Generate My Liberty
Episode Name: DoF - Generate My Liberty Written By: Fortunae Cast: Foster, Ghorev, Laco, Medes, Poole, and Vota. Produced By: Starfleet & Fortunae Directed By: Ghorev Aired On: Mon Oct 14 11:58:04 2002 Stardate: 52704.7
Time: Sun Oct 13 20:23:58 2002
Stardate: 52703.1
You are gathered in a briefing room aboard the USS Aegis, which has given you a little time to get to know each other and speculate about your mission. Since coming aboard, you've been directed to remain in this room or the adjoining head, but you must assume that the Aegis has joined the task group preparing for the invasion of the Occa system. Your discussions are interrupted by a message over the com system to stand by for a message from Admiral Whitehorse.
Whitehorse's voice: "Brave souls of the Dulcais Sector Alliance fleet, it is my *duty* to send you into danger this day -- into the den of our fierce and unrelenting enemy. It is my *proud* honor to do this, on *this* day as your victory and gallantry here will not only safeguard the concerns and citizens of our great star powers, but will liberate the innocent and subjugated citizens of Occa Prime from the Duranium Fist of the Dominion. You have trained for this, your resolve has been weighed and measured, and now, once again, we call upon you all to discharge your duties with the honor and valor that has become expected. The attack commences in two minutes, God Speed."
Laco says, "Two minutes!?"
Foster briefly lowers his head and simply nods, the reality of the situation settling in past his defenses.
Poole looks over at the other gathered officers from a spot near the viewport, her expression carefully neutral, "That's what he said, Laco..." Straightening up she moves over to the table.
Vota has been standing at parade rest for most of her time in the fighter bay. While seemingly just a bit nervous prior to the Admiral's message, afeter the completion of the message, she takes a deep breath and remains silent.
A few moments pass then the doors to your briefing room open revealing a non-descript human officer who gestures for you to remain seated and then says, "Hello. I'm Lieutenant Alexander and I'll be your briefing officer. In a few minutes we will be in position to transport you all down to the surface of Occa. The process by which we will do this is a critical secret to the Federation and is classified at Admiral level clearance, so keep in mind that at no time should you discuss this, even in your logs. Are we clear? Good. Now, you will be transported into night club in New Florida called Grix's. There you will be met by members of the Occan resistance who will give you more recent intelligence about disposition of enemy forces between your location and your target. Moving on to the target, it will be the New Florida Global Energy Park."
Medes is crouched somewhat near to Poole, having naturally gravitated to her for one reason or another. Her elbows rest on her knees, and when the doors to the briefing room open, she rises and paces inward. Her attention on the briefing officer is intent; she watches his mouth as he speaks.
Foster simply nods. He seems out of place here, the calm in the center of the storm.
Poole gives Alexander a brief nod and listens attentively to the man, looking as calm as she was before the two minute announcement.
Ghorev, for his own part, is remarkably still, listening, watching, frowning a thoughtful frown.
He continues after a moment's pause. "It's a large installation using Fission reactors powered by Vinonium, but functionally similar in properties to a warp engine's matter/anti-matter reactor in principal. This installation, which has it's own shield grid, supplies power to the other shield grids in New Florida and around the planet, as well as the chain of transport inhibitors that will severely impede the full scale ground invasion. You must slip through the shield grid, and then terminate the flow of power to the other systems. You will be resisted, of course, and perhaps even more so after you shut down the planetary shields. I tell you this so you keep in mind you have to *hold* the position. I realize that you might consider it easier to just destroy the facility, but I remind you that the Occans are going to need that energy grid back after we liberate them, and, due to the properties of vinonium, rash action could have catastrophic results on a global scale due to the radiation and other environmentally toxic issues. When dealing with the power grid, *listen* to your engineer. Now, we have a few minutes for Q & A, and then you need to follow me and assemble on the transport grid to begin your mission. Questions?"
Vota watches Alexander intently as he begins delivering his briefing. She is utterly rigid from tension and her breathing shallow as the Lieutenant offers the details of the mission.
Medes's eyes widen slightly, and then she glances sidelong at Poole before turning her attention to her hands. Hey, look. Hands.
Laco says, "Uhm, I have one, Lieutenent. About how many troops will we have to hold this place against? If you know.""
"What kind of weaponry are we looking at Lieutenant?" Poole asks, glancing briefly at Medes with a faint reassuring smile before looking back to Alexander. "Standard assault gear?"
Alexander says, to Laco, "Your contact, on the ground, has that intelligence, Lieutenant." And then to Poole. "Mostly, yes. Obviously, toolkits will replace heavy armament for your engineering team, but yes."
Foster speaks up for the first time since he arrived, his voice is unwavering, and soft. Almost eerily so considering the situation. "Do you have an expected about of time we have to hold the installation for?"
Vota remains silent as the questions are asked. Her gaze just flicks back forth between the various people speaking. Her tension seems to be coming a bit more subdued as more and more details of the mission are explained.
Alexander says, "No more than a few hours, if this is timed properly, Lieutenant. If all goes well, your work will allow the rest of the assault to continue, and we'll be able to get reinforcements and follow-up waves down to the planet's surface on schedule."
Poole nods once to Alexander, then stands up straight, looking over to Ghorev now.
Ghorev speaks up. "I have the equipment prepared, yes." Very quietly, he then says, "I think that's it on questions, thank you, Lieutenant. Would you mind helping me distribute these?" And for the next forty seconds or so, there is that distribution, with human and the Andorian handing out the usual complement of phaser pistols and rifles, tricorders, and toolkits.
Medes, on the other hand, seems to be getting a little more agitated as time passes. It's good to be able to distract herself, and she does so with the assembling of her equipment as it's given to her.
Foster adjusts his equipment, silently as ever, and stands at ready, eyes scanning the room. They settle on Medes momentarily, and then over to Vota. He almost grins, but turns around and looks up, possibly whispering a prayer to whatever he believes in.
Poole slips her tricorder and phaser pistol to her waist, her rifle slung over her shoulder. In a matter of seconds, she is ready to go and turns to Medes, "Need any help getting ready, ensign?"
Vota takes a moment to calibrate the equipment that has been given to her. While perhaps not as agitated as Medes, the Bolian Ensign still seems more than a little tense.
