Rapid Descent - Part III
Episode Name: Rapid Descent - Part III
Written By: Starfleet
Cast: Duncan, Golden, Idisha, Malloy, Starfleet, Stewart, Takamura
and Turtledove.
Produced By: Starfleet
Directed By: Starfleet
Aired On: Mon Jan 06 11:34:59 2003
Stardate: 52906.4
Time: Sun Jan 05 20:37:34 2003
Stardate: 52904.9
Idisha slides into the console as he intended, but he's stuck there, being pinned by the sniper. Stewart, conscious but involved with new levels of pain, is out in the open of the core's entry and a prime target for being sniped again. Golden has arrived on the scene coming in behind the wounded but functional Duncan and the Timefleet officers of Turtledove and Devereaux. One Romulan is known to be alive behind the console, another up on higher ground doing the sniping. A third is down behind the console, Stewart's initial mark. Things are going downhill. Rapidly.
<CONTEST> Takamura contests his Personal Equipment (Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Routine and Dramatically Fails!
Assessing the deteriorating tactical situation with a hawkish sweep of the eyes from the cover provided by his location, Golden immediately issues orders. "Devereaux, fall back and relieve Takamura and send him up here. You hold the exit vector, I need him up here ASAP." Without looking to see if the first directive is answered he bellows, "Thor, stay where your are and see if you can shunt a bypass by popping that console hold. Tera, give me your confidence on retrieving Stewart --" His fingers work while he talks raising the setting of his phaser beyond stun as he tries to pinpoint the general area the sniper is working from by the angle of the apparent attacks and his memorization of the layout of the DTI core.
There is a pause. A momentary confusion. Then realization settles in with a frown on Idisha's face. His phaser wielding hand ponders vaping the Rommie behind the console...but orders are orders and he can stop that Rommie just as easily by locking him out of the system. Flattening himself against the rear of the console, he hugs his cover and slinks over to the access panel, popping it open and connecting the computer of his kit to it. If you've never seen an Andorian bend in ways unnatural, now you have.
GAME: Duncan spends a courage point.
After the endorphins begin to kick in and Stewart regains a little self-control, he realizes he's in a bit of a bad situation here. So he doesn't reach for the Type II, preferring instead to look like a noncombatant at the moment. Of course, he's not a noncombatant, as he slides his concealed Type I out of his sleeve, palming it to try to keep the enemy from seeing it. Oh, and he's still screaming, and thrashing. But he's got a lot less of a chance fighting right now than pretending to be out of the fight.
Turtledove frowns as she turns back from the door and flicks a look at Duncan, scanning his injuries first, then looking into his eyes. Her expression is calm, her eyes are a deep, dark, intense brown, as she turns and responds to Golden, "That sniper is good. Advise against retrieval until we can take him out." Her demeanor is unaffected by the screams of her team-mate, apparently.
Takamura glances down at his tricorder as it begins beeping. Grimacing, he raises his phaser at the opening turbolift doors. "Hurry up, Devereaux. It looks like we've got company coming." He doesn't bother to glance back, instead fixing his gaze upon the turbolift.
GAME: Idisha spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Duncan (claiming advantage) contests his Personal Equipment (Temporal Tricorder) skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Idisha (claiming advantage) contests his Systems Engineering (Computer) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
. o O Turtledove thinks "I need to get in there to take out that sniper. That should be interesting."
Duncan quickly and quietly appraises Golden of the scan, giving details about location, elevation, and current movement then says soft tones. "Thaal'Vor, you have one sneaking up on your right."
The Turbolift doors slide open, revealing...Malloy, who's currently on his stomach, aiming his Type II outside, apparently not sure who, what or if he is facing when the doors open. Better safe than sorry. With that notion, he looks first to the left, then to the right, before pushing himself up and sprinting for cover.
All that can be heard from the room inside is the sounds of Engineers trying to out-Engineer each other and the shrill of Stewart's screams. The Romulans, wherever they are, make no further offensive maneuvers. Devereaux, for his part, arrives as Malloy approaches Takamura's position, and he sends the two officers toward the front.
<CONTEST> Idisha (claiming advantage) contests his Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
In a quiet but urgent tone, Golden says "Duncan, you cover 11 O'clock groundside, T-Dove cover the console waiting for a pop-up shot of opportunity -- we'll get Stewart once Tak gets here I'm going to try for a sniper, watch for L5 10 O'clock I'm going to try to neutralize L3 3 O'Clock. Ready -- " he pauses long enough for the orders to click, then continues "3 .. 2.. 1.." and rolls out from the wall where he was holding position and spins across the doorway his phaser adjusting to the angle required for his target and depressing the trigger before he attempts to finish his whirl to the cover of the opposite doorframe.
