Dagger of Freedom: Armies of White

 Episode Name:  DoF - Armies of White

   Written By:  Belgarath

         Cast:  Belgarath, Duncan, Havaris, Loerd, Malloy, Turtledove and Zian.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Belgarath

     Aired On:  Mon Oct 14 03:22:02 2002

     Stardate:  52703.8

Time: Sun Oct 13 20:20:29 2002

Stardate: 52703.1

You are gathered in a briefing room aboard the USS Aegis, which has given you a little time to converse with one another and to 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.

"Brave souls of the Dulcais Sector Alliance fleet," begins the admiral, "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."

A few moments after the announcement the door to the mission room opens and a female Bolian enters. "Hello, I'm Lieutenant Thena Dok and I'll be your briefing officer. We have a few things to cover so I'll get right down to it. First of all, you're going to be deployed today using a highly classified technology. It is going to allow us to slip you unseen down to the surface, but, due to the critical value of this new method, it's classified up to the Admiral level and any discussion of this procedure by any of you, even in your personal logs, will be considered a most grievous act and will bring to face the most stern punishment under the Wartime Martial Code. Next, it will be night time on the surface where you will set down which should help you move about more discretely. You will be deployed to a campground about a mile from your target outside of New Florida. A group of the Occan resistance is supposed to meet you there, but if they have not done so within fifteen minutes, you should follow the mission data we have installed in your tricorders and carry on alone. Intelligence shows that there are roving patrols of security where you are going, and as they seem to include Siinogan troops, you should be particularly careful as the insectoids seem to have more evolved natural sensory abilities. It is believed that a total of twenty Jem'Hadar soldiers are stationed there, with an unknown number of Siinogans."

"What you are going after is the suspected Ketracel White manufacturing facility on the planet," she continues. "Something the Dominion's Siinogan allies have developed and are running. In the case that you are not familiar with Ketracel White, it's a highly complicated drug that acts as the fuel for the Jem'Hadar biological machine. It's their food, it's their drink, it's their life. Prolonged time without the White does induce them to madness then death, so, cutting off their supply limits their number in cloned troopers and tightens their already truncated supply lines. Despite what you may think, the capture of this facility has immense long term strategic importance to our efforts in this sector and beyond. Starfleet Intelligence wants you to disable the facility but not destroy it, they hope that capturing it intact might help them better understand the Ketracel White and possibly help them isolate a method to cut off the Jem'Hadar dependence on it, which may undermine their loyalty to the Founders. This means not only must you take it, but you must hold it until other operations on the planet allow for the ground forces to deploy and liberate it from Dominion control."

. o O Loerd thinks "I picked a good day to transfer out here. . ."

Pausing only to take a short breath, the Bolian then states, "The best way to capture the facility is to covertly reach either the control center or the power plant. The control center can lock down the station so no one can escape with the Ketracel Whites, but the power plant is what will lower the shield grid once reinforcements arrive. Either way, both locations would likely need to be hit. We have a few moments for some questions if you have any."

Havaris raises a hand, "Sir, will we be going to the surface in the guise of Occans, or in our BDU's?"

Loerd raises a hand, "Sir, if we're going after a power plant I'm going to need an engineering kit just in case."

Malloy frowns throughout the briefing, turning his head to Havaris when he speaks up to ask his question. Nodding his head in approval, he leans back slightly, awaiting the answer, apparently having nothing to contribute for the moment.

Zian nods her head slightly at Havaris as he voices her question. But she quickly comes up with another one to replace it. "Sir, how large of a sample of the White do we need? I understand that ideally we'd like to keep the whole facility intact, but... worst case scenario, how much do I need to get my hands on?"

Turtledove leans back, looking pretty relaxed. "And, if we are going to be impersonating Occans, what sort of gear are we going to be packing?"

Duncan raises a hand and asks. "Are we to expect any Cardassian presence at this station, and if so, how do we proceed if they offer assistance?"

. o O Havaris thinks "Kill them? Nah..."

Lieutenant Dok quickly answers the questions as they are given to her, "BDU's. All necessary equipment for this mission will be dispersed, including engineering kits. A case is the very least we can make much use out of, but as you said, capturing all of them is preferable." She disregards Turtledove's question, as that will not be the case. "There will be Cardassian personnel, yes. If they offer aid, then accept it - but never turn your backs to them. Do not trust them easily."

Havaris lowers his hand, shaking his head with a wry expression, "Not a problem on that account, Lieutenant. Worst case scenario, we can't hold the line, the enemy is going to overtake our position. What are our orders? Die at our posts, blow the thing?" He's hoping for the latter, of course.

Loerd stares at the table.

Malloy taps the fingers of his right hand slowly on the table, maybe not a nervous gesture, but rather one telling of too much stowed up energy. "What kind of backup can we call in in case there are obstacles in our way which we cannot take care of?"

Zian nods slightly at the answer to her question, her glance flicking over to Havaris as he asks another. "Wouldn't do us much good to die at our posts if the Jemmies get their White back, Kusto." she observes.

Duncan nods gravely and mutters, "Trust Cardassians easily? No problem there."

Turtledove regards the Bolian with quiet interest, waiting to hear her response to these new and interesting questions.

"If the worst comes to worst," Dok says, cooly staring at Havaris, "then yes, try to destroy the factory. But you must make sure that the enemy cannot regain control of the factory and stop the destruction before you escape." To Malloy, "There will be no backup until the fleet arrives at the planet - which will not be for several hours. This is a covert mission, overcoming the obstacles will be left up to the resources you have." She then regards Duncan, "The message from Damar may be official. Do try not killing them if they do not resist."

"Understood, Sir." Havaris meets the gaze of the Bolian, accepting the answer to the question he asked with no more or less cock-surety than when he had asked it. Having no further questions, he glances about to see if any other hands go up.

Loerd nods slightly.

Malloy mmhmms, then nods, leaning back expectantly again.

Zian nods quietly as the Bolian confirms her thoughts on the matter. She clasps her hands behind her back, breathing deeply and listening attentively.

Turtledove remains quiet and relaxed, and clearly has no further questions.

Duncan nods to the Bolian. "Not a problem there either Ma'am. I'm not that type, and I don't think anyone on this team is either."