Ghorev says, "I *do* have one more thing to add, and I want this clearly understood." He looks uncomfortable noting this, but presses on: "Even the best and most sympathetic of Occans won't deal well with me. So, for purposes of dealing with this 'Grix' -- for all purposes, in fact, except for the actual sabotage and safe handling of the reactor, Lieutenant Poole is in charge of this mission, under the usual guidelines for superior line officers handing off command to subordinates. For the purposes of getting us there, and holding the line, you'll take cues from her until it becomes necessary for me to rescind this order. Is that clear?"
"I dunno, do you really want to get near me when I've got a phaser in my hand?" asks Medes with a wry half-smile, tucking her phaser and tricoder in at her waist. "I'm fine, Lieutenant, thanks." She falls silent, then, to listen to Ghorev, and nods her understanding.
Ghorev turns to Alexander. "Lieutenant, given the classified nature of our transport protocols, you're dismissed with my thanks." Then back to the rest of you. "Last call for questions. Once we're on the ground, there'll be no time for them, really. And there's really not time *now*, so make them quick."
Foster looks to Ghorev, and a soft smile breaks across his face, "Just one, sir. Wish us luck?"
Medes shakes her head slightly and remains silent thereafter.
Poole flushes faintly at what Ghorev says, looking to him and noting his discomfort. She nods to the andorian and says, "No questions here, /sir/." Remembering Medes, she gives the woman a wink, "I trust you."
Laco sticks his phaser and tricorder into the holsters on his waistband, and looks to Poole.
Vota shakes her head lightly as she finishes her initial equipment calibration, "I have no questions, sir." With that she falls silent again and places her tricorder and weapon into position on her uniform.
Ghorev eyes Foster. "I'm coming. It's bad luck for me to wish you luck." He hoists up a phaser and engineering kit, slinging the latter over his shoulder, then uses his free hand to tap his compin, "Ghorev to Tyler. We're ready."
...and with that, there is a reply: "Engaging."
A coruscating sphere appears above the gathered team, roiling and spinning like a small vortex. It seems to build in speed of rotation until suddenly it hits some kind of 'critical threshold' and expands in a burst of light. There is a moment of disorientation, a tingling, a white noise, a tickle of something dark and light at the same time across exposed skin, and then that moment similar to Enlightenment, in which the world both is and is-not. When the moment passes, the team is .... elsewhere.
Foster has left.
Medes has left.
Vota has left.
Laco has left.
Poole has left.
Ghorev has arrived.
USS Cape Fear has left.
Foster takes in his surroundings as the transport cycle fades, and reaches for his tricorder.
Medes blinks several times, and runs both hands through her hair. She remains quiet and unobtrusive for the time being, reaching for her own tricorder to begin scanning in silence.
Poole shakes off the lingering effects of... whatever that was, and checks to make sure all of her equipment is still there. Then, glancing around, she asks, "Lifesigns?"
Laco steps over to a shelf casually, inspecting something on it for a moment, then takes out his tricorder and flips it open.
Vota takes her own tricorder and takes several life readings before slightly calibrating it yet a bit more.
<CONTEST> Medes contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Foster contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Laco contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Vota contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
There is a moment of quiet as the energy field fades, and then the background noise, in the distance or muffled, perhaps, can be heard. Sure enough, the lifesigns are all clear and some are approaching. Not enough time to prepare a proper welcome with the element of surprise, but enought to avoid being surprised, is gained by the reactions of the Tricorder-wielding officers to the data they glean ... thus, when the door opens, and a dark-haired man in a white suit can be seen behind two thugs in darker suits, there is no real surprise to be had. "What's the password, boys and girls?" the dark-haired man asks from behind his human shield, his face mostly draped in shadow.
<CONTEST> Foster contests his Presence (Empathy) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!
Foster looks frustrated as the attempts some scans with his tricorder, which he folds back and places it in its holster. He looks to Ghorev, then remembers the Andorian's orders, and looks to Poole.
Medes opens her mouth, as if to say something, but no time. They're here already. That being the case, she tucks away her tricorder, and looks to Poole herself.
Poole moves to the forefront of her group, hands held palm up as she does so. "Grix I presume? I am in charge here, Lieutenant Poole, at your service." She, unlike Foster, doesn't look to Ghorev, but remains focussed intently on the man cloaked in shadow. "I believe you had some information for us?"
Laco leaves his tricorder out, but lowers the hand that was holding it to his side.
Vota glances down at her tricorder and then over to the door as the white suited gentlemen and his associates enter. She doesn't put her tricorder away quite yet and barely seemingly even pays attention to the presence of the thugs and their boss.
Grix -- apparently, it's him, yes -- steps forward, his flanking gorillas moving forward and apart to allow him some room. The shadows slip away from him and his thin face is pleasant enough, or would be, if his smile wasn't so tight. "The service is mutual, beautiful." There is *character* to his face, and as he raises a hand, bringing a flask to his mouth and taking a swig, he pauses long enough to give Poole a genuine "Cheers." Then he caps the flask and puts it away. "So, you're the super six who plan to take down the Energy Park, eh?" He gives Poole an appraising glance up and down that would seem sleazy from a gent with less charisma. "What's your story?"
Ghorev makes his way quietly towards the crates, leaning against one from a good vantage point, just ... watching for now.
Foster is just standing around as well, eyes darting about to take in the entire scene, as he will most likely be doing the entire time spent in this cargo area.
"Just as you said, Mr. Grix, we're here to take down that Energy Park... To help remove your, shall we say, infestation?" Poole replies, giving the rogue a smile. "Of course, it will require your expert help."
The corner of Medes' mouth twitches, though she's trying not to smile. To cover that, she tilts her head forward a bit and scratches at her upper lip. Amused by his address of Poole, and the open lechery? No, no, not at all. Really. Cough.
Vota keeps her tricorder in hand taking advantage of the conversation to calibrate it more to environment and lifesigns that should be expected.
Grix nods. "Business before pleasure. I'll remember that, sweetheart." Yeah, he says it. He actually says it: "Sweetheart". And the white suit, yet. He smiles and motions to one of the big fellows. "Royce, give the gentlemen" -- from his gesture, he seems to mean Foster -- "the map-chip." And then he looks to Poole. "Those lizard-face mooks are supplementing the usual home-grown cops, beautiful. And there's at least a small battalion standing by to swarm back in. So I hope you manage to gain control of the security control office before the alarms get sounded and reinforcements arrive. If you don't take control of the base's security systems before the cops swarm in, we won't get to meet again, and that'd be a damn shame."