<PROVE> Golden has the skill Planetary Tactics (Small Unit) at least at level 4.
<CONTEST> Idisha (claiming disadvantage) contests his Systems Engineering (Computer) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
<CONTEST> Golden (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Golden (claiming advantage) contests his Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!
<CONTEST> Golden (claiming advantage) contests his Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Difficult and Fails!
GAME: Golden spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Golden (claiming advantage) contests his Fitness (Vitality) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Golden (claiming advantage) contests his Fitness (Vitality) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Idisha hears the warning of Duncan and immediately sets his ears to hunting. There. There is the Romulan. Eyes tracking the noise he is far more concerned about the impending doom of a disruptor so it is hardly surprising when he hefts his phaser and pays a little more attention to his aim than his offhand's manipulation of cables.
Stewart just continues screaming and flopping around. Yep, he's helpless. Or so he'd like things to appear, anyway. Instead he's trying to flop over to get into a position where he could lift his hand and shoot at one of the Romulans. Preferably the leader, who's on this floor if I recall correctly(?). Though a sniper would do. And he does manage to choke out, "Listen to Dove. Run down the clock."
Turtledove swings her Type II gently to the right, aiming toward the console as ordered, waiting to hit any Romulan parts that stick out.
Malloy nods curtly at Devereaux, then takes a few steps before falling into a trot, then a jog. Left arm makes a pumping up-down motion to Takamura to fall in, Type II ready for a snapshot. The Medic to the rescue, one can hear all cavalry officers rotate in their respective graves.
Takamura blinks at Malloy, then down at his tricorder, shaking it. "You're not a Romulan." Noticing Devereaux taking up his covering position, he gets up and falls in behind Malloy, phaser at the ready.
Duncan drops into a crouch and brings his phaser to bear on the position he was ordered to cover and just waits for one of those pointy eared devils to poke his head out or anything at all. (Invade my home turf will they....)
The Romulan sneaking around near Idisha chooses a tall computer bank to pop out from behind to try and pop a shot off at Idisha. Golden, his phaser cranked up, still has to hold the beam onto the level supports. This being an underground fortress of secrecy and security, it's made of sterner stuff, and takes longer than he hopes. The RRT's leader ends up paying the price in spades. The first hit, from the Romulan in level 3, hits him in the shoulder even as that catwalk collapses down onto level 2 in a heap of twisted metal. Golden is rocked a second time from level five, this time in the stomach. He has managed to make it back into the corridor, however, collapsing there with two serious but not life-threatening wounds. Stewart has managed to make it under a console, but cannot see any Romulans except the one threatening Idisha's position.
With a sharp gasping wheeze from his new place on his rear leaning against the wall as his fingers try to forstall his internal organs slipping out of the whole in his gut as his other arm refuses to respond, Golden hisses through clenched teeth "L3 down -hitch- not done for. -hitch- TDove and Tak switch to heavy disrupt wide beam -hitch- and fire on the L5 catwalk position finish him then focus on L3 -hitch- who fell to L2." He gasps raggedly for breath and coughs a bit of blood onto his uniform as he continues "Duncan keep covering 11 O'clock groundside... once we -- mnnnnnhhhh -- have them --- cough cough -- secure data core." He then racks up more coughs and his attention is diverted to supressing the agony his risky manuever has won him.
<CONTEST> Idisha contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Stewart contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Idisha continues fumbling behind him with the plug while his free hand levels a phaser in the direction of a harmless computer bank. Harmless that is until a Romulan head peeks his head and gun over it. And promptly gets it blasted off for his trouble. That done, maybe Idisha can get back to work.
And it's never a good idea to disregard the crippled, either. Stewart, who's managed to roll under the main consoles takes his own shot at the part of the same Romulan that appears. His legs. Not exactly the most impressive, but a stunning beam to the ankle is still a stun hit. And so the Romulan is hit from above and below by the two RRT members.
GAME: Turtledove spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Turtledove (claiming advantage) contests her Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
GAME: Turtledove spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Turtledove (claiming advantage) contests her Dodge skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
GAME: Takamura spends a courage point.
GAME: Malloy spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Takamura (claiming advantage) contests his Energy Weapon (Phaser) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Malloy (claiming advantage) contests his First Aid (Combat Medic) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
Malloy comes to a halt next to Golden, whipping his tricorder out. First order of things is stopping the bleeding. "Alright El-Tee, let go and let me have a look at it." he urges him quietly, then starts to work on him. Despite everything though, the pain doesn't go away, and an angry clucking of Malloy's tongue is heard.
