Children's Crusade

 Episode Name:  LoaM- Children's Crusade

   Written By:  Fortunae/Idrani

         Cast:  Blair, Dakin, Foster, Havaris, Idrani, Medes, Park, Poole, 

                Tibbs and Turtledove.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Idrani

     Aired On:  Mon Sep 30 02:50:52 2002

     Stardate:  52670.2

Time: Sun Sep 29 21:07:33 2002

Stardate: 52669.6

It has been three days since the forced evacuation from the fortified command bunker and the flight through the jungle. Sleep has been scarce, but fortunately the water has not. Your ADF counterparts are quite adept in the jungle environment, despite the heat. A race of warriors and survivors, they emit a sense of grim fortitude. There has been no flaring of tempers or drawn weapons, despite the feeling of frustration and grief among all those in the meager camp. The Starfleet officers have been working alongside their ADF counterparts, sharing in the duties of survival. Lt. Park has been busy non-stop, tending to the wounded. By now, those that can be saved have stabilized. Those that have not, have already died. An enlisted coreman has been able to provide some assistance to the counselor-turned-field surgeon, but lacking the stasis fields and other critical medical equipment, there have been additional losses.

Lt Poole, after some initial verbal sparring, has been collaberating with the ranking ADF officer, Chakev (or Lt. jg) Kaleth, from the ADF ground forces. Chakev Kaleth has come to respect his human counterpart's knowledge of Dominion tactics and with the help of Ensign Medes and Blair, working with ADF communications technicians, have made some progress in communicating this data to some of the other pockets of resistance, elsewhere on the planet. Ensign Idrani has alternately been working with Lt. Poole, helping to smooth over some of the cultural pitfalls that might arise, and assisting with sentry duty. As has Ensign Turtledove, whom we will pick up with. She and her ADF partner, Chak (Ensign) Endilev, are out on perimeter patrol. It is early evening. The weather is hot and humid, as it has consistantly been. There is moisture on the ground due to a heavy but brief afternoon rain.

The patrol circuit leads you down toward the river, your vitally important fresh water supply. You have learned from experience that it is also frequented by large predatory beasts. Turtledove and her partner are following a path worn through the brush, made by herbivores on their way to the water source. You begin checking the area for predators, both the kind that live in this area, and the new arrivals from the Gamma Quadrant.

<CONTEST> Turtledove contests her Planetside Survival (Jungle) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

Turtledove heads down toward the river with Chak Endilev. She steps lightly along the path, her eyes and ears alert, knowing that the ares is often frequented by large predatory beasts. As they come to the river bank, her eyes are drawn to a nearby section of soft mud. She heads over to check them out, signally wordlessly to Endilev.

Turtledove examines the area briefly, then her eyes go up... surveying the horizon.

Turtledove hits her comm. "Turtldove to Poole."

<direct to Poole> <:)

Answering over the com channel, Poole asks, "Poole here. I'm listening."

Chak Endilev peers at the mud, quickly seeing what Ensign Turtledove has found.

Turtledove continues to scan the horizon and immediate area while she speaks. "Sir. Endilev and I have come across some boot prints by the river. They've been obscured by the rain, and I can't tell how many there are." She examines the prints more closely. "Whoever made them had big feet, sir. "

"Any other information you can pull from those boot prints, Ensign?... Direction?" Poole asks, her voice tensing a bit.

<CONTEST> Turtledove contests her Medical Sciences (Forensics) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

Above the tree line, a flock of water-dwelling birds take flight. You cannot see exactly where they were, but it is somewhere upstream.

Turtledove's eyebrows knit thoughtfully as she studies the prints. "My best guess is that they were... following the water upstream..." Her eyes flicker upwards suddenly, as a flock of water-dwelling birds take flight above the tree line. Somewhere upstream. She glances at Endilev. Her voice drops in volume. "Sir, there is some activity in the general upstream area at the moment. I'm going to check it out." She watches Endilev for his response.

Endilev's antennae twitch as he notices the flock of birds take flight. He suggests quietly, "We could try scanning for power signatures."

"Be /careful/, ensign.... If this is a Dominion force, you'll be outnumbered. It could be an ambush, or, if we play our cards right, an opportunity to ambush /them/," Poole keeps her voice soft, but her tone carries the heavy hand of authority.

Turtledove's mouth quirks up into a half-grin at Endilev's suggestion. Into her com, she says, "Sir, we're going to scan for power signatures first."

GAME: Turtledove spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Turtledove (claiming advantage) contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!

Turtledove takes out her tricorder and does a sweep. Her left eyebrow twitches upward slightly. Into her comm, she says, "Sir, I'm picking up energy signatures of poloron weapons and... some kind of phaser... not Federation." Her mouth quirks downward in disappointment. "But, I can't tell how many of them or how far away they are."

Endilev quirks an eyebrow, looking over Turtledove's shoulder at her tricorder. "Cardassian phasers?" he wonders aloud.

Turtledove's eyebrows knit. "I'm not sure." She glances at Endilev. "The Dominion uses poloron weapons... why do you ask?"

Endilev says, "My first posting was convoy duty, along the Cardassian DMZ. We had skirmishes with the occasional Spoon-head pirate. They like to take prisoners... or slaves... so they use a type of phaser, with a stun setting."

Not very politically-correct, these ADF officers.

"So the Jemmies have probably brought their friends over to play," Poole says over the com. "Turtledove, I want you to sit tight... I'm bringing down a team. I think this might be an opportunity for us to bloody a nose."

Turtledove's eyebrows both go up at Endilev's statements. "Interesting." Into her comm, she says, "Yes sir. See you soon."

Lt. Poole pulls Ensigns Blair, Medes and Idrani from their various duties to confer with Chakev Kaleth and his aide. Lt. Park cannot leave the "hospital" area as one of the wounded Andorians has developed an infection and has taken a turn for the worse. We pick up at the camp, in a niche of the cave that has been dubbed "the war room". There is a detailed map of the riverbed area, with the position of the away team clearly marked.

Turtledove stays crouched, waiting, watching the upstream area with her eyes, in spite of the tricorder in her hand.