Ghorev mutters something about dating services, oddly enough, and continues to eye the room.
Foster lets out a breathe and raises his eyebrows, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say I was back in 1940s to 1950s Terra." A shake of his head, and he looks to 'Royce'.
"Terrible thought, that," mumbles Medes, scratching the side of her nose this time and distracting herself more efficiently by taking out her tricorder again and moving over next to Vota, so as to compare calibrations with the Bolian.
Taking careful note of Grix's information, Poole nods and says, quite confidently, "We will meet again, Mr. Grix... I assure you. Perhaps we can share a meal." She looks over to Foster, clearly wanting to see the map. "I'd like a look at that, Lieutenant."
Vota glances over at Medes' tricorder for a moment and nods to herself as if satisfied with the calibrations.
"Alright," Grix says. "Take a few to look that over." He gestures. "That wall over there, Royce will open for you when you're ready to hit the sewers, boys and girls. Good luck."
Ghorev, leaning near that wall, pushes away from it, and turns around to eye it, appraisingly.
Foster nods and steps over to Poole, handing her "the map-chip". He gives a divided attention nod to Grix before looking back to Poole, "Here you go, Lieutenant."
Poole accepts the chip and pulls out her tricorder, accessing the data. As she looks it over, she starts moving to the 'doorway' in to the sewers. "Alright people... let's move. I'd like to keep our engineers in the middle of the ranks... Foster, you and I will take point, Laco you'll take rear guard..."
Laco says, "Ah, excellent, the first to be taken out by any mob that slinks up behind us," In a half-joking manner. He gestures toward the opening and glances at everyone, "After you."
Vota nods slightly to Poole moving over toward the 'doorway' herself. She keeps her silence for now. Just keeping her attention alternating between her tricorder and Poole.
"Excellent." Grix makes his way out through the main entrance, leaving his lumbering man to point the way. Within moments, the team is in the sewers, and prowling swiftly towards the Energy Park. It is dark, and there is a chemical smell, and cool clammy moisture.
Foster nods, withdrawing his phaser and holding it lightly in his hand as he follows the Lieutenant.
There's no phaser in Medes' hand. Instead, the scruffy little woman falls in behind Foster and Poole, continuing to scan with her tricorder, which is eminently less likely to fire a wild shot and hit Poole.
Poole takes the lead, reading the map with one hand as she follows Grix along. "What kind of security measures are in place... Do you know of any?" She hasn't pulled her phaser type II yet, her weapon of choice... to the other officers, "Phasers on heavy stun until I say otherwise... I'd like to stun any Occan, uh, authorities that we find... Jem'Hadar we kill. Understood?"
Laco wanders down the corridor, phaser held high in one hand, tricorder in the other. Occasionally, he turns and backpedals for a while, keeping an eye behind him. "You know, this wouldn't be so bad if we were going somewhere good, like Risa..but no...we're heading to some power plant where were all probably going to get pasted by Jemmies..." he mutters to whomever is in front of him. He replies to Poole's question with an affirmative.
Ghorev slips behind some crates and disappears from sight.
Ghorev has left.
Vota climbs down a ladder and into the sewer system.
Vota has arrived.
Laco climbs down a ladder and into the sewer system.
Laco has arrived.
Poole climbs down a ladder and into the sewer system.
Poole has arrived.
Medes climbs down a ladder and into the sewer system.
Medes has arrived.
Foster climbs down a ladder and into the sewer system.
Foster has arrived.
Offering a nod and "Understood," to Poole, Vota trudges along with the group following just a bit behind Medes as silently as possible. She sniffs slightly at the air and makes a face. As they continue on she also scans with her tricorder only glancing up away from the device just long enough to ensure she is keeping in proper formation with the rest of the team. (repose for camera)
<CONTEST> Ghorev (claiming advantage) contests his Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Medes contests her Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Vota contests her Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Laco contests his Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Poole contests her Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Foster contests his Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
The trip is quick, and would be quicker, but no sooner does the team start gaining some familiarity with the footing and lighting than Laco, Foster, and Ghorev note the unmistakable sights (and, in the Andorian's case, certain subtle high-pithced sounds) of certain basic security systems clearly designed more for simple everyday safety than for military-grade security. Bypassing these does add some time to the trek, however, which continues...
Ghorev says, "The ultrasound is starting to get denser the closer we get to our destination," lightly. "I wouldn't be surprised if the systems near the exit point are of a higher caliber."
Foster doesn't veer from his path alongside Lieutenant Poole at all, trekking through the sewers isn't very enjoyable for most, so he's taking the time to meditate as best he can. "Will it be a problem, Lieutenant Ghorev?"
Medes rubs her nose at various points, though she seems perhaps a little less bothered by the chemical smell than most, though only a little. Slogging through the sewers patiently, she keeps her position in the group.
"I surely hope not..." Poole says softly, looking up every few steps to note where to walk. She keeps going over the map enroute, however, making mental notes as she does so. Things to look for: possible defensible points, a route to the security control room, and a route to the vitals of the energy park itself.
Laco calls up to the front, "Lt, may I see the map for a moment?"
Vota keeps silent for now. She glances down at her phaser as if to verify it is still there, but keeps her tricorder in hand for the moment. Every once in a while she glances behind toward Laco as the group continues its advance.
<CONTEST> Poole contests her Planetary Tactics (Small Unit) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Soon, the group has reached the tight bend beyond which the map clearly shows the access point up into the Energy Park. "I think," says Ghorev, "we're going to, yes, have a problem, unless anyone knows how to disarm what my antennae are telling me is clearly a series of military grade motion detectors around the bend."
Foster looks around the assembled, and sighs, "Great. Not a single damned security officer. Why are we an assault team witho-," he shuts up and resumes thinking, and then his eyes light up, and he begins to scan the security measures.
Medes's eyes narrow slightly when Foster breaks off, and she moves up slightly to stand next to him, glancing aside at his tricorder and mucking about with her own at the same time.
Poole remains standing where she is, confident her officers will find a way through. "We may not have much time once we're up top... Once we're there, communication is to be at a minimum... I'll designate two people to stay up in the security control station, to watch our backs as it were. The reactor seems to be deepcore, which means we might want to consider rappeling as a steathly method of entry..." Then she hands off the chip to Laco, "Here, Lieutenant." Looking to Ghorev, she asks, "Any suggestions for getting past this obstacle?"