Turtledove raises her eyebrows slightly at her stricken commander's order, but she otherwise nods readily and prepares for action. Quick as can be, she darts into the fray... her quarry, L5, shining in her eyes for a micro-second before she strikes him down! Her movement calls fire, as expected, but Tera stays one step ahead, dodging the Romulan's blast as she dives for cover and prepares to square off against L3.
Takamura nods to the wounded Golden, as he takes up his firing position and adjusts his phaser setting. Noticing that Turtledove has neutralized the threat on L5, he quickly takes aim at the target formerly on L3 and lets loose an orange blast of light.
Duncan maintains cover of his designated target zone, does not move, simply waits, phaser unwavering, for an opportunity to fire, (Invade my home turf, kill my people, hurt my friends...Oh you're going to pay...)
From Level Five, there is a yell as the Romulan sniping from that position falls approximately twenty meters. There is a sickening crack from where he lands on the ground behind a databank. The Romulan threatening Idisha's position is hit first by Idisha, then by Stewart, and his shot fires wild into the catwalks above before he collapses onto the floor. On Level Two, Takamura has eliminated the sniper once and for all. All that is left is the wounded, walking or otherwise, and the Romulan on the other inside of the console ring. A voice pipes up from that location, "I surrender." It's a woman's voice.
"huh <gasp> huh --mnnnn <gasp> Secure the core - huh - Malloy I c-can wait -- mnnnn -- once it's secure get Stewart -- Leg blown <gasp> off huh huh gut wound can keep." Golden exhales sharply through gritted teeth, his eyes ablaze with focus even as they narrow. "Dun-can c-count down the numbers still stand-<gasp>-anding. Stay on mi-mission." He pushes with his legs against the floor as if trying to use his back to brace him in an attempt to get to his feet, a rosy liquid trail of his lifesblood smearing on the wall from his shoulder wound before his knees buckle in rebellion and drop him back to his former sitting position. "T-tell her to s-step.. no... mo-move in on h-h-her Rom-rom-- don't sur-- trap!"
<CONTEST> Idisha (claiming advantage) contests his Systems Engineering (Computer) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
Idisha returns his attention to the panel before him and trying to hard wire an entry point. Still, the realization that the Rommie on the other side is still up to something is proving to be a rather great distraction. "Step away from the console." He orders with his baritone.
Stewart begins crawling along the edge of the console, Type I in hand. Not towards the voice, towards the opposite opening from where the voice emerged, hoping to sneak up on her from behind. His breathing is laboured, but he's doing his best to keep it controlled so as to be stealthy. Or as stealthy as possible, anyway.
Malloy grits his teeth, grabbing his Type II a bit sterner than before. Nodding to Golden, he moves inside, ready to give off a shot if the Romulan behind the console should do anything rash, like, well, Romulans do. Someone might want to explain things to him again. He's not a front line person. Or is he.
GAME: Takamura spends a courage point.
GAME: Turtledove spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Takamura (claiming advantage) contests his Stealth (Stealthy Movement) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Turtledove (claiming advantage) contests her Stealth (Stealthy Movement) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Turtledove sweeps the carnage then ducks and quickly signals Tak. In essence, gesturing for him to go west. Life is peaceful there. Or so one can hope. She, on the other hand, fiddles quickly with her phaser, then moves quickly and quietly toward the eastern access point.
Takamura nods to Tera. then readjusts his phaser to heavy stun and standard beam as he stalks around the western side of the console pointing it towards the location of the voice.
Duncan in his best good cop voice Duncan orders. "If you are surrendering, stand up now, with your hands above your head, you will not be harmed. Make no other move than to stand with your hands above your head, do so now." (Oh so reassuring, we're the wimpy federation afterall, we wouldnt hurt a fly...)
There is no response to Duncan's order. Turtledove and Takamura slink around the bend of the console, keeping some distance from it to keep the heads from giving away position. They slowly break the two entrances at the same time. The Romulan, for her part, dressed in pointed-shoulder black uniform, is on her knees. She raises her empty hands into the air. "I surrender," she repeats. She is facing Takamura. The downed Romulan is on the other side of the horseshoe. They have her dead to rights if they choose to squeeze the trigger. Idisha, in the meantime, is still having trouble with the computer. Malloy stops in Stewart's path, keeping him from crawling away and getting him the medical attention the poor bastard deserves.
GAME: Takamura spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Takamura (claiming advantage) contests his Intellect (Perception) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Malloy (claiming advantage) contests his First Aid (Combat Medic) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
As Takamura rounds the corner, he stands up and draws a bead on the Romulan officer behind the console. He blinks as he does a double-take at the Romulan. "Dr. T'sal?"