Poole is looking over the map of the riverbed area, talking with Chakev Kaleth. "If that's a joint Jem'Hadar/Cardassian force, this signals a new low... they're no longer just using their shock troops."

Blair frowns slightly, scratching the back of his neck. "D'you think Fimdari's important enough for them to be adding the extra manpower?"

Idrani speaks up, "If they are sending Cardassians, sir, that means they want prisoners. Jem'Hadar weapons have two settings. Kill and Off."

Poole nods in agreement with Idrani. "Which means, we should take this opportunity and strike at them... We could lure them into an ambush... /I'll/ lure them into an ambush, if we need a runner." She looks to her other officers, "In particular, I'd like to lay a nice little trap for them... something explosive."

Chakev Kaleth, a huge man even for his species, regards the map thoughtfully. "If the Dominion force is following the riverbed upstream, there are some high bluffs about three kilometers upstream. We may be able to catch them in a crossfire from the higher position."

Poole smiles as her enthusiasm builds. Nodding to Kaleth, she asks, "How easy would it be to mask our presence on those bluffs, Chakev?"

GAME: Poole spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Planetary Tactics (Small Unit) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

The giant of an Andorian scratches his chin thoughtfully. "It would be a matter of speed and timing, Lieutenant. We would have to move quickly, with two teams on either side of the river, and be in position by the time the Dominion reach it. That is, if they continue following the river." He pauses. "If possible, I would like to take a prisoner from among the Cardassians. I would like to find out what they are up to."

"That's possible, Chakev. I'd like to personally lead that Dominion force to you," Poole says to her her ADF counterpart, expression growing a bit more solemn. Then she asks, "Do you wish to go through with this plan then?"

Chakev Kaleth nods, also solemn, but there is that undercurrent of pre-battle excitement. "I will take a team and cross the river downstream from the Dominion. We will proceed quickly through the jungle, along the highground, and wait on the bluff. Here." He points to a spot on the map. "With all due respect to your desire to be the bait, Lieutenant, I think that our team in position might be in a better spot to fill that roll. If you are in agreement, I think you should lead your team to the highground on /this/ side of the river. I will send one of my scouts to help you get there quickly, as we are more familiar with this terrain. If we are quick, and if the team out there now can keep them going where we want them to, we should be in good position for an ambush."

Poole purses her lips a moment, thinking it over. After a moment she nods, "You're right... of course. Let's do this." Her eyes gleam in the light of the 'war room,' "Let's make them pay."

The joint operation of the ADF and Starfleet officers depart the war room and split up. The Starfleet officers are guided by a young female scout, who skillfully guides you through the jungle. It is a fast march, mostly uphill, and there are no pauses to catch your breath.

In the meantime, Turtledove and Endilev have been given orders to cut ahead of the Dominion force and "give them a reason to keep following the river".

Turtledove accepted the order with a pleasant grin... as she heads off, there is a predatory gleam in her eyes.

<CONTEST> Turtledove (claiming advantage) contests her Athletics skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Athletics (Climbing) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!

<CONTEST> Idrani (claiming advantage) contests her Athletics (Running) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Blair (claiming advantage) contests his Athletics (Running) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Athletics (Running) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Poole contests her Planetary Tactics (Small Unit) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

The Starfleet group completes the fast march, uphill and arrives at the designated ambush point. It is incredibly hot and a hundred percent humidity, but the group holds up well. Ensign Medes looks a little pale and dehydrated by the end of the climb up to the bluffs, but she keeps up. Within moments of your arrival, Ensign Blair receives confirmation via the communicator that Chakev Kaleth and his team has also completed the trek and are setting up on the bluffs opposite your position, although you cannot see them. Lt. Poole organizes her team, finding them good firing lines and adequate cover against incoming enemy fire. In the meantime, Turtledove and Endilev have managed to cut in front of the party, while avoiding detection. We will pick up there...

<CONTEST> Turtledove (claiming advantage) contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

Turtledove takes a sweep with her tricorder. Her eyebrow goes up slightly. She hits her compin. "Lt. Poole. Endilev and I have tricorder and visual confirmation that the Dominion unit consists of 4 cardassians and two unshrouded Jem'Hadar. Tracking data discourages the idea that there are any shrouded Jem'Hadar here, sir."

After finding the others some good positions, Poole goes about finding herself one, hefting her phaser in one hand. "Our objective here is simple folks... kill the enemy and capture at least one Cardassian. I'll try and take care of that objective. The rest of you, shoot to kill."

Blair presses his lips together thinly as he unholsters his phaser, glancing down at it for a moment and drawing out his own tricorder. "I'll attempt to check for trace bio-emissions of any shrouded Jem'Hadar near our own position, ma'am," he says quietly, setting the phaser down for a moment and quickly typing.

Poole speaks through the com, "That will have to do, Ensign... think you can bring them to us?"

Settling into the cover she's been found, Medes pours water down her throat and fiddles with her phaser, checking the setting and suchlike. Certainly she only looks pale because she's worn and dehydrated.

Idrani adjusts the setting on her Phaser 2, settling into position. "Aye, sir."

<CONTEST> Blair (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!

Blair frowns, looking up again from his tricorder. "I can't see anything nearby, but with a shroud like theirs it's hard to be sure, sir."

Turtledove looks at Endilev. Into her comm, she says, "Yes, sir. We should have them to the cliffs ASAP."

Endilev looks at Turtledove. "What did you have in mind?" he asks, looking a little eager for some combat.

Turtledove's expression remains relaxed, her eyes focused on the Andorian as she lays out the plan. "Here's the general idea. We split up. You go first, because you know the area. I'll follow you as closely as possible, making some noise to keep them interested." She pauses. "Or do you have a better idea?" She grins faintly.

Endilve considers, then suggests. "We could leave something that their tricorders would pick up. Blood, maybe, in the water."

Turtledove's eyebrows perk. She grins. "Hey, that's a good idea." She pauses. "We can plant the blood a little farther upstream... then give them a reason to look for it..." She trails off, thinking. "How fast is the current in the river, do you figure?"

Endilev eyes the water. "We would not have to go too far upstream. And a little bit of blood should do the trick."