"Good," Dok says with a nod. With no more questions forthcoming, she leads the team to the equipment room. Everything, from BDUs to tricorders to a variety of phasers to kits to nightvision goggles can be found here. "Please suit up. I will return momentarily." With that, she exits. A console in the room shows which items are absolutely required for the mission.

. o O Loerd thinks "Ok.. that's Duncan.. But the rest.. Well I guess I'll figure out who they are as we go along."

Mmm. Tasty. Havaris actually wriggles his fingers in delight as he goes about plucking up the various items of his fancy. Grenades, Lots of. Nightvision Goggles, one set. Tricorder, one. Phaser, Type II. Phaser, Type III. He goes about balancing out his equipment, as he had pre-packed before coming aboard. Did he mention the grenades? Grenades. Mmm. Grenades.

Loerd as she grabs her equipment she says, "Umm.. for those of you I haven't met before today. I'm Jetta Loerd."

Malloy heads over to the equipment room, then starts drawing gear as he sees fit. The usual fare of BDUs, tricorder, phasers type II and III for good measure, No grenades for him though, he actually makes a point not to choose any. "Craig Malloy," he volunteers, checking his medkit and tricorder. "Anything else we should take, LT?"

Turtledove strolls over and takes, in sequence, a knife, goggles, Type III, Type II, tricorder, and 5 grenades. Yes, only 5. She give Loerd a friendly smile and nod. "Ensign Turtledove. Nice to meet you.", then she strolls off to the side and casually checks over her equipment.

Duncan checks the charge on his temporal tricorder, then picks up a type IIIc, a type II, and attaches them to a web belt along with spare charge packs for them. As an afterthought he picks up some night vision goggles, and a set of BDU's. Then turns to Loerd. "Mycroft Duncan at your service." extending a newly spotless hand to the other Trill.

Dok returns, frowning as she comes to a stop a little past the door. "Do remember that the mission objective is to capture the factory. Intact. Use of grenades should be very limited, since Siinogan technology is not well-studied and could very well cause unwanted cascade reactions."

"These are for keeping them out, Sir, not for getting us in. And besides," Kusto bobbles a grenade in hand, "they make body disposal more of a pretense than a chore." Kusto clips the last to his bandolier and rises back to his feet, slinging up his pack and his rifle, checking the type II at his side to make sure it's fast. "Lt. JG Havaris Kusto, Loerd."

Loerd Grabs all the engineering equipment she can find along with a type I and type II phaser. Finally picking up some BDUs and night vision goggles. Nodding and shaking the various hands as she grins slightly. "Looks like I picked a good day to join the crew."

Malloy takes a deep breath, then straightens up, checking his rifle one more time. "Alright then..." he mutters to himself. Louder, "You and me, Loerd, you and me...."

Zian sorts through the available equipment, taking a medkit, night vision goggles, a phaser, a tricorder. Glancing down, she checks the hrisal sheathed at her waist, an odd look washing over her face as she draws the gleaming, sharp blade.

Turtledove's mouth quirks up subtly on one side as she glances over at Havaris, then looks back at Dok, her expression having neutralized nicely in transit. She nods curtly, acknowledging the Bolian's warning. "Understood, sir." She continues to examine and check her equipment, a sort of methodical mellowness to her movements.

Duncan grins over at Zian. "Expecting to do some carving while we're dirt side?" then turns around back around to the equipment racks revealing a sword strapped across his back.

Lieutenant Dok glances on her PADD. "You know your mission; I'll reiterate. With Lieutenant Havaris in command, and upon reaching the appointed beam-down spot on the Occa surface, meet up with the Occa liberation force. If they do not appear after fifteen minutes, go on without them. Capture the factory and lower the shield grid when the reinforcement fleet arrives and alerts you. Make sure the enemy is not able to transport the Whites out of the factory." She allows everyone to finish suiting up, then leads them to the transporter pad. "Please step on the pad and prepare for transport."

Havaris steps onto the transporter pad, slings his rifle off his shoulder, bracing it across his arm at a ready and waiting position. He motions the rest of the team on up, offering Turtledove a glance and -- of all things -- a wink.

Loerd steps onto the pad shouldering her kit and checking her type II phaser.

Malloy follows Havaris and Loerd to the pad, checking his rifle before looking up again. "Let's roll..." he comments.

Zian smiles grimly at Duncan. "You never know. I figured it's better to be safe than sorry. Jaylas and Prythra taught me to use a hrisal, and Prythra gave me a genuine Andorian blade for my birthday... this is as good a time as any to be prepared to put my skills to the test." She finishes gathering her gear, and takes her place behind Kusto on the transporter. "Right on your ass, as ordered, sir," she murmurs.

Turtledove shoulders her phaser rifle and takes her place among the crowd. She then slides the weapon into her hands and quietly awaits transport.

Duncan follows the others up and takes his place on an empty pad and comments to Zian "Lets hope we can keep them a bit further off than arms reach."

Dok walks behind the transporter console and enters in the appropriate coordinates. "Please close your eyes. Engaging transporter." There is a sensation of disorientation, followed by a cool breeze blowing against your face. The new surroundings are that of a campground surrounded by woods. It is night and the nocturnal creatures are making a variety of noises somewhere in the trees.

Havaris is issuing orders almost before he's regained a sense of ground beneath his feet. "Form a perimeter. Zian, get me some life sign readings. Circle up. Malloy, Loerd never leaves your side. If you can, find some cover everyone. Stay within eyesight of one another." Havaris, for his part, takes a few steps to find some cover behind a tree, motioning Zian along with him.

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

Loerd pulls out her tricorder as she moves with Malloy.

Malloy moves slightly to the left with Loerd, nodding to a pair of trees to take cover behind. "Stay close to me. With some luck, I will draw the fire, so you can avenge me..." He chuckles softly, looking around, not really relaxed, but more or less calm. "And don't hesitate to tell me things you are not sure about. I'd rather have you err once too often than ignore something which might bite us."

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

Zian crouches down beside Havaris, pulling out her tricorder and flipping it open. "Not detecting anyone but us, Kusto..." she murmurs. "But give me a minute to fiddle with it, and I'll try to make sure there aren't any shrouded Jemmies peeking over our shoulders..."

