder. "We've got four and part of a fifth one ready," said Jarrel. "Good. Zhavonn, can you extract the data and have it form a map or a three dimensional picture of the prison?" "On it," he said, getting to work. "Okay, folks. Here's the bad news. We have no choice but to go in tonight. The First Archon informed me that the execution will take place tomorrow." "Why not wait until tomorrow?" asked Krio. "Because tomorrow there will be more guards. That leaves us four hours to prepare for the assault. Achaetes, looks like you've got an opportunity to use those war practices. You up for it?" The Trojan warrior simply smiled. "Also, anyone else who can use a weapon effectively can come with. I'm not gonna order anyone to tag along. I will, however, ask for volunteers. Zhavonn, you're staying. I need someone who can get this ship out of here if something goes wrong. "Now, who's coming along?"
IC: *Kraj & Dalmad raise their hands.* Kraj: "I'm in. I'm sick of sitting around & aching, I need a battle!" Dalmad: "Agreed. I figure it's time I make myself useful." *pauses* "Captain, may I make a suggestion?" Chelsea: "Sure". Dalmad: "The Jem'Hadar can become invisible, correct? Perhaps we should take him w/ us?"
Guys, he TROJAN, as in Trojan-man... IC: Faithful Achates once again began to pound each of the weapons into perfect fighting shape. He called upon the powers of Lord Vulcan to assist him in this task. In additon to repairing melee weapons, wise Achates forged many a: ensis(Trojan sword), lorica(Trojan armor), hasta(Trojan spear), galea(Trojan helm), clipeus(Trojan shield), and ocreae(Trojan greaves).
"I do have the abilities to shroud. I can also be shrouded with a weapon too." He turned to Achates "do you know how to make good metal?"
"Now, who's coming along?" Hawke's hand shot straight up, "Woohoo! Time to kill some aliens!" he loaded an imaginary rifle and began to 'blast' the occupants of the room. Before he was calmed down.
"So... We have two primary objectives. One is to get our insane doctor out of there and the other is to not lose anyone in the attempt." Chelsea nodded at that. "That is the idea." Krio continued. "Then it occurs to me that we need three teams. Two distractions and one extraction. Two distraction teams because the first goes in first and draws away most of the guards. Then the second goes in and draws the rest in a different direction. The extraction team should include our invisible friend... Seraph I think he was called should be on that and Tyler who has already expressed a will to be in on the extraction." Zhavonn interjected here. "How do you intend to get us out of there then? It's far easier to beam in than beam out." Krio wasn't sure how to answer that, but Siene interjected. "We could modify our combadges to send a stronger signal to lock onto. It would drain the battery faster and probably have them depleted after the beam out, but it would work. If we get one of those on C'aarth we can beam him out easilly." Rather than protest that his mortal enemy on this ship intervened in his plan Krio went with it. "Okay... That is the best. We need someone on the ship to keep an eye on us and our vitals. If anyone gets seriously injured or knocked out they should be beamed directly to sickbay. Other than that this plan should be flexible enough to adapt to circumstances. Just make sure the ship is ready to launch so we can get the hell off this moon before they realize what is going on." "Seems like a good idea. Alright let's give it a shot. Get to work everyone we have a job to do. Dismissed" Chelsea finished. The avalanched had started. It was too late for the pebbles to vote (Everyone seems to quote Kosh these days)
Santiago then walked into the room (he was sleeping) "As ship's marine, and due to my special forces training, I think I should be with Mr. Sorot."