Laco accepts the chip, and begins to inspect the map.
Vota taps away at her tricorder and begins scanning, "I don't know much about security systems, but they are just like any sort of other system, right? I mean maybe depending on what they use as their detection vectors, we can set up some sort of temporary disruption, jamming, or something else that will allow us to get past them."
Ghorev says, "I'd need more information before I can decide that, Lieutenant."
GAME: Foster spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Foster (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
GAME: Medes spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Vota contests her Personal Equipment skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Foster looks over the results of his scans, and then looks to Poole and then Ghorev. Checking Medes' scans as well, he nods. "Anyone up for a bit of mucking? We can take about ten minutes to crawl through this, slowly, and then disable the system with a well placed - and I reinforce well placed phaser shot at setting 1 or 2. That is, unless someone else has any ideas."
"Mmm. There are at least two of them, though, look here," points out Medes as she glances between the scan results. "And they need to be taken out simultaneously, or they'll trigger, and then we'll be f... it won't be good," she amends somewhat lamely, and with a cough.
Poole nods as Foster and Medes give their results and proposal. "I'm up for some mucking..." A look to Ghorev, "How about you?"
Laco finishes with the map, and passes it back up toward Poole. He then scans the security system for himself.
Vota glances between Poole and then Ghorev and then back at her own tricorder with a frown, "If you need another volunteer, I'll be glad to do it." She taps out a few more scans on her tricorder frowning deeper after seeing the same results as before.
Ghorev indicates the Bolian with an incline of his head. "It may need to be her. That sound *does* make it ... hard to concentrate." Come to think of it, he *does* look rather out of sorts.
Foster furrows his brow. "I'll go. I'm pretty athletic, and a pretty good shot with a phaser - besides, Lieutenant Poole is needed here." He looks around for any objections.
"I... will not be shooting at anything that requires precision." Medes blinks a few times, and runs a hand through her hair, holding her tricorder and glancing down at it occasionally.
Poole purses her lips as she quickly mulls it over, "Alright, Foster... Vota... I'm relying on you two to disable this thing. Be careful. And be /accurate/." She nods to the two and hands the map chip to Medes, "Give a look over, ensign," then she unholsters her phaser type II.
Laco continues to keep watch.
"We won't fail," says Vota with almost cheerful grin. She clips her tricorder back on her belt and then takes a few short steps forward before commenting, "It is a good thing I'm so patient." She then begins the slow, mucky, and agonizing process of moving toward the first target location. Her breathing shallow and silent her movements carefully controlled.
Foster hands off his other equipment, except for tricorder and phaser, to the unmucky sewer sidewalk as he also moves towards the point. "Sure hope we can get my uniform drycleaned.."
GAME: Vota spends a courage point.
GAME: Foster spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Foster contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Vota (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
The nine minute, forty-one second wait -- yes, at least Ghorev's chronometer is keeping careful track -- seems like an eternity, but ends with the sound of two overlapping phaser strikes. Within another three and a half minutes, the team -- Foster and Vota reeking of chemically treated sewage a bit more than the others -- has made a mad dash through the night-time shadows of the side courtyard of the Energy Park. it is huge, with numerous reactor plants each spitting out flashing lights and belching by-product laden vapors. Against this backdrop, this multi-sensory chiaroscuro of light, shadow, sounds, smells, and temperatures, the team eventually finds itself in the last patch of shadows, right at the base of a free standing control tower, containing the security office. At least five or six shadows can be seen throug the windows, 12 meters up in the air, and there is only one real staircase up.
<CONTEST> Poole contests her Planetary Tactics (Small-unit) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Ghorev contests his Planetary Tactics (Small-unit) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!
Foster moves along back in place with Poole, although about a foot further away to give her some 'breathing room', sometimes good tactics come with bad side effects. Or smells, in this case. He resets his phaser to high stun, holstering it to take out his tricorder and scan the figures as best he can without being seen.
Medes takes her place again, fighting a sneeze as she moves through Foster's fragrant wake at one point. Her tricorder's still out and scanning, and she adjusts it to get a better reading on what faces them above.
GAME: Medes spends a courage point.
Poole motions up at the control tower, apparently ignoring the odor from Vota and Foster, "I want a three person assault. One person each to a side window and a third to the door. Foster, you have window 1, Vota, you have window 2... I'll take the door." She double checks her phaser, then looks to the other officers, "What can we expect inside the office?"
<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Systems Engineering skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Vota contests her Systems Engineering skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Foster contests his Systems Engineering skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Poole contests her Systems Engineering skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Laco contests his Systems Engineering (Sensors) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Ghorev contests his Systems Engineering skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Foster contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!
<CONTEST> Laco contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
The still less than pleasant smelling Vota nods slowly to Poole as the order is given. With all the other people doing scans, she does not get out her own tricorder, but instead pulls out her phaser and sets it to heavy stun. She glances over to Poole awaiting further orders.
<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Personal Equipment skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
Ghorev suddenly growls. "Passive scans..." He warns, in a low, harsh tone. Oh, right. That. Because surely a security office has *no* counter-sensors that might, you know, detect if there's stray sensor or communications traffic, right? The minute Ghorev says it, it makes perfect sense to those folks who hadn't already thought of it. But clearly it's already too late, and he draws his own phaser, ready to provide cover fire so that the assault team can get up there and *fast*, in case the damage is already done.
Foster whips out his phaser, and begins to move in the opposite direction of Vota, as stealthily as a smelly man can. His eyes are focused right on the guards.
Medes opens her mouth to say something, but Ghorev gets it out first, so the smaller Engineer shuts her mouth and draws her phaser (albeit a little reluctantly) checking its setting and preparing to offer cover fire as she stuffs her tricorder away.
Poole hefts her own phaser and starts climbing the staircase, heading for the front door. She motions to either side, indicating which windows she wants Vota and Foster at.
Laco's phaser is still in his hand, raised high and ready.
Vota nods quickly to Poole and begins moving over toward the indicated window. She gives her phaser one last check and takes a deep breath to steady her nerves.
<CONTEST> Poole contests her Athletics skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!
<CONTEST> Vota contests her Athletics (Climbing) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Foster contests his Athletics (Climbing) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
The advance warning provided by the active subspace pulses gives the folks topside a few moments' warning, enough to have their weapons drawn and ready. Given more courage by the presence of the 3 aliens -- 2 Jem'Hadar and a Cardassian officer -- the four Occan security troopers stand in a firing position. One looks ready to slap the button which will sound the alarm, but the presence of Vota at the window, phaser ready, causes him to pause that split second.