Turtledove nods curtly to Havaris, and steps back into the cover of the trees, seeking a compromise between reasonable camouflage and completing the squarish circle that seems to be evolving, as ordered.

Duncan not having been given any specific orders, moves up to Havaris's other side and takes a quick passive scan of the area.

After the fifteen minutes of waiting has passed, the Occan underground has not showed up.

GAME: Zian spends a courage point.

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

<CONTEST> Duncan contests his Personal Equipment (Temporal Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

"Keep quiet, everyone. No unneeded chatter, okay?" Havaris keeps his back to the tree, his rifle at the ready. The goggles are lowered over his eyes so that he can have a better look at the campground and his surroundings. Aside from the fingers drumming on the barrel of his rifle, he's rather calm seeming. Impatient, but calm. Zian's only answer is a nod, as he's following his own orders. The minutes pass, the underground doesn't show, and Havaris's fingers cease their thrumming. "Alright." He glances about his team, then back towards the east, frowning. "Turtledove, take point. I'll follow with Zian at my back. Then Malloy and Loerd. Duncan, you've got our rear. Move out. Keep your spacing. Loerd keep your scans coming while you're back there. You, too, Zian."

Loerd snaps her tricorder close and places it back on her belt, "I concur, no life-threatening life forms nearby Sir." She pulls the night vision goggles over her head and readies them for use.

Malloy readies his goggles, takes a deep breath, then grips his rifle a bit tighter. Nodding to Havaris, he motions Loerd to fall in behind him.

Zian nods silently at Havaris, her fingers dancing over the touchpads of her tricorder. After a moment she releases a soft, frustrated sigh. "If there are any Jem'Hadar around, Lieutenant, I'm not detecting them."

Turtledove acknowledges the order by following it, slipping out of the cover of trees for a moment, and then starting off on the designated path, with goggles engaged and weapon at the ready.

Duncan standing near Havaris, says quietly. "According to my scans the objective is about a kilometer away. Am using passive scans to avoid alerting anyone."

<CONTEST> Loerd contests her Planetside Survival (Forest) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Dramatically Fails!

GAME: Duncan spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Havaris contests his Planetside Survival (Forest) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

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

<CONTEST> Duncan (claiming advantage) contests his Planetside Survival (Forest) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Zian (claiming advantage) contests her Planetside Survival (Forest) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Malloy contests his Planetside Survival (Forest) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

Zian steps off the trail that leads to the campground.

Zian has arrived.

Malloy steps off the trail that leads to the campground.

Malloy has arrived.

Havaris steps off the trail that leads to the campground.

Havaris has arrived.

Turtledove steps off the trail that leads to the campground.

Turtledove has arrived.

Loerd steps off the trail that leads to the campground.

Loerd has arrived.

Duncan steps off the trail that leads to the campground.

Duncan has arrived.

Half an hour into the journey of tough terrain, and after some unsightly cases of bumps and bruises, Loerd's passive scanning tricorder picks up on something unusual, which soon turns out to be the mauled remains of some Occans.

Havaris keeps the column moving through the forest, breaking rank as necessary to help people down and out and through the various stages of their journey. Ever since Loerd's injury, the Bajoran's demeanor has been markedly annoyed. Such that he's not actually speaking to Malloy -- or at least, hasn't spoken to him since the sprain happened. Once the news of the mauled Occans is reported, his demeanor drops all the more. "Fantastic. Ten to one that's our welcome party." He looks into the direction of the dead, then back ahead to the Ketracel White factory. "As much a I hate to say it? We have our orders. Let's keep moving. No more general scans unless ordered. Duncan? See if you can find any unfriendlies up ahead."

Loerd, limping along, pulls out her type II phaser. "Phaser settings sir?"

Malloy did his best under the circumstances for Loerd, simply giving up on Turtledove for the moment. Grabbing his rifle, looking around slowly, full of concentration, he swivels his attention back and forth, a bit uneasy just when his attention wanders over Havaris each time.

Zian has a stricken look on her face after having looked over the mauled bodies of the Occans. "Do we have a moment to try and determine what killed them, and when, sir? Might be useful to know what's out there waiting for us."

Turtledove's forehead furrows slightly, displacing her normally relaxed expression, as she takes in the mauled remains of the Occans. She has rolled up her sleeve a bit to prevent chafing, but her afflicted arm is otherwise mostly ignored, save for the occasional grimace and cursory glance to gauge its current state of inflammation. In other words, she sucks it up and moves on, as ordered.

Duncan glances at the corpses as he moves by, then does a slow careful passive scan of the area ahead.

<CONTEST> Duncan contests his Personal Equipment (Temporal Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

<CONTEST> Havaris contests his Search skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Dramatically Succeeds!

Havaris glances to Zian for a moment, frowning. He eyes the remains, then says rather matter of factly, "Siinogans. At least. Looks that way to me." Kusto gestures to the torn up bodies, the broken weapons, the pock marks of bullets in the trees, and even steps a few paces off to pick up the tip of a Siinogan pincer, which he promptly pockets for a souvenir. "Fall in, Lieutenant. We've got a job to do. 'Dove. Point. Same rank. Move out. Keep your eyes open."

Loerd moves along.

Malloy grimly checks the setting of his rifle, following the people in front of him, head swiveling from left to right and back again, taking in his surrounding attentively.

Zian nods at Kusto, accepting his explanation as she follows his gestures. "Acknowledged." She picks up her face as Havaris moves out, sticking close to him.

Turtledove acknowledges with a nod and resumes the course, leading the group onward.

Havaris enters the gate leading to the factory yard.

Havaris has left.

Turtledove enters the gate leading to the factory yard.

Turtledove has left.

Loerd enters the gate leading to the factory yard.

Loerd has left.

Duncan looks to Havaris, and points at the tricorder then shakes his head.

Duncan arrives via the gate leading to the road.

Duncan has arrived.

Zian arrives via the gate leading to the road.

Zian has arrived.

Malloy arrives via the gate leading to the road.

Malloy has arrived.

Upon reaching the factory, it becomes evident that it is a hybrid of metal and biological material. Every five minutes, a patrol of four units passes by this end of the factory perimeter. Not far beyond the patrol routes is the invisible shield that keeps outsiders out. Towers rise up from the factory to spot intruders.