Turtledove nods. "Right then. Let's go." She grins as they set off.

Turtledove and her partner move a few meters upstream, still out of sight of the Dominion party. A flick of Endilev's hrisal along the heel of his hand produces a few drops of blue ghelnoid blood that enters the river, flowing along the current downstream to the Dominion party. Sure enough, the Cardassian holding the tricorder detects this and the party quickens their pace, moving upstream toward the awaiting ambush.

Poole taps her combadge, "Lt. Poole to Chakev Kaleth." When she gets an answer, she says, "You've been listening to our scouts, I hope. There will soon be four Cardassians and two Jem'Hadar, coming our way. I'll try for that Cardassian captive, so your team can concentrate on eliminating the rest.... here they come..." She readies herself behind her cover, eyes narrowing.

Kaleth's voice over the combadge. "Acknowledged. Good hunting, Lieutenant."

Medes remains settled behind her cover, readying her phaser and offering Poole only a nod of her head in response. Her lips narrow into a pale line.

Turtledove's eyes fall toward the sound of sloshing water... from the direction of the Dominion group... she quickly attempts to find cover in the brush near the river.

<CONTEST> Blair contests his Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Turtledove contests her Coordination (Dexterity) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Blair settles into his position, watching through a carefully selected 'sniper hole' of sorts, hefting his phaser a bit awkwardly and lightly shutting his tricorder, replacing it on his belt. After a moment, he squints at the sniper hole, blinking, and then he looks over towards where he recalls the others moving. "I've spotted Turtledove," he says softly, head jerking as an indicator towards the small viewpoint. "Briefly, but she's coming this way, and from the looks of it, so is everyone else."

Idrani nods, taking careful aim with the phaser. "All right..." she says softly, waiting.

The wait is not long. The Dominion party passes Endilev and Turtledove, unaware of their presence. The Cardassians seem very excited about the ghelnoid blood in the water and the ranking Cardassian is instructing the two Jem'Hadar that their mission is to capture the Starfleet personnel and any ADF officers, not kill them. For his efforts, the Cardassian receives a cold and blank stare from the Jem'Hadar. A few moments later, the Dominion party rounds the bend and is in range of the ambush party.

<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Dramatically Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Idrani (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Blair (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Turtledove (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser Rifle) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

On the signal, energy weapons fire explodes from both sides of the river. Pinned in the crossfire, the Dominion team drops in a heartbeat. Poole, in particular, makes a fantastic shot at heavy stun, dropping the ranking Cardassian soldier. The stun blast also managed not to damage any of the Cardassian's equipment, like his tricorder or his communications system. Both teams descend from the bluffs, gathering weapons and equipment from the dead. There are no bodies to dispose of, due to the high setting of the weapons. You take your prisoner back to the cave, where he awakens a few minutes later. Of course, the Cardassian is not going to tell you anything willingly, so Chakev Kaleth simply asks that all Starfleet personnel exit the cave. Apparently, this is going to be handled, Andorian-style.

GAME: Poole spends a courage point.

Turtledove flicks a look at Poole, awaiting direction.

Poole looks to Kaleth, a /slight/ frown on her face... in stark contrast to the big ol' smile she was wearing as they entered the cave. "I can't allow you to do what I think you're going to do, Kaleth... He's a prisoner and we're bound by the Rules of War."

Kaleth manages to look innocent. "Then how would you suggest we handle this, Lieutenant." He is already rolling up his sleeves. And that man has hands that look like they could crush cinder blocks into powder.

Apparently, Medes officially has No Opinion on this, at least none she's willing to state or reveal via her expressions. She busies herself with checking over her various personal bits of machinery and waits for orders.

Turtledove looks back at Kaleth. She takes a stand behind Poole, backing her up.

Idrani also moves behind Poole, supporting her superior officer.

Poole 's jaw works. Oh, she /really/ doesn't want to be the moral one on this issue. "Perhaps there are some drugs we can use on him?... Something to make him more suggestive? I can't let him be tortured."

This equipment of Medes' is fascinating stuff. Amazing, really. It beeps. And there are lights.

Blair, meanwhile, is off at the side of the group, looking less disinterested than pointedly trying not to get involved; instead, he inspects the communications band rather...well, forcibly removed from the collar of the Cardassian's uniform. Tricorder in one hand and a small pin in the other, he has the band set atop a rock and is carefully tweaking frequencies in an attempt to listen in on Dominion broadband traffic.

<CONTEST> Blair contests his Shipboard Systems (Communications) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

Kaleth seems to consider this, torn between the morality of this and the simple joy of beating up a Cardassian. Blair messing with the communications captures his attention briefly and he orders one of his techs to assist. "Very well, Lieutenant," he relents. "Try your drug, if you wish."

<CONTEST> Medes contests her Shipboard Systems (Communications) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

Poole bows her head, in a show of thanks to Kaleth. "Much appreciated, Chakev...." She moves towards where the Cardassian is being held, her expression growing infinately more serious with every step. "Be careful..." she says offhandedly to the ADF technician administering the drug.

Oooh, hey. The sound of the shifting frequencies catches Medes' attention, and she's over by her fellow Engineer within the time it takes to draw two breaths. Really, it's like watching a wolf bound after fresh venison, or witnessing a cat's ears perk up from across the neighborhood when a tuna can /might/ be getting opened. At the very first possible instant, and not one millisecond later, she's taking her turn at mucking around with the communications band; her forehead is scrunched in intense concentration. Eventually, however, Thea sighs and shakes her head, rubbing her eyes.

The ADF coreman administers a narcotic, not having any of the interrogation drugs that Starfleet Intelligence might use in this situation. "I am not sure of the dosage for a Spoon-h- er, a Cardassian, ma'am. I might either knock him for a loop or not give him enough."

An ADF tech comes over to Blair and Medes, trying to help figure out this Cardassian gadget.

"It'll do... Let's see if he'll talk," Poole replies, looking down at the Cardassian coolly.

<CONTEST> Blair contests his Shipboard Systems (Communications) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

Idrani watches, arms folded. She doesn't appear overly pleased with the interrogation procedure, but it is better than the brutality the ADF had in mind.