It took half an hour before the mission briefing was ready as the military minds of the group had formulated their plan and presented it on the holochart. Jarrel was the one who did the discussion. "As you can see here, the installation is mostly underground with one major entrance, and the only one we know of. Upon entering the facility a jamming field will render our ranged weapons useless. So therefore we will use three teams. Team One, known as Alpha, will be the diverionsary squad. They will enter the facility, attack and divert the local guards into engaging them. Team two, known as Beta, will be the support team. They will be located outside the base and will provide covering fire for the other two teams as well as eliminate perimeter guards and forestall reinforcements. Team three will be the extraction team, known as Gamma. They will be cloaked, enter the base with team one and when Team One distracts the guards, and will proceed under cloak, to liberate C'aarth. Upon confirmation that C'aarth and Team three has been transported out, Alpha, then Beta will be likewise transported out using the modified combadges that Siene has developed," Jarrel said, nodding towards the Romulan. It was then that Haladan, forgotten once again, rose his hand. "And ahem, where will I be?" "Your with team three old timer," Jarrel dispassionately said. "We want you to cast that Meteo spell you talk about so much and provide cover for us to pull out once the extraction signal is given." "What about on the ship?" asked Zhavonn. Jarrel nodded. "There is a nearby garrison located just a few dozen meters from our vessel. Siene will be in the transporter room and Smith will coordinate communications between the teams and the transporter room. Barnes and Noble will be ready to fly the ship out while Zhavonn here will man weapons and shields. The shields will be down for several seconds to allow transportation in, so we will be vulnerable for a short time. R. Anders, Greyfrond, Robert and the others will take their duty stations on the ship, especially if we have to battle our way out of the system." "Well that's all nice, but who will be on the three teams?" asked Chelsea with finality. Jarrel illuminated the holochart showing the preliminary assignments and duties for everyone. Alpha Team- Diversionary Chelsea, Kraj, Dalmad, Keita, Tyler, Achates, Alexander, Gunney et al Beta Team- Support Alexander Santiago, James Hawke, Krio, Haladan et al Gamma Team- Extraction Sorot, Saraph et al
Before the groups set off, Tyler managed to find Danny in the ship's Holodeck, practicing his shooting. "I really don't like guns that much." The lancer said as he came up behind him. Danny looked up from his target. "Oh hey Tyler, what's up?" Tyler reached into his bag and pulled out a long knife. Or a short sword. The curved blade was so long, Danny wasn't sure which. The handle was wrapped in leather, and the crossguard and handle itself seemed to be made of bone, with a small round crystal in the pommel. After a second, he realized the blade itself was a piece of that monster that had nearly killed him way back on the station. "You had asked for one of these, right?" Tyler asked. "The work's still a little crude, but Achates is working on it too. Just wanted to let you know I didn't forget. Oh, and to ask you a question." "What?" "Well, Achates is apparently exceptionally good at his craft, and he might be able to imbue a little magic into this thing. Nothing minor, just a few of the spells I know. I personally suggest Slow or Haste, but I suppose Demi would be good too." But that'll take a while. You can use this as is right now, and we can decide on how to finish it later, okay?"
"All right," said Chelsea, taking a deep breath. "Everyone put your game faces on. We have a job to do, so let's do it right. Remember, Alpha and Beta Teams, your job is to draw away as many of the drones as possible. They will likely be trying to kill you, so watch your asses. Don't activate your shields if you have some natural cover, and remember, you better turn them off before the beamout, or you'll not be going anywhere. Alexander, keep an eye out for injuries. If someone goes down, I want you there ASAP. Santiago, wait until we've got a good group of them following us before coming in after to pull the others away." Santiago nodded in response. "Gamma Team, remember, you're extraction. Sorot, now's the time to prove yourself. Take your rifle with you. If there are any guards left, try to disable them. Lay down cover fire for the rest of the team. Kill only if necessary." She turned to look at everyone. "That goes for everybody. Killing may be necessary, but I'd like to avoid excessive bloodshed if possible. However, I think our blood's a bit more important than theirs, so defend yourselves with any necessary force. Don't be a hero, though. Heroes have that nasty habit of becoming martyrs in battle. Is everyone aware of their task?" Everyone nodded or affirmed. "Good," she said. "Load up, guys. We go in half an hour. Dismissed." As everyone filed out of the conference, Chelsea walked to her quarters and ordered the replicator to make her an outfit that was more 'break-and-enterish.' Gathering her axe and sword, Chelsea laid them out on the floor and sat cross-legged, placing her hands on her knees. Breathing deeply, she began a small chant designed to relax and focus her mind to the task at hand.
Krio checked his clips. All fully charged. The odd shaped phaser was riding on his hip and the knife was sharp as Jack O'Neills wit. It was a simple smash and grab. And Krio was part of the "smash" team. He was going to enjoy this.
Smith got positioned behind the commconsole, not allthathappy about not being on one of the strike teams. He told himself that on the next mission he would insist on being on a strike team, he could'nt let his gear gather dust in his quaters for all eternity. He opened a channel to all the teams and said: "Goodluck and godspeed and whatever, wish I were with you. Come back in one piece, you copy?" The others made short replies before checking their gear one last time. Everybody hoped this would go off without a hitch, but that would'nt happen acording to Smith's experience. Something allways goes wrong...