Havaris reaches the tree-line and motions everyone down and silent. He ups the range on his goggles and keeps tabs on the guard rotation, eyeing the towers, and the force field beyond. His head shakes and he looks back to Loerd. "We need to get in there." He frowns, puffs some air out of his nose, and crawls back a bit towards Loerd, motioning Duncan over. "Alright. Here's the problem. We've got guards on a five minute rotation. Which would be plenty of time to snipe a tower and sneak inside if a shield weren't there. But there is one. I need suggestions on how to drop it that don't involve a frontal assault."

Loerd looks thoughtful for a moment as she studies her tricorder.

Malloy busies himself with looking over the towers, looking after the guards patrolling and in general trying to make himself as useful as possible without displaying his profound nonknowledge of engineering.

Zian flicks a glance toward Duncan's fancy-schmancy temporal tricorder, then quirks a brow at him, silently questioning.

Turtledove crouches and surveys the visible portions of the factory perimeter. "Sir, what, if anything, would make them drop their shields?" She looks at her compatriots. "That is, if we can't drop the shields through some engineering wizardry." She grins slightly.

Duncan glancing through his goggles at the tower and the shield generator, offers. "I could try to hack their network and force the computer to shut down the shield generator, but I'm nowhere near as good as Nev so I can't guarantee anything. That of course is assuming their network can be accessed via remote."

GAME: Turtledove spends a courage point.

GAME: Loerd spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Havaris contests his Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Dramatically Fails!

GAME: Duncan spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Turtledove (claiming advantage) contests her Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

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

<CONTEST> Loerd (claiming advantage) contests her Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

GAME: Zian spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Duncan (claiming advantage) contests his Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

<CONTEST> Zian (claiming advantage) contests her Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Havaris nods his head towards Duncan, frowning thoughtfully for a moment. Before very suddenly and very audibly sneezing. His eyes widen in abject horror before he looks over to Malloy and motions at his medkit. "Anti--" Sneeze. "--histame--" Sneeze.

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

Loerd says, "Sir, I've found a tunnel system a few dozen meters away."

Malloy blinks, then curses silently under his breath, rushing over to Havaris as fast as doing it crouched and trying to remain out of view allow him to. Antihistamine Havaris wants? Antihistamine he gets. Thank god for hyposprays. "Thank you, LT. I would have given you a laxative..." he comments drily in a hushed voice.

Zian wrinkles her nose. "Tunnel system? That must be where that awful smell is coming from. Must be a sewer or something."

Turtledove's eyebrows go up at Havaris. She glances back at the factory perimeter, attempting to gauge a response to the outburst, but doesn't see anything.

Duncan makes a face at detecting the odor. "I think we're all going to need time in decontam after this."

In the distance, a group of four, mosquito-like Siinogans come to a halt in their tracks. The giant insects face this direction, then start approaching with a medium speed.

"Tunnels. Now. NOW." Havaris doesn't wait for the hypospray to take effect. He pushes up to his feet and starts moving as quickly as he can in the direction everyone else should hopefully be heading. It's one of those pack instinct things. He hopes.

Loerd follows Havaris limpingly.

Malloy fumbles his hypospray back into the medkit, making sure that Loerd tags along, then rushes after them, holding his rifle in a ready position in front of him.

Zian scampers to the tunnel entrance, wrinkling her nose and trying to breathe through her mouth without gagging as the stench washes over her. "The things I do for the Federation..." she mutters under her breath.

As fast as you can say 'gun-bunny', Turtledove starts off at a sprint, following Havaris to the tunnels with weapon at the ready.

Duncan brings up the rear moving as quickly and quietly as possible.

After running for about fifty meters parallel to the factory, the team reaches a small tunnel, a meter in diameter. Bars are secured over the entrance of the tunnel, and a nauseating green liquid is spewing out from it, running off into a rivulet of water that leads elsewhere.

Havaris spends a moment sizing up the grating before inwardly cursing. He draws his Type II, thumbs down the setting, and gets the beam nice and close to the target before firing. The idea to be to minimize the light and sound shed from the action. He motions others to start doing the same, even as he works on getting the bars cut.

Loerd says, "Sir they might pick up that phaser. It might be better if I use my cutting torch."

Malloy closes his eyes slightly, drawing his type II as well, thumbing the right settings in. He nods to Loerd's words though, maybe the same things went through his head.

Zian pulls her phaser, shaking her head as she, too, goes to work cutting through the bars. "Doesn't matter. They're coming. If we can't A- get away from them, and B- get into this factory, we're going to have some serious problems on our hands."

Turtledove shoulders her rifle, and gets out the Type II. She adjusts the setting with a practiced hand, and stands ready to use it.

Duncan shoulders his type 3c and draws his hand phaser, adjusts it down and picks a bar to cut.

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

After a while of cutting the bars, enough fall away with a clang to allow one person to get into the tunnel at a time - with a crouch, as it is only a meter high. The stream of liquid is about an inch high, and the smell of it is magnified inside the tunnel.

"Same order. Go. Go. Go." Kusto waits for Turtledove, then proceeds himself, then Zian, and so on down the line.

Loerd, as she crawls in, says "Sir, it's a straight crawl to the factory. No side tunnels to worry about and it ends in a large room of some sort."

Malloy crawls inside, trying to pick up some speed, which isn't really easy in this rather crouched position. Come join Starfleet, they said.

Zian tries very, very hard not to gag as she re-holsters her phaser and follows Kusto into the sewer.

Turtledove go go's, minus the dancing. She does so with rapid agility, and, other than a minor nostril twitch, shows no outward reaction to the stench.

The tunnel gets incredibly dark, and it would otherwise be impossible to see anything were it not for the night vision goggles. The tunnel is so small, and almost seems like it gets smaller and smaller as the team moves farther in. Noises seem to magnify along with the stench as echoes resound down the tunnel. Then splash! Turtledove enters into the room mentioned by Loerd with a fall into the waist-deep filth.

Duncan as usual brings up the rear.

"I'd ask if this were toxic, but it's moot at this point." Havaris eyes the drop, shakes his head, then takes the plunge, lifting his rifle into the air as he does so. Good soldier. He glances about the room, gets the lay of the land, and waits for the others to arrive before issuing any orders. "This is further than anyone's gotten. We need to get to the Control Room. We need to lock down the plant. Once we're secure in there, we blow the controls and move on to the power plant to drop the shields so our relief can arrive."