<CONTEST> Medes contests her Shipboard Systems (Communications) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

Turtledove watches Poole, the interrogator... very interested in where this is going to go.

<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Command skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

Blair prods at the communications band a bit, grumbling. "Maybe the bloody thing just slices Julienne Fries," he grunts, looking around and then hrmming. "We know from observation," he says, pointing to the diamond shape on the front of the band, "that this is the audial transducer. Maybe you can find a wire running from here?" he asks the ADF tech, handing him his tricorder and flexing slightly sore hands. "The power supply sticks out like a sore thumb, given that it's a power supply; that's here. I'm trying to find a transmitter."

In a meeting of the minds, Ensigns Blair and Medes, with the assistance of an ADF tech work on the Cardassian communications equipment. The young Andorian tech, having worked along the DMZ before, has a few ideas that help. Starfleet gets a few pointers on Cardassian technology from thier ADF counterparts.

<CONTEST> Blair (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Communications) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Communications) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

Poole stares the Cardassian down, an intensely neutral expression on her face. She looks at the man indifferently. "How many soldiers do you have on this planet... /where/ are they? Where is your base of operations?"

From the Cardassian communicator, a garbled translation in Cardassian (but translated through your Universal Translator) ... *static*... firefight in orbit... get the prisoners for transfer to.... Experimental Station X19... *more static*

The Cardassian blinks, his reptile eyes somewhat unfocused. "Third Legion.... Capital city..."

Blair's head snaps up, and he almost blurts something out, but he spots Poole's position in front of the hapless Cardassian and stifles himself just in time. He does, however, look at Medes, eyes a bit wide. "Firefight in orbit?" he asks softly. "Think the cavalry's arrived?...."

Idrani's antennae flick, picking up the communications sound. "What prisoners?" she asks, after the translation goes through.

Turtledove glances at Idrani, then back at the engineers.

Medes, apparently, isn't hearing the fact that there's interrogation going on behind her, because without turning around, she calls across the cave, "Sir, I think you need to hear this. Firefight in orbit, and discussion of prisoner transfer to an... Experimental Station X19."

Park goes home.

Park has left.

She also nods to Blair, Medes' face briefly flashing a hopeful half-smile in his direction before clamping down into a business-like look.

Park walks on set.

Park comes into view wielding a Type II Phaser.

Park has arrived.

Poole nods to Medes, giving her an appreciative nod. Then she turns on the Cardassian again, scowling. "Where is this Experimental Station X19?"

The glazed-eyed Cardassian blinks owlishly, then says in a slurred voice, "Experimental... Ketracel White factory. Using Andorian young..." He looks about ready to pitch over, due to the drug.

Poole 's eyes go wide and she growls, "/Where/ /is/ /it/?" She lays hands on the Cardassian, forcing him to look her in the face.

The Cardassian blinks again, then gives you the co-ordinates of the Ketracel White factory, which is off-planet. The children are to be loaded onto a shuttlecraft not far from here. With a little more prompting from Poole, your prisoner gives you the exact location and a good idea of the forces transporting them. As children are being taken, there are no Jem'Hadar guards, only Cardassian ones.

Blair only hears Poole's yelling, as the Cardassian's voice isn't loud nor clear enough to infiltrate his concentration, now. He's instead attempting to hook his tricorder up to the communications band, quickly explaining to Medes and the ADF tech in a soft voice. "If I can get a quick ping out of this transmitter, now that we've found the bloody thing, I ought to get a response from the rest of the Cardassian bands nearby -- telling us how many there are, if not where they're located." He taps a button on his tricorder, handing a tool to Medes. "Could you help me make sure nothing burns out? Should be fairly easy -- just cut the power if anything sparks," he says with a faint smile.

Park wanders back in, wiping the blood off his hands. He looks at Poole as she grabs the prisoner and moves over toward her and whispers something to her.

Park whispers to Poole, "You want me to take over for a while?"

"Yeah, I think I can handle that," murmurs Medes, staring down at the machinery bits with nothing more to add. She takes the tool in hand and waits to make sure nothing blows up in Blair's face. Again.

Poole sets the Cardassian down and turns to Park, "We don't need anything more from him... Let's go people, we have some children to save."

Turtledove regards Poole with barely suppressed admiration... the Cardassian gets slightly narrowed eyes and a kind of disapproving sorrowful look. "Yes, sir."

Idrani flushed a deep cerulean, hearing the Cardassian talk about children being experimented upon. A quick glance around the room reveals that the other Andorians are likewise infuriated.

Park just nods once and moves back to the other part of the cave to get his MedKit.

<CONTEST> Blair contests his Systems Engineering (Communications) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

<CONTEST> Medes contests her Material Engineering (Mechanical) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

The Engineers work to get more information from the Cardassian communications network. Unfortunately, due to unfamiliarity with the technology, there is a spark, some static and the system goes dead.

Cutscene-- The Fimdari jungle, fifteen minutes later. Your ADF counterparts, outraged by the possible experimentation upon their children, lead you to the point designated by your drugged Cardassian prisoner. Sure enough, there is a small Cardassian shuttle present in a clearing. You find three pairs of Cardassian guards, armed with phasers, in the process of herding close to twenty Andorian children, ranging in age from toddler to pre-adolescent, onto the shuttle. The older children, to a one, show evidence of some physical abuse, as the Cardassians have learned that even Andorian children are warriors, although they are no match for trained Cardassian soldiers.

<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Planetary Tactics (Small Unit) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Command (Combat Leadership) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

Poole gathers the ADF soldiers and her own people about her and says, "Alright, we'll split into two firing groups, same teams as last time... We need to get a team on that crate to make sure they don't liftoff, /that/ is our priority.. we can't let them get away with the children." She turns to her officers, looking specifically at Idrani, "I want you to take the pilot of that shuttle by force, understood?"

-direct-

Idrani quietly draws her Hrisal, nodding. "Aye sir. Give me some cover."

Park hitches his Medkit around on his back out of the way and draws his phaser, just in case. He positions himself again in the rear of the group to provide cover and keep out of the way.

