There's supposed to be an earth-shattering kaboom (part 1)

Posted on Mon Jul 23rd, 2012 @ 11:26am by Lieutenant JG Ronnie Wolfe & Master Chief Petty Officer Apu Barnum & 1st Lieutenant Kara Melo & Major Leroy Mangalia & Lieutenant Cassandra Levue & Captain Cameron Bourne & Petty Officer 1st Class Samuel "Doc" Renfroe EMT-P & Ensign Daniel Daniels & Ensign Stran & Ensign Robert Tyler

1,190 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Subjugation
Location: In the Mines

ON

Ronnie saw the first checkpoint ahead. There were only three tents and a small courtyard between her position and the first gate into the mines. Beyond that she could see the large open area leading to the guard tower. And far too many guards for her liking.

She sighed and turned back to look for Damion and the group. IF Sam said there would be a signal, then there would be a signal. She just wished she'd know it when she saw it.

Daniels, and Stran, were watching the guards, carefully. "Twenty six." Daniels said, in a somewhat questioning tone.

"Thirty." Stran corrected.

"Thirty seven." The soft voice of the Klingon child whispering corrected Stran. "You missed the obvious extrapolation of guard pattern, that places guards on a roughly square patrol pattern."

Stran raised an eyebrow. "Do you play chess?" Stran asked.

The child looked at him, like he was crazy.

"A pity. You would do well." He said, in as close to an apology as a child was likely to get from him.

"Stran!" Cassandra said, in a non-approving tone. "You just got out-logic-ed by a seven year old child. Has this place affected you this much?"

"Quiet." Robert noted, sharply. "That's enough bickering. We need a plan, for when this signal happens. I'm rather hoping for something sufficient to give us the opportunity to face no more than a fourth of them, on our terms."

"Perhaps-" Stran asked.

"That'd never work." Cassandra said, shaking her head.

"Quit it with the telepathy." Jillilah said, watching the guards, carefully. "It's creepy. Also, Thirty eight."

"What?" Stran asked.

"You missed the one, on the guard tower, I think, little one." Jillilah added.

"Nuh-uh!" Korr'ha said, defiantly. "I counted him. You are counting one of the patrols twice, because it cuts diagonally through the complex, and appears to be two patrols, alternating like the others, but it's really the same one."

"How did you-" Stran asked, curious.

"She's good at watching people. It's how we survived. Quiet." Daniels said.

Kara shook her head. She had no words to express what she thought of the group ahead of her. They were competent, definitely, but they were also amusing. As long as she stayed behind them, she could chuckle at their antics without being noticed. She could also keep her eye on the rear.

"So, what do you think is this signal we're waiting for?" Cassandra asked.

"No doubt, we will know it, at once." Stran said, shaking his head. "No need for pointless speculation."

Cameron was at the rear of the group, with Kara and a couple of other Marines. "I thought these guys had a plan" he said to himself, looking up at the leading officers

Pointy-Eared Stran turned to Cameron. "We did." He stated. "Get past the guards, once a diversion is crafted for our purposes. This, however, is a rather unrefined plan, and we are attempting to refine it. Perhaps you could better use your time, to assist us in strategy, instead of making crude remarks?"

Quickly walking forward, Cameron stopped behind Stran, "well if we come up with anything. It better be fast. The guards change shifts soon and there's a 15 minute timeframe where both shifts overlap. So that means the 36 or so guards are about to double to just over 70."

That was not good news. "So, we wait for this signal and pray it comes before the guards double, find us and turn us into chunky salsa," Kara said, shaking her head. That was cutting it a little close.

Suddenly there was the deep boom of an underground explosion. The ground shook and debris fell from the ceiling. Moments later it was followed by a concussive blast. Debris fell from the ceiling and a secondary shaking signaled a cave in deeper in the mine. Several people screamed. More shouts were heard as debris rained down onto the rioting men in the inner sectors.

Kara picked herself up off the ground and looked at Cameron. "I think that was our signal."

The power flickered twice then failed. The only light came from the fires deeper in the mine, the burning tents and an eerie green glow from the tower. No one spoke or moved as they waited to see what would happen next.

Cameron stood up, dusting himself off, "alright, let's get going. If we ever had a chance, it's now"

"Logical." Stran said. "Simple pattern. Shoot, kill, repeat."

"I like simple plans. What could possibly go wrong with this one?" Jill asked, sharply.

"Quiet, dear. The men are going killing. Go make a pie, or something." Daniels said, in just the same tone of voice, for which he was appropriately smacked upside the back of the head, by Cassandra.

"Thank you." Jill said, nodding to Cassandra.

"Anytime. Let's go." Cassandra said, nodding.

And the group surged forward, weapons firing, rocks being thrown, and, at one point, a shoe.

"Really, Jill, you could just ask for a gun." Daniels said, noting the flying sandal, with distaste.

"I don't criticize your marksmanship. Focus." Jill retorted.

Kara picked up her disruptor and checked to make sure it still worked properly. "Can't let security have all the fun." She could hear the distinctive sounds of people coming their way from the mines. "Before we get overrun."

Without power, the electronic lock on the gate was easy to open. A shot with the blaster at close range and it opened without a hitch. "Okay, everybody stay close," she said to the remaining group.

Cameron stood at the gate until the entire group had gotten through, giving a nod to Kara as she passed. As soon as the last person had passed, He quickly followed, this is a longshot at best he thought to himself, keeping a distance of at least two metres behind the group

Kara wished she had her UV goggles. It would make this so much easier. But barring that, she could find the tower by the weird green glow. The guards began to shout to each other. With her weapon on stun, she began to pick them off. The shouting and chaos made it far too easy.

She had no doubt Jil and Kyt would be taking out more. What concerned her most right now was the mass of people now rushing in their direction. "Cam, can you shut the gate to keep them out?" Too bad she didn't think of that before she blasted it.

Quickly turning around, Cameron hurried back to the gate, dragging it shut. Pulling out an old Klingon disruptor, he melted the gate closed just as several prisoners came within arms length. "too close" he said, heading back to the group

"That gives us a few minutes," Kara said. "Let's make the most of them."

(To be continued...)

Lieutenant JG Ronnie Lancaster
Assistant Chief Science Officer

Lieutenant JG Daniel Daniels
Assistant Chief Security/Tactical Officer

Ensign Stran
Security Officer

Jill and Kyt
Daniel's family

Ensign Robert Tyler
Security Investigations

Lieutenant Cassandra Levue
Chief Security/Tactical Officer

Staff Sergeant Kara Melo
Platoon Leader

Master Sergeant Cameron Bourne
Platoon Leader

 

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