Loerd gingerly lowers herself down on her bad ankle as she looks around and pays attention to her tricorder.

Zian looks expectantly at Loerd as she, too, splashes down into the muck. "Which way?"

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

Turtledove's mouth curls slightly upward, as she pauses to 'enjoy' the situation. She nods to Havaris, the wryness of her smile matched only by the resigned humor in her eyes. She otherwise waits for orders, keeping an eye on the room and the sludge.

Duncan glances over at Havaris, "Should I keep up the passive scans or go active?"

Havaris looks to Loerd for a moment, reads her expression for context, then nods to Duncan. "Once more and passive. If we can't figure out a way in there...? We'll go active. Last resort."

Loerd frowns abit, "I'm not picking up anything.

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

Zian's frown matches Loerd's as she, too, pulls out her tricorder, shaking the slime off of it. "Let me see if I can pick up anything..."

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

Turtledove continues to watch the room and wait for orders.

Duncan points up to another tunnel just slightly above the level of goo. "Thats our only way out at this point."

"Right, then. Keep me appraised of where we're going." Havaris tosses his rifle up onto the platform and pulls himself up out of the goo, turning around to help others up and out of the mess. While doing so he continues issuing orders. "Shoulder the rifles. Type II's only while inside. Set to kill. From here on out, I'm taking point. Zian is now attached to T-Dove's ass. Loerd, you're still with Malloy. Duncan, I still need you to cover the rear. Keep an eye on our tails, okay? Keep that Type II handy." Havaris then rises to his feet, lifts his nightvision goggles, and begins to creep his way out into the tunnel, sticking to the wall.

Loerd double checks her phaser setting then places in back in her belt. Handing up her kit she does the best she can to climb into the next tunnel. Then picks up her equipment and continues on.

Zian gives her tricorder a glare as it fails to display anything particularly insightful, then hoists herself up onto the ledge, with Kusto's assistance. She takes her place behind Turtledove, drawing her phaser and checking it's setting as she moves.

Turtledove wades to the platform and, likewise, tosses her rifle up before lifting herself. She then shoulders her rifle, and adjusts the damage setting on her Type II. Within seconds, she is good to go.

<CONTEST> Duncan contests his Personal Equipment (Temporal Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Duncan does a thorough sweep before climbing up to the platform and telling Havaris "They don't appear to have followed us in and no life forms anywhere nearby either."

The tunnel leads into dimly lit room. The floor is littered with human bones. Several doors lead out of this room. The problem now is to find the way to either the command center or the power plant - after finding out where they are in the first place.

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

Havaris paces into the room and examines the bones in a cursory fashion, kneeling down close to have a bit of a look. He then makes a general motion to those around him. "Check for high energy signatures. That will be the power plant." He then rises to his feet. "As for the control room... There's got to be a map around here somewhere. One would hope."

Loerd turns around in a circle as she takes various readings, "There's a huge power signature on the southern end of the compound. And a considerably amount of energy is being used in the northern end."

Zian says, "That's probably where the White is being manufactured. If I had to guess, I'd say that's likely where the control room is.""

Turtledove's eyebrows go up slightly as she surveys the skeletal remains. She glances at Zian, then at Havaris, before resuming her sentry-style surveying of the room.

<CONTEST> Duncan contests his Personal Equipment (Temporal Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Dramatically Fails!

Duncan shakes his tricorder which is actually giving off sparks. "One of these days, I'm going to make them design one that is sealed against the elements... Or sewerage."

Since the zone you are in amplifies sound, loud shouting can be heard coming from somewhere. However, the echoes spread the words out so much that it is impossible to tell what it says.

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

Havaris unloops his tricorder from around his neck and underhands it towards Duncan. "It's not Temporal, but I'm no good with it anyhow." He then takes to glancing between the southern and the northern doors as though trying to decide. "Alright. Here's the plan. We proceed to the north and take the control room. Once the plant is locked down, we fry the controls, make certain they can't use them to unlock the plant, then make our way back to the power plant. Likely, we'll be fighting our way there. But, also frankly, I'm comfortable with that. We'll have to move fast, from the control room to the power plant. So we'll have to make our work in the control room quick." As the shouting starts, Kusto frowns. "The fighting may start sooner than that, however. Arm yourselves. Same ranks as before. Let's move out." Havaris looks to Turtledove and motions to the northern door.

Loerd lowers her voice to a whisper, "I'm picking up a few Jems running around a couple dozen meters away and a floor up."

Malloy grunts in acknowledgement, checking his phaser settings for the umpteenth time. He doubletakes when he hears Loerd though, taking on a rather grim expression.

Zian's fingers lightly trace over the haft of her hrisal, but she leaves it in it's sheath, for now. She tries to ignore the human bones she's walking amongst as she sticks close to Turtledove. "That's okay, I've got a few scores to settle with 'em.." she murmurs grimly, nodding to Havaris. "Let's do this."

Turtledove nods to Havaris, and positions herself by the door. She makes eye-contact with Havaris, then nods again. She trys the door-opening apparatus then, finding it unlocked, she opens the door quick enough to startle anyone hiding behind it.

<CONTEST> Duncan contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

Duncan accepts Havaris's tricorder and clips his malfunctioning one to his belt. Then takes another scan. Shakes his head at Havaris and moves to the side til all are through the door.

The door opens with a loud creak and leads into a darkened series of more tunnels. No one is around.

Havaris checks his targets -- that being nothing -- and promptly lowers his goggles back into place. He motions the team to fall in and begins moving down the tunnel at a fairly rapid sort of half-pace. Hurried, but not running. He continues sweeping his field of vision with his phaser, checking corners before proceeding past them. "Keep me on course, Loerd, Duncan. Where are we going?"

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

Loerd nods as she works the tricorder.

Malloy tries to maintain a firezone that covers Havaris', but not necessarily him, following at the same pace down the tunnel.

Turtledove follows Havaris, goggles in place, Type II in hand.

Duncan brings up the rear making adjustments to the settings on Havaris's tricorder so that he can use it more effectively.