Malloy takes care of Stewart for the time being. Considering the fact, that he has no spare knees in his backpocket nor a small instant infirmary, just add water, with him, all he can do for the time being is give Stewart something against the pain and stabilize what's left of the leg, so he can limp in style. Having accomplished this, he will turn and head towards GOlden again, who will, at phaserpoint if necessary, endure whatever ministrations Malloy deems necessary. Yes, even a lobotomy, followed by a profound proctological exam.
Idisha comes to his feet now that all hostiles are presumably taken care of and brings his gear around to the front of the console. He doesn't believe his ears until he sees it for himself and swallows the seething anger that roars within him. She could be a plant against the Romulans for all he knows and he won't shoot someone defenseless. At least not without provication. Rather he turns his attention to the computers to assess what damage has been done.
Turtledove rounds the opposite corner, crouched, then swivels up and around, pointing her phaser at the 'Rommie's back, probably in a manner remarkably similar to Tak. Her eyes are focused calmly on the female there, until Tak makes his declaration. A definite eyebrow-raiser. She lets her trigger finger tighten slightly.
Golden tries to focus on the progress of the mission through his bleery eyes, wet fingers weakly holding the press of his guts against them abetted by the surrounding fabric of his uniform. "If I... <gasp> d-die Duncan. Don't-n't forget to vape-vaporize my corpse w-wi <gasp> with the rest of the casulties."
Duncan turns to face Golden. "Everybody goes home Dylan, if I have to carry them on my own back, they all go home."
Stewart calls out, "Don't get too trigger-happy, you've got enough people to carry as it is." From the weak laugh, that was probably a joke. Instead he makes his way over towards where he dropped his Type II earlier, to recover it and tuck it onto his belt. "Make sure to either get or vaporize anything they might have dropped, too."
The Romulan woman nods her head one time slowly at Takamura. "T'sal, Serial Number 419-880-98987. Timefleet, 2382. I must speak to Lt. Golden."
The planetary alert engages with a chime. "All personnel to designated shelters. All personnel to designated shelters. This is not a drill."
Takamura points with his head toward the corridor outside, lowering his phaser. "He's wounded seriously out there."
<CONTEST> Malloy (claiming advantage) contests his First Aid (Combat Medic) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
GAME: Idisha spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Idisha (claiming advantage) contests his Computer (Research) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!
Malloy walks back to Golden again. Well, more of a quick jog than a walk actually, after all, he IS in a hurry. Whatever happens back behind the console, he's not paying any attention to it, he's focused after all. Taking care of business, and business is good, especially as Lt. Golden kindly volunteered for target practice for the late Romulan Timefleet counterparts. "Hold still." he mutters between clenched teeth. "And stop bleeding, dammit. That's an order."
Turtledove keeps her weapon trained on T'Sal's back. "I'll escort you to him, if you like. Move quickly, we have to get out of here, and we have a lot of cleaning up to do beforehand."
"I cannot assist in saving his life," the Romulan-T'sal says. She slowly gestures down to a piece of equipment on the floor. "I must take that and return to my timeline. Interaction must be kept at a distinct minimum. It is imperative, Ensigns, that I be allowed to leave."
Golden says, "S-sure thing Doc-c. If you c-can <gasp> just get...mnnn....phew...gravity to s-stop pulling it out-ut of me It'd <gasp> be-e great. What's ow our status?"
<CONTEST> Idisha (claiming advantage) contests his Computer (Research) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
<CONTEST> Malloy (claiming advantage) contests his First Aid (Combat Medic) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!
Idisha takes a deep breath and does his best to ignore the T'sal next to him. Or at least casually in his fire arc anyway. A moment to clear his thoughts and he bends his fingers back to his work even as the warning claxons begin to sound. You know. What with all the gunfire and the noise you'd think they were at war or something... wait. Owww. Yeah.
Turtledove keeps her weapon trained on T'sal. "Tak, can you check out the device at the good doctor's feet?"
Malloy shakes his head slightly, having successfully stopped the bleeding of the gut wound the LT suffered. Spraying it with a sterilizing layer, followed by the modern age version of spray-band-aid, he takes care of the wound for starters. Maybe not a very good way under clinical conditions, but in the field, it'smore than adequate. "I guess we caught the chica from the Romulans. I was busy with Stew though, now lemme take care of your shoulder, Sir." With a frown, he starts cutting the uniform away, then proceeds patching him up up there as well. "I'd be much obliged, Sir, if next time you'd refrain from getting a double. If you want scars to have something to show-off with the ladies, there's a more stress free way to do this, plus the dames usually don't notice the clusters on the medals."
Takamura points at the piece of equipment on the floor with his phaser. "And what is this thing?" he asks as slowly moves around to inspect it, keeping an eye on the Rommie-T'sal.