Saraph rose from his seat as soon as he was dismissed, but paused for a moment. "I would like to make it clear that until the end of this mission I will not be baby sitting these two," Saraph nodded to his prisoners. "I will retrieve C'aart and exit the facility, whether these two follow is not of my concern while we are away." Saraph turned without waiting for any form of an answer and walked to his room. Setting down his Warp Blade infront of him he closed his eyes and set his mind into a deep meditation, clearing his thoughts and storing his energy before they departed. As the captain ordered the teams to they transporter room, Saraph came back to concsousness, picked up his Warp Blade and settled it in its scarrab. Making his way silently to the transporter room, he ignored all the comments from the other, appearing not to hear them at all. As the group landed outside the perimeter of the complex, he showed his first sign of life for nearly 45 minutes, a simple red flare in his eyes. That small light seemed to make the ethrenal gases of his body glow.
Robert was a bit saddened to be left on the ship, but someone had the hold down the fort. He’d largely resigned himself not a largely non combat rule from now on as others had more experience in such matters. It wasn’t a bad position to be in though, not getting shot at that is. He still got to look after and over this rather neat piece of technology they called the Solitice. He nodded to Ander and Greyfrond as he arrived and took his position for the coming operation. Although for now he had basically nothing to do which made the tension and worry even worse. He saw that the Transporters where being activated and the teams where going in, “Here we go…” He muttered.
"Okay," said Chelsea to her team. "Lock and load folks, it's time. We do this nice and loud so we can draw the majority of their forces off." As the others loaded their weapons or charged them, Chelsea gripped her axe, examining the entrance from the team's cover. There were four guards outside the main entrance, likely soldier drones. Suddenly, she thought of a plan. "Gunney," she said, looking at the maniacal gnome, "light one of those powderkegs of yours." "Big boom time?" he asked excitedly. "Yep. Now light it and give it to me." After grabbing the explosive, she threw it at the feet of the four guards at the entrance. Before they could react, the smokepowder ignited, the resulting explosion blowing all four guards apart. "Showtime," said Tyler as the gnome giggled insanely. "GO!" shouted Chelsea as she got up to run, covering the distance to the entrance in no time and pressing the activation button on her personal shield generator, axe ready for battle. As the first drone emerged from the entrance, she swung her axe full force, catching it in the shoulder and cleaving it nearly in two. The battle was on, more drones headed their way. She only hoped she and her team could last long enough to be able to retreat and draw a good portion of the enemy away.
Chelsea battered away drone after drone, fighting her way inside the structure, her team not far behind her. She was thankful that she remembered to activate her shield as a pair of Caian soldiers fired their weapons, her shield absorbing the damage easily. "This way!" she shouted, purposefully leading her team down a tunnel, drawing a full fifteen Caian soldiers hot on their heels and leaving the remaining twelve Caians to be dealt with by Beta Team.
Saraph walk ran towards the door under the cover fire of the other two teams, the rest of his team following close behind. As they entered the facility they watched Alpha team head down a side corridor, taking a large group of soldiers with them. Now all they needed to do was find C'aart and free him.
Krio sat by. "They should have had enough time to commence the attack now. Let's just blast something." They popped up opening up with weapons managing to drop a drone with a lot of firepower tossed into the mix. "That should get their attention. Command request some data on where we can withdraw into. For this situation fighting withdrawal seems the best tactic." He was hoping intensly that the romulan wouldn't be the one to answer that call.
Tyler, Kraj, and Achates ran down a corridor, chased by several bio-plasma and electrical bolts. "Have I... *huff* ...told you... *puff* ...how much I hate... *huff* ...confined spaces?" Tyler said as they turned a corner. "Yes!" Kraj said, blindly firing a staff burst behind him as they ran into a large room. Achates closed the heavy stone door behind them. "Now this is more like it!" Tyler said, looking around at the vaulted ceiling. The entire room was covered in some kind of vine-like plant, small furry creatures playing amongst the foliage under the light of a sunroof. "Some of Greyfrond's friends?" Kraj asked, noticing that a few vines were starting to creep in their direction. "This is not good." Achates added. "Look out!" Tyler cried as a pair of very large four-armed drones dropped from the foliage above. He leapt up to meet them, spearing one of them in the side with his lance. The drone seemed not to notice too much, punching the lancer to the ground with one arm. Tyler hit the floor, almost immediately teleporting back a few feet and into a standing position as the drone tried to stomp him flat. He stabbed it again, "Revenge with dark-evil spell!..." dodging a near point-blank plasma bolt, and throwing his arm out. "...Demi!" The drone roared in pain as a dark cloud of energy seemed to compress space in on its's body. It's limbs suddenly feeling twice as heavy. Meanwhile, Kraj grappled with the other drone, slowly losing out to it's greater strength. Achates stabbed at it with his spear, with the same amount of sucess as Tyler's lance.