Along the way, the group reaches a metal ladder built into the side of the wall that leads to a hatch above. Aside from that, it's just more endless tunnels.

Havaris draws the party to a halt beneath this particular ladder. He glances further up the tunnels with a frown, then back to the keystone tricorders with a pair of lifted eyebrows. "Anything? Up? Ahead?" Havaris then glances about the other faces, offering Zian a patient half-smile, Turtledove a wink, and Malloy a bit of a shrug. Patience. No sense rushing headlong into danger.

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

Loerd shakes her head, "Looks clear from my point of view."

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

Havaris glances about as the Tricorders come out, and snatches up Zian's as well. "Malloy, too. I want data, not dead ends."

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

Loerd flinches at Havaris comment, but continues scanning.

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

Malloy consults his tricorder with a frown, then looks up. "Alright, hatch is not rigged, no one within proximity of the hatch."

Zian purses her lips as Havaris snatches her tricorder. "We're all doing the best we can, Kusto. These aren't exactly the best conditions any of us have ever worked in."

Turtledove stands by, shifting her attention up and down the tunnel at regular intervals, keeping an eye out for trouble. Not such a bad idea, considering how the tricorders seem to be cursed. She does flick a glance at Zian, though. Her lips twitch slightly as she resumes her scanning.

Duncan looks up and down the walls for any signs of maps or anything helpful.

Havaris gives Zian a dour stare at that. A prolonged one. He glances back towards the group as a whole. "Nor do I have the time or inclination to pat everyone on the back. We've made it this far, we're almost there. Stay with it. I'll head up first. Then Turtledove. Then Duncan. Then Malloy. Then Zian. Then Loerd. We secure the corridor up top, keep an eye out for those Jem'Hadar we heard, and continue on to the north." That said, Kusto places his phaser in his mouth and starts climbing the ladder. Once the lid is open, he's quick to push up and drop to the side of the corridor. His hand appears, motioning the next up.

Turtledove follows quickly.

Duncan follows Turtledove up the ladder.

Malloy looks a last time around, then moves up the ladder swiftly with ease. Must have been a monkey in another incarnation.

In the corridor above, the sounds of machinery is loud. The light is brighter than down in the tunnels, but still fairly dim. The sounds of running feet are not too far off. To the north is a room on the upper story with large windows and resembles a control center. Paths to the control center cannot be seen from this vantage point.

Zian stares back at Havaris, unblinking. She lets out a soft sigh, flicks away a glop of green goo that's still clinging to her uniform, and holsters her phaser before climbing the ladder. No /way/ is she sticking it in her mouth, after having waded through that cesspool!

Loerd stores her equipment and climbs up. Once topside she pulls the cursed tricorder back out along with her type II phaser and starts scanning again.

GAME: Loerd spends a courage point.

Havaris can't tell where the feet are coming from, so he doesn't worry about it just yet. "Turtledove, move to the rear. Watch out tails, shout if they come from behind. I'll take point again. Zian, stick with Duncan and stay in the middle with Loerd and Malloy. Let's move. Quick like." Havaris begins moving at a light job towards the room at the end of this corridor, stopping once he reaches the corner to peer in and have a look to see if he can't find a way up.

<CONTEST> Loerd contests her Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

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

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

Loerd shakes the tricorder a bit as she waves the tricorder around.

Malloy makes another adjustment on his tricorder, glances at it, then speaks up. "Incoming from the east. We're in the west side of the factory. Can't give a distance, but not too far if we hear them. Let's go, people."

Zian obediently moves to Duncan's side, staying low and moving quickly, pulling out her phaser.

Upon reaching the corrider, Turtledove adjusts her goggles, compensating for the extra light. She acknowledges Havaris' order with a nod, and stands by to take up the rear. Once everyone is in motion, she takes a look back, then follows the group.

<CONTEST> Duncan contests his Personal Equipment (Temporal Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Duncan quickly scans to the fore and to the rear of the group. "Nothing ahead, confirm to Jem's to the east."

As the team gets nearer to the control center while staying hidden from sight behind the machinery, two routes become obvious. One is the direct route toward the control center, which will no doubt be well-guarded. The other requires scaling up a wall, which means being out in the open with no way to defend oneself if sighted.

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

The answer, of course, is rather simple for Havaris. Duck your head and up the middle. "I believe the time for sneaking is at an end. Turtledove, hold our rear. Malloy, Duncan, get up here. Zian and Loerd cover us. We can't all get up that wall without getting eyeballed, and there's no way I'm splitting up the team. We've got Jems coming fast, so let's make this good." Havaris readies his phaser, tosses the Tricorder back to Zian, and begins moving from cover to cover towards the main entrance.

Loerd says, "I can't pick them up. But if we find the power lines leading to the control tower we may be able to take it out without ever going there."

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

Zian catches the tricorder and stows it away, her grip on her phaser tightening.

Turtledove's eyebrows twitch upward, but she otherwise gives her commander a nod and a straightens herself up. "Sir, shall I switch to heavy ammo?" Her head tilts slightly, indicating her rifle. "That is, if we decide to go with Plan A."

Malloy frowns, then curses under his breath. "Heads up. I have 2 Jems, 1 Vorta and 3 Siinogans coming from where you want to go, LT" Here the rifle gets gripped a bit steadier now.

Duncan clips the tricorder to his belt along side his malfunctioning one and brings his type 3c to bare, setting it to kill. Then moves up to flank Havaris.

The sound of running footsteps get closer.

GAME: Duncan spends a courage point.

GAME: Turtledove spends a courage point.

"Heavy, Turtledove. Heavy." Kusto does the math, shakes his head a touch, and palms a grenade, thumbing down the power to a heavy stun. "We fight them now or we fight them later, either way we fight them. And the next time you give me a tricorder reading, give me range and arrangement with the numbers, alright?" To Duncan he remarks, "When we get there, scan the door locks. If it's unlocked, open it. I'll skip this grenade in there set to stun. Shouldn't fry anything important. I hope." To Loerd and Zian he notes, "When those Jem'Hadar get here, lend Turtledove a hand." Havaris then moves to the stairwell, moving up at a goodly clip until he reaches the door. He motions for Duncan to scan the door, and motions for Malloy to provide cover.