Turtledove's eyes narrow quietly. Time is ticking.
Stewart says, "I hesitate to point out that if we don't get out of here soon, we won't be getting out of here at all." Stewart tries to get up to his feet, adding, "I for one, could use some help. How about we just get her device, and if we need to, we can send her back to her own timeline /later/.""
It is through gritted teeth that Golden responds to the medic's banter, "I'll keep that in mind Hnnnnn. If the core is secure, begin clean up operations and re-establish perimeter containment. There may be more..mmmmnn damn that hurts..." he huffs twice, "or they may send another team in on the tail of this one. How long until we need to extract...Duncan?"
"It's a Romulan data interface and storage device," intones the Romulan-T'sal. "I must take it and leave. I cannot tell you more, Ensign. I assure you that it contains no secrets. Have Mr. Idisha check it if you fear it a compromised security risk. But I assure you that time is of the essence."
Malloy snorts. "T-dove, get rid of the bodies, now. LT, need something against the pain or is it alright? I don't want no bravado from you now, I don't have the time for that. A simple 'yes' or 'no' will suffice." It's anyone's guess what kind of tone he has in the Infirmary, but his voice certainly is used to ordering people about.
Duncan glances at his watch briefly. "9 minutes 45 seconds on my mark...Mark." then steps into the core.
Golden says, "Pain killer yes, incapacitating no."
Malloy mmmhmms, giving Golden a shot with the hypospray. "One feel good, hold the white mice and pink elephants, to go, coming right up."
Turtledove regards the Romulan-T'sal's back then flicks a look at Tak, hesitating. "Take the device, Tak? We need to get out of here. Let's get T'Sal to Lt. Golden." She seems hesitant, in general, actually.
Pssshhht. Almost immediately Golden's expression relaxes and he tries again to push up to his feet using the wall as an assist, with much better results this time. He takes a careful step away, and once equilibrium is confirmed he nods sharply to Malloy and says, "Good work Ensign." The he steps through the doorway into the core and raises an eyebrow when he sees that his people are conferring with the last Romulan standing.
GAME: Idisha spends a courage point.
<CONTEST> Idisha (claiming advantage) contests his Computer (Data Alteration) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!
Duncan steps around the curve of the console bay and moves to turtledoves side, with phaser still in hand. "Ensigns, Lt. Golden, I have a solution to this issue, take her into custody, destroy that device, and lets finish what we came here to do, we are short on time, and getting shorter every second. We can straighten this out once we get back to base, and any data that our erstwhile Timefleet agent needs can be given to her after we've secured what we came for and have confirmed her identity."
Idisha lifts his attention from the console with a muttered curse in Graalen. "Mr Duncan. Dr T'sal uploaded an encrypted file into the database directed to Lt Golden. It is being rather stubborn in its desire to remain in memory. Shall I leave it be or give it another shot?"
Turtledove flicks a look at Duncan. "Agent Duncan. We have an obligation to aid and assist other timefleet operations. What you are suggesting is contrary to that obligation. Her serial number checks out, so unless you can prove that she is not legit..."
Stewart looks over towards Duncan, "Wouldn't it be more prudent to retain the device until we've ascertained the truthfulness of her story?" His eyes harden a little, and he turns over towards Duncan, limping in that direction. "Unless it's a bomb or something along those lines. And I haven't heard any evidence that it is."
Without a beat of hesitation Golden says, "Temporal Admin directive on unplanned temporal complication - Stun and run."
Malloy follows at the side of Golden, sizing up his superior Medical Officer...or whatever else she is, who knows. Calmly, he sets his Type II to stun.
Duncan looks over to Lt. Golden and waits since he is in charge in the field... but at no time does his phaser move from its target.
Romulan-T'sal merely waits, silent.
<CONTEST> Idisha (claiming advantage) contests his Computer (Data Alteration) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!
Golden says, "Logically speaking, Doctor, you know what I have to do so there is no need for me to apologize." He tilts his head slightly but the message is quite clear."
Takamura nods at Golden's words, snatches up the device and points the phaser at T'sal, pulling the trigger.
Turtledove and Takamura both act at once. Both turn their phasers on Romulan-T'sal and stun her. She collapses to the ground beside the debated device.
Idisha scowls and returns his attention to the console. One option down. Another in the excercising. Ahah! Success. Looking over at the heap of T'sal, he sighs. "The file has been successfully purged from the database. I have a copy of the file." Looking to Golden, he continues. "The Doctor did not download any files. Rather it is my estimation that she was intent upon leaving you a message. So stunning her might have been premature."