Still watching the various read outs and having tapped into sensors Robert saw that the others had best hurry the fleet that had beat down Bast was turning and heading back at flank speed…
Rock on! Thanks! Yeah, I'll be thinking about what kind of magic to put on it while you guys are out. I'd help, but I can't hack biotech...
*Dalmad ran in after them & assesed the situation, smiled, leapt onto the back of the drone struggling w/ Kraj & pressed his right hand on it. The drone gave a jerk, & then collapsed, stone dead. He then turned to the other drone, which was rather disoriented by his new feeling of weight & it's comapnion's sudden collapse, & did the same thing. Kraj stared at him.* Kraj: "Issus! What did you do!" *Dalmad smirked & held up his right hand, displaying the skull tattoo.* Dalmad: "I took their souls. They were too distracted to resist, but I don't think I'll be that lucky again." *the others continued to stare at him.* Dalmad: "What?"
Tired Achates rested on his spear as the other warriors took a rest. He suddenly looked up at the foliage. "By Jove! There are more enemies in this chamber! To arms!" Drones reappeared in larger numbers and vines rushed at the small group. Steel flashed and cut the vines but more and more were twisting and lashing onto spears and limbs. Bold Achates twirled his battle spear and slashed apart a dense piece of foliage, he then threw it with all his force at a Drone; the spear, having been forged by Vulcan the God Smith, plunged deep into the mechanical sentinel.
The thunders got more muted. Gamma team was getting farther into the complex. Seraph noted that the other being with him the "Jem'Hadar" was fighting his urges to go on a rampage. The restraint he managed was admirable. There was a lone drone watching the corridor. Seraph moved silent as a light breeze towards it and struck! The shield stopped the blood from splattering on him, but cut deeply into the drone disarming it (literally) in one strike. The follow up one did even more damage. And the third slash in the general area finished it off. One SHOULD have killed it outright. These drones were tougher than they looked. The duo continued on. *Farther out* "Damn it! We are pinned down here! We can't hold them much longer! Hawke is down! We need beamout now or you might as well not bother!" Krio was yelling over the com at the unfortunate com manager. "The transporter has a hard time locking onto you. We'll need a few more minutes." If it's the romulan manning it just shoot her and press the button. She's doing it deliberatly! Santiago was laying down a covering fire while Krio talked. Krio just took his hand away from his headset, grabbed his rifle and resumed shooting. Haladan had been convinced to throw fireballs, but even so it didn't seem like it was enough. Figures they would have ended up right outside the guard barracks.... *Inside again* C'aarth looked up. Something was in the cell with him. Something scittered at his legs. "Take this." a disembodied voice. C'aarth picked it up. It was a combadge. That was when he felt the tingling sensation of a transporter. There was two other lights aswell as the two rescuers was beamed out as well. *Outside again* Beta team had managed to get loose and were doing a fighting retreat. They had managed to beam Hawke out and they were just waiting for the signal that the rescue was successful. They weren't doing to well. Krio got a little too close to the edge and a light drone got the drop on him. "OOF! AH!!" The noise alerted his compatriots and Santiago turned filling the drone with lead. Dripping blood down on Krio. That wasn't too bad until it got on the bleeding wound the drone drop had given him. "AH!!! It burns!! It burns!!" The poison only needed skin contact, but in hte blood it acted a lot faster, he scrambled to his legs, only to collapse the moment he stood up. He was then enveloped in a blue light along with his compatriots. The raid was over and they were getting pulled out. casualities (Injuries, not deaths) were heavy. Engines blared up and the ship lifted from the surface this time under sporadic, but increasing fire from the surface. The ship had barely cleared atmosphere when it went to warp in a random direction. Caian bioships didn't follow for whatever reason.