Warily eyeing her own phaser, Medes moves as ordered, nodding without comment as she adjusts the setting on said phaser and runs a hand through her hair. It's momentarily slicked down with sweat, but one by one, spikes of it stick back up and flick tiny drops of humidity and sweat into the air.

Blair can be found holding his phaser again, tricorder once more safely holstered on his belt, looking rather annoyed at having burnt out the communications band but instead burying himself in fixing the settings on his phaser. Finally, however, he's run out of settings to change, and he simply contents himself with holding the phaser in place. Letting it rest at his side, he looks up at Idrani, eyes flicking to the blade of the hrisal once, and then he gives her a short nod, speaking softly in Graalen. "Good luck, Jaylas."

Turtledove swings her Type III into position. Her characteristically chipper expression is gone, replaced with a deeply-focused and dark look. She nods with quiet confidence. "I've got your back, Idrani."

Idrani nods in response to Blair and Turtledove, moving a little so she can have a straight path to the open shuttle doors. She seems inclined to use her blade as opposed to her phaser, probably because a heavy stun shot to a child could cause neurologic damage. Which is something to keep in mind.

<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

<CONTEST> Turtledove (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser Rifle) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

GAME: Park spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Park (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon ((phaser)) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

<CONTEST> Idrani (claiming advantage) contests her Primitive Weaponry (Hrisal) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Blair contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

On Poole's signal, the treeline erupts in phaser fire. Idrani sprints for the open shuttle doors. Caught by surprise, the six visible Cardassians drop, stunned. The Andorian children scatter, the older ones carrying the younger ones. Fortunately, none of them are caught in the crossfire. Idrani reaches the shuttle, just as four more are coming off the gangplank, caught flatfooted by the unexpected combat. Jaylas Idrani slashes one across the throat with her hrisal, then barrels past them and enters the shuttle. The cut Cardassian grasps his throat in a futile gesture to keep his lifeblood from spilling out the gash in his flesh. Two of the Cardassians try to duck for cover, then return fire. The third one turns, trying to fire at Idrani's back.

<CONTEST> Turtledove (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser Rifle) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Blair contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Park moves around to intercept one of the larger groups of children, in an attempt to start organizing them to evacuate the area.

<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Poole charges at the shuttlecraft, letting out a loud yell as she does so. She aims at one of the Cardies near the gangplank.

<CONTEST> Idrani (claiming advantage) contests her Primitive Weaponry (Hrisal) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

In another exchange of phaser fire, the three remaining Cardassians are dropped by the Starfleet and ADF personnel. Idrani disappears inside the shuttle, saved from a shot in the back by Ensign Blair. The shuttle beings to lift off, doors starting to close. Park, meanwhile is able to gather up most of the scattering children, though there are a few still out there. The small groups are led by one of the older children and are rather remarkably organized for their age. Other than a few bruises, scrapes and cuts, there appear to be no serious injuries.

Poole pumps her legs and runs at the shuttlecraft, trying to dive inside before the door closes.

Turtledove takes off after Poole, toward the departing shuttle.

GAME: Poole spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Athletics (Running) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

GAME: Turtledove spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Turtledove (claiming advantage) contests her Athletics (Running) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

GAME: Park spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Park (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

Park gathers up as many of the petrified children as he can and takes out his tricorder. He hands his small group off to one of the ADF officers and moves out quickly toward the nearest signal and starts gather up the stragglers.

GAME: Medes spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Athletics (Running) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

<CONTEST> Blair contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

Turtledove makes a hell of an effort to get inside the shuttle before it takes off, but she comes up short. She stares up at the craft as the hatch closes, quietly unhappy.

Poole leaps and makes it, rolling on the floor inside the shuttlecraft a moment before she stands shakily and heads for the cockpit. "Idrani!?"

Park brings back the last of the kids and gets them all into a group. He looks around for Poole. "Where's Gwen?"

Lt. Poole enters the shuttlecraft, finding another dozen or so children in the 'assume crash position'. A pre-adolescent girl points toward the fore of the shuttlecraft... and the body of a decapitated Cardassian on the floor.

Blair watches the shuttle begin lifting off, and gets his tricorder off, gingerly holding his phaser and typing at the tricorder's buttons. After a moment, he looks up, calling out, "We're clear! No more Cardassions nearby." He holsters his phaser, though he can't help looking a bit wary, and he waves at one of the ADF people coming by, gesturing at one of the fallen Cardies. "Help me pull this one's communications band off, would you? If nothing else," he grunts, "my luck will help me burn them all out so they can't contact anyone."

<CONTEST> Idrani (claiming advantage) contests her Primitive Weaponry (Hrisal) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Turtledove glances at Park, then back at the Cardassian space craft. "She's on the shuttle, sir."

Turtledove adds, after a momen. "With Ensign Idrani."

The shuttle, now about fifty feet in the air, takes a visible lurch.

Turtledove's eyebrows twitch slightly upwards.

Guess who else runs like hell but comes up short? Yeah, Medes. She mutters an irritated comment to that effect and shakes her head, making some sort of joke to herself. Park's question brings an upward gesture from the short Ensign, before she goes and starts removing communications bands from Cardassians -- or trying to, anyway. Either she and Blair think alike, or she's heard his comment.

Park nods once as he realizes that he's now in command. "OK, round up the kids and put them in the middle of the formation. I want ADF covering the flanks, Turtledove you take the point. Let's get back to the bunker before company shows up."

Poole gives the little girl a quick grin, then grits her teeth, forcing her way into the cockpit. "Idrani! Report!" She steps inside, ready to make a stand against any remaining forces...

There is a faint gurgling sound coming from the cockpit, then an audible /thump/ as yet another dying Cardassian is shoved out of the pilot's seat. Idrani has taken his place, trying to work the unfamiliar console to land the Cardassian shuttle. "Trying to land, sir!"

Blair takes a communications band, which the ADF soldier hands him, before moving to follow Park's orders and holstering the tricorder. Passing Medes, he taps her lightly on the back and says, "Hang onto those, if you weren't already -- I'll try something at the bunker." He leaves out the 'if we make it', having a sudden surge of optimism.