<CONTEST> Ghorev contests his Athletics skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Ghorev, the element of surprise clearly blown, comes rushing up behind Poole, trying to ge a vantage point to provide her some cover. Finding one, he manages to brandish his own weapon, evening the odds more closely.
Foster hunkers down in a croutched position, silently cursing himself as he opens fire.
GAME: Foster spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Foster contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
Medes starts to head up the stairs in order to give herself a clear shot, crouching slightly as she does so and using her off hand as balance so her lowered center of gravity doesn't throw her off. Either way, she's out in the open, after all. Might as well make for the quicker offensive.
Poole curses as she doesn't quite make it into position and levels her phaser at the open doorway, takes aim at an enemy and fires.
Laco keeps his phaser ready, but does not move into a firing position.
The Bolian Ensign climbs into position with remarkable ease perhaps not realizing that the rest of the assault team didn't quite make it. While there are a number of other threats in the room, upon noticing the guard hestiating at the alarm, Vota immediately raises her phaser and fires at him.
GAME: Poole spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
GAME: Vota spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Vota contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!
<CONTEST> Medes contests her Athletics (Climbing) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
Soon, Medes and Ghorev are covering Poole while her first shot takes down one of the Occans, and Vota's takes down a second -- the one hovering above the alarm controls. Foster's modulations to shoot *through* the glass aren't as succesful and the diffracted nadions completely *vaporize* a chair insted of a Jemmie. Vota and Poole -- the others with clear vantages on the inside of the security shack -- can clearly see the Assistant Chief of Ops was going for a definite killing shot.
<CONTEST> Ghorev contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Ghorev says, "Clearly," with a low hissing, "the element of surprise is lost to us. So we might as well make this count." And with that, the andorian does something to his own phaser settings, before a wide-beam lances out, aimed not at the men inside the shack but low at the floor of the shack itself. "Careful where you step, team."
<CONTEST> Foster (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
GAME: Medes spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Vota (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Poole takes another step up the stairway, her features twisting as she sees one of the chairs vaporize under Foster's attack. She hisses, "Watch your fire!" Her weapon is aimed at the Cardassian and fired.
Laco continues to remain at the ground level.
<CONTEST> Laco contests his Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Laco contests his Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
There is a flurry of fire. Vota picks off another Occan through the window, without breaking the pane, thanks to some careful modulation of her phaser, and Medes, somehow, fires between Poole's legs to give pause to the Jem'Hadar who is just about to barrel forward at Poole. Alas, Foster's shot isn't so lucky, and the high-energy beam -- still clearly set to disrupt -- *shatters* the security glass in a spray of shards. The confusion works both for and against the team, since it's a noticible occurance, but also distracts the occupants of the shack even more than, for instance Poole and Vota. It also, yes, removes the pane between Foster and the remaining enemies.
Ghorev gives up on the idea of shooting the floor, and rushes forward, taking advantage of the element of surprise. "HIT HIM HIGH!" he shouts at Poole, as he goes for the Jem'Hadar 'low', trying to clip him at the knees.
Foster curses, holstering the hand held and pulling the rifle off of his shoulder, setting it for kill and aiming at the Jem'Hadar that Ghorev isn't attacking, and squeezing off a shot.
Medes manages to shoot between Poole's legs? And not shoot her? Bonus! Half-grinning, now, the little Engineer trains her weapon on the Cardassian and fires.
Poole doesn't even have time to grunt a response at Ghorev before she leaps forward and high at the Jem'Hadar, trying to get a Mok'bara style grip on the thing's neck. What a viscious little chihuahua.
Laco suddenly begins firing wide-beam phaser blasts at something. He yells up to the others, "You got about ten damn seconds to get control of the base defenses, or things are gonna get really ugly!"
Vota's face has been impassive this entire time. She has just picking a target and firing and then selecting another as they went down. As more energy blasts crisscross the room, she fires yet again saying nothing reacting apparently to nothing.
GAME: Ghorev spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Ghorev (claiming advantage) contests his Unarmed Combat (Wrestling) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
GAME: Poole spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Unarmed Combat (Mok'bara) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Foster (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
GAME: Laco spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Laco (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Vota (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
GAME: Ghorev spends a courage point.
GAME: Poole spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Ghorev (claiming advantage) contests his Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
GAME: Foster spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Foster (claiming advantage) contests his Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
<CONTEST> Vota contests her Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
The moment comes and goes in a rush: Poole and Ghorev move nothing like a well oiled machine, but manage with a loud slam to take the first Jem'Hadar, and themselves, out of Foster's line of fire. The second Jem'Hadar grabs Poole by the shoulders, but her skill in the Klingon martial arts is just enough to keep the killing blow from landing, or her neck from snapping -- just as the Jemmie is about to turn the tide, Foster's shot snaps off, and the large spiny warrior roars as the nadion lance begins the second-long eternity in which he is dissipated to his component particles. The first Jem'Hadar, driven to the ground with an oomph, cannot fire, his weapon skittering from his hand, but the Occan and the Cardassian manage to tag *both* window snipers with lucky shots.
<CONTEST> Vota contests her Fitness skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Foster contests his Fitness skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
Ghorev, with a savage roar of his own -- the kind of roar that most folks don't ever want to hear from the Second Officer -- applies far more pressure to the fallen Jem'Hadar's leg than a bone should be able to bear. "SOMEONE GET THE CONTROLS!"
Foster grunts under the blow of the blast, reeling backwards, the rifle slipping off of his shoulder and down and loops around, catching on his wrist as he falls backwards.
Scrambling up the rest of the stairs, Medes makes a mad dash for the controls, eyes flickering over them as she orients herself.
Unwilling to place all of the pressure on Medes, Poole climbs past the unarmed Jem'Hadar and into the security area to help if she needs it, "Hurry!"
Laco continues blasting away at whatever it is he blasting away at.
Vota grits her teeth as an energy beam strikes her shoulder. Her left shoulder and head swimming with pain, she barely manage to stop herself from falling backward as she mutters to herself, "I can't join you yet brother." She raises her phaser and fires off another round at the remaining security personnel.