Malloy nods to the door. "They are inside the control center, LT. We enter that place, we get shot at I guess. Flashbangs would be sweet now." With that, he takes position to the other side of Havaris, almost nervously handling the grip of his rifle, then gets ready to give Havaris the needed cover.

Loerd nods slightly as she readies her phaser, "I know I got this bad foot, but don't you think that I should go with you to the command center?"

Zian nods briefly at her orders. "Aye sir. With pleasure." And judging by the grim look in her eyes as she takes position near Turtledove, she means it. She's going to enjoy blasting some Jemmies.

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

Turtledove quickly stows her Type II, and swings the rifle into position, setting it on Kill, and standing ready to hold up the rear. Her mouth curves upward slightly as her finger caresses the trigger of her weapon.

Duncan indicates the door by pointing at it with his type 3c. "Locked from the inside, no apparent traps. Shall I?" and raises the phaser rifle slightly so that it's pointed at the lock.

The two Jem'Hadars from down below shout, now seeing the exposed team on the platform, and two streams of polaron fire streak toward the platform that part of the team are now located. They burst harmlessly on the walls as they miss.

"Make me a hole I can put a grenade in, and it's good enough for me." Havaris rather much ignores the Polaron blasts as they singe the wall around him. "Sooner, rather than later." Havaris glances down at the two Jem'Hadar, selects which one he'd rather see die, and fires off a shot while waiting on Duncan.

Loerd aims at one of the Jemmies at thumbs the trigger.

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

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

GAME: Zian spends a courage point.

Malloy flinches slightly at the two blasts, bringing his weapon to bear with a muttered curse, letting loose with a shot of his own.

Zian crouches down low at the bottom of the stairs, pressing close to the side of the stairway in an attempt to make herself as small a target as possible as she brings her phaser up against a real, live enemy for the first time, and prepares to fire.

Loerd ducks as she moves to acquire a target, leveling the phaser.

Turtledove frowns slightly, and moves off to the side, attempting to get a better view of the incoming.

Duncan levels the phaser rifle at point blank range and fires a steady stream at a spot on the door.

The two Jem'Hadar fall down, dead from the phaser fires from the shots by Havaris and Malloy. However, an unnoticed Siinogan clinging to the shadows on the ceilings jumps down and crashes into Duncan from the back, who is preoccupied with shooting at the door. The mosquito-like Siinogan quickly jumps back up on its six legs and stands over the fallen prey.

Okay. That shakes Havaris out of his nonplussed faux-ironclad demeanor, right fast it does. He backs up, sizes up his opponent, and says with a look of profound disgust, "/PROPHETS/, you're ugly!" As an afterthought he blasts the thing in the general vicinity of what might be its head.

Loerd still looks for targets below. There was a Vorta and some Siinogans around here somewhere.

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

<CONTEST> Malloy contests his Medical Sciences skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Succeeds!

Zian lowers her phaser slightly as the two Jem'Hadar drop, thanks to the sharpshooting of the other team members. However, she doesn't relax by any means, watching for any sign of more enemies approaching. When she hears the thud of Duncan being knocked to the ground, she swings around, ready to charge up the stairs if necessary. "Mycroft!"

Malloy lets Havaris deal with the insect, taking out his medikit to take care of Duncan. Checking him out, as thoroughly as the situation allows, he helps him back up again. "You're alright, it's a bump, that's all. Come on, on with it."

Turtledove stands her position, brow slightly furrowed, keeping an eye out for incoming as ordered. She glances briefly at Zian, before resuming her watch. "Lt. Zian... I'm sure they can handle it, whatever it is. Mr. Loerd, perhaps we should take another sensor sweep with your tricorder?" She speaks with a polite and calm tone. "I'll cover you, ensign."

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

Duncan thanks Malloy and retrieves his type 3c, then has a look at the door. Barely a scorch mark. "This door is going to take a bit."

Klaxons go off all around the factory as red lights flash. There is an increase in hydraulic noises.

"Malloy, fall back. Listen to whatever Turtledove tells you to do. Loerd! Get your ass up here!" Havaris waits for the personnel change to happen before pointing at the door. "Break down the interlocks. Now!"

Loerd runs up the stairs as fast as her injury will let her pulling out tools on the way.

Malloy in the meanwhile jumps the stairs down, taking three at a time, coming to a halt next to Turtledove. "Alright, what do we have down here?"

. o O Loerd thinks "I told him I should be up there..."

Zian looks up the stairway for a moment longer, then swings around once more, surveying the area with her phaser drawn.

Turtledove glances at Malloy, then continues to watch for incoming. "We're holding the rear, Mr. Malloy. Would you care to take a sweep with your tricorder, and inform us of any potential incoming?"

<CONTEST> Malloy contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

Duncan moves aside as Loerd makes her way to the door. and takes up a flanking position.

CHZZZT. A beam of polaron fire shoots past the platform group, coming from an automated weapon system.

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

GAME: Loerd spends a courage point.

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

"The door, Loerd. Sooner rather than later." Havaris ducks his head from this new spray of polaron. This is getting annoying. He turns about and fires at the system in return. "Got anything else?" He glances at the ceiling meaningfully before leaning back against the doorway with the hand grenade at the ready. "Lousy hospitality."

Loerd taps away on her tricorder which results in a joyful clicking sound from the door. It doesn't open though. She nods, "It should be unlocked now."

Malloy rolls his eyes, shaking his head ruefully. "This sorry excuse of an electronic gadget shows nothing. For crying out loud..." With a curse, he grabs his rifle as if for reassurance, nudging his tricorder once more.

Zian glances down at her tricorder, checking her readings. "Either the muck damaged it, or there's nothing else out there that I can detect, either."

Turtledove's brow furrows just a tad more. She nods to Malloy, flashing him a brief, yet reassuring little half-smile. She nods to Zian. "Alright. Mr. Malloy, stand ready to fire on incoming. Lt. Zian, perhaps you could continue scanning."

GAME: Havaris spends a courage point.

Duncan looks around for any other automated defense platforms while flanking the other side of the door from Havaris.

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

An exorbatant amount of noise is coming from inside the control center.

Loerd nods as she stands ready to open the door, "Grenade?"