Golden says, "Takamura, give the device to Mister Malloy. Agent Duncan, secure the outtime T'sal for transfer. Mister Idisha, what's your status? Mister Turtledove, vaporize the corpses, I'll secure the stunned ones for transport, Mister Stewart provide us cover and check on Devereaux and T'sal status. Report when your tasks are completed so we can depart this site, almost home people, let's move."
Idisha pinches his nose at the bridge and exhales slowly. The man's been shot. Give him some slack. "I'm done here sir. Zero residual presence."
Malloy nods, taking the device from Takamura, weighing it curiously in his hands, before holding it with his left against his body, wielding his Type II in his right. "Ready when you are."
Duncan holsters his phaser and moves to pick up the outtime T'sal, only to be stopped by the pain from a still smoking disrupter wound to the shoulder.
Stewart puts his Type I away, back into his sleeve, swapping it out for his Type II. Phaser in hand, he keeps an eye out for any more sign of Romulan activity, noting, "I'm not exactly the most mobile at the moment. But I'll see what I can do. Ready to move." Still, he heads for Duncan to make sure T'sal is breathing. Stewart's player has no idea where Dev is, ICly.
Turtledove lowers her phaser with an ironic half-smile, glances at Idisha with a well-meant 'now you tell us' look, and proceeds to vapourize corpses.
The crew has one Romulan prisoner, one Romulan-T'sal prisoner, and has cleaned up the corpses of the others. The T'sal of this time reports that level three is secured and the corpses have been disintegrated. The unit limps its way back toward the turbolift. The ground rumbles under their feet as the dirty business against London is being carried out. When the doors of the Turbolift part, standing inside is Sinclaire. "Report," says the old woman to Golden.
Golden says, "Romulan Incursion Prevented. One Prisoner, one detainee."
"Detainee?" Sinclaire regards the Vulcan. "T'sal. Intriguing. I'm going to bring you here. Go to level one, congregate in..." She checks the wall of the turbolift. "... Conference room two, prepare for transport."
Golden glances towards the Trill DTI agent.
Duncan is standing at attention and waiting to be dismissed.
Golden says, "Agent Duncan, this isn't our extraction protocol -- you will need to authorize this change in temporal transit."
Malloy actually helps Duncan with T'sal, considering that the agent is not really up to carrying the Vulcan all by himself.
Duncan nods to Golden and after letting Malloy take most of the weight of the "vulcan" begins keying a sequence into his tricorder.
Takamura adjusts the trussed up Romulan on his shoulder, waiting for a decision to be made and keeping his eyes peeled for more trouble.
Idisha hefts his engineering kit and otherwise keeps his phaser in hand in case of surprises.
Stewart occupies one side of the lift, in a position to cover the door if there should happen to be unpleasantness on the other side.
Turtledove stands at attention near Idisha, regarding Sinclaire quietly. Her eyes reveal a hint of uneasiness.
. o O Turtledove thinks "These temporal dilemmas are really crazy. I'm going to have to hit the books extra hard when we get back to s419. And then there's Wendy. Very very mind-bending stuff this is."
Duncan nods to Lt. Golden, and after keying a few instructions into his temporal tricorder, puts it back into its holster, then pulls his phaser and stuns Sinclaire.
Duncan says, "Make that Two detainees."
The beam passes right through Sinclaire. The image of her, anyway. "Agent Duncan, what the hell do you think you're doing?"
Stewart quickly turns at the sound of the phaser discharge, pivoting on his good leg to aim his phaser towards Duncan. "How about we wait until we get to the evac point before we start shooting at each other? Less distance to carry people, all right? If we can't get along, we can at least be practical about it."
Idisha exhales faintly and checks his chronometer. Mmm. Not good.
Golden says, "I'll take that as a no to the authorization."
. o O Turtledove thinks "I hadn't realized Agent Duncan was so trigger happy..."
Takamura glances over to the sound of the phaser discharge, raising an eyebrow at the hologram.
Duncan says, "Ignore it, she's not Sinclaire, move to our normal extraction point", then to the hologram..."If I find you, or if the real Sinclaire finds you, there wont be much left of you for your relatives to bury." then back to Golden. "If that were the real Sinclaire, she wouldnt have had to consult a map, she knows this place better than the people who built it.""
Turtledove's eyebrows twitch at the phaser discharge. She glances at Golden, then back to the indignant and apparently *false* hologram, curiously.
Idisha makes with the hurry up gestures. "Shall we move now people? I don't believe we have time to debate matters."
Golden says, "I see... maybe she was just showing us where we needed to go? Right. Let's move people." He makes a small shrug towards the Captain that inspires a wince from the refresher that one was recently holed. "After you Agent Duncan."
Duncan moves to help Malloy with the unconscious "vulcan" and makes for the extraction point.