<CONTEST> Laco (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Ghorev (claiming advantage) contests his Unarmed Combat (Wrestling) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
GAME: Poole spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Computer skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Vota (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Systems Engineering skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
<CONTEST> Medes contests her Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
<CONTEST> Foster (claiming advantage) contests his Athletics (Climbing) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
There is a loud snap as Ghorev breaks the leg of the Jem'Hadar in two places -- at knee and hip -- with a textbook /hleshvalath/ maneuver. This, combined with the phaser fire and the head-striking-floor, overloads even the Jimmie's pain tolerance. Vota's cover fire keeps Poole from taking a backshot from the Cardassian, but the remaining Occan manages to grab Medes away from the controls before she can pop a panel. Down below, Laco's cover fire buys the team just a little bit more time, but only a little bit....
Ghorev rolls off the Jem'Hadar and tries to make it two-for-two, barrelling under the fire-sights of the Cardassian to take his legs out, as well. "Some. Help. Here!"
Foster manages to stop himself from falling, his head still swimming as he dives in the window - rolls - and pops up at the controls, and tries to aid Poole as best he can.
Medes doesn't struggle to get away, rather just jams her phaser against the ribcage of the Occan who's grabbed her and fires. "Get your goddamned hands off of me, motherfucker." This is accompanied by a rather feral snarl from the tiny engineer.
Poole focusses intently on the console, working with Foster's help as she does so... "Bloody work, damn it..."
Laco continues firing, his shots becoming more panicked. "I realize I'm not exactly vital to this mission here, sirs, but I'd *REALLY* appreciate some assistance down here!" he yells, his voice starting to become frantic.
Seeing that the internal situation is beginning to stabilize with almost all the guards disabled and multiple officers inside, Vota turns and glances down at Laco attempting to see what it is he is firring at. If she sees a hostile, she will take a shot.
<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Laco (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
GAME: Vota spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Computer (Data Alteration) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
<CONTEST> Vota (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Ghorev (claiming advantage) contests his Unarmed Combat (Wrestling) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
GAME: Foster spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Foster (claiming advantage) contests his Computer skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
<CONTEST> Foster (claiming advantage) contests his Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
Alas, Ghorev doesn't quite get enough of a grip on the Cardassian to prevent him from firing wide-beam at the folks at the console. Poole gets tagged, though Foster's slump against the console and Medes' partial grapple from the last Occan cause them to avoid the brunt of the shot. The Occan slumps away from Medes. Vota and Laco keep the team outside from rushing the shack, and with only the one Cardassian left as a threat, it's soon all over. Poole and Foster, within the shack, are both jangled a bit from the phaser fire, and it becomes clear that Vota can't stay out on that ledge much longer from her own injuries.
Ghorev rushes from the Cardassian to the console. "We have to bypass these locks. Once we do that, we can knock down the primary shield grid, and maybe get some assistance from the outside world."
Foster says, "I just wanna slam this thing, preferabley with that Occan's skull!" He mutters as he furiously works the console, wanting to aid Lt. Poole, but instead focusing on his task. "And someone help Ensign Vota!"
Medes pushes the Occan away from her as he starts to slump so that he falls clear and out of the way. Phaser still in one hand, she starts to move back to the console, muttering to herself, "That's right. And keep your goddamned hands off me." This degenerates into a quiet spiel of words that are definitely not family-friendly, and really creatively and illustratively used, as she turns away from the console and scrambles over bodies to help Vota. A moment's struggle with the window locks, and it slides open.
Poole gets knocked away from the console by the tag, but pushes back up from her knees. "Hurry... help Laco..." She begins, a bit disoriented, to unsling her phaser rifle from her back and stumbles to the door... oh yes, to give cover fire, /dazed/ cover fire, to Lieutenant Laco.
Laco continues firing, but seems to be taking more time to aim.
Vota's aim seems to be get a bit more erratic, but she is, at least, providing cover fire. It is perhaps fortunate that Medes heads over to slide open the door since the Bolian looks if she's is going to fall at any moment.
GAME: Ghorev spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Foster (claiming advantage) contests his Computer skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
<CONTEST> Ghorev (claiming advantage) contests his Systems Engineering (Computer) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Vota (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Laco (claiming advantage) 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 Challenging and Fails!
The cover fire continues to be effective, long enough for Ghorev to pop open a console and cross some primitive isolinear processors with a grunt of satisfaction. Soon, the console is ready for access. Medes helps Vota in after that last round of cover fire, and Foster and Vota seem a bit more steady now, though still wounded.
The access finally achieved to the computer, Foster furiously begins to lower the planetary shields so that those above can lend assistance.
Once Vota's inside and most definitely not dead, Medes rushes back across to provide assistance with the lowering of shields and suchlike. Things that go beep! She's so there. Also, no longer cursing.
Poole decides to take another shot, "Laco, get /up/ here!" Her aim is a bit steadier now, and before she takes another shot, she double checks it's on heavy stun, and returns to giving Laco cover fire.
<CONTEST> Foster contests his Shipboard Systems skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Laco fires a few more shots for effect, not really aimed at anything, then jogs toward the stairway.
As Vota is helped inside, she takes a moment to slump down against the wall and take a few deep breaths. She glances down at her shoulder, the wound mostly being naturally caterized, but the pain is still quite distracting.
Within a moment or three more, before Ghorev can even get out of his crouched position, Foster's cue is apparently taken, and he has the security cannons whirling and firing. This makes a shot that *would* have hit Laco score the metal by the Science officer's foot a split second after that foot leaves that place. It's that close a call, over all. A moment or three more, and the entire team is secure in the bunker-on-stilts.
Ghorev says, "Decision time," to Lieutenant Poole "We can take down the shields in this part of the bunker and hope they're doing well enough in orbit to give us site-to-site and get us into the main control area. Or we can spend the time taking down every mother's son in the courtyard and then walk over the fallen bodies to our objective. Either way, not very pretty."
Poole quickly notes the number of injuries the team has already sustained and says, "Take the shields down... We'll try to do a site-to-site. I don't think we'll last another battle."
Foster pants heavy, holding his chest with his unphaser-holding hand, a big burn mark tainting his uniform. "Either way, you all go. I'll hold the fort here." Eyes clench for a second as beads of sweat run down his face, momentarily stinging his eyes.