Havaris gives the nod for the door to be opened, pressing the primer on his stun grenade. He calmly announces so that the team can hear, "Fire in the hole." And then, the moment the door is the least bit open, he zips the thing inside at a very sharp angle, intent on bouncing it about to make it unreturnable. And to make a lot of people fall down and go to sleep, too.

Malloy readies his rifle, foregoing the tricorder for now. "Roger that. Let's try at least to kick some instead of being kicked..."

Zian nods briefly at Turtledove, her gaze flicking back and forth from her tricorder, to the immediate vicinity in front of her, watching for movement. Any movement.

Turtledove nods to Malloy, giving him another brief little half-grin as she continues to keep an eye out for incoming.

Duncan shoves the door open just enough for Havaris to toss in the grenade then pulls it back shut almost as quickly.

In an explosion of light and sounds, the shock grenade goes off inside the control center. A door somewhere down in the factory flies open and screaming Jem'Hadar rush in.

"Duncan! Check the CC! If it's clear, get Loerd in there. I'll cover you!" Havaris checks a target, finds some cover near the stairs, and lets loose at a random Jem'Hadar. "When Duncan gives the all clear, fall back! Hold your line, and when the all clear comes, fall back!"

Loerd waits for the door to open and the room to be checked and then runs in to lock down the control room.

Malloy takes a knee, waiting for the Jems to present themselves as target, planning to let a shot go off as soon as he can.

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

GAME: Malloy spends a courage point.

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

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

<CONTEST> Havaris (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!

Turtledove raises an eyebrow at the arriving horde. She readies her rifle and takes careful aim.

Duncan says "On it," then shoves the door open and rolls into the room and comes up into combat ready position, rifle at his shoulder and scanning for targets of opportunity.

<CONTEST> Havaris (claiming advantage) contests his Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Zian brings her phaser to bear as the Jem'Hadar come into view, squeezing off a shot--and missing.

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

<CONTEST> Zian contests her Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

<CONTEST> Malloy (claiming advantage) contests his Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Three Jem'Hadar fall, but more come in to replace them. The wave of returning weapons fire almost looks like a wall from the incoming view. For Zian, that wall of fire seemed very real as she is hit in the side and goes down.

They've gotten in. Those grenades were for holding back. "FALL BACK! FALL! BACK!" Havaris plucks another grenade from his bandolier, thumbs it to a high stun and flings it down amid the throng of Jem'Hadar. Can't go wrong, right?

Loerd fingers fly over the various controls as she locks down this section of the base. She yells over her shoulder, "Sir, I've got us locked down but the power station is still operational. And trying to take control of the systems over here, I'm trying to isolate their command functions. And our ships are in orbit so if we can get our shields down it would be helpful.

Malloy would take care of Zian, but right now, there's oodles of Jem'Hadar out, so Zian has to wait unfortunately. Instead, he lets loose another shot a on of the Jems.

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

Turtledove's phaser beam strikes home, dropping a single Jem'Hadar. A drop in the bucket, it seems. Maintaining a lock on the incoming, she yells up the stairs. "Sir, we have injured! Lt. Zian is down!" She steps over Zian, perhaps providing some cover for the officer, though she has yet to look to see how Zian is _doing_... She lets off another shot, then, receiving Havaris' order says in a polite voice, "Ok, Mr. Malloy, let's get Lt. Zian and get the hell out of here."

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

Duncan calls out that the CC is clear and moves to the console to see what He can do about getting the shields down. "They're all out here, Do you want me there to help with the fire fight or working on getting the shields down?"

<CONTEST> Havaris (claiming advantage) contests his Athletics (Throwing) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

A larger hanger door opens up now, with slow, giant ants moving in as well as rapid-moving mosquitoes. The Jem'Hadar take cover behind the machinery, but one is hit before ducking under cover. Havaris' grenade goes wide and blows up some of the machines, sending a powdery substance flying through the air in the back of the factory.

This is fast going from fast to worse. "I SAID LOCK THIS FUCKING PLACE DOWN, LOERD! CLOSE THE DOORS AND LOCK THEM DOWN!" Never has Havaris shouted louder, or with more intent. Plucking another grenade from his bandolier, he flings it out across the factory floor at the emerging Siinogans. Blatant disregard for his briefing? Certainly. But, hey. Them's a lot of things to be shooting at. "Duncan! Get out here and give us some cover fire! They've got wounded! Loerd! Send word to Fleet! We're folding in here, if they can nail the power plant from orbit, tell 'em to do so! It's either that or we blow this whole thing to the moon."

Loerd opens up a frequency to the overhead ships, "Ensign Loerd requesting support and heavy fire on the transmitted coordinates."

Malloy starts firing in the direction of the incomings, grabbing Zian under her left arm to drag her up the stairs, waiting for Turtledove to mirror the movement. "Come on, take the other side and let's roll, on the double!"

Turtledove takes Zian under the arm, lifting her slightly to prevent any brain damage. She does give Mr. Malloy a narrow glance before heading up with Zian in tow.

Duncan heads back for the door and flattens himself against the frame, draws a bead on the nearest hostile and fires the rifle. "Eat hot death you (censored) monsters!"

The ground shakes. The air resounds with a boom. The lights flicker. All are signs that the Federation fleet overhead has successfully fought through the Dominion fleet and weapons platforms and have reached Occa to provide reinforcements. After a barrage of space-to-surface weapons fire, the power plant is taken out and the shields drop. Transporter sweeps home in on the Jem'Hadar and Siinogan signatures to beam them away, leaving a devastated but more or less intact factory. The mission was a success.

There are still the sporadic sounds of phaser discharges on the air when the ground forces personnel get to your fortified locations and relieve you. You can see their disgust at the environment clearly on their faces even though they have been here only a fraction of time as long as you have. Their medics immediately begin tending to your wounded, and hearing your immediate after action report on what transpired; then they tell you that you are going to be beamed to another location for more treatment and debriefing. As you survivors are gathered together, you feel impressions battling within you - pride that you were able to achieve your goals despite the horrible odds, and a gnawing discomfort at the steps that have been taken in this war, by the Dominion and by your own hands. You are confident that with success will come accolade and recognition, but you are left wondering if in the night, alone in your quarters haunting visions of this night might not rise up to plague your dreams. It is said war is hell - if so, you've just been inside the devil's playground.