<CONTEST> Idrani contests her Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

Turtledove acknowledges Park's order with a nod, stepping backward then turning on her heel and taking point.

Poole makes her way in, sliding into the co-pilot's seat and works at the controls....

GAME: Poole spends a courage point.

The Andorian children follow orders remarkably well. They group together in an orderly fashion, the older ones helping the younger ones.

<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Shipboard Systems (Flight Control) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

"Already on it, Blair. Already on it. If nothing else, hey, at least I can get rid of whatever bits of my eyebrows we haven't already destroyed," Medes replies with what probably passes for wry optimism in her world. Rising, she scratches at the tattoo on her right bicep and goes to round up kids, eyeing these small, unpredictable beings somewhat warily.

Turtledove glances at the children, giving them a brief and faint smile, then turns serious again as she leads the group back to the bunker.

The shuttle begins a descent, but the landing gear fails to deploy. It makes a hard landing, jostling everyone inside. Fortunately, Idrani had already ordered the children to assume the 'crash position' so none of them are seriously injured. In the cockpit, both Starfleet officers get bounced around hard, Idrani getting a cut on the forehead from striking the console. But, as they say, any landing you can walk away from....

Park follows the shuttle's wild movement and watches as it crashes. "OK, get these kids back to the bunker. Blair, Turtledove, Medes, you're with me." With that he moves out at a near run to the crashsite.

The ADF officers take the gaggle of children through the jungle and back to the base.

Poole shakes off the bad landing and stands from the co-pilot's chair. She reaches a hand over to Idrani, giving the woman's arm a squeeze. "Are you okay, Idrani?"

Turtledove nods to the ADF officers, and rejoins the group.

Blair glances back startledly at the sound of the landing shuttle, needing little excuse to nod at Park as he runs by and take off after him towards the shuttle, trotting quickly alongside the Lieutenant.

Idrani blinks, then shakes the cobwebs out of her head. "That stung." She mutters, wiping a bit of blue blood from her forehead. "Aye, sir. I am all right. Are the children okay?" She looks behind her, to the cargo area of the shuttle, where there is the sound of muffled weeping.

Poole stands and makes her way to the back, "I think so..." She looks amongst the children, "Everybody okay?"

Medes nods, glancing after the kids once, over her shoulder, like, with a briefly odd expression on her face; after this, she hurries toward the spacecraft as fast as her little legs will carry her.

Park moves to the crashsite, breathing a sigh of relief to see it in one piece. He gets inside and quickly starts to triage any injuries.

<CONTEST> Medes contests her Material Engineering (Vehicular) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!

Turtledove keeps an eye out for incoming. It doesn't mean she doesn't trust Blair... it's just good training.

The pre-adolescent girl speaks to the other children for a moment, then pipes out, "We're okay, ma'am."

Poole smiles broadly at the girl, holding out a hand to her. "Good... Let's get out of here then, alright?"

Blair steps inside the shuttle, poking his head in and noticing that Park is already starting to look over the shuttle's occupants. "Nice landing, ma'am," he comments to Poole, inadvertently tossing a mock salute to her while holding a Cardassian communications band.

A brief streak of almost-impolite words is cut off by Medes biting on her tongue, and hard. The door, it would appear, is not opening, and the Vehicle Maintenance Engineer can't get it to comply. "Someone else try this, please?" Her face cannot possibly get any redder, nor has she looked angrier yet.

<CONTEST> Medes contests her Material Engineering (Vehicular) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

Sometimes, you just need to punch it. Apparently, that's what Medes needed to do, because when she kicks the door after turning her back on it, it opens.

After some ado, Ensign Medes gets the mildly damaged shuttle doors to open. A dozen more Andorian children file out, in an orderly fashion, followed by Poole and Idrani. Idrani has a cut on her forehead and her uniform has splotches of Cardassian blood on it, but she looks none the worse for wear. The Starfleet officers secure the prisoners, kept under guard by Ensign Turtledove, and you return to the base camp.

Fortunae has arrived.

GAME: Fortunae is joining this location.

Dakin has arrived.

Havaris has arrived.

Foster has arrived.

Tibbs has arrived.

With a whining sound so familiar to those in Starfleet, four winks of light become columns and then become people. Those people are Lt Dakin, and Ltjgs Havaris, Foster and Tibbs. The seem alert, ready, and... clean.

Dakin has a Type II in his hand, just in case. You know Security types. In any case, he spies the 419 officers and smiles a bit, saying "Starfleet taxi service, who needs a ride?"

The "base camp" is a fairly large cave, outfitted mostly with ADF supplies, though there are some Starfleet issue materials as well. One section has been designated as the "hospital" where there are a dozen or more wounded Andorians that are under the care of Lt. Park. Another section must have been designated as the "brig", as you see ten blindfolded Cardassian prisoners, secured by Ensign Turtledove and her ADF counterparts, including her "partner" Chak (Ensign) Endilev. Yet another section has been declared the nursery, for there are over thirty Andorian children present, ranging in age from toddlers to pre-adolescents. The ADF and Starfleet officers look hot and tired, but seem quietly satisfied.

Poole is over with one of the Andorian children, trying to get her to sleep apparently, when she hears Dakin from behind her. Standing, she comes to attention and raises her hand to her brow in a salute. "Sir."

Foster stands quietly, awaiting orders. His eyes are on Tibbs, however.

Havaris beams in at Dakin's back, because you can never be too careful or too paranoid when you're in Security. When the first words are not only casual, but somewhat flippant, Kusto holsters his weapon and paces back about to offer a nod to Poole. Perfunctory as that motion was, his eyes are quite naturally drawn towards the 'brig'. And its prisoners. His head tilts to the side in curiosity as he begins to drift vaguely in that direction. Yep. Nothing to see here.

Medes and Blair are settled somewhere where there are not children milling incessantly, poking at various bits of machinery and talking in fairly hushed voices. She scratches at her tattooed upper arm as she begins to advance some sort of theory, pauses mid-sentence, and scrambles to her feet, briefly losing her balance as she does so.