Medes runs a hand through her hair, the sweat making her mud-colored crop-cut stand up in thick spikes. It'd be amusing, if anyone were paying enough attention to be amused by her new "porcupine" look. Her eyes flicker up to Poole, then to Ghorev, and she just waits for orders.
Poole taps her comm badge, "Lieutenant JG Poole to Lt Commander Edwards."
Laco watches the auto-defenses automatically defend.
Over Poole's comm badge a voice answers, "Lt Commander Edwards here."
Vota slowly stands up wincing, "I might not be too mobile, but I can still shoot my weapon. If you need a team to help secure this area, I'm more than happy to volunteer, Lieutenant." She leans up against the wall after her statement glancing down at her phaser.
Outside, alert noises sound, and the defense cannons blast away. Clearly, one could turn off the alert, but the cannon firing would make that a moot point. The control console shows that the troops outside *are* calling for reinforcements via communits, though.
Into her comm badge, Poole says, "Sir, we've secured a position inside the Energy Park, but we've yet to breech deep within the facility... we won't be able to bring down the planetary shields and transport inhibitors until we do. Could you possibly beam me, Lt. Ghorev, Lt Laco and Ensign Medes, further within the complex? As close as possible to our objective? It'll be within the deep core area near my current position."
Into her comm badge, Poole adds, "We've brought the local shields down."
Ghorev says, "Mister Foster, we're going to need those shields down *now*, or you'll make liars out of Lieutenant Poole and I."
From Poole's comm badge, Edwards says, "We'll see what we can do. But you have to hurry, Gwen. Dakin's team called for an extraction and they have wounded."
<CONTEST> Foster contests his Shipboard Systems skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Into her comm badge, Poole says, "Absolutely understood, sir...... if you can get us close, it won't take long."
Foster says, "Aye aye, sir," Foster furrows his brow as he goes to work, "Sir, an attempt is being made for override.."
Ghorev climbs up the rusty ladder and disappears.
Ghorev has left.
Foster comes up out of the sewers via a manhole.
Foster has arrived.
Vota comes up out of the sewers via a manhole.
Vota has arrived.
Poole comes up out of the sewers via a manhole.
Poole has arrived.
Medes comes up out of the sewers via a manhole.
Medes has arrived.
Foster says, "Aye aye, sir," Foster furrows his brow as he goes to work, "Sir, an attempt is being made for override.." Drops of sweat hit the panel as he works, "Got it. They're down, sir."
Laco comes up out of the sewers via a manhole.
Laco has arrived.
Foster says, "Aye aye, sir," Foster furrows his brow as he goes to work, "Sir, an attempt is being made for override.." Drops of sweat hit the panel as he works, "Got it. They're down, sir."
Poole reaches up and taps her comm badge, ending transmission.
Less than 2 or 3 seconds after Foster makes that last statement, the super-heterodyne whine of the transporter beam wraps up Ghorev, Poole, Laco, and Medes. When the beam clears, they are elsewhere, leaving Foster and Vota to operate the security station.
Poole enters the reactor control center.
Poole has left.
Ghorev enters the reactor control center.
Ghorev has left.
Laco enters the reactor control center from the outside.
Laco has arrived.
Medes enters the reactor control center from the outside.
Medes has arrived.
Denied the ability to use the security sensors to see the team coming and prepare, the Jem'Hadar squadron stands by the lift, weapons trained on it. Thereare four of them. Nearby, a dozen Occans scurry around the reactor controls, while a thirtheenth seems to be 'in charge'. The Jem'Hadar hear the beam in time to react, but not in time enough to open fire before the team has its own bearings...
And what is there to do but fire at Jem'Hadar? Nothing! Thus, that's what Medes does, firing as she looks for cover to duck behind. Sometimes it's good to be the little one.
Poole follows suit, having recovered her phaser type II, Poole's preferred (tm) weapon of choice. She doesn't hesitate, except to aim at a Jem'Hadar and fire, moving for cover as well.
Laco opens fire on a Jem'Hadar.
<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Laco (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
GAME: Laco spends a courage point.
GAME: Medes spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Ghorev (claiming advantage) contests his Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Laco (claiming advantage) contests his Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Ghorev contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Somehow, the entire team manages to find cover before the shooting starts. Two Jem'Hadars are tagged in the resultant display of fire, but only one is hit hard enough to go down. Seeing that *none* of the Fleeters are down, and that they are still taking heavy fire with no reinforcements coming, one of the Jemmies moves towads the reactor console, his mates providing cover fire, while he himself bodily hurls the Occan 'supervisor' to one side. Clearly, something is about to happen.
Ghorev shouts "He's going for the controls! Cover me!" And takes off in a mad dash, throwing himself at the Jem'Hadar. This is not good.
Medes shoot. Medes hit! Medes not get shot in return! Go Team Ghorev Go! Taking aim at one of the Jem'Hadar providing cover fire, the little engineer that could prays she can again, grinning her wolfiest grin.
"You heard him!" Poole shouts, leaning out from her cover briefly to fire again at one of the Jem'Hadar. "Bag the buggers!"
Laco trains his weapon at one of the other Jem'Hadar, covering for Ghorev. There is an tight smile on his face, and the crystal embedded in his cranium takes on an eerie aspect as the light of energy weapons hits it.
<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Dodge 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!
<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Ghorev (claiming advantage) contests his Unarmed Combat (Wrestling) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
<CONTEST> Laco (claiming advantage) contests his Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
<CONTEST> Laco (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Ghorev (claiming advantage) contests his Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
GAME: Laco spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Laco contests his Fitness (Vitality) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
GAME: Poole spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Fitness (Vitality) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
The concentrated fire gives Ghorev the leeway to launch himself at the Jem'Hadar. Alas, the genetically bred warrior has more strength and speed than Ghorev, who currently lacks the element of surprise and the assist from Poole to get the inital hold. Though the Jem'Hadar's counterstrike with the butt of his rifle likewise fails, and he does not succeed in what he was doing, he and Ghorev are at stalemate. His companions are pinned down in a hail of fire, one more even dropping, but not without price -- Laco is tagged, and Poole, too. The former is stunned a bit, the latter somehow manages to hang on to consciousness. The Occan workers look *stunned* to see Ghorev wrestling with the Jem'Hadar. Confused, even.
Ghorev tries to avoid the point-blank polaron beam shot, using the console as a springboard to get some kind of grip on the larger, stronger man.