"I am as every bit as real as you are, Agent Duncan. I'm authorizing transport based on my seniority in the field," Sinclaire says, her expression one of irritation. "Prepare for transport as you stand, Lieutenant." There is a waver to her form, as if she is tuning out, and she is gone. Coruscating light begins to form in the center of the turbolift and the ground shakes beneath the officer's feet.
From the expression on Golden's face, a battle is clearly ensuing on which orders and chain of command in a steady voice he says to Duncan, "Correct Sinclaire or not, Agent Duncan, it seems we've spent too much time in the turbolift -- either we leave this way or we may get caught in the bombs. What is it going to be?"
Takamura reaches the hand with his phaser in it up to the wall to help steady himself and his load.
Idisha looks at his feet and the beginnings of transport. Seems to him the question is moot about now.
Stewart keeps the phaser pointed where it is for the moment. Judging from his expression, he's not in a good mood. And it's not getting better any time soon. "I think the decision is being made for us."
The light ball slowly grows, spears of blue-white light shooting from it. It becomes difficult to look at.
Turtledove's eyebrows go up quietly, as she narrows her eyes against the blue-white light.
Duncan takes his temporal tricorder back out and verifies that this is indeed the correct type of temporal displacement. "Enter the displacement, with weapons drawn, and be prepared to fight. We cant get out of here with this displacement occuring."
. o O Turtledove feels mild unease fading into acceptance, mingled with quiet curiousity.
Golden says, "With Life, opportunity. Into the transport light now people. Move move."
Turtledove nods a squinting acknowledgment to Golden's order and braces her hand in front of her face as she heads swiftly into the light...
Duncan steps into the displacement and as a last move drops into a combat stance, waiting for re-emergence.
Idisha levels his gaze on the light and squints. His body ready for instant action as he steps into the light.
Having steadied himself, Takamura steps into the light, weapon at the ready, using the Romulan to help shield his eyes.
Stewart follows the others into the displacement, phaser out, ready for what comes next. He closes his eyes except to allow for just enough light to know when the displacement no longer blocks his vision.
Golden does a final com-check on his T'sal, and finding her non-responsive realizes she's been picked up already or she's been caught in the bombing by their delay. Hoping the detained T'sal is a sign of the previous, he enters the light last, ready for what the Future has to offer.
The blue light consumes the turbolift. In-time T'sal comes running up the rear, having come down a different lift. The officers pass into the light, and with the dizzying sensation of artifact transport, they appear in the Fighter Bay of the USS Aegis. The officer's weapons are holstered as they arrive, and five security teams, dressed all in black, are scattered around the officers with arms, unholstered, but at their sides. Sinclaire steps from the middle of them. "Agent Duncan, what am I going to do with you?" She approaches Golden, clasping her hands behind her back. "I'll take custody of your detainee and her gear, you take the Romulan back to Four One Nine for interrogation." The fighter bay doors are open. Beyond, a Breen ship dips toward Earth's atmosphere, releasing its deadly cargo. The Aegis is sitting unmolested, observing.
Duncan steps over to Sinclaire. "Ma'am, you knew how I'd react to your having to read a map to tell us where to go in your own home."
"Ma'am, she identified herself as a Timefleet officer, Agent Duncan instructed that she be detained for questioning by our downtime temporal personnel. I believe that as she's a temporal anomaly by our realtime referential our administrators have first priority at her interrogation since, as you said, your own temporal dislocation indicates a possible non-viability in your preferred timeline perspective, sir." Golden says this smoothly, confidently, his training in negotiating with terrorists obviously coming into the service of his natural presence and charisma.
Turtledove regards the darkly-dressed contingent curiously as Golden provides the mission debriefing. Then her eyes stray to the Breen ship attacking Earth. For some reason, it holds her attention.
Idisha is standing much like a caged makra. Ready to fight. But standing as motionless as a glacier. His eyes rest not upon the planet below. Rather upon the woman before them. Ice blue eyes sizing up the other woman.
Stewart is currently more interested in the fact they're surrounded by armed guards who seem to be here mostly for the purpose of keeping the team in order, rather than protecting the team. Lot of trust here, but the feeling is mutual at this point.
Duncan's eyes dont stray from Sinclaire, he cant, no will not look out at what is happening outside, through the fighter bay doors.
Takamura shifts his load, trying to avoid looking out the bay doors. He doesn't want to be an eyewitness to the destruction of his home. Instead, he focuses on the contigent of security providing such a warm welcome for them.
. o O Turtledove thinks "Such sorrow. So much misery and pain. What does it take to want to destroy something as beautiful as the Federation?"