Idrani walks over from the hospital area, after having her minor injury tended to. She is minus her uniform jacket and the tank top worn beneath the jacket has stains of what appears to be dried blood. She moves to stand by Poole.

Turtledove is wielding a Type III phaser, looking rather relaxed and well, practically cheerful, as she stands watch with Endilev. Her eyes light up when she sees Havaris coming her way. A grin tugs at the corners of her mouth as she watches him.

Blair blinks and looks up as Medes stops, nearly dropping the small pin and metal band his hands hold. A bit surprisedly, he comes to his feet and turns towards the away team, breaking out with a grin and straightening up at the sight of fellow Starfleeters.

Tibbs glances over at Foster, holding a tricorder in his hands instead of a phaser. While he looks as nervous as ever, he's not shaking nearly as badly as before. "I'm f-fine." He comments, sounding more surly than he intends. "I th-think there's nothing I c-can tell you about th-this area that you all can't plainly s-see with your own t-two eyes." He lowers the tricorder, hitching his shoulders in a shrug. "B-Boy. Everyone looks l-like bloody h-hell."

Park follows Idrani out of the hospital area shortly after she exits and moves over to start doing a quick exam of the children.

Dakin looks to the others. "Foster, Tibbs, find out the status on everyone and how many transporter trips we're going to need. Havaris, check out the perimater in case the planet's not as secure as we'd like to think."

Foster nods and moves towards the surly 'camp' area, stepping over pieces of Fimdari foliage on his way. He holsters his tricorder as he does, making his way towards Poole. He smiles faintly. "Lieutenant. Do we have a head count of how many children we've got here?"

Poole speaks up, "Sir... we're secure... This base is /very/ secure." She lowers her salute when she realizes it won't be returned and walks over to grab her uniform jacket from the top of a crate not too far away. She tugs it on over her tank top and says, "I'm very pleased to see you... There are people who need medical attention. I recommend we beam them out first." She looks to Foster, "Thirty-four, Lieutenant. Very /lucky/ little children."

Dakin nods to Poole. "All right, get them prepped for transport, I'll notify Haven to get the Paine's sickbay up and running." He then looks pointedly towards Havaris.

Havaris either chooses to ignore Turtledove's cheerfully silent greeting, or is otherwise distracted, because he doesn't even seem to notice her as he comes to a halt rather much beside her. He spends a long moment staring at the Cardassians, and is only distracted from that action by his own name accompanied by an order. He glances back to Dakin in momentary confusion. "Sir?" Words are replayed in his head for a moment. "Aye, Sir." He glances back to the Cardassians, then at last to Turtledove. He glances down at her Type III, reaches out to take it, and trades it up for his own Type I. He gives her a mildly embarassed nod, offers the Cardie prisoners one final withering glance, and paces towards the cave mouth to walk the perimeter.

Medes shifts her weight from foot to foot uncomfortably, glances briefly in Turtledove's general direction, then shrugs toward Blair and crouches to start picking up the various Little Metal Things on which they were working.

Foster nods, keeping the number stored in his head as he moves towards Park, again stepping over things in his path. He mutters something silent to himselinf before reaching him. "Lieutenant, do we have a head count here of how many are in the infirmary?"

Tibbs flashes a goofy, twitchy grin in Medes' direction before heading over towards the hospital area to take a count over there and make sure they get up allright. He'll skip on helping with the prepwork, though, as he'd most likely damage 'em worse.

Park doesn't look up from the child he's working on when he answers Foster. "14 wounded, 4 critical but stable."

Blair looks around for a moment, then nods slightly to himself and puts the metal pin away, beginning to collect the remainder of the pieces of Cardassian equipment as best as he can.

Turtledove's left eyebrow goes up slightly, and she looks almost sad as Havaris takes her Type III away. She smiles though, the look of a child who has given up their favorite doll in the interest of a greater good... she settles back and sighs, a contented sigh, as she maintains vigilant watch over the prisoners.

Idrani speaks up, "Sir, may I inquire as to the status of the planet? The ADF personnel here have families..."

Dakin looks over towards Idrani.

Turtledove wields her Type II Phaser.

Turtledove gives Havaris her Type III Phaser.

Foster apparently chooses to ignore counting the Cardassian prisoners, instead favoring on moving back over to Dakin. "Sir, not including our men, we have 48 children and wounded."

Havaris wields his Type III Phaser.

Dakin looks over towards Idrani. "The Dominion presence here is now nonexistent, Idrani." He then nods to Foster, then taps his combadge. "Dakin to Thomas Paine. We have 48 children and wounded planetside. We also have Cardassian prisoners, but I'm making the children and injured a priority. Lock onto the appropriate biosigns and stand by to transport."

Idrani nods. "Thank you, sir." She translates the news in Graalen for the Andorian children.

Havaris reappears in the cave mouth, Type III at rest atop his shoulder. He falls into a lazy crouch, settles the massive rifle across his legs, and keeps his eyes focussed on the out of doors. His free hand begins tuning his tricorder. One man picket lines need the extra eyes, after all.

From Dakin's combadge "Understood sir. Please move your combadge to the priority group and we'll pick them up six at a time based on where you put your badge as an indicator sir. Thomas Paine out."

Poole runs a hand through her hair and sighs. "Great... I'll finally be able to sleep," she says to herself softly, looking over to the child she was sitting with before.

Park stands and taps his own communicator as he moves back toward the 'hospital'. "Park to Thomas Paine. Please patch me through to the CMO." That's about the only thing that is understandable as he starts spouting medical jargon until he's out of earshot to prep the wounded for transport.

Dakin nods and removes his badge, then looks to Idrani and Poole. "Everyone ready to go that's going?"

Idrani says to Poole, "We'll need to call back the sentry patrols, sir."

Tibbs heads back to the main group, bushy moustache twitching. "L-Looks like ev-everyone had an in-interesting time down here." He murmurs, before noticing that he's strayed too near the perimiter with the prisoners and hopping back with a small noise. "Ee..."

Blair finishes collecting the various pieces of equipment strewn about, disconnecting one from his tricorder and putting it away. "You might say that," he comments as he returns to the others, raising an eyebrow towards Tibbs. "It'd at least be safe to say we were never bored."