"Shut it down!" Medes screams at the 'supervisor' from her place of cover, even as she takes aim at the remaining non-Ghorev-wrestling Jem'Hadar. "Shut it down! /Please!/ We're here to help you!"
Laco takes careful aim at the face of a Jem'Hadar, poised to take him out. Smiling smugly, he begins to press the firing stud.....and gets nailed in the hip, spoiling his aim and sending him to the ground.
Poole brings her weapon up one more time, this time crying out to the crowd as Medes does, "Somebody stop that Jem'Hadar!... he's going to try and blow the reactor!" Says this while she gets up and makes a run for Ghorev, Poole to the rescue!
<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
GAME: Medes spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Command skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Command skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
<CONTEST> Laco contests his Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Ghorev (claiming advantage) contests his Unarmed Combat (Wrestling) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Ghorev (claiming advantage) contests his Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
Somehow, things start to cohere, but again it is not without cost. Almost immediately after her brief oration, Station 419's Littlest Engineer That Could takes a shot just as she's a'givin' one. As she reels, Poole's own shot wounds and distracts the Jem'Hadar at the console just long enough for Ghorev to shove him sprawling away, narrowly dodging a killing blast that tears at the deck plating. And Laco ... well, ... that's a good question...
Ghorev pulls his weapon, not fool enough to try his luck any further. "STAY DOWN!" he barks at the Jem'Hadar, firing anyway to ensure the command is followed involuntarily.
A string of blue-but-not-in-an-Andorian-way language flies out of Medes' mouth as she's tagged in the shoulder and tumbles to the ground. Trying to keep to cover, she takes a second to recover before starting to crawl one-handed around the long way toward the controls, heading that way so she can stay behind stuff and still be moving. "Poole, take him out, please, I'm going for it. Fuck. Can't fire. Ow." Cue another string of extremely explicit curses describing the Jem'Hadar in question and several really painful sexually-oriented violations involving a phaser rifle.
Poole tries to reach the Occan crowd again, "/Come/ /on/... /help/ /us/, can't you bloody see you're on the wrong side?" as her weapon is quickly aimed at the other wounded Jem'Hadar and fired.
Laco struggles to his feet, and charges away from the group, possibly because he's a coward.
<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
<CONTEST> Ghorev contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Fails!
<CONTEST> Ghorev (claiming advantage) contests his Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Poole (claiming advantage) contests her Command skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
It is almost a ballet of weapons fire. Ghorev, as he pulls the trigger, drops down beneath the fire from the fallen Jem'Hadar, being missed by a hair but missing him in turn. Poole, however, is backshot by the last warrior just as she puts the lights out on the one that is exchanging fire with Ghorev. Her nervous system is by this point overloaded, and she slumps. But this seems to break the spell the Occans were under, in a way -- a few of them start to shout, shocked by the sight of such a beautiful woman downed trying to save them from fanatical Jem'Hadar. THe last thing Poole sees before consciousness fades is the wave of human bodies running in an undisciplined wave to overwhelm the fallen Jem'Hadar and charge the one still firing, wounded, from behind a vantage point.
Ghorev, noting the Jem'Hadar still behind cover to be more than a match for the half a dozen unarmed human techs running his way, seems suddenly to take pity on the poor doomed men and tries his best to provide them with some kind of support. Dropping to one knee, he fires pot-shots at the Jem'Hadar.
Medes continues to crawl her way toward the control panel, one-arming it the whole way and keeping her phaser in her good hand. This -- combined with the fact that the workers are running around and jumping over her in their attempts to get to the Jem'Hadar -- slows her progress considerably, as she gets kicked in the ribs once and almost catches an errant knee to the head; however, she manages to make it there and pull herself up to a standing position, cursing creatively the whole way. Many a dropped wrench or singed hand in the shuttle bay went into such amazing talent in the spoken profane word.
Laco skids to a stop in front of a console, and starts punching commands in franticly.
GAME: Laco spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Laco (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Engineering) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
As Laco works the controls frantically, Ghorev's cover fire helps some, perhaps, but not enough. At least two Occan men are blown to the deck by the last standing Jem'Hadar before the others leap on him. The six nearby continue pummelling the already fallen.
Ghorev holsters his phaser haphazardly and starts punching commands on the unfamiliar console. "Come on, come on!"
<CONTEST> Medes contests her Shipboard Systems skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
Still dizzy, and leaning her hips against the console in order to steady herself, Medes punches a forefinger at the unfamiliar display, wrinkling up her forehead. The cursing? It does not abate, probably though not definitely a signal that she has not yet successfully accomplished what she's trying to do.
Laco continues typing away, "Work *GODDAMMIT* work!" He calls to the others, "Are there any doors you can close to block out reinforcements!?" Then he notices the others aren't in very good shape, "Eh...nevermind..."
<CONTEST> Laco (claiming advantage) contests his Shipboard Systems (Engineering) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Ghorev contests his Shipboard Systems (Engineering) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
Laco screams and grabs his forehead, nearly falling to the deck. He catches himself with his free hand, and manages to type something into the console, which makes a happy-beep. As he falls, he whacks his compin.
Ghorev, at first on his own but then, as he sees evidence of Laco's success across his own commandeered console piggybacking on the science officer's success, manages to complete the command to bring down the power grid *NOW*. He doesn't even notice Laco fall at first. With a whooping cry of "Yes, yes, *YES*, and Great Jumping /OPRATHA!/," he slams a blue fist down on the console to give the final command. There is a loud hum which springs from nothing, then builds to a crescendo, then dies again, and as it does, so do the lights. In an instant, but for the emergency lighting and the consoles themselves ... the world goes dark. There are the sounds of panic, of cries of joy and horror and war, of weapons fire ... but for the Poole-Ghorev Team, all that matters is that one voice in the darkness, weak and faint...
Laco says, "Laco to Fleet Command...the shields are down. Six to beam up; Occa is yours."
"Fuck. Yes." That profound statement leaves Medes' lips right about the time her knees give out; she slides down the front of the console and her head thuds against it as the adrenaline starts to wear off and her eyes unfocus. "Laco. Kick. Ass."
And with that appropriate summary of the situation, there is the whine of a transporter beam....and the darkness fades in light .... The large transporter bay of the USS Thomas Paine comes into view, and the last thing the wounded hear is the fussing of the medics before the post-action exhaustion sets in. Ghorev can be heard saying "Team Gamma reporting in" as medics carry Poole, Laco, Medes, Vota, and Foster off...