Sinclaire frowns at Duncan's response. "I was verifying coordinates to feed to the artifact, Agent. Your perspective of my actions is relative when I'm broadcasting." She looks back at Golden, then, and says, "I'm considering the possibility of contamination to our timeline based on the relationship of the detainee to the detaining force. Besides, Agent Duncan is not in charge, but I will defer to his expert judgment on the matter. Agent Duncan, would you allow the release of the detainee into our capable hands?" She turns to look at Duncan.
Golden deliberately, looks to Duncan as well with a pace matching the elderly woman -- Ifni's handed her loaded dice to the Trill and it's his turn to roll.
Idisha seems to have left his personal forcefield generator in his other pants. And so his gaze flits to Duncan now as his hand flexes so very much like a bad spaghetti western movie.
Idisha seems to have left his personal forcefield generator in his other pants. And so his gaze flits to Duncan now as his hand flexes so very much like a bad spaghetti western movie. (re)
Duncan nods to Sinclaire. "Going strictly by the procedures you laid down Ma'am, she should be returned to our timeline, however since you wrote those procedures, You may certainly alter them at your discretion.
Golden with a slightly cocked brow he slowly redirects his attention towards Sinclaire, marking faces of the blackshirts standing honor guard against the backdrop of the death of London for future -- heh -- reference.
"I hope no one will mind if I sit down", Stewart says, and proceeds to do exactly that. There's only so much standing he can tolerate on his bad leg, and that point has elapsed.
Sinclaire nods once. "Very well." She gestures for two of the guards to relieve the officers of their Romulan-T'sal burden. They approach and take the woman, and a third moves to gather her gear from Takamura. In-time T'sal arches an eyebrow at the Romulan-looking woman, but says nothing and asks no questions. The guards lie her on the deck and one of them calls for a medical team as the other begins to unbind her hands.
Sinclaire watches on without comment, but there is concern on her brow. She turns back toward Golden when it is done and she says, "Prepare your team for transport. The less interaction, the better, Lieutenant."
Pitching his voice a bit louder, a stronger tone, Golden says, "Perhaps a compromise. Why not interrogate her here with Agent Duncan present so he can report to his superiors and you will have the data as well... and in the meantime, your crew can lend assistance to fellow timefleet officers in need with some medical attention so we don't have to explain anything odd when we get back, sir?"
Turtledove glances back to Sinclaire, then to Golden.
Sinclaire says, "Denied, Lieutenant, you have your orders. Saddle up." She makes her way toward the two officers with Romulan-T'sal. An old habit, a hand reaches up to tuck some hair behind her ear. "Is she alright?" she asks one of them. "Just stunned," is the officer's reply.
Golden says, "Roger that. Gather up people for immediate transport, Mister Turtledove please assist Mister Stewart."
Duncan moves over to the others and keys up the transport sequence on his temporal tricorder, still not even letting his eyes glance out the open fighter bay doors.
Idisha doesn't like it. One bit. And it doesn't take a genius to note when an Andorian is ill pleased. His gaze levels upon those who enforce Sinclaire's will with a penetrating gaze before he nods to Golden. "Ready when you are."
Turtledove crouches down and offers Stewart a shoulder to lean on. "No rest for the wicked, James." She gives her team-mate a reassuring, though not entirely heart-felt, grin.
After begrudgingly giving the equipment over to the guard, he casts a glance over to Golden and nods.
Stewart accepts the shoulder, getting up to his feet with assistance. "Don't tempt me to pass out and make you carry my whole weight, Dove. Because I'll do it."
Golden moving to his position to stand with the others he says, "Thank you for assistance, Captain. Our regards to your crew for their courageous actions of the day."
Duncan glances around, to make sure everyone is in place then gives Sinclaire one last look before hitting the commit key.
. o O Golden thinks "Thank you for all but taking us prisoner, giving us the choice of abduction or death, and then making it clear to us the effects of your actions with a big viewport to watch from with the undercurrent notion that you could easily space us into the battle as just a few more corpsesicles in the after affects of the battle outside."
Sinclaire unholsters a tricorder and taps something into it. "You can transport at will, Agent Duncan." The Trill DTI agent pushes the button on his tricorder, initiating the transport, and the ball of white light begins to form between the temporal response officer. Sinclaire offers Golden a familiar smile. She says, "Make sure Agent Duncan knows when to keep his phaser in his pants. Otherwise, excellent work today, Lieutenant. All of you." The guards start to disperse at her gesture, and a medical team arrives to care of Romulan T'sal. "Good luck," Sinclaire says, before turning back to the prostrate Romulan T'sal. They begin to wake her as the ball of light expands and consumes the crew, sending them back to 419 with half their quarry and the file that Ensign Idisha holds in his PADD.