Transporter beams begin to manifest and disappear taking people with them. One group near Park picking up his patients as he prioritized them, the others picking up the youngest children first and working up in thier age brackets.

Poole snaps her fingers and smiles over at Idrani, "I knew I forgot something... thank you, ensign." She taps her combadge. "Poole to Kaleth... We've company here at Base Camp. Fimdari is liberated."

Tibb's grin gets a flicker of an extremely weak smile from Medes; it's the sort of smile which clearly reads, 'yes, I'm returning the socially appropriate gesture, no more.' Blair's comment turns that smile, weak as it is, into a grimace, and she gathers up her uniform jacket, draping that over her arm before going back to staring at the bits of metal in her hand.

From Poole's combadge, "Acknowledged, Lieutenant. Returning to base camp. And it was a pleasure working with you." A male voice speaking Fed Standard with an Andorian accent.

Turtledove glances at Poole and grins quietly as she talks to Kaleth. Other than that, she pretty much just hangs back until the prisoners are transported onto the Thomas Paine.

Foster taps his combadge as he moves over towards the children, there being more of them, and the severely wounded safely to the Paine's sickbay. He smiles to one of the children before he crouches down, and speaks into his badge, "Foster to Thomas Paine. Lock onto my signal as well as Mr. Dakin's. Set the cargo transporters to quantum signatures if you have to."

Idrani retrieves her uniform jacket, as an afterthought. She waits patiently for beam-out.

Turtledove does, however, seem to be developing a nice rapport with her Andorian 'partner' Endiliev. The two ensigns chat amicably while they wait for transport.

"Once these last patrols come in, I think we'll all be ready to go," Poole answers Dakin, then looks around for her red shirt.... Only to find it's been torn into rags and used to clean weapons. She sighs.

Havaris remains crouched in the cave mouth, weapon at the ready on his lap, tricorder reslung across his shoulder. He lifts the weapon and returns to his feet, adopting a casual slouch against the stone. If he smoked, he might just light up in such a position.

Dakin nods and calls out to Havaris, "Kusto, we're just about done here!"

From Foster's Combadge, "Acknowledged sir. We are already using the cargo transporters to assist the Accountability's clean and sweep operation of the Jem'Hadar, should we request permission to deviate? Based on the numbers you sent up here, it will take us about another 10 minutes to pull up all the people at your location including the the prisoners."

The last of the medical cases vanish in blue light, the children continue to disappear in groups of 6, about one group a minute.

Tibbs looks away from Medes, visibly abashed and grimacing himself. For lack of other ways to be useful, he starts collecting some things left around the basecamp to be returned with the fleeters.

Park moves back out into the main cavern area, finally able to utilize the water stores to wash all of the dried blood from his hands. When he's done he just sits down against the wall, trying to stay awake.

Foster smiles, "Negative, transporter room. You can, however, draw power from the replicator and other minute systems to boost your primary energizing coils and the transporter buffer to quicken your time."

Poole remembers something else and crosses over to Park, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Come on... Wendy's waiting, no doubt."

Foster says, "Although that is certainly not an order. We're in no rush to get out of here. If the Jem'Hadar were still right around the corner, it may be an issue. But it isn't."

Havaris glances back over his shoulder, offers a bemused nod to Dakin, then looks back out over the landscape one last time. Shoulder his weapon, he pushes off the wall, backs up a few steps, then turns about to pace back to Dakin's side. He nods once again to the other Bajoran. "Thanks, Rann." There is no elaboration as to why. Noticing Medes, he offers the woman a pair of blinks and a lift of a hand in silent greeting.

From Foster's combadge,"Ah, Good idea sir. Will do. Thomas Paine out."

The Cardassians all vanish in blue sparkles of transporter light.

Foster taps his combadge, and ruffles one of the Andorian childrens albino hair as he stands. He stretches and recrosses his steps back to Dakin.

Dakin reaches over for his badge and reaffixes it to his uniform jacket. "Dakin to Thomas Paine." He then gives a knowing nod to Havaris before continuing. "Have the prisoners stowed in the sealed cargo bay once you've got the civilians and wounded aboard, then beam us out last."

Park looks up at Poole, taking a moment to focus in on her. He hasn't slept since they arrived and is finally showing signs of sleep deprivation. Aaron smiles and he allows Poole to help him up, giving her a quick hug and whipsering something in her ear.

Park whispers to Poole, "You did good, Gwen. I'm proud to have been here with you."

The remaining ADF patrols return to base camp, very glad to hear that their planet has been liberated.

Poole smiles tiredly at Park, returning the hug, then slipping an arm about his waist, walking him over to Dakin and Havaris.

Medes stares at the metal bits in her hand for a little bit, jacket draped over the same arm. Eventually, however, she hands the handheld objects over to Blair with a "Hang on to this for a second, will you?" This request precedes her putting her jacket back on, and she mumbles, "Thanks." A raised hand and a threadbare, strained scrap of a smile respond to the silent greeting from Havaris, though she quietly tacks on a "Hey." at the end.

Foster nods to Havaris and Dakin, a faint smile crossing his lips. The smile turns to a grin, but is directed mostly to Dakin. "Told you we'd get them back." The grin turns, again, into a soft knowing smile as he gently slaps the Bajoran's shoulder.

Turtledove stands up a bit straighter when the prisoners disappear, looking at Endilev. She gives him a little nod and grin, then strolls over to join the main group.

Dakin smiles. "Damned right we did. All right, everyone... all aboard that's going aboard. Dakin to Thomas Paine, standing by for final beamout."

(Conclusion) Efficiently transporters shrink the population of the camp that has come to be more than just a cave to the mission team over the past few days. Soon it is just the Starfleet Officers themselves to be moved up, the ADF personnel being given a priority so they could be redispateched to help with recover efforts in more damaged portions of the planet. There is that long moment that is stretches as they await their turn to leave this planet where they helped pay for the safety of others with blood, sweat and tears. Even as their bodies are transformed into energy from matter and Fimdari begins to fade from thier eyes, they know that soon they will be buying another planet's freedom not to far away. Fimdari is saved, Occa awaits them with a full dance card.